Xanthones from Swertia punctata

Isolation of 1- O-primeverosyl-3,8-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone and 1- O-gentiobiosyl-3,7-dimethoxy-8-hydroxyxanthone, along with five known xanthones, isobellidifolin, methylbellidifolin, isoswertianin, methylswertianin and norswertianin-1- O-β- d-glucoside, from the roots of Swertia punctata is reported. In the aerial parts four xanthones, bellidifolin, methylbellidifolin, swertianolin and mangiferin, and flavone- C-glucoside, isoorientin were identified. The chemotaxonomic and pharmacological significance of these results is discussed. Xanthones 4 and 8 were isolated from the roots of Swertia punctata, along with five known xanthones. In the aerial parts four xanthones were identified.