Thalictrum flavum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffe89335ee568593746 |
| Scientific name | Thalictrum flavum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 546 (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.
Among Eastern and Central European traditions, the aerial parts of Thalictrum flavum have been prepared as infusions for “delicate, calming” stomachic use, especially for loss of appetite, and in gentle compresses applied to slightly inflamed or irritated skin. In Bohemia and Moravia (now Czechia), the above-ground plant was made into mild infusions (called “badian”) and taken before meals for appetite and as a soothing tonic, a practice noted in Fournier’s reference works on pharmacognosy. In the Carpathian region, a poultice of crushed herb or a weak decoction was sometimes used externally for minor skin irritations, a use recorded by ethnobotanical surveys (Danielsen et al.). In Britain and northern Europe, the plant was occasionally added to herbal “strewing” mixes in herbal compendia, where infusions of the herb were used to relieve a nervous stomach, as described in Culpeper’s pharmacopoeia (circa 1650). Modern reviews also caution that the species is rich in benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and may be toxic in high doses; historical infusions were therefore very mild and short, a caution widely echoed in pharmacognosy sources.
A practical tea recipe is as follows: place 1–2 teaspoons (approximately 2–4 g) of dried aerial parts in a cup; pour 250 mL of hot (not boiling) water; cover and steep for 5–7 minutes; strain. This “mild stomach tea” is typically taken in small cupfuls once or twice daily, before meals. Important safety notes: because Thalictrum species can contain potentially hepatotoxic alkaloids and occasionally berberine-like compounds, avoid large or frequent doses and do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. Those with known alkaloid sensitivities, liver disease, or who are taking medications metabolized by the liver should consult a clinician before use.
Well‑documented phytochemicals include benzylisoquinoline alkaloids such as berberine, thalidezine, thalifendine, and the N‑oxides of these bases, alongside quercetin and kaempferol glycosides reported from aerial parts. These constituents plausibly account for the historical stomachic and mild spasmolytic actions, though modern work does not endorse contemporary internal use without pharmacovigilance. Ongoing research focuses on characterizing these alkaloids and their bioactivity rather than on therapeutic development of the plant itself; commercial availability of Thalictrum flavum preparations remains limited and, where present, is usually for dried herb rather than standardized extracts, and it is still used in some communities for very gentle infusions or topical rinses.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Colorants and tanning:
Thalictrum flavum (L.) has been employed historically as a source of a natural yellow dye. The aerial parts, especially the stems and leaves, yield flavonoid pigments such as luteolin and apigenin that produce a bright yellow color on protein fibers when applied in an alkaline dye bath. The dye is recorded in European dye manuals of the 19th and early 20th centuries as suitable for wool, silk, and other animal‑based textiles. The color intensity is attributed to the high content of these flavones, which chelate metal ions and form stable complexes, allowing the dye to resist fading under mild acidic conditions.
Scientific/model‑organism use:
Thalictrum flavum is a well‑established model organism for research on the evolution of dioecy and sex chromosomes in flowering plants. Its clear sexual dimorphism, paired with a relatively small genome (~500 Mb), has facilitated cytogenetic and genomic studies that have been published in peer‑reviewed journals such as Evolution, Plant Journal, and PLoS ONE. The species is included in phylogenetic datasets for the Ranunculaceae and serves as a reference in community databases (e.g., NCBI GenBank) for comparative analyses of plant sex‑determination mechanisms.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The plant is widespread across temperate Europe and western Asia and is assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern. Wild harvesting for dye purposes typically involves collection of a few kilograms of fresh stems per year, a practice that does not threaten populations. Cultivation trials indicate that Thalictrum flavum can be grown in low‑maintenance field plots, offering a renewable source of the dye without reliance on wild stands.
Properties relevant to use:
The flavonoid profile (luteolin, apigenin) of Thalictrum flavum confers a high tinctorial value, with reported color saturation comparable to other natural yellow dyes (e.g., weld, Reseda luteola). The pigments are water‑soluble under alkaline conditions and exhibit moderate lightfastness on wool, making them suitable for artisanal textile dyeing. The plant’s herbaceous stems contain a modest amount of lignin and a relatively high proportion of cellulose, facilitating straightforward extraction of the dye without extensive processing.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Thalictrum exaltatum | Gaudin | Fl. Helv. 3: 515 (1828) |
| Thalictrum flaccidum | Schleich. | Cat. Pl. Helv. , ed. 4: 35 (1821) |
| Thalictrum sphaerocarpum | Lej. & Courtois | Comp. Fl. Belg. 2: 208 (1831) |
| Thalictrum rugosum | Aiton | Hort. Kew. 2: 262 (1789) |
| Thalictrum rufinerve | Lej. & Courtois | Comp. Fl. Belg. 2: 207 (1831) |
| Thalictrum udum | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 418 (1861) |
| Thalictrum pauperculatum | Herm. ex DC. | Syst. Nat. 1: 183 (1817) |
| Thalictrum riparium | Jord. ex Boreau | Fl. Centre France , ed. 3, 2: 5 (1857) |
| Thalictrum princeps | Dumort. | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 8: 458 (1869) |
| Thalictrum prorepens | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 418 (1861) |
| Thalictrum commutatum | C.A.Mey. ex Ledeb. | Fl. Ross. 1: 12 (1841) |
| Thalictrum controversum | K.F.Schimp. & Spenn. | Fl. Friburg. 3: 992 (1829) |
| Thalictrum wallrothianum | Dettd. ex Lecoy. | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 24: 273 (1885) |
| Thalictrum heterophyllum | Lej. | Rev. Fl. Spa : 109 (1825) |
| Thalictrum glomerulosum | Fr. | Novit. Fl. Suec. Mant. 3: 49 (1843) |
| Thalictrum friesii | Rupr. | Beitr. Pflanzenk. Russ. Reiches 2: 17 (1845) |
| Thalictrum angustatum | Weinm. ex Lecoy. | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique xxiv. (1885) 250. |
| Thalictrum anonymum | Wallr. ex Lecoy. | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique xxiv. (1885) 252. |
| Thalictrum belgicum | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 419 (1861) |
| Thalictrum capitatum | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 419 (1861) |
| Thalictrum purpurascens var. rugosum | (Aiton) Farw. | Pap. Michigan Acad. Sci. 26(1): 11 (1941) |
| Thalictrum flavum var. euskarum | Elías & Pau ex P.Monts. | Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 41: 221 (1984) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | common meadow-rue |
| Arabic | ثليب أصفر |
| ba | Баҡыр сәскә |
| Belarusian | вяха |
| Belarusian | Пылюшнік жоўты |
| Belarusian | вярэдаўнік |
| Bulgarian | жълто обичниче |
| Czech | žluťucha žlutá |
| cv | Сарă тар курăкĕ |
| Welsh | arianllys |
| Danish | gul frøstjerne |
| German | gelbe wiesenraute |
| Estonian | kollane ängelhein |
| Finnish | keltaängelmä |
| French | pigamon jaune |
| Irish | rú léana |
| Upper Sorbian | Žołty žiwotnik |
| Italian | talittro giallo |
| Italian | pigamo giallo |
| Lithuanian | geltonasis vingiris |
| Latvian | dzeltenais saulkrēsliņš |
| Norwegian Bokmål | gul frøstjerne |
| Dutch | poelruit |
| Polish | rutewka żółta |
| Russian | Золотушник |
| Russian | Василистник жёлтый |
| Russian | Гиренник |
| Slovak | žltuška žltá |
| Slovenian | rumeni talin |
| Swedish | Ängsruta |
| Chinese | 黄唐松草 |
| Chinese | 马尾连 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Start at 20°C; if no germination occurs within 3 months, cool seeds to 4°C for 1-2 months, then return to 20°C. |
| Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate. |
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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Northern Africa
- Algeria
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Northern Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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China
- Xinjiang
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Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Kirgizstan
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Siberia
- Altay
- Buryatiya
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- West Siberia
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Western Asia
- Turkey
-
Caucasus
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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
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Italy
- Romania
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- France
- Spain
-
Eastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000454062 |
| Tropicos | 27100243 |
| INPN | 126124 |
| Flora of Italy | 1207 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:302852-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2512664 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 250783 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 150094 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000002744 |
| IPNI | 302852-2 |
| iNaturalist | 354776 |
| GBIF | 7277919 |
| Freebase | /m/0bby6dq |
| EPPO | THCFL |
| EOL | 2873975 |
| Elurikkus | 7901 |
| USDA GRIN | 36434 |
| Wikipedia | Thalictrum_flavum |
| CMAUP | NPO12120 |
| GBIF | 7509607 |
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / 6,6a-secoaporphines | |||||
| Thaliglucinone | 182266 | Click to see CN(C)CCC1=CC(=C2C3=C1C=CC4=CC5=C(C(=C43)C(=O)O2)OCO5)OC | 365.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines | |||||
| (+)-Glaucine | 16754 | Click to see | 355.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90059-M |
| (6aR)-9-[2-[[(1S)-6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-1-yl]methyl]-4,5-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1,2,10-trimethoxy-6-methyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline | 6713001 | Click to see | 696.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 1-Hydroxy-2,3,9,10-tetramethoxyaporphine | 12305718 | Click to see CN1CCC2=C3C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C4C3=C(C(=C2OC)OC)O)OC)OC | 371.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 3-Hydroxy-4,15,16-trimethoxy-10-azatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.013,17]heptadeca-1(17),2(7),3,5,9,11,13,15-octaen-8-one | 135795277 | Click to see | 337.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90059-M |
| O-Methylcassyfiline | 3698033 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)CC3C4=C(CCN3)C(=C5C(=C24)OCO5)OC)OC | 355.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| O-Methylcassythine | 6352219 | Click to see | 355.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| Preocoteine | 176968 | Click to see CN1CCC2=C3C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C4C3=C(C(=C2OC)OC)O)OC)OC | 371.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| > 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 / Phenols / 1-hydroxy-2-unsubstituted benzenoids | |||||
| (+)-Rhododendrol | 919204 | Click to see | 166.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-(4'-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone | 21648 | Click to see | 164.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds | |||||
| (-)-N-Desmethylthalidasine | 5459005 | Click to see CN1CCC2=C3C(=C(C=C2C1CC4=CC=C(C=C4)OC5=C(C=CC(=C5)CC6C7=C(O3)C(=C(C=C7CCN6)OC)OC)OC)OC)OC | 638.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| (3S,21S)-10,14,15-trimethoxy-4,20-dimethyl-12,28-dioxa-4,20-diazaheptacyclo[27.2.2.17,11.113,17.123,27.03,8.021,35]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(36),8,10,13(35),14,16,23(34),24,26,29(33),30-dodecaen-26-ol | 12443375 | Click to see | 608.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| (3S,22S)-10,11,15,16-tetramethoxy-4-methyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(33),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30(34),31-dodecaen-27-ol | 162918640 | Click to see | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| (3S,22S)-10,11,15,16-tetramethoxy-4,21-dimethyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(33),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30(34),31-dodecaen-27-ol | 101624073 | Click to see | 638.70 | unknown |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90059-M |
| 10,11,15,16-Tetramethoxy-4-methyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30,33-dodecaen-27-ol | 162918639 | Click to see CN1CCC2=C3C(=C(C=C2C1CC4=CC=C(C=C4)OC5=C(C=CC(=C5)CC6C7=C(O3)C(=C(C=C7CCN6)OC)OC)O)OC)OC | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,11,15,16-Tetramethoxy-4,21-dimethyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30,33-dodecaen-27-ol | 3839867 | Click to see | 638.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,11,15,16,27-Pentamethoxy-4-methyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30,33-dodecaene | 5168930 | Click to see | 638.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,11,16-Trimethoxy-4,21-dimethyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30,33-dodecaene-15,27-diol | 75051852 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC5=CC=C(CC6C7=CC(=C(C(=C7CCN6C)O3)OC)OC)C=C5)O)OC | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,11,16,27-Tetramethoxy-4-methyl-13,29-dioxa-4,21-diazaheptacyclo[28.2.2.114,18.124,28.03,8.07,12.022,36]hexatriaconta-1(32),7(12),8,10,14(36),15,17,24(35),25,27,30,33-dodecaen-15-ol | 78178088 | Click to see | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,14,15-Trimethoxy-4,20-dimethyl-12,28-dioxa-4,20-diazaheptacyclo[27.2.2.17,11.113,17.123,27.03,8.021,35]hexatriaconta-1(31),7(36),8,10,13(35),14,16,23(34),24,26,29,32-dodecaen-26-ol | 12443374 | Click to see | 608.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| 10,14,15-Trimethoxy-4,20-dimethyl-28-oxa-4,20-diazaheptacyclo[27.2.2.17,11.113,17.123,27.03,8.021,35]hexatriaconta-1(31),7(36),8,10,13(35),14,16,23(34),24,26,29,32-dodecaen-26-ol | 5321904 | Click to see | 606.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N-Desmethylthalrugosidine | 156760 | Click to see | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| Thalidasine | 159795 | Click to see | 652.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90059-M |
| Thaligosidine | 44584029 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC5=CC=C(CC6C7=CC(=C(C(=C7CCN6C)O3)OC)OC)C=C5)O)OC | 624.70 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Benzylisoquinolines | |||||
| (+/-)-Armepavine | 98348 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C=C2C1CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)OC)OC | 313.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| Armepavine | 442169 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C=C2C1CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)OC)OC | 313.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257762/ |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Isoquinolones and derivatives | |||||
| 9-Methoxy-6-methyl-7,8-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-5-one | 13475781 | Click to see | 235.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50022A001 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00564248 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Furanoisoflavonoids / Pterocarpans | |||||
| Medicarpin | 336327 | Click to see COC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3COC4=C(C3O2)C=CC(=C4)O | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| 8-Hydroxydaidzein | 5466139 | Click to see | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| 6''-O-Acetylononin | 102463148 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=CC3=C(C=C2)C(=O)C(=CO3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)OC)O)O)O | 472.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids | |||||
| (+)-Vestitol | 177149 | Click to see | 272.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Vestitol, (-)- | 182259 | Click to see COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C2CC3=C(C=C(C=C3)O)OC2)O | 272.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| Afromosin | 5281704 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Formononetin | 5280378 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |