Uterotonic effect of Evodia rutaecarpa alkaloids.

Rutaecarpine (1) and dehydroevodiamine (2) were isolated from the unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa. In vitro uterotonic assay on rat uterus showed both alkaloids to be active. Dehydroevodiamine was further shown to be active in the in vivo uterotonic assay using rats as the animal model. Reference evodiamine hydrochloride (3) was also evaluated and found to be devoid of uterontonic activity at the doses administered.