Isolation of Marmesin from the Fruits of Ammi majus Linn.

Abstract

Ammi majus Linn. (Umbelliferae) is a wild plant which grows in Egypt, producing fruits reputed for their use in the treatment of leucodermia. They are mentioned in old Arab literature¹, and their value has recently been established by clinical investigations². In 1947, Fahmy and Schönberg and their associates³ reported the isolation of three crystalline compounds—ammoidin, ammidin and majudin—from the petroleum ether extract of the fruits. These compounds, or in any event the first two, were shown to be efficacious in the treatment of leucodermia^4–6 and are produced commercially (by The Memphis Chemical Co., Zeitoun, Cairo) for that purpose. Shortly afterwards, Schönberg^5,7 demonstrated that ammoidin and ammidin are actually the furocoumarins xanthotoxin⁸ and imperatorin⁹ respectively, and majudin was shown to be bergapten⁴.