Evolution of Xanthones in Gentianaceae and Guttiferae

Abstract

A literature survey, completed towards the beginning of 1977, revealed a registry of 107 xanthones from 23 genera (65 species) of Guttiferae, 93 xanthones from 7 genera (43 species) of Gentianaceae, 13 xanthones from 1 genus (4 species) of Polygalaceae, 10 xanthones from 2 genera (2 species) of Moraceae and 3 xanthones from 1 genus (1 species) of Aspidaceae. Mangiferin, while co-occurring only very rarely with polyoxyxanthones, is frequently associated with isoorientin. This fact, which indicates a flavonoid type biosynthesis, and its relatively wide distribution (Bate-Smith 1965, Carpenter et al. 1969) justify the exclusion of this and other related C-glycosylxanthones from consideration in the present context.