Constituents of West African medicinal plants. XIV. Constituents of Piper guineense Schum, and Thonn.

Piper guineense Schum, and Thonn. (Piperaceae), a woodsy climber of Ghana and other parts of West Africa, has been used as a condiment and a native medicinal. Chromatography of an extract of the fruits afforded the amides piperine, N-isobutyloctadeca-trans-2-trans-4-dienamide, sylvatine, delta alpha beta-dihydropiperine, trichostachine and delta alpha beta-dihydropiperlonguminine, the last of which is a new naturally occurring amide. In a similar manner, chromatography of an acetone extract of the roots afforded piperine, trichostachine and delta alpha beta-dihydropiperine while an acetone extract of the leaves yielded dihydrocubebin, a new naturally occurring lignan.