Lignan bis-glucosides from Galium sinaicum

The new lariciresinol-based lignan bis-glucosides, 7S, 8R, 8'R-(-)-lariciresinol-4,4'-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 7S, 8R, 8'R-(-)-5-methoxylariciresinol-4,4'-bis- together with (-)syringaresinol-4,4'-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranside, together with (-)-syringaresinol-4,4'-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the n-butanol extract of Galinum sinaicum roots and their structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques. The isolated compounds represent the first report of lignan glycosides from the Rubiaceae. The two lariciresinol-type glucosides exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against the P388 cell line. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.