Degraded cyanogenic glucosides from Sambucus nigra

Three unusual cyanohydrins, which might be formed by oxidative cleavage of cyanogenins, have been isolated from Sambucus nigra. The structures of the compounds have been defined on the basis of spectroscopic features and by chemical degradation. Unlike cyanogenins the title compounds do not have phytotoxic effects and might be involved in the detoxification process of the plant. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd