Isolation and Identification of Homologues of Ajoene and Alliin from Bulb-Extracts of Allium ursinum.

From the chloroform extract of ALLIUM URSINUM L. (Liliaceae) bulbs, in addition to other sulfur-containing constituents ( E/Z)-4,5,9-trithiadeca-1,6,11-dien-9-oxide [= methylajoene) and ( E/Z)-4,5,9-trithiaocta-1,6-dien-9-oxide (= dimethylajoene) were isolated and identified by NMR and mass spectroscopy. These two compounds were also found in A. SATIVUM but in lower amounts. The higher contents of the corresponding precursors (+)- S-methyl- L-cysteine sulfoxide (MCSO) and methylallyl/allylmethy] thiosulfmate in A. URSINUM water/methanol extracts correspond with the higher amounts of ajoene homologues.