ABSTRACT
Dihydrochalcones are C-ring-open avonoids with a 15-carbon skeleton (Figure 7.1) and are secondary metabolites found in several plants and plant products that are important components of the human diet. These compounds include phloretin and its glycoside conjugates phloretin-2′-O-glucoside (phloridzin) and phloretin2′-O-(2″-O-xylosyl)glucoside from apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). In addition, aspalathin (2′,3,4,4′,6′-pentahydroxydihydrochalcone-3′-C-glucoside) and nothofagin (2′,4,4′,6′-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone-3′-C-glucoside) are dihydrochalcone C-glycosides found in rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) tea. Naringin dihydrochalcone [2′,4,6′-trihydroxydihydrochalcone-4′-O-(2″-O-rhamnosyl)glucoside] and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone [2′,3,6′-trihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone-4′-O-(2″-O-rhamnosyl)glucoside] are articial sweeteners derived from citrus fruits (Figure 7.1).
