Some experiments with picrotoxinin

Abstract

Picrotoxin is a constituent of the creeper Anomirta coccuIus, being contained mostly in the fruit and berries. when pure it exists as small white crystals, is very bitter to taste and is very poisonous. It is in a series of natural products, the structures of many of these being in doubt or in some cases unknown. In this group are Picrotoxinin C15H16O6 Picrotin C15H18O7 Tutin C15H18O6 Coriomyrtin Esterfield and Aston, J.C.S. 1939, 120. C15H18O5 Mellitoxin Sutherland, N.Z.J.Sc. And Tee. 1947, 29, 114. C15H18O7 and probably many others. Due to their intense bitter taste, these are called the "Bitter Principles". They are all characterized by possessing very similar and marked physiological properties, and their known chemistry implies that they possess similar carbon skeletons. This group shows certain resemblances to other groups of lactone poisons. Among the best known of these is santonin: