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)-1,4 aH ,5 H ,7 aH -cyclopenta[ c ]pyran-4-carbaldehyde ( 1 ), and iridoid 7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methoxy-1 H ,4 aH ,5 H ,7 aH -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, 1 H and 13 C 1D; as well as 2D nuclear magnetic resonance. Moreover, the presence of flavonoids was detected by a preliminary analysis by Thin Layer Chromatography.