Abstract

The family Elaeocarpaceae is represented in Chile by three species. These are Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, Crinodendron hookerianum Gay and Crinodendron patagua Mol. The isolation of 8 indole and one quinoline alkaloids from Aristotelia chilensis had been reported earlier. This is the first report about the presence of makomakine, hobartine and serratoline in Aristotelia chilensis, alkaloids which had been reported as constituents of Aristotelia species from Australia and New Zealand. The yield of these alkaloids from Aristotelia chilensis is very low (0.0003%) to carry out biological testing. In order to try to increase their yield callus tissue cultures were established. Through this procedure five alkaloids, aristotelone, aristotelinone, aristone, makonine, hobartine and aristoquinoline were obtained in higher concentration (0.08-0.09 %) than in the differentiated plant material.