Antimicrobial Alkaloids from a Nigerian Chewing Stick (Fagara zanthoxyloides)

Abstract

Powdered root of Fagara zanthoxyloides were exhausted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and water. Chromatographie, as well as chemical purification of the ethanolic extract yielded four pure compounds which showed antimicrobial activity. One of the compounds is a tertiary phenolic alkaloid (carithine–6–one), the presence of which is first being reported in this Fagara species, two are quarternary alkaloids (chelerythrine chloride and berberine chloride), while the structure of the fourth is still to be determined.