ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Swertia chirayita. Methods: Column chromatography, such as silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 were used to isolate and purify the compounds. Physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate their structures. Results: Twelve compounds, including 2 xanthones, 4 triterpenoids, 3 secoiridoids, and 3 other compounds, the chemical constituents were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction from 85% ethanol extract of S. chirayita, and identified as bellidifolin (1), norbellidifolin (2), oleanolic acid (3), 4-epi-hederagenin (4), 2-epi-corosolic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), amarogentin (7), swerimilegenin I (8), erythrocentaurin (9), pyrocatechol (10), syringic acid (11), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (12). Conclusion: Compounds 4, 5, and 11 are isolated from genus Swertia for the first time, compounds 8 and 9 are found from S. chirayita for the first time.