On The Chemical, Botanical, and Chemotaxonomical Evaluation of The Genus Citrus -Part I : Polymethoxyflavones of The Leaf of Citrus deliciosa Ten.-

Four polymethoxyfavones were isolated from the leaves of Citrus deliciosa, three of which (nobiletin, 5-O-demethylnobiletin, and tangeritin) are bioactive. The fourth (7,4'-dihydroxy-5,6,8,3'-tetramethoxyflavone) is reported for the first time in the genus Citrus and is a potential chemotaxonomic marker. The structures of these flavones were confirmed by analysing their spectral data and comparison with similar compounds. The previously reported $^{13}C$ NMR assignment of 5-O-demethylnobiletin has been revised on the basis of 2D NMR experiments (HETCOR, COSY, and COLOC). The chemotaxonomic value of the present finding is verified.