Chemical Variations of Uncaria Ellipitca
Date
1996-08-10
Authors
Chandrasena, W. D.
Diyabalanage, T. K. K.
Wannigama, G. P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
Abstract
Uncaria elliptica is a woody climber, widely distributed in South and South East Asia. The species collected in Thailand and the species collected in Malaysia show chemical variations. This investigation reports chemical variations of the species within Sri Lanka itself Samples of the species were collected from the Kanneliya (KN) and Udawattakelle (UK) forest reserves. The KN plant and the UK plant showed minor differences in their triterpenoid compositions. The alkaloids of the two plants showed more striking differences. The KN plant gave ajmalicine, incorporating one molecule of tryptamine and one molecule of secologanin. The UK plant gave no ajmalicine, but gave the roxburghines, incorporating two molecules of tryptamine and one molecule of secologanin. The roxburghines are unique to the genus and among its 34 species, are found only in Uncaria elliptica.
Description
Keywords
Chemistry , Uncaria elliptica , Woody climber
Citation
Proceedings of the Annual Research Sessions, August 10,1996, Uninversity of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pp 148