Peperomia pellucida
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440019e4583e880267289 |
| Scientific name | Peperomia pellucida |
| Authority | (L.) Kunth |
| First published in | Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 64 (1816) |
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.
In the Upper Amazon, the Wayapi of French Guiana bruise fresh aerial parts as an emollient and wound poultice, while a decoction of the whole plant is used for bathing and washing wounds to soothe irritation (Grenand et al., 1987). Among Mapuche communities in southern Chile, fresh leaves and the aerial plant are chewed for pain and applied as a compress or poultice (Gómez et al., 1989). In West Africa, villagers in Liberia use an infusion of the entire plant to wash inflamed eyes (MacKinnon et al., 2002), and in the Dominican Republic, a leaf decoction is employed as a wash for inflamed skin (Germosén-Robineau et al., 1998).
For a practical infusion, measure 1 level tablespoon (about 2 g) of dried aerial parts (leaves and stems) and pour 250 mL of just‑boiled water over them. Cover and steep for 10–12 minutes, then cool, strain, and use as a compress or gentle wash. The product is intended for short external use only and should not be applied to broken skin or eyes unless under guidance. Safety note: available reports concern topical application and small internal doses; large internal doses are not advised, and there are no reliable data on safety during pregnancy or lactation (Gómedosín‑Robineau et al., 1998).
Well‑established constituents that plausibly underlie the observed topical soothing and cleansing effects include essential oils and their monoterpenes (linalool and β‑caryophyllene), the phenylpropanoid eugenol, flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, and the phenolic acids caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids, reported in air‑dried aerial parts (Quijano et al., 2000; Lü et al., 2016).
Today Peperomia pellucida is still collected and prepared locally for poultices and washes in parts of the Amazon and the Dominican Republic (Germosén‑Robineau et al., 1998), while laboratory work on its oils and phenolics continues in Asia and the Americas (Lü et al., 2016).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Fresh leaves and stems are reported as edible in parts of Southeast Asia and the West Indies, consumed raw as a salad green or mixed into salads and soups. Burkhalter recorded use as a raw vegetable in the West Indies. The plant’s foliage has been described as slightly mucilaginous. No commercial processing into dried leaf products or extracts is documented.
Industrial and craft applications:
Peperomia pellucida serves as a research organism in phytochemical and biological studies, contributing extracts and essential oils to analytical investigations and laboratory protocols. Destructive-digestion protocols for leaf tissue and nuclear DNA measurements have been applied to it as part of systematic studies in Piperaceae, and aphid feeding bioassays have used detached leaf tests, indicating practical value as a test substrate under controlled conditions. There is no evidence of industrial-scale material applications such as timber, fiber, or gums.
Properties relevant to use:
The foliage contains mucilaginous polysaccharides and polar metabolites; these compounds contribute to textural properties of the fresh leaves. GC–MS analyses of leaf essential oils have identified major constituents (e.g., Dillapiole, (E)-nerolidol), informing chemical characterization in experimental protocols.
Standards and regulation:
No food-grade specifications, botanical identity standards, or safety evaluations specific to Peperomia pellucida are cited. Use is confined to local dietary practice; international standards for food colorants, extracts, or essential oils are not documented.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is a small, fast-growing herb naturally distributed in tropical regions and frequently encountered in disturbed habitats. Wild-harvesting for local consumption has been recorded in the West Indies; no commercial cultivation or sustainability assessments are reported.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Verhuellia knoblocheriana | C.DC. | Prodr. 16(1): 391 (1869) |
| Micropiper tenellum | Klotzsch ex Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(2): 432 (1859) |
| Peperomia knoblecheriana | Schott | Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 9: 225 (1851) |
| Peperomia oleracea | Poepp. ex Miq. | Fl. Bras. 4(1): 10 (1852) |
| Peperomia translucens | Trel. | Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 18: 328. 1937 |
| Peperomia vogelii | Miq. | London J. Bot. 4: 413 (1845) |
| Peperomia triadophylla | Peter | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 40(2, Anh.): 1 (1932) |
| Peperomia yapensis | C.DC. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 56: 504 (1921) |
| Piper pellucidum | L. | Sp. Pl. : 30 (1753) |
| Micropiper pellucidum | Miq. | Comm. Phytogr. : 54 (1840) |
| Piper concinnum | Haw. | Saxifrag. Enum. 2: 198 (1821) |
| Peperomia concinna | A.Dietr. | Sp. Pl. ed. 6 , 1: 164 (1831) |
| Peperomia pellucida var. pygmaea | Willd. ex Miq. | Syst. Piperac. 1: 117 1843 |
| Peperomia pellucida var. minor | Miq. | Fl. Bras. 4(1): 10 (1852) |
| Peperomia praetenuis | Trel. | Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 12: 102, 406 (1936) |
| Peperomia nana | C.DC. | J. Bot. 4: 135 (1866) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | man to man |
| ace | ranup tanoh |
| ban | damuh-damuh |
| Bengali | দীপ্ত লুচি পাতা |
| Persian | پپرمیا پلوسیدا |
| ht | zèb kourès |
| Indonesian | sirih cina |
| Indonesian | suruhan |
| Indonesian | tumpang air |
| Indonesian | tumpang angin |
| jv | sladanan |
| Malayalam | വെറ്റിലപ്പച്ച |
| Malayalam | മഷിത്തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | സ്ലേറ്റ്പച്ച |
| Malayalam | സ്ലേറ്റ് പച്ച |
| Malayalam | വെറ്റിലപച്ച |
| Malayalam | വെള്ളിത്തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | mashithantu |
| Malayalam | മഷി തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | മഷിതണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | മഷിത്തണ്ടു് |
| Malayalam | വെള്ള തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | വെള്ളതണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | വെള്ളത്തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | വെള്ളി തണ്ട് |
| Malayalam | വെറ്റില പച്ച |
| mnw | သဂါဗတာၚ်၊ တၞံ |
| pam | pansitpansitan |
| su | sasaladahan |
| Swedish | ogräspeperomia |
| Thai | กระสัง |
| Vietnamese | rau tiêu |
| Vietnamese | rau càng cua |
| Chinese | 透明草 |
| Chinese | 草胡椒 |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Peperomia pellucida var. argentina | Yunck. | Lilloa 27: 170 (1955) |
| Peperomia pellucida var. pellucida | Unknown |
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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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Somalia
- Sudan
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Mozambique
- Zambia
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Madagascar
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
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Eastern Asia
- Taiwan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
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Malesia
- Malaya
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
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Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
- Marianas
- Marshall Islands
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South-central Pacific
- Society Islands
- Tuamotu
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North-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Netherlands Antilles
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000477971 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1279 |
| USDA Plants | PEPE5 |
| Tropicos | 25001099 |
| INPN | 447440 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:679378-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2556385 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1036082 |
| Observations.org | 198949 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 352190 |
| Nature Serve | 2.150930 |
| IPNI | 679378-1 |
| iNaturalist | 166494 |
| GBIF | 3086412 |
| Freebase | /m/04d_b5q |
| EPPO | PEOPE |
| EOL | 596787 |
| Elurikkus | 365368 |
| USDA GRIN | 400106 |
| Wikipedia | Peperomia_pellucida |
| CMAUP | NPO13657 |
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 / Diphenylmethanes | |||||
| (3S,4S)-4-[bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 10917283 | Click to see CC1C(COC1=O)C(C2=CC(=C(C(=C2)OC)OC)OC)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)OC)OC)OC | 446.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| peperomin C | 14541876 | Click to see | 446.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| (3S,4R)-4-[(S)-(3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 162922569 | Click to see | 416.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| (3S,4S)-4-[(3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 11690194 | Click to see | 416.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[(3-Hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 73063082 | Click to see | 416.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Benzenoids / Tetralins | |||||
| (4R)-5,6,8-trimethoxy-4-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one | 162873618 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C=C1C2CCC(=O)C3=C2C(=C(C=C3OC)OC)OC)OC)OC | 402.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| 5,6,8-trimethoxy-4-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one | 11711100 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C=C1C2CCC(=O)C3=C2C(=C(C=C3OC)OC)OC)OC)OC | 402.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans | |||||
| Episesamin | 5204 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| Sesamin | 72307 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 7,7-epoxylignans | |||||
| [(2R,3S,4S,5S)-4-(acetyloxymethyl)-2,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)oxolan-3-yl]methyl acetate | 102025443 | Click to see | 520.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| [(2S,3R,4R,5R)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-bis(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)oxolan-3-yl]methyl acetate | 11554672 | Click to see | 474.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2S,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)oxolan-3-yl]methyl acetate | 11627054 | Click to see | 476.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| [4-(Acetyloxymethyl)-2,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)oxolan-3-yl]methyl acetate | 73014533 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(OC1C2=CC(=C(C(=C2)OC)O)OC)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)OC)O)OC)COC(=O)C | 520.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| [5-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)oxolan-3-yl]methyl acetate | 73034134 | Click to see | 476.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Caryophyllene,alpha + beta mixt. | 5354499 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1026(199909/10)14:5<312::AID-FFJ835>3.0.CO;2-B |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| (24R)-5-Ergosten-3beta-ol | 312822 | Click to see | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| (3S,8S,9S,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 134766514 | Click to see | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 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/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles | |||||
| (3S,4S)-4-[(S)-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 14541875 | Click to see CC1C(COC1=O)C(C2=CC3=C(C(=C2)OC)OCO3)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)OC)OC | 430.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| (3S,4S)-4-[bis(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl]-3-methyloxolan-2-one | 11486787 | Click to see | 414.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| (4R)-4-[(S)-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-methylideneoxolan-2-one | 162945311 | Click to see | 428.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| 4-[(7-Methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-methylideneoxolan-2-one | 9867239 | Click to see | 428.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| 4-[Bis(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl]-3-methylideneoxolan-2-one | 85153689 | Click to see | 412.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| Apiole | 10659 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857191 |
| Dillapiol | 10231 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1CC=C)OCO2)OC | 222.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1026(199909/10)14:5<312::AID-FFJ835>3.0.CO;2-B https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00224-7 |
| peperomin A | 14541873 | Click to see | 414.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| peperomin B | 14541874 | Click to see | 430.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| Peperomin E | 10476763 | Click to see | 412.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives | |||||
| 2-[(E)-2-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)ethenyl]-4-methoxyquinoline | 14521140 | Click to see COC1=CC(=NC2=CC=CC=C21)C=CC3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4 | 305.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-Propylquinoline | 74166 | Click to see CCCC1=NC2=CC=CC=C2C=C1 | 171.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cusparine | 442893 | Click to see | 307.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Furanoquinolines | |||||
| Skimmianine | 6760 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=C3C=COC3=N2)OC)OC | 259.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Phenylquinolines | |||||
| 2-Phenylquinoline | 71545 | Click to see | 205.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Methoxy-2-Phenylquinoline | 826247 | Click to see COC1=CC(=NC2=CC=CC=C21)C3=CC=CC=C3 | 235.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-8-O-glycosides | |||||
| 5,4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxyflavone | 129316704 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| 5,8,4'-Trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 8-O-glucoside | 100912308 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050457S |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 1,2,4-Trimethoxy-5-[2-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutyl]benzene | 10000325 | Click to see | 388.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00224-7 |
| Pellucidin A | 637244 | Click to see | 388.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00224-7 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |