A comparative chemosystematical study of the genus Shorea in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The genus Shorea of the Dipterocarpaceae family is represented by 15 species in Sri Lanka, of which 13 are endemic. Because of the existence of different classification systems for this genus, proposed by several authors (Trimen 1974, Ashton 1980, Kostermann 1992), the aim of this study was to determine the taxonomic position of the genus Shorea using flavonoid composition. Flavonoid composition of the leaves of 11 species was studied using chromatographic techniques and UV visible spectroscopy. It was revealed that 48% flavonols, 36% flavones, 63% proanthocyanidins and 13% deoxy compounds were present in the leaves. In this study, a comparison of the flavonoid glycoside distribution patterns of Shorea stipularis and S. hulanidda suggested that the two species should be treated as different entities. However, several authors treat the taxonomic positions of these two species differently.