Jatropha macrorhiza

Jatropham (surely better called jatrophine) is an alkaloid occurring in Jatropha macrorhiza (Euphorbiaceae) which has inhibitory activity towards leukaemia. Its racemic form (4) has been synthesized from 3-methyl-2-furoic acid, as outlined in Scheme l.5 This synthesis vindicates an earlier suggestion that the structure be revised to 5-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-one (4), as opposed to the 4-methyl isomer.6... 

A compound from the seeds of Phytolacca americana, previously believed to be acetyloleanolic acid, has been identified as acetylaleuritolic acid (162), which has also been obtained from Jatropha macrorhiza. It has antitumour activity. The structure of marsformoxide B (163) from Marsdenia formosana has been... 

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