New glycosides from the Japanese fern Hymenophyllum barbatum

Thirteen glycosides and methyl (3R,5R)-5-hydroxy-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-hexanoate were newly isolated from the Japanese fern Hymenophyllum barbatum, although our previous work revealed the isolation of hemiterpene glycosides, hymenosides A-J, from the same species. The structures of the newly isolated glycosides were elucidated by extensive two-dimensional (2D) NMR and/or chemical evidence. The structures of those aglycones were divided into four types, 2-methyl-but-2-ene-1,4-diol, 2-hydroxymethyl-but-2-ene-1,4-diol, 2-methylene-butane-1,3,4-triol, and 3-hydroxy-5-hexanolide. The sugar moieties, which were acylated by phenylacetic acid derivatives, were also established by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Eight glucosides of the isolated compounds in the present investigation had a bitter or weakly pungent taste. It is clear that a phenylacetyl group attached to glucose or allose as an ester is necessary for the bitter taste.