The empirical formula of this alkaloid should read C9H II N 504' The natural
compound is the D-Erythro-form of the base. Melting points recorded for this
alkaloid are 279°C (dec.) by Kamiya et al and 26l-3°C (dec.) by Chibata and
his colleagues. The alkaloid has specific rotations of [α]D+ 16° (N-HC1) and
[α] D + 50° (0.1 N-NaOH). It gives an ultraviolet spectrum in H20 with a single
absorption maximum at 26l.5 nm which is shifted to 259.5 nm inN-HCl and is
at 262 nm in N-NaOH. Eritadenine forms a methyl ester, m.p. 231°C (dec.) and
a diacetate, m.p. 225°C (dec.).
Hypocholesterolemic isolated from shiitake mushrooms, effecting phospholipid and linoleic acid metabolisms. Specifically, Eritadenine is a potent inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH), decreasing total cholesterol levels in plasma.
Chibata et al., Experientia, 25,1237 (1969)
Kamiya et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 4729 (1969)
