New Monoterpenoid and Hemiterpenoid Tetraol of the Crude Drug "She chuang zi"

From the methanol extract of the crude drug "She chuang zi" [Japanese name "Jyashoshi", the fruit of Cnidium monnieri CUSSON (Umbelliferae)], two new substances were obtained as the main constituents of the water soluble portion. From the results of spectral investigations, they were characterized as 3, 7-dimethyl-1, 2, 6, 7-tetrahydroxyoct-3(10)-ene (obtained as a mixture of two epimers) and 3-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroxy-butane, respectively. It is interesting that such monoterpenoid and hemiterpenoid tetraols were obtained from the water soluble portion of an Umbelliferous crude drug which contained an abundance of essential oil and coumarin derivatives.