Verbascum nigrum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffabe1b9c9482984120 |
| Scientific name | Verbascum nigrum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 178 (1753) |
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.
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Community Herbal Monograph (2005), Verbascum nigrum is traditionally used in Germany, Austria, and Italy as an infusion of the dried leaves and/or flowers to soothe cough and throat irritation. The monograph gathers historic herbal practice from these three European countries, confirming the same preparation – a mild tea made by steeping the plant material in hot water, often sweetened with honey, and taken warm several times a day to calm dry coughs, ease hoarseness, and lessen throat irritation.
A simple mild tea can be made by placing 2–3 g (about 1–2 tsp) of dried leaves and/or flowers in 200 ml of just‑boiled water, letting it steep for 5–10 minutes, then straining. The resulting liquid is traditionally drunk while warm, up to three cups per day for a short period. It may be flavored with a slice of lemon or a spoonful of honey if desired. The preparation is generally regarded as safe for adults, but it should be avoided in pregnancy and used with caution in individuals with known allergy to mullein or other Scrophulariaceae.
Phytochemical investigations have consistently identified verbascoside (acteoside), the flavones luteolin and apigenin, the iridoid aucubin, and a mucilaginous polysaccharide fraction in the aerial parts of V. nigrum. Cserháti (2004) isolated and quantified verbascoside, luteolin and apigenin in the leaf material, while Kokoska et al. (2015) later confirmed the presence of mucilaginous polysaccharides and reported seasonal variation in the phenylethanoid glycoside content, with verbascoside being the most abundant. These compounds provide a plausible basis for the plant’s demulcent, anti‑inflammatory and mild expectorant actions reported in traditional use.
Recent pharmacological studies have confirmed anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant activity of V. nigrum extracts, supporting its historic role in respiratory care (see Kokoska et al., 2015). The herb is now sold in many European herbal shops as “black mullein” tea, often blended with other respiratory herbs such as thyme or licorice, and is still harvested in certain mountainous communities for local household remedies, linking old practices with modern commercial availability.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Verbascum ruderale | Pfeiff. | Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 3: 329 (1845) |
| Verbascum thyrsoideum | Host | Fl. Austriaca 1: 289 (1827) |
| Verbascum vernale | Wierzb. ex Rochel | Bot. Reise Banat. : 86 (1838) |
| Verbascum urticifolium | Lam. | Encycl. 4: 220 (1797) |
| Verbascum ovatum | Schrad. | Hort. Gott. : 21 (1809) |
| Verbascum orchideum | Host | Fl. Austriaca 1: 288 (1827) |
| Verbascum parisiense | Thuill. | Fl. Env. Paris , ed. 2: 110 (1799) |
| Verbascum monspessulanum | Pers. | Syn. Pl. 1: 215 (1805) |
| Verbascum pseudonigrum | Bogenh. | Flora 24: 150 (1841) |
| Verbascum wierzbickii | Heuff. | Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 8: 167 (1858) |
| Verbascum alopecurus | Thuill. | Fl. Env. Paris , ed. 2: 110 (1799) |
| Verbascum hinkei | Friv. | Flora 19: 440 (1836) |
| Verbascum humile | Bernh. ex Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel] 872. 1821 |
| Verbascum macrophyllum | K.Koch | Linnaea 22: 728 (1849) |
| Verbascum dentatum | Lapeyr. | Hist. Pl. Pyrénées : 114 (1813) |
| Verbascum cordifolium | Stokes | Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 381 (1812) |
| Verbascum gallicum | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 1: 1005 (1798) |
| Verbascum grisebachianum | Borbás ex Nyman | Consp. Fl. Eur. , Suppl. 2: 229 (1890) |
| Lychnitis nigra | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 17: 125 (1869) |
| Thapsus nigrum | Raf. | Fl. Tellur. 4: 89 (1838) |
| Verbascum nigrum f. leucerion | Grütter | Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 10: 69 1892 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | black mullein |
| English | dark mullein |
| Spanish | sabonera |
| Spanish | lychnitis nigra |
| Spanish | verbascum wierzbickii |
| Spanish | verbascum thyrsoideum |
| Spanish | verbascum orchideum |
| Spanish | berbasco |
| Spanish | gordolobo partido |
| Spanish | thapsus niger |
| Arabic | سيكران الحوت |
| Arabic | مكنسة الاندر |
| Arabic | اذان الدب |
| Arabic | بوصير |
| Belarusian | Дзіванна чорная |
| Bulgarian | черен лопен |
| Czech | divizna černá |
| Welsh | pannog dywyll |
| Danish | mørk kongelys |
| German | dunkle königskerze |
| German | schwarze königskerze |
| German | dunkel-königskerze |
| Estonian | must vägihein |
| Finnish | tummatulikukka |
| French | molène noire |
| French | molene noire |
| Irish | coinnle an phúca |
| Upper Sorbian | champ |
| Upper Sorbian | Čorna dźiwizna |
| Igbo | dark mullein |
| Lithuanian | juodoji tūbė |
| mrj | Мӧскӓвӹлӹш |
| Norwegian Bokmål | mørkkongslys |
| Dutch | zwarte toorts |
| Polish | dziewanna pospolita |
| Russian | Коровяк чёрный |
| Slovak | divozel čierny |
| Slovenian | črni lučnik |
| Swedish | mörkt kungsljus |
| Ukrainian | Дивина чорна |
| Chinese | 黑毛蕊花 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Verbascum nigrum subsp. abietinum | (Borbás) I.K.Ferguson | Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 64: 232 (1971) |
| Verbascum nigrum subsp. nigrum | Unknown |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| Requires Light or Surface Sowing: These seeds need light to germinate and should not be covered with soil or only very lightly. They are often very small and sown directly on the surface of the growing medium. |
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
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- West Siberia
-
Siberia
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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
- South 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
- Norway
- Sweden
-
Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- France
- Spain
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Ontario
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Western South America
- Bolivia
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Western South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000420517 |
| UNII | RH1S9086AY |
| Canadensys | 9327 |
| USDA Plants | VENI |
| Tropicos | 29200417 |
| INPN | 128615 |
| Flora of Italy | 4772 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:770013-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2454894 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 934441 |
| Observations.org | 7610 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 90364 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000004052 |
| Nature Serve | 2.160297 |
| IPNI | 770013-1 |
| iNaturalist | 56164 |
| GBIF | 3171945 |
| Freebase | /m/0462jv3 |
| WisFlora | 5336 |
| EPPO | VESNI |
| EOL | 484419 |
| Elurikkus | 8130 |
| USDA GRIN | 41149 |
| Wikipedia | Verbascum_nigrum |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_964305475.2 | daVerNigr1.hap1.2 | Chromosome | WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE | 2025-10-14 | 49 | 320.24 Mb |
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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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
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 / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides | |||||
| [(1S,4aR,5S,7S,7aS)-5-hydroxy-7-methyl-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 15736666 | Click to see CC1(CC(C2C1C(OC=C2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC4=CC=CC=C4 | 478.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 44715579 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC(=C(C=C5)OC)O)O)O | 668.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 23928106 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC=C(C=C5)O)O)O | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 21591415 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC=CC=C5)O)O | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-4-yl] (E)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 44715578 | Click to see | 668.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-4-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 163189323 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)O)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC=C(C=C5)O)O | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-2-[[(1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-4-yl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 21591414 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)O)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC=CC=C5)O | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-4-yl] 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 162869655 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)O)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC(=C(C=C5)OC)O)O | 668.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-4-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 75111045 | Click to see | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-4-yl] 3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 73808814 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)O)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC=CC=C5)O | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [4,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-3-yl] 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 75061254 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C=C(C3C2C=COC3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)CO)OC(=O)C=CC5=CC(=C(C=C5)OC)O)O)O | 668.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [4,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 74155540 | Click to see | 638.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JLAC.199419940718 |
| [4,5-Dihydroxy-2-[[7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-5-yl]oxy]-6-methyloxan-3-yl] 3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 73808815 | Click to see | 622.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [4a,5-Dihydroxy-7-methyl-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,5,6,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl] 3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 4221373 | Click to see | 494.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| [5-hydroxy-7-methyl-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl] 3-phenylprop-2-enoate | 73717544 | Click to see | 478.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| Ajugol | 6325127 | Click to see | 348.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(72)85053-2 |
| Aucubin | 91458 | Click to see C1=COC(C2C1C(C=C2CO)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O | 346.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(72)85053-2 |
| Harpagoside | 5281542 | Click to see | 494.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2008.05.004 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19820650539 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-5-hydroxy-2-[[(1S,4S,5R,8R,9R,10S,13S,14R,17S,18S)-9-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5,9,13,20,20-hexamethyl-24-oxahexacyclo[15.5.2.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]tetracos-15-en-10-yl]oxy]-6-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 162984268 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OC3C(C(OC(C3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)OC5CCC6(C(C5(C)CO)CCC7(C6C=CC89C7(CCC1(C8CC(CC1)(C)C)CO9)C)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O | 1073.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80481-S |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-6-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(3S,4R,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,12aR,14R,14aR,14bS)-4,8a-bis(hydroxymethyl)-14-methoxy-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-5-hydroxy-6-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 163059948 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OC3C(C(OC(C3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)OC5CCC6(C(C5(C)CO)CCC7(C6C(C=C8C7(CCC9(C8CC(CC9)(C)C)CO)C)OC)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O | 1105.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80481-S |
| 2-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-[[9-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5,9,13,20,20-hexamethyl-24-oxahexacyclo[15.5.2.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]tetracos-15-en-10-yl]oxy]-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 73157220 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OC3C(C(OC(C3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)OC5CCC6(C(C5(C)CO)CCC7(C6C=CC89C7(CCC1(C8CC(CC1)(C)C)CO9)C)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O | 1073.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80481-S |
| Ilwensisaponin C | 178583 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OC3C(C(OC(C3OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)OC5CCC6(C(C5(C)CO)CCC7(C6C(C=C8C7(CCC9(C8CC(CC9)(C)C)CO)C)OC)C)C)C)O)CO)O)O)O | 1105.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80481-S |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |