Antimicrobial alkaloids from Zanthoxylum tetraspermum and caudatum

Two benzophenanthrene alkaloids, 8-acetonyldihydronitidine and 8-acetonyldi hydroavicine were isolated from Zanthoxylum tetraspermum stem bark along wi th liriodenine, sesamin, lichexanthone and (+)-piperitol-gamma,gamma -dimet hylallylether. The species endemic to Sri Lanka, Z. caudatum, contained ses amin, savinin, liriodenine, decarine and 8-O-desmethyl-N-nornitidine. 8-Ace tonyldihyronitidine and 8-acetonyldihydroavicine showed significant antibac terial activity while the former along with liriodenine was strongly antifu ngal. Savinin exhibited potent spermicidal activity. Both savinin and sesam in exhibited significant insecticidal activity. (C) 2001 Published by Elsev ier Science Ltd.