[Chromatographic studies of four water-soluble rutosides]

The water-soluble rutosides O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides (HR), trihydroxyethylrutoside (tri-HR) and tetrahydroxyethylrutoside (tetra-HR), with and without NaCl, were separated by means of both thin-layer chromatographic and paper-chromatographic methods; separation of mono-HR was carried out using only the product with NaCl. The results of these studies show: 1. According to the procedure employed, the chromatograms of the tested rutosides showed several spots up to a maximum of 12 in each product. 2. Under certain methodical conditions the chromatograms of tri-HR and tetra-HR with and without NaCl differed; in the chromatograms of the tetra products either 12 or 9 components were detected. 7 spots were found in the chromatogram of tri-I, and 6 spots were observed in that of tri-II. The tetra-HR with NaCl was found to contain a substance which reacted with the diazonium salt fast blue salt B adopting a red coloring. This substance might be responsible for the biological effects, such as the influence exerted on yeast cell respiration. 3. At present, difficulties are still encountered in separating the substance. A comparison of its chromatograms with those of rutin, quercetin, and the bivalent phenols hydroquinone, catechol, and resorcin suggests the substance to be a mono-isomer or a di-isomer of rutin with a resorcin-like structure in the A ring. 4. Preliminary studies on yeast cell respiration using tetra-HR seem to confirm the biological effectiveness of the substance.