Stachydrine and Volatile Isothiocyanates from the Unripe Fruit of Capparis spinosa L.

The alkaloid stachydrine of the unripe fruit as well as other parts of Capparis spinosa var. mucronifolia was extracted by 80% methanol, purified by column chromatography and identified by 'H NMR and IR spectroscopic methods. Volatile isothiocyanates were prepared by hydro-distillation of the autolyzed plant material and studied by GC and GC/MS methods.The volatile oil of the unriupe fruit was composed mainly of methyl isothiocyanate (39.2%), isopropyl isothio-cyanate(21.4%), and sec-butyl isothiocyanate (6.4%).