[Oxyanthraquinones and flavonoids from garland chrysanthenum]

The stems of the vegetable plant garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) were shown to contain emodin (in its aglycon and glycoside forms) and chrysophanol. Chrysophanol and chrysazin were isolated from the roots of the plant. Because the pigments identified are derivatives of 1,8-dihydroxyanthroquinone, garland chrysanthemum may be a medicinal plant and have utility as a component of laxative species. The leaves of C. coronarium were shown to be rich in quercetin and its glycosides, rutin and isoquercetin. Taken together, this observation and the known high content of ascorbic acid and carotenoids in the plant suggest that C. coronarium may be useful in preventing cardiac and vascular diseases.