Alkaloids of the Australian Rutaceae: Melicope fareana. I. Isolation of the Constituent Alkaloids

Abstract

The bark of the rain-forest tree Melicope fareana F. Muell. belonging to the family Rutaceae contains the four alkaloids melicopine (C₁₇H₁₅O₅N), melicopidine (C₁₇H₁₅O₅N), melicopicine (C₁₈H₁₉O₅N), and acronycidine (C₁₅H₁₅O₅N). The first three are each present to the extent of about 1 per cent. while the acronycidine content is about 0.1 per cent. About 1 per cent. of lupeol is also present in the bark. The leaves contain melicopine, melicopidine, melicopicine, and the known furanoquinoline alkaloid skimmianine. Melicopine and melicopidine contain two methoxyl groups, a methylimino and a methylenedioxy group. Melicopicine contains four methoxyl groups and a methylimino group.