Comparative studies of alkaloids in evodia gracilis and evodia lepta leaves

Abstract

Examination of the leaves of Evodia gracilis Kurz. has yielded two isomeric furoquinolines, kokusaginine and skimmianine. The two isomeric pyroquinolines, ribalinine and a new tentative skeleton of an unusual 4 '-OH named isoribalinine were obtained from E. lepta Merr. Whilst 3-prenyl-4quinolone, edulinine was also isolated from the same species. It is the first report of pyroquinoline alkaloid in the genus Evodia. Recently, both plants were placed in homogeneous species by Smitinand. Phytochemically, the contents of these two species are not identical, though all belong to the quinoline group of alkaloids. According to the entre difference of isolated alkaloids in these species, thus separation into different species is suggested.