Batatins VIII-XI, glycolipid ester-type dimers from Ipomoea batatas

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is native to the tropics of Central and South America, where many varieties have been consumed for more that 5000 years. In developing countries, this crop is a recognized effective food for fighting malnutrition. Purification of the minor lipophilic glicolipids found in the n-hexane-soluble resin glycosides from the white-skinned variety was performed by preparative-scale recycling HPLC. Application of column overload, peak shaving, heart cutting, and recycling techniques permitted the purification of four new oligosaccharide ester-type dimer derivatives of jalapinolic acid, batatins VIII-XI (1-4). The structural characterization of these complex lipo-oligosaccharides was performed through NMR spectroscopy and MS, indicating that batatins VIII-XI (1-4) possess an oligomeric structure consisting of two pentasaccharide units of the known simonic acid B.