Alkaloids from the seeds of Strychnos wallichiana Steud. ex DC. (Strychnos cinnamomifolia Thwaites var. wightii A. W. Hill)

Abstract

Abstract The seeds of a south Indian sample of Strychnos wallichiana Steud. ex DC., previously analysed by Short (1924) under the name S. cinnamomifolia Thwaites and thought to contain mostly brucine with a little strychnine, have now been shown to contain a new base 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystrychnine (I) as the major alkaloidal constituent. Smaller amounts of strychnine, 4-hydroxystrychnine, brucine, vomicine, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methyl-sec.-pseudostrychnine (II), and nova-cine and possibly also α-colubrine are present.