Crinum asiaticum

Criasbetaine (100) was isolated from Crinum asiaticum (98MI2, 90P805, 86P1975, 86JCR(S)112, 56JA4145). Syntheses of Ungerimine and... 

Forty-five samples representing 35 species were tested nine had been known to contain alkaloids Amaryllis belladonna, Ammo-charis coranica, Crinum asiaticum, C. giganleum, Haemanthus mul-liflorus, Hippeaslrum villatum, Lycoris radiata, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Sprekelia formosissima. 

Crinum asiaticum Linn, (bulbs) Amaryllidaceae Crinamine (41) Crinine (41) Flexinine (41) Haemanthamine (41) Lycorine (41)... 

This alkaloid, Ci7HigN04, was isolated first by Tanaka (149d) from Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum. With the revival of interest in the alkaloids of this family, it has been demonstrated to occur in trace amounts in many Crinum spp. and in Ammocharis coranica. Crinamine is isomeric with haemanthamine and contains one methylenedioxy, one methoxyl and one hydroxyl group. It has been shown to contain one double bond, reducible by chemical and catalytic methods. The base was not affected by manganese dioxide, selenium dioxide or mercuric acetate. 

It is an open question how many of the published natural products are actually present in the living organisms and how many are artifacts. In an investigation of the fruits of Crinum asiaticum (27) it was found that the pattern of alkaloids was different when the fruits were treated with anaesthetic agents (ether and lidocaine) prior to extraction. Apparently the alkaloids previously considered characteristic of the fruits were formed as a response to injury. 

Crinamine (6) and the new alkaloid hamayne (7) have been obtained from Crinum asiaticum var. japonicumf Hamayne was shown to be O-desmethyl-crinamine by a study of the n.m.r. spectrum of its diacetate and by the acid-catalysed conversion of crinamine and hamayne into the same apohaeman-thamine (8). 0,N-Diacetyl-N-desmethylgalanthamine (9 R = Ac) was also isolated from C. asiaticum, but since acetic anhydride was used in the isolation procedure, it was assumed that A-desmethylgalanthamine (9 R = H) rather than its diacetate is a constituent of the plant. 

Exists in 3 isomeric forms in soln. (E -form quinone methide Z-form). Schiff s base from fruits of Crinum asiaticum (Amaryllidaceae). Considered as a direct precursor to Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Orange-yellow needles (MeOH). Mp 220°. 

Sun Q, Shen Y, Tian J. Tang J, Su J, Liu R, Li H, Xu X, Zhang W (2009) Ghemical constituents of Crinum asiaticum L. var sinicum Baker and their cytotoxic activities. Ghem Biodivers 6 1751... 

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