Cardenolides, Pregnanes, and Iridoids, Characteristic of Apocynaceae Plants

The investigation on the constituents of five Apocynaceae plants including Nerium odorum (and N. oleander), Cerbera Manghas, Anodendron affine, Trachelospermum asiaticum, and Allamanda neriifolia were described. Novel cardenolide glycosides, pregnanes, and iridoids were isolated and their structures were determined. The distribution of the cardenolide glycosides in the wild and cultivated strains of Nerium were examined quantitatively. The biogenetic relationships of the new substances to the known components and chemotaxonomy of the plants were also discussed.