Novel Glucoalkaloids from Rauwolfia Cell Cultures – Acetylrauglucine and Related Glucosides

Abstract
From cell suspension cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina grown in an optimized production medium for the glucoalkaloid raucaffricine, a novel glucoalkaloid was isolated and identified as 17-O-acetyl-21-O-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl-ajmaline (acetylrauglucine). This alkaloid is formed in very small amounts (> 5 .times. 10-4%). The biogenetically related N.alpha.-demethylated base (acetyl-nor-rauglucine) and the deacetyl product rauglucine have also been detected in culture extracts. In addition 21(R)-(.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl)-hydroxy-sarpagan-17-al has been isolated and identified as an artifact which originates from raucaffricine.