A cyanogenic glycoside from Canthium schimperianum.

A new cyanogenic glycoside esterified with an iridoid glycoside, 2R-[(2-methoxybenzoylgenoposidyl)-5-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-( 1-->6)-beta-glucopyranosyloxy]-2-phenyl acetonitrile, was isolated from the seeds of Canthium schimperianum and identified from its spectroscopic data. The new compound showed weak growth retarding activity towards neonate larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (ED50 8580 ppm) compared to the co-occurring hydroxycinnamic acids, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (ED50 550 ppm) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (ED50 520 ppm).