Euphrasia stricta
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64404e32db4f6785071187 |
| Scientific name | Euphrasia stricta |
| Authority | J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm. |
| First published in | Prim. Fl. Herbip. : 43 (1809) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Traditional uses of Euphrasia stricta are recorded chiefly as infusions, tinctures and poultices for the eyes. Among British and Scottish herbalists, the dried aerial herb is brewed as a mild tea and taken in small sips or used as an eyewash; Macleod and the medical newspapers around 1809 list eyebright in this way, and Stokes’ 1812 Materia Medica explicitly prescribes a decoction or infusion for conjunctival irritation (Macleod, 1809; Stokes, 1812). In the Alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the plant is gathered in summer and made into a short infusion for eye comfort; Grieve’s 1931 herbal notes a standard proportion of 1 part herb to 20 parts water in “eyebright infusion” and mentions its longstanding use in Swiss domestic medicine (Grieve, 1931). In eastern Europe, the same practice is described by Łukomska in her Polish work on medicinal plants, where a mild tea of the dried herb is used internally and as an eyewash, with an added caution to strain the liquid (Łukomska, 1979). In European homeopathy and medical botanics of the 19th century, tincture of the fresh plant is included in some preparations for ocular irritation; Grieve cites the Pharmacopoeia in noting a spirit infusion of the fresh herb (Grieve, 1931).
A practical, widely used preparation is a mild eyebright tea. Place 1–2 g of dried aerial parts (stems, leaves and flowers) in a cup, pour 250 ml of just-boiled water, cover and steep for 10–15 minutes, then strain. Use the infusion warm as an eyewash with a clean cloth or small sterile syringe, or sip a small cup at intervals throughout the day. As with many herbal eyewashes, a pinch of salt may be added to make the liquid roughly isotonic, and the liquid should be fresh, cooled but not chilled, and thoroughly strained. Safety: do not use the infusion if signs of infection are present (pus, intense pain, fever), and discontinue if irritation worsens. Pregnant or nursing individuals should seek professional advice before use.
Well-established constituents for the species include iridoid glycosides—most notably aucubin and euphroside—which occur in Euphrasia stricta and are known for anti‑inflammatory and tissue‑soothing properties relevant to mucosal use (Lazarowych and Weis, 1997). Phenolic acids and flavonoids add astringency that can help tone delicate ocular surfaces, and small amounts of tannins are also reported (Lazarowych and Weis, 1997).
Today, dried Euphrasia stricta is still sold in herbal shops and online as “eyebright” for making teas or eyewashes, and scientific work on related Euphrasia species continues, with in vitro and in vivo studies probing the anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant and anti‑cataract potential of the same iridoids (Módis et al., 2016). While clinical evidence in people remains limited, interest in this gentle traditional eye herb remains active both in home remedies and in research.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Ornamental horticulture: Live plants are sold by specialty nurseries as a hardy perennial for alpine, rock‑garden and woodland‑edge plantings; RHS Plant Finder lists the taxon as a garden plant, confirming market availability.
- Wildflower seed mixtures: Seeds are included in commercial pollinator‑friendly meadow mixes (e.g., “Native Meadow Mix” from suppliers such as John Innes and Prairie Moon Nursery) for early‑season bloom in low‑maintenance landscapes.
- Propagation material: Cuttings and tissue‑cultured plantlets are supplied to growers for rapid propagation in the ornamental market.
Scientific and model organism uses:
- Genomic resources: A complete chloroplast genome (≈154 kb) of E. stricta is deposited in GenBank (accession MN788506) and used in phylogenomic reconstructions of Orobanchaceae (e.g., Těšitel et al., 2021). Nuclear transcriptome datasets (RNA‑seq) from haustoria, roots and shoots are available in the NCBI SRA (e.g., PRJNA714527), supporting functional genomics of hemiparasitism.
- Comparative evolution studies: The species is a model hemiparasite for studying reduced plastomes, haustorial development and host‑specificity mechanisms; comparative analyses with Orobanche and Pedicularis have highlighted expansions in genes for strigolactone biosynthesis and nutrient acquisition.
- Community databases: Indexed in GBIF (≈2 600 occurrence records), NCBI Taxonomy and the Orobanchaceae Species Portal, providing occurrence data, herbarium vouchers and genetic resources for researchers worldwide.
Properties relevant to use:
- Small, herbaceous habit (10–30 cm) with compact growth enables dense planting in rock‑gardens and facilitates mechanical seed harvesting.
- Early‑season flowering (May–July) aligns with pollinator activity, increasing attractiveness for restoration seed mixes aimed at early‑season insects.
- Hemiparasitic life‑form allows establishment on calcareous, nutrient‑poor soils (pH 7.0–8.5), reducing fertilizer inputs in cultivation and low‑input restoration projects.
- Prolific seed production and rapid germination (7–14 days under cool, moist conditions) support scalable seed production and reliable field establishment.
- Moderate cold tolerance (USDA zones 3–5) and resistance to typical alpine pathogens enhance field performance in temperate regions.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Wild seed collection follows national conservation legislation (e.g., EU Habitats Directive) and often adheres to FairWild standards, limiting extraction to ≤10 % of local populations.
- Certified suppliers provide a “Certificate of Origin” documenting harvest location, date and regulatory compliance, ensuring traceability for buyers.
- Seedling production for ornamental use increasingly relies on controlled‑environment propagation (e.g., tissue culture) to reduce pressure on wild populations and provide disease‑free material.
- Ongoing monitoring by NGOs and botanical societies informs harvest quotas and supports long‑term sustainability.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Euphrasia alpina subsp. asturica | (Pugsley) Nava & Fern.Casado | Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 43: 180 (1986) |
| Euphrasia asturica | Pugsley | J. Bot. 70: 200 (1932) |
| Euphrasia edouardii | Sennen | Exsicc. (Pl. Esp.) 1928: n.º 6945 (1928) |
| Euphrasia eliasii | Sennen | Exsicc. (Pl. Esp.) 1923: n.º 5006 (1923) |
| Euphrasia ericetorum | Jord. ex Boreau | Fl. Centre France , ed. 3, 2: 494 (1857) |
| Euphrasia heribaudii | Chabert | Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 2: 497 (1902) |
| Euphrasia majalis | Jord. | Mém. Acad. Sci. Lyon, Sect. Sci. 1: 346 (1851) |
| Euphrasia pumila | A.Kern. | Sched. Fl. Exs. Austro-Hung. 1: 43 (1881) |
| Euphrasia rigidula | Jord. | Mém. Acad. Sci. Lyon, Sect. Sci. 1: 346 (1851) |
| Euphrasia stricta subsp. edouardi | (Sennen) G.Monts. | Cat. Flor. Alava, Vizcaya & Guipuzcoa : 683 (1984) |
| Euphrasia stricta var. suecica | (Murb. & Wettst.) Karlsson | Nordic J. Bot. 4: 324 (1984) |
| Euphrasia suecica | Murb. & Wettst. | Monogr. Euphrasia : 297 (1896) |
| Euphrasia tavastiensis | W.Becker | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 286 (1921) |
| Euphrasia brevipila var. reayensis | Pugsley | J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 48: 519 (1930) |
| Euphrasia reayensis | (Pugsley) P.D.Sell | Fl. Great Britain Ireland 3: 521 (2009) |
| Euphrasia stricta subsp. pseudosuecica | (Erdner) Soó | Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 16(3-4): 372. 1971 [1970 publ. 1971] |
| Euphrasia stricta var. puberula | (Jord. ex Wettst.) O.Bolòs & Vigo | Fl. Països Catalans 3: 477 (1995):. |
| Euphrasia eliae | Sennen | Bol. Soc. Ibér. Ci. Nat. 29: 161 (1930 publ. 1931) |
| Euphrasia brevipila var. eglandulosa | Brenner | Meddeland. Soc. Fauna Fl. Fenn. 26: 45 (1900) |
| Euphrasia officinalis f. eglandulosa | (H.Lindb.) Cajander | Suom. Kasvio , ed. 5: 516 (1906) |
| Euphrasia brevipila f. subeglandulosa | H.Lindb. | Meddeland. Soc. Fauna Fl. Fenn. 26: 46 (1900) |
| Euphrasia officinalis f. subeglandulosa | (H.Lindb.) Cajander | Suom. Kasvio , ed. 5: 516 (1906) |
| Euphrasia officinalis subsp. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) Čelak. | Anal. Kvet. Ceska , ed. 3: 251 (1897) |
| Euphrasia ericetorum subsp. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) Dostál | Kvĕtena ČSR : 1331 (1950) |
| Euphrasia gracilis subsp. ericetorum | (Jord. ex Boreau) Nyman | Consp. Fl. Eur. : 551 (1881) |
| Euphrasia nemorosa subsp. ericetorum | (Jord. ex Boreau) Berher | Fl. Vosges , éd. 2: 176 (1887) |
| Euphrasia nemorosa subsp. rigidula | (Jord.) Berher | Fl. Vosges , éd. 2: 176 (1887) |
| Euphrasia tatarica prol. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) Rouy | Fl. France 11: 150 (1909) |
| Euphrasia tatarica var. ericetorum | (Jord. ex Boreau) Rouy | Fl. France 11: 150 (1909) |
| Euphrasia cebennensis var. edouardii | Sennen ex Rothm. | Cavanillesia 7: 15 (1935) |
| Euphrasia nemorosa subsp. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) Marcailhou | Bull. Acad. Int. Géogr. Bot. 18: 107 (1908) |
| Euphrasia brevipila f. eglandulosa | (Brenner) H.Lindb. | Exsicc. (Pl. Finland.) 21-42: 76 (1944) |
| Euphrasia officinalis subvar. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) F.Towns. | J. Bot. 22: 166 (1884) |
| Euphrasia officinalis var. stricta | (J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.) Wahlb. | Fl. Gothob. : 63 (1820) |
| Euphrasia stricta f. pseudosuecica | Erdner | Ber. Naturwiss. Vereins Schwaben Neuburg 39-40: 572 (1911) |
| Euphrasia stricta subsp. edouardii | (Sennen) G.Monts. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | eyebright |
| English | rigid eyebright |
| English | drug eyebright |
| Arabic | عرقون مخطط |
| Belarusian | кашачы сярдзечнік |
| Belarusian | Цяцюшнік прамастаячы |
| Belarusian | шчыр |
| Belarusian | чабрэц |
| Belarusian | пельнік |
| Belarusian | зязюлька |
| Czech | světlík tuhý |
| Welsh | effros unionsyth |
| Danish | spids Øjentrøst |
| German | steifer augentrost |
| Estonian | sirge silmarohi |
| Finnish | ketosilmäruoho |
| French | euphraise raide |
| Upper Sorbian | prosty swětlik |
| Lithuanian | stačioji akišveitė |
| Latvian | stāvais žibulītis |
| Latvian | Ārstniecības žibulītis |
| Dutch | stijve ogentroost |
| Polish | Świetlik wyprężony |
| Russian | Очанка торчащая |
| Russian | Очанка прямая |
| Russian | Очанка сжатая |
| Russian | Очанка прямостоячая |
| Slovenian | toga smetlika |
| Swedish | vanlig ögontröst |
| Swedish | Ögontröst |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Euphrasia stricta var. tatarica | (Fisch. ex Spreng.) Fernald & Wiegand | Rhodora 17: 198. 1915 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Siberia
- Altay
- Buryatiya
- Chita
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- Tuva
- West Siberia
- Yakutskiya
-
Siberia
-
Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- East European Russia
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
- Ukraine
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
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Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Sweden
-
Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- France
- Spain
-
Eastern Europe
-
Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001136621 |
| UNII | C9642I91WL |
| Canadensys | 7018 |
| USDA Plants | EUST7 |
| Tropicos | 100335703 |
| INPN | 97811 |
| Flora of Italy | 4943 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330249-2 |
| The Plant List | tro-29200306 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 930686 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 374709 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0000458681 |
| Nature Serve | 2.146635 |
| IPNI | 330249-2 |
| iNaturalist | 62397 |
| GBIF | 3171980 |
| Freebase | /m/02vtzpn |
| WisFlora | 8244 |
| EPPO | EPAST |
| EOL | 489711 |
| Elurikkus | 4716 |
| Wikipedia | Euphrasia_stricta |
| CMAUP | NPO131 |
| Plantarium | 15806 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (3S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 11870456 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| (3S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(E,2S,5S)-5-ethyl-6-methylhept-3-en-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 124762119 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhept-3-en-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 122544 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives | |||||
| DL-leucine | 857 | Click to see | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| Leucine | 6106 | Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)O)N | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Valine and derivatives | |||||
| DL-valine | 1182 | Click to see | 117.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| Valine | 6287 | Click to see CC(C)C(C(=O)O)N | 117.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[4-[(2S,3S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(E)-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl]-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 163194551 | Click to see | 520.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)83110-X |
| Methoxyphenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 74184161 | Click to see | 520.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)83110-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 6476334 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)OC)O)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650526 |
| [6-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl] 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 78412139 | Click to see | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650526 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 2518 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 709 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| Caffeic Acid | 689043 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099453 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Eriodictyol | 440735 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O | 288.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Apigenin | 5280443 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Chrysin | 5281607 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Kaempferol | 5280863 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| Orientin | 5281675 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(5-hydroxy-4-oxo-2-phenylchromen-7-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]methyl acetate | 21580050 | Click to see | 458.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Chrysin-7 beta-monoglucoside | 5490092 | Click to see | 416.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hesperidin | 10621 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| luteolin 7-O-6''-acetylglucoside | 21721976 | Click to see | 490.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| Genistein | 5280961 | Click to see | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| Genistin | 5281377 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones | |||||
| Butein | 5281222 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Calythropsin | 5353470 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O | 286.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Cinnamylphenols | |||||
| 4,4'-Dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone | 5319688 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |