Agnuside

Agnuside, with the CAS number 11027-63-7 and molecular formula C₂₂H₂₆O₁₁, is a naturally occurring bioactive iridoid glycoside that belongs to the class of carbohydrates, nucleosides & nucleotides, specifically categorized as monosaccharides glycosides. Its IUPAC name is ((1S,4aR,5S,7aS)-5-hydroxy-1-((2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxy-1,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta(c)pyran-7-yl)methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, and it has a molecular weight of 466.44 g/mol.
This compound is primarily isolated from various species of the Vitex genus, a plant group with deep roots in traditional medicine. Key botanical sources include Vitex negundo L., Vitex japonicus, Vitex agnus-castus (commonly known as the chaste tree), and Vitex trifolia. The chaste tree, in particular, has been valued in Mediterranean and Near Eastern herbal remedies for centuries, with ancient Greeks and Romans using its extracts—rich in agnuside—for women’s reproductive health support.
Chemically, agnuside is defined as the ester of aucubin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, a structure that distinguishes it from related compounds like negundoside (another iridoid glycoside in Vitex species). Modern isolation techniques, such as preparative thin-layer chromatography, enable the purification of agnuside from methanolic extracts of Vitex leaves, yielding a high-purity product suitable for scientific and therapeutic research.
Physicochemically, agnuside presents as a powder with a melting point of 146 °C, a density of 1.59 g/cm³, and a boiling point of 785.5 ± 60.0 °C at 760 torr. It exhibits solubility in DMSO (10 mM) and has a specific rotation of [α]D -98.0 ± 5° when dissolved in ethanol at a concentration of 0.1. For storage, it remains stable for 2 months at room temperature and has a longer shelf life when kept in a -20 °C freezer.

Inflammatory Disease Research: Used to investigate mechanisms of asthma, osteoarthritis, and systemic inflammation, given its ability to inhibit COX-2 (IC₅₀ = 0.026 mg/ml) and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Allergy and Immunology Studies: Validated for exploring anti-allergic effects, including reduction of IgE and IL-4/IL-10 levels in Balb/c mouse models of allergic asthma.
Angiogenesis and Tissue Repair Research: Employed to study blood vessel formation, as it promotes HUVEC cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
Women’s Health Therapeutic Development: Investigated for hormonal modulation (e.g., PMS, menopausal symptoms) due to its interaction with estrogen receptors and dopaminergic activity.
Arthritis Therapy Research: Demonstrates anti-arthritic effects in rat models by suppressing T-cell mediated cytokines and pro-fibrotic substances, supporting development of novel arthritis treatments.

In the field of iridoid glycosides and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, researchers interested in agnuside often seek complementary compounds that target overlapping biological pathways. Key related products include negundoside (a structurally similar iridoid glycoside from Vitex species), aucubin (the aglycone precursor of agnuside with anti-inflammatory activity), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (the ester component of agnuside linked to antioxidant effects). Additionally, other phytochemicals like vitexin (a flavonoid from Vitex species) and casticin (another Vitex-derived compound with anti-inflammatory properties) are widely used in parallel studies of botanical therapeutics. If you are interested in related products, you can directly contact us or inquire about product customization services.