Brevicalamide, a new anthranilamide from Aconitum brevicalcaratum, suggests a new type of chemotaxonomic marker for tribe Delphineae

Tribe Delphineae (Ranunculaceae), composed of two closely related genera, i.e., Aconitum L. and Delphinium L., is fame for its taxonomic complexity. Using chemotaxonomy to assist and supplement its taxonomy is of significance. In the present study, three anthranilamide derivatives (1–3), including a new compound, brevicalamide (1), were isolated from the China-specific Delphineae plant Aconitum brevicalcaratum Diels. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds along with other analogs was discussed for the first time. Anthranilamide derivatives exhibited certain chemotaxonomic potential and could serve as a new type of chemical marker to provide useful information for the chemotaxonomy of this phytogroup.