Constituents of the arial parts of Eupatorium odoratum L. ( Syn. Chromolaena odorata) (L.) R.M. King And H Robinson), family compositae-grown in Vietnam

Eupatorium odoratum (L.), Family Compositae grows very fast in various places of the world, especially in tropical countries. This plant belonges to one of the worst plants. Some applications of this plant used for treatment of diseases such as disrrhoea, dysentery and scabies have been found in recent years. For detailed studies on Eupatorium odoratum L. grown in Vietnam we have screened this plant for the most characteristic constituents such as essential oil and flavonoids by using combinedly chromatographic (EC, TLC, GC, GCjMS) and spectroscopic (IR, 1H-, 13C-NMR, FAB-MS and UV) methods. The essential oil of Eupatorium odoratum (L.) from Vietnam obtained by steam distillation of the leaves, has been analysed. More than 40 components were found, with geijerene (42.5%) and ,B-cubebene (12.5% as major constituents. Flash chromatographying the crude sample, which was extracted with warm water obtained from the aerial parts of Vietnamese E. odoratum gave two chalcones and one flavanone, whose structures have been shown to be 2'-hydroxy - 4,4',5',6' - tetramethoxy chalcone (odoratin); 2',4-dihydroxy - 4',5',6'-trimethoxy chalcone and the optically inactive flavanone.