New butenolides in plantlets of Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae)

Abstract

A phytochemical investigation in plantlets of the Brazilian medicinal tree Virola surinamensis resulted in the isolation and structural determination of four new compounds: 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(11′-piperonyl-n-undecyl)- butenolide; 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(7′-piperonyl-n-heptyl)-butanolide; 9′-(3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl)-nonanoic acid and 13′-(3,4-methylene- dioxyphenyl)-tridecanoic acid. Thirteen compounds previously isolated from seeds and adult plants were also reported. © 2004 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.