Abstract: The present paper deals mainly with the chemical contents of the family Equisetaceae in China. The taxonomic value of the flavonol in this family is discussed. The results of chemical investigation show that kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside and kaempferol are the characteristic components of the family; kaempferol-3-diglucoside is characteristic of the genus Hippochaete and quercetin is characteristic of the genus Equisetum. Described in this paper are isolation of 11 compounds and identification of 7 compounds in this experiment, among which kaempferol-3-diglucoside and succinic acid are isolated from Hippochaete hiemale for the first time.

Key words: Equisetaceae, Equisetum, Hippochaete, kaempferol-3, 7-diglucoside, kaempfe-