NAPHTHAQUINONES FROM ROOTS OF MACROTOMIA-CEPHALOTES DC

The method used to isolate some of the main constituent compounds of M. cephalotes DC was described. It was aimed at the isolation and identification of the principal naphthaquinones occurring in the roots of this plant. Separation and isolation of the red naphthaquinones resulted in the identification of 5: the known deoxyalkannin, .beta.,.beta.-dimethylacrylalkannin, acetylalkannin, which were isolated as pure compounds, and isovalerylalkannin and .alpha.-methyl-n-butylalkannin were obtained as a mixture. [Syrian Alkanet, a medicinal preparation, is the dried root of M. cephalotes, a perennial herb belonging to the Boraginaceae.].