Acyclic diterpenoids from the leaves of Capsicum annuum

The leaves of Capsicum annuum L. were extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH, and the concentrated extract was partitioned successively with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H₂O. Three acyclic diterpenoids were isolated from the EtOAc fraction through repeated silica gel column chromatography. The physico-chemical and spectroscopic analyses including NMR, EI-MS, and IR indicated that the three compounds correspond to α-tocopherol (1), phytol (2), and vitamin E quinone (3). This is the first time these compounds have been isolated from the leaves of C. annuum.