Forsythia viridissima

Golden bell (Forsythia viridissima and several other species of Forsythia) is a cultivated shrub which is native to China. Golden bell has twigs which are yellow-brown in color, and it produces brilliant, yellow flowers in early spring. Like privet, it is a popular hedge plant. 

The first of these proposals (Scheme 2) is based on feeding experiments [25] in Forsythia viridissima and Forsythia europea. The C-10 site of deoxyloganic acid is oxidised to alcohol to give adoxosidic acid, and further oxidation at the same position result in forsythide which, in turn, must be the common origin to a series of derivatives found in Forsythia. This route may be exclusive for this tribe. 

Damtoft et al. carried out feeding experiments in Forsythia viridissima and F. europaea using deuterium-labeled deoxyloganic acid and found incorporation into forsythide (36). On the basis of the results, they concluded that deoxyloganic acid was oxidized at C-10 to adoxosidic acid followed by further oxidation at C-10 to forsythide in Forsythia spp. [71]. 

Inouye H, Nishioka T (1973) Uber die monoterpenglucoside und verwandte naturstofre. XX. liber die struktur des forsythids, eines neuen iridoidglucosides aus Forsythia viridissima. Chem Pharm Bull 21 497-502... 

The dried Forsythia fruit has been used since ancient times as an antidote, an anti-inflammatory agent and a diuretic in Japan, Korea and China [9]. In Japan, the dried fruit originating from F. suspensa Vahl or F viridissima Lindley (Oleaceae) is listed in the Japanese Pharmacopeia XIV as crude drugs Forsythiae Fructus . The dried fruit from F koreana Nakai is also used as crude drugs in Korea. On the other hand, the Forsythia leaves are used as health tea for cold in China. 

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