Studies on antitussive principles of Asiasari radix.

As one of studies on naturally occurring active principles, antitussive principles in Asiasari radix, namely four active principles [I], [II], [III] and [IV] were isolated by a suitable combination of counter current distribution and column chromatography. [I] oily product, C11H14O2, [II] mp 110°, C9H10O4, [III] mp 70°, C16H25NO, and [IV] mp 258°(dec.), C16H17NO3-HCl were found to be identical with methyleugenol, kakuol, N-isobutyldodecatetraeneamide and higenamine hydrochloride (dl-demethylcoculaurine), respectively. This is the first isolation of higenamine from Asaraceae family.