Flavonoids in the leaves of Oxalis corniculata and sequestration of the flavonoids in the wing scales of the pale grass blue butterfly, Pseudozizeeria maha.

Abstract

Three C-glycosylflavones in the leaves of Oxalis corniculata, the host plant of the lycaenid butterfly pale grass blue (Pseudozizeeria maha), were identified as 6-C-glucosylluteolin (isoorientin), 6-C-glucosylapigenin (isovitexin) and isovitexin 7-methyl ether (swertisin). Comparative spectral and HPLC analyses between the leaf extract of the host plants and the wings of P. maha showed selective uptake of the host-plant flavonoid isovitexin to the wings of the butterfly.