Iso-erysopinophorine,a new quaternary alkaloid from the seeds of Erythrina arborescens

The ethanolic extract of the seeds of Erythrina arborescens yielded a new quaternary alkaloid provisionally named as iso-erysopinophorine besides the other alkaloids reported previously. The new alkaloid was characterised by chemical and spectral studies.     

Free and bound sterols in seedlings of Cucumis sativus

Free sterols, sterol esters, sterol monoglucosides and sterol acylmonoglucosides have been obtained from 10 days old seedlings of Cucumis sativus. Free sterols and sterol esters consist mainly of Δ⁷ di- and triunsaturated sterols, whereas Δ⁷ mono-unsaturated and Δ⁵ mono- and diunsaturated sterols predominate in the glucosides and acylglucosides. Both acetates and derivatives of higher fatty acids, mainly linoleic and linolenic acids, have been found in the sterol esters. Sterol acylglucosides contain mostly saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids being the main components.     

Castanospermine,A 1,6,7,8-tetrahydroxyoctahydroindolizine alkaloid,from seeds of Castanospermum australe

A new type of higher plant alkaloid, 1,6,7,8-tetrahydroxyoctahydroindolizine, designated castanospermine, has been isolated from the toxic seeds of the Australian legume Castanospermum australe.     

Structure of erysophorine: a new quaternary alkaloid of Erythrina arborescens

Isolation and structure elucidation of a new quaternary indole-eryso alkaloid, named erysophorine, from seeds of Erythrina arborescens are reported. An indole-erythrina alkaloid, such as erysophorine, has not been encountered before in nature or prepared synthetically.     

(+)-5,17-dehydromatrine N-oxide,a new alkaloid in Euchresta japonica

A new lupin alkaloid, (+)-5,17-dehydromatrine N-oxide, was isolated from the fresh aerial parts of Euchresta japonica. Its structure was confirmed by spectrometric data and by direct comparison with a synthetic sample, prepared from (+)-sophoranol ((+)-5-hydroxymatrine). It was also concluded that (+)-5,17-dehydromatrine N-oxide and (+)-matrine N-oxide possess the same configuration with respect to the asymmetric nitrogen by NMR spectra.     

Lipids of Hevea brasiliensis and Euphorbia coerulescens

The low MW lipids identified in the latices of Hevea brasiliensis and Euphorbia coerulescens were as follows: 2-methylcyclobutanone; 2-methyl-2-hydroxycyclobutanone; 2-methylcyclobutanol; euphol; euphorbol; and tirucallol.     

The indole alkaloid,hypaphorine and Pterocarpus seed protection

L-Hypaphorine has been isolated as a major constituent of the seeds of Pterocarpus officinalis, seeds which are rejected as a food source by a wide variety of seed-eating rodents dwelling in the same habitat. Incorporation of the isolated hypaphorine into artificial diets of a small seed predator, Liomys salvini (a rodent) supports its role as a feeding deterrent.     

New macrocyclic, Δ1-piperideine alkaloids from papaya leaves: dehydrocarpaine I and II

Two new Δ¹-piperideine alkaloids, dehydrocarpaine I and II, have been isolated from papaya leaves by TLC and their structures elucidated by MS and PMR. Both alkaloids have higher concentrations than that of carpaine, or the only major alkaloid previously reported in this plant.     

Sativanine-g,a cyclopeptide alkaloid from Zizyphus sativa

In addition to the already described peptide alkaloids from the bark of Zizyphus sativa, a new compound of this class, sativanine-G, has been isolated and its structure elucidated. This alkaloid contains a 13-membered ring system and belongs to the nummularine-C class.     

Cellular and chloroplast lipid composition of the leaves of Mimosa pudica

Cellular and chloroplast lipids of the leaves of Mimosa pudica have been analysed. Qualitatively the total lipid composition of this plant is similar to that reported for the photosynthetic tissues of other plants. Chloroplast lipids show some resemblance to those of algae. The cerebroside fraction of both leaves and chloroplasts contains a polyunsaturated fatty acid (20:4ω3) and a long chain sphingosine base whose R_f value coincides with that from ox brain cerebroside and not with that of phytosphingosine from spinach.     

Glycolone,a quinolone alkaloid from Glycosmis pentaphylla

Glycolone, a quinolone alkaloid has been isolated from the leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla. The structure of the compound has been established as 4,8-dimethoxy-3-(3-methyl but-2-enyl)-2-quinolone from physical and chemical evidences.     

Ravesilone,a quinolone alkaloid from Ravenia spectabilis

A new quinolone alkaloid designated ravesilone has been isolated from the leaves of Ravenia spectabilis. From spectral evidence the structure of the compound has been established as 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-5-oxo-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline.     

Fatty acids,sterols and hydrocarbons in the leaves from eleven species of mangrove

The fatty acid, sterol and hydrocarbon compositions of the fresh leaves from eleven species of mangroves, cultivated in a shadehouse, are reported. The fatty acid and sterol analyses, whilst generally typical of higher plants, showed several chemotaxonomically significant differences between the species. The epicuticular wax hydrocarbons and fatty acids were low in abundance compared to previous reports of mangrove leaf lipids, which may reflect the importance of environmental influences on this group of compounds. Cluster analysis of selected subsets of the data showed clear chemotaxonomic divisions amongst the mangroves. The results grouped the mangroves into genera, except for the Rhizophora and Ceriops tagal which were not separated, and grouped the family Rhizophoraceae distinct from all other species except Xylocarpus granatum. Avicennia marina var. resinifera was able to be distinguished from Avicennia marina by cluster analysis, supporting its assignment as a distinct variety. The results show that the lipids of mangroves are chemotaxonomically significant.