The chemistry of some plant extractives.

Abstract

Chemically, the family Rutaceae presents a striking picture of synthetic versatility. The structural diversity of the constituents together with their abundance throughout the genera distinguishes the family from all others. The leaves in many species have been found to be relatively rich in essential oils and terpenes. Karrer notes the wide occurrence of coumarins and chromenes throughout the family whilst Geissman draws attention to the variety of flavonoid compounds found in the group. Other classes of compounds that are recorded in the family are the lignans and triterpenes. Price comments on one aspect of the chemistry of the Rutaceae stating that its capacity to add a prenyl unit to a wide variety of molecular types appears to be biochemically characteristic of it. But perhaps the most striking example of this synthetic versatility is furnished by the number of alkaloid types found in members of the family; the acridine, the furoquinoline, the quinazoline, the indoloquinazoline, the canthinone, the imidazole, the oxazole, the benzylisoquinoline groups and a number of simple aromatic amines and amides have been found as constituents.