EHRETIANONE, A NOVEL QUINONOID XANTHENE FROM EHRETIA-BUXIFOLIA WITH ANTISNAKE VENOM ACTIVITY

Ehretianone (1), a new quinonoid xanthene, together with known sterols , was isolated form a MeOH extract of the root bark of Ehretia buxifol ia. The structure of ehretianone was elucidated as 7-hydroxy-9a alpha- (3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4a alpha,9 alpha- methylprop-2-enyl)-4a,9a-dihydr o-1,4-dioxoxanthene on the basis of spectroscopic data and X-ray cryst allographic analysis. The antisnake venom activity of ehretianone agai nst Echis carinatus venom in mice is also reported.