A Contribution to the Chemistry of Picrotoxin

Abstract

Picrotoxinin, C15H16O6, is a part of the molecule of picrotoxin, C30H34O13, a poisonous principle fond in the East Indies Plants, Mensiperum cocculus and Anamirta cocculus, being mostly contained in the berries. It is one of the compounds known as ‘Ameriods’, ‘Non-nitrogenous Bitter principles’ or ‘Oxygen Alkaloids’, the last name implying their high oxygen content and marked physiological activity. Besides the physiologically inactive picrotin, C15H18O7, which forms the other part of the picrotoxin molecule, other related compounds are:- Tutin, C15H18O6; Mellitoxin, C15H18O7; Coriamyrtin, C15H18O5, and Santonin, C15H18O3. The structure of the last named has been established, while the others are still under investigation.