Iridoids from leaf extract of Genipa americana

Abstract Genipa americana L., Rubiaceae, is a plant native from Brazil popularly known as "jenipapo". Two iridoids, 1-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4aH,5H,7aH-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carbaldehyde (1), and iridoid 7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methoxy-1H,4aH,5H,7aH-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carbaldehyde (2) were isolated and identified in the leaf extract of G. americana. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified for the first time in G. americana, and 1 has not been yet described in literature. These substances were analyzed by spectroscopic techniques such as infrared, high resolution mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C 1D; as well as 2D nuclear magnetic resonance. Moreover, the presence of flavonoids was detected by a preliminary analysis by Thin Layer Chromatography.