Schumanniophyton magnificum

Isoschumanniophytine was isolated from Schumanniophyton magnificum and originally given structure 30 (77). Another isomeric alkaloid isolated at the same time was first given structure 29 but was subsequently shown to be schumanniophytine (18) (72). 

A very polar compound with a yellow color was isolated from the aqueous fraction of the root bark extract of Schumanniophyton magnificum (13). Its spectral features were very similar to those of schumanniophytine (18). The UV spectram showed a peak at 355 nm, and the H-NMR spectrum was almost identical apart from a 3H singlet at 8 4.3. This signal is the same as seen for the quaternary methyl in trigonelline (35). Since the molecular ion at m/z 310 was 15 higher than that given for 18, it was decided that the compound in question was the A-methyl derivative. This view was confirmed by the formation of 31 from 18 by methyl iodide methylation. 

Houghton and Yang isolated two alkaloids from the chloroform extract of the acidified aqueous fraction of the crude alcoholic extract of the root bark of Schumanniophyton magnificum 13). The less polar alkaloid gave a molecular... 

Schumanniophyton magnificum has been the source of most of the alkaloids so far isolated. It has several interesting uses in traditional medicine. In Cameroon the bark is used for dysentery as an enema (70). The phenolic compounds present may exert an astringent effect to account for this. In Nigeria the stem juice is used as a treatment for snakebite and the roots are used to treat madness. 

A compound was isolated from a member of the Rubiaceae, the Cameroon species Schumanniophyton magnificum. The n.m.r. spectrum of the acetate showed an olefinic proton and a methyl group, two meta-coupled protons, and seven acetates. The rest of the spectrum consisted of 13 sugar protons which turned out to come from a glucose and an apiose unit. The working structure is shown as 10. The unconventional representation of the apiose with the L... 

---