The phenolic composition of the ethanolic extract obtained from the flowers of the medicinal plant Cytisus
multiflorus has been elucidated by high performance liquid chromatography, electrospray mass spectrometry
and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The extract was mainly composed of flavones,
including the common chrysin, orientin, luteolin-5-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin and
apigenin-7-O-glucoside, which appeared as minor components. The major flavone in the extract was
chrysin-7-O-B-D-glucopyranoside, and it also contained moderate amounts of a dihydroxyflavone isomer
of chrysin, as well as of 2''-O-pentosyl-6-C-hexosyl-luteolin, 2''-O-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-luteolin and 6''-
O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-2''-O-pentosyl-C-hexosyl-apigenin, which are not commonly found in
the Fabaceae family. Other novel phenolic compounds found in the ethanolic extract of C. multiflorus
comprised the flavones 2''-O-pentosyl-6-C-hexosyl-apigenin, 2''-O-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-apigenin and
6''-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-200-O-pentosyl-C-hexosyl-luteolin. The assessment of the biological
activities of the main compounds of this extract are now keen, in order to determine their relevance in
the beneficial properties of the plant.
