Morinda Morindone

Figure 2. TLC of dyes of some other dye plant similar to the madder types 1, suranji (Morinda citrifolia L.) 2, mang-kouda (Morinda umbel-lata L.) 3, chay root (Oldenlandia umbellata L.) 4, coprosma root (Coprosma lucida J.R. G. Forst) 5, pitti (Ventilago mad(e)raspatana GARTN.) 6, morindon 7, emodin 8, alizarin 9, purpurin + pseudopurpurin (lower spot).

Morinda citrifolia and 2 M.umbellata contain morindon (XXIII) as the principal dye and also a small amount of (probably) emodin (XXIV). It is not possible to distinguish between the two Morinda species by TLC. 

Morindons l,2,5-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraqui-none, an orange-red anthraquinone, m.p. 285°C (from glacial acetic). M. occurs in the roots, bark and wood of Morinda species. In some Asian countries, particularly India, it was earlier used extensively as a natural dye. 

Alizarin, Pseudopurpurin, Purpurin as well as Lucidin, Morindone, Munjistin and Rubiadin in Madder and other closely related dyestuffs of natural origin from plant species such as Rubia tinctorum L. and other R. species, Odenlandia species, Morinda species and Galium species. 

Morinda spp. M. citrifolia L. M. umbellate L. M. longiflora G. Don. Rubiaceae Madder Soranjidiol Morindone Rubiadin>l-methyl ehter Alizarin-1-methyl ether Rubiadin-1-methyl ether Alizarin Rubiadin Damnacanthol Damnacanthal Nordamnacanthal Xanthopurpurin Morindanigrin Schweppe Winter (1997) ... 

Biosynthesis of Morindone and Alizarin in Intact Plants and Cell Suspension Cultures of Morinda citrifolia. Phytochemistry 12, 1669 (1973). 

---