Studies on the Standardization of Crude Drugs. XIX. : The Constituents of Picrasma ailanthoides. I. : The Structure of Nigakinone.

Abstract

From the heartwood of Picrasma ailanthoides PLANCHON (Simarubaceae), a new alkaloid, nigakinone, was isolated as yellow needles or plates, m.p. 224∼225°along with 4, 5-dime-thoxycanthin-6-one. The structure of nigakinone was established as 4-methoxy-5-hydroxy-canthin-6-one because its monomethyl ether was identical with 4, 5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one and it was converted to methyl α-carboline-1-carboxylate by oxidation.