Antibacterial alkaloids from Zanthoxylum rhoifolium.

Two new dihydrobenzophenanthridine-type alkaloids, 6-methoxy dioxolo[4',5':4,5]benzo[c] dioxolo[4,5- j]phenanthridine (1) and 2,3,13-trimethoxy-5,11a-dihydro dioxolo[4',5':4,5]benzo[c]phenanthridine (2) were isolated from the stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium, together with four other previously known benzophenanthridine alkaloids, 6-acetonyldihydronitidine (3) [= 8-acetonyldihydronitidine], 6-acetonyldihydroavicine (4) [= 8-acetonyldihydroavicine], 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (5) and xanthoxyline (6). The structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. For alkaloids 1 and 2 we propose the trivial names rhoifolines A and B. The crude plant extracts and the alkaloids 3, 4 and 6 showed activity against Gram (+/-) bacteria, while the new alkaloids 1 and 2 were inactive.