Morus species

Among the most intensively investigated of all the chalcone Diels Alder adducts are a group obtained solely from Morus species in which the diene component of the reaction is a dehydroprenylflavanone. The structures of several such compounds published prior to 1992 have now been revised on the basis of new spectroscopic and chemical data. Among the most important of the techniques used were two-dimensional NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The revised structures listed in Table 16.5 are those of sanggenons C (210), D (211), E (212), and O (213). In these compounds, the flavanones show the common feature... 

II. HYPOTENSIVE ACTIVITY OF ISOPRENYLATED FLAVONOIDS FROM THE ROOT BARK OF MORUS SPECIES... 

VI. BOMBESIN RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS, KUWANONS G (1) AND H (2), ISOLATED FROM MORUS SPECIES... 

A related series of isoprenylated flavones occur in the bark of Morus species (Table 7.5.2) one of which, mulberrin, only differs from norartocarpin in the position of one the exocyclic double bonds. Again, cyclized derivatives of mulberrin occur, the tetracyclic cyclomulberrin and mulberrochromene and the pentacyclic... 

Chemically related to brazUin are the yellow mordant dyes, luteolin and morin. Both are flavone derivatives whereas the former is obtained from yellow weed or weld (Reseda luteola L.), which grows widely across Europe, the latter comes from dyer s mulberry (Madura tinctoria, syn. Morus tinctorius L.). Alum- and tin-based mordants from luteolin produce a beautiful true yellow on all textile materials. Apart from weld, saffron (Crocus sativus L.) used to be the most important yellow colourant. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the dried stigmas from this species of crocus to obtain crocin, which was absorbed onto textiles with an alum mordant. Like saffron, curcuma (also known as turmeric) serves as a colourant for foodstuffs (e.g. for mustard and curry), and as a somewhat acrid spice in Oriental and South-east Asian cuisine. Curcuma is obtained from the root nodules of, for instance. Curcuma longa L., which is cultivated in plantations in China and the East Indies. 

Antimicrobial activities of some flavonoids with isoprenoid substituents and Diels-Alder type adducts obtained from Morus root bark were also studied. All of the tested compounds were effective against gram-positive bacteria and against some species of fungi, whereas they were inactive against gram-negative bacteria, as shown in Table 11. 

Fustics f3s-tik n [ME fustyk smoke tree, fr. MF fustoc, fr, Arabic fustuq fr. Gk pistake pistachio tree] (15c) Yellow coloring matters of natural origin. Old fustic is obtained from the species, Morus tinctorial and consists of moric and morintannic acids. Young fustic is obtained from Rhus cotinus, and consists of fustic. 

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