Page 89 - phytochemistry II -pharmD general
P. 89
Test for identification
Marquis reagent gives an orange color with harmine and yellow brownish
grey color with harmaline.
Uses
Harmine and harmaline in small doses exert a tranquillizing effect, while in
large doses they may produce hallucination.
b. Yohimba alkaloids
Yohimbine (Aphrodine)
Occurrence
Yohimbine occurs in the barks of the West African tree Pausinystalia
yohimbe = Coryanthe yohimba, family Rubiaceae.
The bark contains about 6% total alkaloids, the main of which is
Yohimbine.
N
N
H
Yohimbine
H3COOC
OH
Properties
Yohimbine occurs as orthorhombic needles from dilute ethanol, m.p.
234˚C. It is slightly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol, chloroform and hot
benzene, sparingly soluble in ether.
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