An antifeedant for the yellow butterfly larvae in Camellia japonica: A revised structure of camellidin II.

Camellidin II was isolated as an antifeedant for the larvae of the yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe mandarina de l'Orza, from the leaves of Camellia japonica L. besides a non-tested camellidin III, identified as its methyl ester, and three inactive known compounds, quinic acid, 3β, 20-dihydroxylupane, and 3, 3', 4-tri-O-methylellagic acid. Spectroscopic and chemical evidence indicates that the structure of camellidin II, reported as an antifungal saponin, is better represented as 3 β, 18 β-dihydroxy-28-norolean-12-en-16-one 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→2) -β-D-galactopyranosyl- (1→3) - [β-D-galactopyranosyl- (1→2)] -β-D-glucuronopyranoside.