SULFUR-CONTAINING AMIDES FROM GLYCOSMIS SPECIES WITH DIFFERENT ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Leaf extracts from different Sri Lankan provenances of Glycosmis mauri tiana and G. pentaphlylla have been compared by HPLC analyses and test ed for antifungal activity. All collections of G. pentaphylla are unif ormly characterized by the known alkaloids arborine, skimmianine and a rborinine, whereas the different provenances of G. mauritiana differ b y displaying chemical polymorphism of different sulphur-containing ami des. Three new amides, named illukumbin B, methylillukumbin B and meth ylillukumbin A, have been isolated and their structures are described on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. They show different antifungal activities in bioautographic tests and appear to be accumulated mainl y in individuals collected from more humid and elevated habitats.