Flavonoids isolated from Medicago littoralis Rhode (Fabaceae): their ecological and chemosystematic significance

Three flavonoids, laricitrin 3,5’-di-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), genistein 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (2), and biochanin A 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (= sissotrin) (3), were isolated for the first time from the aerial parts of Medicago littoralis Rhode. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by NMR and LC- DAD-ESI-MS analyses. The chemosystematic of flavones and isoflavones identified was useful for discriminat- ing different taxa inside the section Spirocarpos. In addition, the phytochemical profile of M. littoralis showed a behaviour due to the ecological conditions of sandy dunes, where this plant normally grows.