[Studies on anthraquinones from the roots of rubia cordifolia l]

Seven anthraquinones were isolated from the ethyl alcohol extracts of the roots of Rubia Cordifolia L. By means of spectrometric data combined with physico-chemical properties, six of them were identified as 2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (I), 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone(II), 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthrequinone(III), 2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-beta-D-glucoside(IV), 1,2-dijhydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone-2-O-beta-D-xylosyl(1-->6)-beta-D -glucoside(V) and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl1-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-beta-D- xylosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucoside(VI). VII is a new compound. Its structure was elucidated to be 2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-beta-D-xylosyl(1-->2)-b eta-D- (6'-O-acetyl)glucoside.