[Studies on chemical constituents of root tuber of cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Zheshen No. 1)]

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Zheshen No. 1) as a traditional Chinese medicine, and provide a scientific basis for its quality evaluation.

Method: The chemical constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and structurally elucidated by analysis of their physicochemical characteristics including spectroscopic data.

Result: Thirteen compounds were obtained and identified as taraxeryl acetate (1), taraxerol (2), stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol(3), beta-sitosterol (4), daucosterol (5), stigmast-7-en-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), dihydroferulic acid [3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid] (7), adenosine (8), uridine (9), alpha-ethyl-D-galactopyranoside (10), 3-furfuryl pyrole-2-carboxylate (11), glucose (12), and sucrose (13), respectively.

Conclusion: Compounds 1, 2 and 7-10 were isolated from the root tuber of P. heterophylla for the first time.