Phenylpropanoid glycosides of Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower)

Yellow monkeyflower [Mimulus guttatus DC., (Phyrmaceae)] has long been a model plant species for studies in genetics, evolution, and ecology, including plant-animal interactions. Nonetheless, exceedingly little is known about its secondary chemistry. We have discovered that the foliage of yellow monkeyflower contains a diverse suite of phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs); a class of compounds with many known biological activities. Using ¹H and ¹³C NMR and UV and MS chromatography techniques, we positively identified five PPGs from the leaves of yellow monkeyflower. Four of these compounds occur in other species and one is previously undescribed. We also present UV and high-resolution tandem MS data that putatively identify 11 additional foliar compounds as PPGs. This initial discovery and elucidation of yellow monkeyflower's secondary chemistry will be important for continued study of the genetics and ecology of this model species.