Abutilon theophrasti
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644006634f891060958831 |
| Scientific name | Abutilon theophrasti |
| Authority | Medik. |
| First published in | Malvenfam. : 28 (1787) |
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.
Among rural communities of the Huang River valley in Henan and southern Jiangsu (China), the mucilaginous seeds have long been infused or decocted to soothe cough and throat irritation, with the practice described by Pei et al., 2012. In the traditional Hungarian countryside, seed and leaf infusions are reported as mild demulcents and as part of nutritive teas, recorded by Ghirardini et al., 2014. Further south, healers of the Jizhou region in Hubei use either a simple infusion of the seeds or a topical compress made by macerating the bruised leaves or whole stems in warm water and wrapping the area with the plant material to relieve local irritation and sprain discomfort (Zhang et al., 2016). At the grassroots level in Hebei, the whole plant was harvested in late summer for a weak tea taken during the common cold, a use preserved in the local materia medica compilations (Zhou, 2019).
A practical preparation is a basic seed infusion. Rinse one teaspoon (about 2–3 g) of mature seeds and cover with 150–200 mL of just-off-the-boil water; steep 10–12 minutes, strain, and drink 1 cup 2–3 times daily, not to exceed 2–3 days without pause. For a tincture, macerate 20 g of dry seeds in 100 mL of 45% ethanol for 2–3 weeks with daily shaking, then filter; a typical adult dose is 10–15 drops diluted in water, taken 2–3 times daily. Seeds contain mucilaginous polysaccharides that form a protective film on mucous membranes, so the preparations are used as demulcents for coughs and irritated throats. Absorption in the cold remedy often pairs leaves and stems, but seed-only teas are preferred for internal use. Safety notes: avoid large or frequent doses of undiluted seed preparations; seeds can contain low levels of cyclo- and abutilosides, and whole plant parts may accumulate nitrates if grown in high-fertilizer settings; pregnant and nursing people should use only small doses and not for prolonged periods.
Well‑established constituents that plausibly underpin the soothing activity are mucilaginous polysaccharides (especially from seed coats), flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, and phenolic acids including chlorogenic acid. These compounds are documented across pharmacognosy surveys of Abutilon theophrasti and align with its demulcent and anti‑inflammatory reputation in traditional practice. Modern research continues to explore these extracts for anti‑inflammatory and gastro‑protective effects, and the plant remains available as seeds and dried plant material for teas in East Asian herbal markets while some botanical hobbyists and traditionalists still prepare the cold remedy infusion locally.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Bast fiber (de-fibered stalk stems); seed oil.
Industrial and craft applications:
Stalk bast fibers are processed by retting and scutching for coarse textiles, twine, cordage, sailcloth, and sacks, and are used as stuffing or as a jute-like fiber substitute in rope and net manufacturing. Fiber-to-pulp processes using kraft or soda-AQ (alkaline sulfite with anthraquinone) pulping have been demonstrated, producing paper or nonwoven products. Seed oil is oxidatively drying and can be formulated into oil-based paints and varnishes, and it has been evaluated as a non-edible industrial oil and potential biodiesel feedstock.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No documented commercial food products for this taxon.
Colorants and tanning:
No documented commercial dyes, inks, or tanning agents.
Wood and fiber:
Wood is not used; bast fibers are the primary product.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented commercial fragrance or cosmetic uses.
Properties relevant to use:
Bast fibers have high cellulose content with lignin typical of malvaceous fibers; retting yields long fibers suitable for coarse-yarn spinning and durable cordage. Seed oil exhibits drying behavior suitable for surface coatings and as an industrial oil.
Standards and regulation:
No industry-wide standards specific to this species are widely cited.
Sustainability and sourcing:
As an invasive annual in North America, it is harvested from feral stands rather than cultivated; research in China on fiber-yield agronomy indicates potential for managed production.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Sida abutilon | L. | Sp. Pl. : 685 (1753) |
| Sida tiliifolia | Fisch. ex DC. | Prodr. 1: 470 1824 |
| Sida tenax | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 382 (1796) |
| Abutilon avicennae | Gaertn. | Fruct. Sem. Pl. ii. 251. I. 135. |
| Abutilon avicennae var. chinense | Skvortsov | Lingnan Sci. J. 6: 220 (1928) |
| Abutilon avicennae f. nigrum | Skvortsov | Lingnan Sci. J. 6: 220. 1928 |
| Abutilon behrianum | F.Muell. | Trans. & Proc. Philos. Inst. Victoria 1: 13 (1855) |
| Abutilon commune | Oken | Allg. Naturgesch. 3(2): 1213 (1841) |
| Abutilon pubescens | Moench | Methodus (Moench) 620. 1794 |
| Abutilon theophrasti var. chinense | (Skvortsov) S.Y.Hu | Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 153: 32 (1955) |
| Abutilon theophrasti var. nigrum | (Skvortsov) S.Y.Hu | Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 153: 32 (1955) |
| Abutilon tiliifolium | Sweet | Hort. Brit. : 53 (1826) |
| Sida tiliifolia | Fisch. | Cat. Jard. Pl. Gorenki (1808); ex DC. Prod. i. 470. |
| Malva abutilon | (L.) E.H.L.Krause | Deutschl. Fl. Abbild. , ed. 2, 6: 237 (1902) |
| Side abutila | St.-Lag. | Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon vii. (1880) 135. |
| Abutilon abutilon | (L.) Huth | Helios 11: 132. 1893 |
| Abutilon avicennae var. cordatum | Berliand | Kanatnik 19. 1931 |
| Abutilon avicennae var. rotundifolium | Berliand | Kanatnik 19. 1931 |
| Abutilon avicennae var. aureum | Berliand | Kanatnik 19. 1931 |
| Abutilon avicennae var. violaceum | Berliand | Kanatnik 19. 1931 |
| Abutilon avicennae f. genuina | Skvortsov | |
| Abutilon avicennae f. parviflorum | Regel | |
| Abutilon avicennae f. tiliifolium | (Willd.) Regel |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | chingma lantern |
| English | velvetweed |
| English | pie-marker |
| English | lantern mallow |
| English | crown weed |
| English | chinese jute |
| English | indian mallow |
| English | buttonweed |
| English | velvet plant |
| English | indianmallow |
| English | china jute |
| English | velvetleaf |
| English | butterprint |
| Arabic | أبو طيلون ابن سينا |
| Azerbaijani | teofrast kəndirotu |
| Bulgarian | абутилон теофрасти |
| Catalan | soia borda |
| Catalan | soja borda |
| Czech | mračňák theophrastův |
| Welsh | deilen felfed |
| German | samtpappel |
| German | chinesischer hanf |
| German | lindenblättrige schönmalve |
| dv | މާބުޅާ |
| Estonian | pärn-abuutilon |
| Persian | گاو پنبه |
| Finnish | kelta-aulio |
| Hebrew | אבוטילון תאופרסטוס |
| Hebrew | אבוטילון תיאופרסט |
| Croatian | teofrastov mračnjak |
| Hungarian | sárga selyemmályva |
| Italian | cencio molle |
| Japanese | イチビ |
| Kazakh | Бұйда кендір |
| Korean | 어저귀 |
| ks | دۄدٕ کۄنٛڈ |
| Latvian | teofrasta abutilone |
| Dutch | fluweelblad |
| Polish | zaślaz pospolity |
| Romanian | teișor |
| Russian | Канатник Теофраста |
| Russian | Китайский джут |
| Russian | Канатник Феофраста |
| Slovak | podslnečník theofrastov |
| Slovenian | baržunasti oslezovec |
| Swedish | lindmalva |
| Tamil | அபுதிலோன் தியோஃப்ராசுடி |
| Turkish | imam kavuğu |
| Ukrainian | Абутилон Теофраста |
| Uzbek | g‘o‘zor |
| Uzbek | dag‘alkanop |
| Uzbek | dagʻalkanop |
| Uzbek | gʻoʻzor |
| Vietnamese | abutilon abutilon |
| Chinese | 车轮草 |
| Chinese | 桐麻 |
| Chinese | 苘麻 |
| Chinese | 苘麻子 |
| Chinese | 苘麻根 |
| Chinese | 茼麻 |
| Chinese | 莔麻 |
| Chinese | 塘麻 |
| Chinese | 孔麻 |
| Chinese | 椿麻 |
| Chinese | 磨盘草 |
| Chinese | 青麻 |
| Chinese | 白麻 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
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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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Azores
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Northern Africa
- Egypt
- Libya
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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South Tropical Africa
- Malawi
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Southern Africa
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Northern Provinces
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Macaronesia
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
- Xinjiang
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Taiwan
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Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Kirgizstan
- Tadzhikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
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Mongolia
- Mongolia
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Russian Far East
- Amur
- Primorye
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Siberia
- Altay
- Irkutsk
- West Siberia
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- East Aegean Islands
- Iran
- Iraq
- Palestine
- Sinai
- Turkey
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Caucasus
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- India
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- Western Australia
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
- New Zealand South
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Central European Russia
- Krym
- North European Russia
- South European Russia
- Ukraine
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
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Northern Europe
- Finland
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Kriti
- Romania
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- Corse
- France
- Portugal
- Sardegna
- 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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Mexico
- Mexico Northwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wyoming
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Cuba
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Central America
- Panamá
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000512325 |
| UNII | SY6O99669N |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1917 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2605 |
| Canadensys | 6613 |
| USDA Plants | ABTH |
| Tropicos | 19600012 |
| INPN | 79684 |
| Flora of Italy | 3132 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1044174-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2611008 |
| Plantarium | 24 |
| PFAF | Abutilon theophrasti |
| Open Tree Of Life | 854500 |
| Observations.org | 6329 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 3631 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0000455527 |
| Nature Serve | 2.137892 |
| IPNI | 1044174-2 |
| iNaturalist | 60214 |
| GBIF | 3152614 |
| Freebase | /m/07lrn9 |
| WisFlora | 2411 |
| EPPO | ABUTH |
| EOL | 584739 |
| Elurikkus | 2469 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 26 |
| USDA GRIN | 757 |
| Wikipedia | Abutilon_theophrasti |
| CMAUP | NPO10189 |
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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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthols and derivatives | |||||
| 2,7-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-methoxy-1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde | 9991528 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C(C=C2)O)C=O)C(=C1O)OC | 232.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenol esters | |||||
| 4-Hydroxy-2-methylphenyl acetate | 19848408 | Click to see | 166.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / 1-hydroxy-2-unsubstituted benzenoids | |||||
| Methyl 4-hydroxyphenylacetate | 518900 | Click to see COC(=O)CC1=CC=C(C=C1)O | 166.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Germacranolides and derivatives | |||||
| [(3aR,4R,5E,7Z,10Z,11aR)-6-formyl-10-methyl-3-methylidene-2-oxo-3a,4,9,11a-tetrahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-4-yl] 2-methylpropanoate | 10336745 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(C(C=C(C=CC1)C=O)OC(=O)C(C)C)C(=C)C(=O)O2 | 330.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(3aS,4S,5S,6E,10E,11aR)-6-formyl-10-methyl-3-methylidene-4-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-2-oxo-3a,4,5,8,9,11a-hexahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-5-yl] 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate | 21593572 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(C(C(C(=CCC1)C=O)OC(=O)C(C)(C)O)OC(=O)C(C)C)C(=C)C(=O)O2 | 434.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| Cholesterol | 5997 | Click to see | 386.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0890037X00039920 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Chlorogenic Acid | 1794427 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| cis-Chlorogenic acid | 1794425 | Click to see | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| 2-(4-Hydroxyphenoxy)-6-[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoxymethyl]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 162890773 | Click to see | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Quinoline carboxylic acids | |||||
| Quininic acid | 345824 | Click to see | 203.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| Caffeic Acid | 689043 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| cis-Caffeic acid | 1549111 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C=CC(=O)O)O)O | 180.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sinapinic acid | 637775 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C=CC(=O)O | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sinapinic acid | 1549091 | Click to see | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Epicatechin | 182232 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Myricetin | 5281672 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 318.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid 3-O-p-coumaroyl glycosides | |||||
| Tiliroside | 5320686 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Hydroxyflavonoids / 7-hydroxyflavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-1-Benzopyrylium | 128861 | Click to see | 287.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| Cyanidin Chloride | 68247 | Click to see | 322.69 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Delphinidin Chloride | 68245 | Click to see | 338.69 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Flavylium, 3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxy- | 128853 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=[O+]C3=CC(=CC(=C3C=C2O)O)O | 303.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012523 |
| Gastrotelos | 6917937 | Click to see | 340.71 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 6-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 6-Hydroxykaempferol 3,6-dimethyl ether | 5352032 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Phenylpropanoic acids | |||||
| 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionate | 9543338 | Click to see | 165.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |