New Source of Rutin from the Flowers of Cordia lutea (Boraginaceae)

The native species Cordia lutea, is used in Peru by folk medicine in the treatment of liver diseases such as jaundice and others. From fluid extract of the flowers, flavonoid quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (rutin) was isolated and identified. The relative purity was assay by HPLC and structural elucidation using 1H and 13C NMR spectral data in comparison with literature. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (rutin), was the major component of the fluid extract obtained from C. lutea flowers, with a relative purity, after crystallization, of 97.55% and 8% yield from the extract. As a conclusion for this investigation, it is important to note, that with the fluid extract from the flowers of C. lutea it is possible the isolation of the flavonoid quercetin-3-O-rhamno glucoside (rutin) with high purity and yield. This compound was not previously described in the flowers of this plant species.