Description
This alkaloid occurs with Evodiamine (q.v.) in the Chinese drug 'Wou-chou-yu'
which is the dried fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth. It crystallizes from boiling
EtOH as colourless, or pale yellow, needles and is optically inactive. The acetyl
derivative has m.p. 184-6°C and the benzoyl compound, m.p. 194°C. The
alkaloid gives a yellow colour with concentrated H2S04 and is decomposed by
KOH in boiling amyl alcohol yielding anthranilic acid and 3-{3-aminoethylindole-
2-O!carboxylic acid, CllH120 2N2, silky crystals, m.p. 257°C.
Pharmacologically, the alkaloid causes increased arterial pressure on injection.
References
Asahina, Kashiwagi., J. Pharm. Chim., 14,54 (1916)
Asahina, Mayeda.,J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, No. 416 (1916)
Asahina, Fujita., ibid, 863 (1921)
Kermack, Perkin, Robinson.,J. Chem. Soc., 119,1615 (1921)
Asahina, Manske, Robinson., ibid, 1708 (1927)
Asahina, Irie, Ohta., J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, 48, 51 (1928)
Ohta., ibid, 60, 109 (1940)
Schopf, Steuer., Annalen, 558, 124 (1947)
Biosynthesis:
Yamazaki, Ikuta., Tetrahedron Lett., 3221 (1966)
Yamazakietal., ibid, 3317 (1967)
Pharmacology:
Raymond-Hamet., Cornpt. rend., 220, 749 (1945)
