Chemotaxonomic significance of coumarins and alkaloids in the leaves of Glehnia littoralis

A phytochemical study of Glehnia littoralis leaves led to the isolation of 27 compounds, including 12 coumarins (1-12), four benzofuran glucosides (13-16), two phenols (17-18), one lignan (19), three alkaloids (20-22), two chromone glycosides (23-24), and three caffeoylquinic acids (25-27). Their structures were confirmed using NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and optical rotation data from previous literature. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 16, 19-21, and 26 have not been reported from the Apiaceae family, while nine compounds 12-15, 18, 23-25, and 27 were obtained from the genus Glehnia for the first time. Except for coumarins, the unique alkaloids indole-3-carbaldehyde (20), deoxyhyrtiosine A (21), and naphthisoxazol A (22) are characteristic constituents for the chemotaxonomy of G. littoralis.