A New Alkaloid from Root Bark of Capparis decidua

Capparis decidua (Forsk) Edgew (Capparidaceae) is one of the common shrubs of arid plains of Pakis­ tan [1], It is used medicinally in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent region, in Eastern Africa and in West Indies as plaster for boils and swellings, to relieve toothache and as antidote to the poison. The bark is acrid and lexative. diaphoretic, anthelmintic and use­ ful for cough, asthma and inflammation, the fruit is astringent, and used in cardiac trouble. The root bark is pungent, bitter, given in intermittent fever and rheumatism [2, 3]. In our previous communication we have reported the isolation of an alkaloid from this plant [4], The present communication reports the isolation of a new closely related spermidine alkaloid named as cap­ parisine from the root bark of same plant.