Page 217 - PG 504-theoretical notes-phyto-1-2024-2025..

Clinical pharmacy PharmD program Third level Phytochemistry-1 (PG-504)

B- Phenolic ethers
OCH 3

1- Anethole

• Occurrence: in oil of anise

• Characters: by fractional distillation then cooling → white crystals

with sweet odour & taste.

• Identification: gentle oxidation of anethole with K2Cr2O7 gives

anisaldehyde and further oxidation gives anisic acid with m.p. 184 ºC Anethole

OCH 3 OCH 3 OCH 3

OCH 3
K Cr O K Cr O N.B
2 7
2
mild oxidn. 2 2 7
strong oxidn.
CHO COOH

Anethole Anisaldehyde Anisic acid
Anisole

• Effect of light & air on anethole

• Anethole is highly reactive and can be oxidized by light and air to give many
products among which is photoanethole.

• KMnO4 oxidation of anethole gives anisaldehyde and methoxy benzoic acid.

Uses:

1. In baby water 2.Antioxidant 3.Flavouring agents in many pharmaceuticals

4. Anrimicrobial and antifungal

2- α-asarone

• It is obtained from a Mexican hypocholesterolemic drug called

Guatteria guameri.

• It reduces the serum cholesterol and triglyceride level.

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