Biosynthesis of car1ssol and carissic Acid

Carissa carandas belongs to family apocynaceae which consists of 300 genera and 1000 species. It is a large shrub with simple thorn and commonly cultivated throughout Pakistan for hedges and is called "Kakronda". The different parts of this plant have been used for various systems of medicine (Kirtikar et al., 1993). Cardiotonic activity was found in root of this plant (Rastogi et al., 1966; Rastogi et al., 1967; Vohra et al., 1963). This plant has been mentioned in the old chemical literature as purgative, stomachic, antihelmintics and antidote for snake-bite (Kirtikar., 1933). The physical characteristics of oil from the fruits of Carissa carandas were determined by using standard methods. In addition to this a study of sugars and amino acids from the fruits of this plant was also undertaken by the present authors (Naim et al., 1986). Our studies in the chemical investigation on this plant had led to the isolation of two new triterpene carissol Ia (Naim et al., 1985) and carissic acid lb (Naim et al., 1988).