CASSINICINE, A NEW ALKALOID AND ANTHRAQUINONES FROM CASSIA SPECTABILIS AND THEIR BIOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP

Abstract

From the aerial portions of Cassia spectabilis, hitherto uninvestigated, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 1,8–dihydroxy–3–methyl–6–methoxyanthraquinone (physcion), 1,3,8–trihydroxy–2–methylanthraquinone and two alkaloids namely 2–decacylacetyl–5–hydroxy–6–methylpiperidine and 2–dodecylacetyl–5–hydroxy–6–methyl-piperidine have been isolated and their structures elucidated. The latter is a new alkaloid and it has been named as cassinicine. Biogenetic relationship of anthra-quinones and above alkaloids occurring in this plant has been postulated.