A new indole alkaloid from Alstonia scholaris

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Alstonia scholaris is a medicinal plant with a history of traditional uses.
• The chemical constituents of Alstonia scholaris, particularly its alkaloids, are of significant interest for their potential bioactivities.
• Previous studies have explored alkaloids from various parts of Alstonia scholaris, but the fruit pods remain less investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize novel and known indole alkaloids from the fruit pods of Alstonia scholaris.
• To elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds using comprehensive spectroscopic methods.
• To report for the first time the presence of specific alkaloids in the fruit pods of this plant species.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of alkaloids from the dried fruit pods of Alstonia scholaris.
• Isolation of individual compounds using chromatographic techniques (e.g., column chromatography, HPLC).
• Structure elucidation of isolated alkaloids through detailed analysis of spectral data (NMR, MS, IR, UV).

Main Results:

• Isolation and identification of a new indole alkaloid, N-formylscholarine.
• Co-isolation of three known indole alkaloids: picrinine, strictamine, and nareline.
• Confirmation of the structures of all four isolated alkaloids via spectroscopic analysis.

Conclusions:

• The fruit pods of Alstonia scholaris are a source of diverse indole alkaloids, including a newly identified compound.
• This study expands the known phytochemical profile of Alstonia scholaris, specifically from its fruit pods.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of the chemical diversity within the Alstonia genus.