?The Chemical Constituents ofPotamogeton pectinatus

?Short Communication

Abstract

The genus Potamogeton belongs to the family
Potamogetonaceae and comprises five species with interest-
ing but diverse uses in folklore medicine. For instance
Potamogeton pectinatus L. is used to relieve fever of the liver,
while P. javanicus Hassk and P. natans L. are febrifuge and
resolvent [1]. A decoction of P. polygonifelius Pourr., with
brown sugar, is ingested to treat dysentery; a simple decoc-
tion affords a treatment for toothache and eye diseases [1].
The medicinal properties of this genus have prompted us
to carry out phytochemical studies on one of its species
P. pectinatus which commonly occurs in various parts of East
and Southeast Asia. The literature survey reveals that no
individual constituent has ever been isolated from this.
species although some amino acids and carbohydrates have
been identified through chromatography [2-31. Herein we
report the isolation and characterization of a new purine al-
kaloid and an aromatic diester from P. pectinatus collected
form Oven Lake in Almoot District, Tehran.