Picrasma

Picrasma crenata. Stated to contain an uncharacterised alkaloid sigmine, which lowers the contractility and tonicity of the isolated duodenal preparation of the rabbit. In dogs it is hypotensive and lowers concentration of blood sugar, 3 to 4 hours after injection. (Pereira, Ann. foe. med. Univ. S. Paulo, 1938, 14, 269 Chem. Abstr., 1939, 33, 3877).)... 

Physovenine, 540, 548 Picraconitine, 675 Picredima klaineana, alkaloids, 759 Picrasma crenata, 782 Picrorocelline, 777 Picrosclerotine, 517 Pillijanine, 753, 754, 755 Pilocarpidine, 621, 626... 

Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn. P quassioides (D. Don) Benn. f. dasycarpa Kitag. Ku Shu (stem bark) 2.4- dichloro-6-aminopyridine, 4.5- dimethoxycanthin-6-one, 2.6- dimethoxy-p-benzo-quinone, methyl nigakinone, picrasmin, nigakihemiacetal A, nigakilactone A, nigakinone, quassin.50 Treat fever, stomachache. 

N.A. Picrasma exeelsa (Sw.) Planch. Quassinoid (quassin), alkaloids, coumarin (scopoletin), vitamin B,.09 Strengthen digestive systems, increase bile flow, secretion of salivary juices, and stomach acid production. 

Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn., P quassioides (D. Don) Benn. f. dasycarpa Kitag. 

Nelumbium nelumbo Michelia alba, M. figo Cryptotaenia japonica, C. canadensis Araucaria cunninghamii Allium victorialis Osmanthus fragrans Cinnamomum zeglanicum Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Picrasma quassioides... 

L. ovatum, L. trewianum, L. turbinatum, Lycoperiscon esculentum, Solanum nigrum Picrasma quassioides Picrasma quassioides Picrasma quassioides... 

G. confusum, G. javanum, G. luteo-album, G. multiceps, G. ramigerum, G. tranzschelii, G. uliginosum, Panax quinquefolium, Syzygium aromaticum, Ulmus campestris, U. macrocarpa, U. pumila Jatropha gospiifolia, J. curcas Alstonia scholaris Picrasma quassioides Alstonia scholaris Picrorhiza kurroa Vitex nequndo... 

Ephedra distachya, Fritillaria verticillata, Justicia adhatoda, Lobelia siphilitica, Medicago sativa, Nicotiana tabacum, Pedicularis palustris, P. canadensis, Physalis alkekengi, P franchetti, P pubescene, Picrasma excelsa, Swertia chirata, Valeriana officinalis, Veratrum viride, Verbena officinalis, Viscum album... 

M. arvensis, M. officinalis, Menyanthes trifoliata, Peucedanum graveolens Picrasma excelsa, Pimpinella anisum, Stellaria media, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Viburnum opulus, V prunifolium... 

Ailanthus altissima, A. glandulosa, Picrasma excelsa Ailanthus altissima, A. glandulosa, Picrasma excelsa Acalypha indica... 

Actinidia polygama, Citrus aurantium, Prunella vulgaris, Raphanus sativus, Sesamum indicum Avena sativa, Daucus carota, Hippophae rhamnoides, Rosa canina, R. damascena, R. gallica Lycium barbarum, Moms alba, Picrasma excelsa, Ribes nigmm Lycium barbarum... 

Alkaloids are known in the family including -carbolines (barman) and canlhinone. Of 26 species tested, the following were previously known to be alkaloidal and also gave positive tests in this study Ailanthus altissima (2/4), A. excelsa, Alvaradoa amor-phoides (1/3), Picrasma javanica (1/4). 

These compounds are pyrido[c,fc]indoles and the first to be identified (245) was isolated from Picrasma excelsa (78TL2777). Subsequently, the 4-methoxy derivative 246 (83CPB3198), which was a powerful inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase (84CPB1872), and picrasidine 247 (85CPB4901) were also obtained. 

H NMR parameters for 1 -hydroxymethyl-/ -carboline from Picrasma ailanthoides PLANCHON (212) are shown in [332]. 

This ring system is also contained in Serpenticine (294), Schoberidine (295), and Ophiorine (296) (Scheme 93). Picrasidine F (297) was identified as a hydrochloride in Picrasma quassioides and its structure was elucidated by an X-ray structure analysis (86CPB3228). Bleekerine (298) is an additional example. 3. 4. 5. 6 - T e t r a d e h y d r o 1 o n g i c a u d a t i n e (299)was identified in 1998 in Strychnos usambarensis collected from the Ivory Coast. The roots are the main ingredients of African arrow poisons. The absorption maxima were found at Amax = 204, 255, 308, and 367 nm in acidic as well as neutral solutions, thus suggesting a /1-carbolinium chromophore. A bathochromic shift was observed on deprotonation, due to the formation of a zwitterionic species (98P1263). 

Quassin is a bitter-tasting substance that can be extracted from the quassia tree (bitter tree, Picrasma quassioides Benn).156 It is said to be the most bitter substance found in nature. Quassin is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Besides quassin, modified triterpenes, the so-called quassinoid, are the principal component of the bitter taste. 

JNeoquassin (= JNigakihemi- Picrasma spp., Quassia amara Bitter... 

Nigaki alcohol (18) has been identified by spectroscopic and chemical means as a constituent of Picrasma ailanthoides Planchon. Latia luciferin (19) has been synthesized in a stereoselective manner. A key step in this synthesis involves the addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to an enol phosphate derived from a 8-keto-ester to form an a,/3-unsaturated ester. Dehydro-/8-ionilideneacetic acid (20), an important intermediate in the synthesis of abscisic acid, has been prepared, as have the two nor-abscisic acid derivatives (21). The metabolite (22) of abscisic acid has been identified in the seeds of Robinia pseudacacia... 

SimarubacecB or Ailanthus Family.—A family of chiefly tropical shrubs or trees containing bitter principles. The leaves are alternate and pinnate. The flowers are dioecious or polygamous and arranged in axillary panicles Picrasma excelsa) or racemes Quassia amara). The plants are distinguished from those of the Rutacea by the absence of secretory cavities. 

Botanical origin Picrasma excelsa Quassia amara... 

Quassinoids.— The full paper on the structural elucidation of picrasins A—G has been published. Two new compounds, nigakihemiacetals E (79) and F (80), have been isolated from Picrasma ailanthoides. 

Derivation The wood or bark of Picrasma excelsa or Quassia amara. 

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