Isolation of N,N-dimethyl and N-methylserotonin 5-O-β-glucosides from immature Zanthoxylum piperitum seeds.

Two serotonin derivatives, N,N-dimethylserotonin 5-O-β-glucoside (1a) and N-methylserotonin 5-O-β-glucoside (1b) were isolated from immature seeds of Zanthoxylum piperitum. Their structures were determined by multi-step conversion reactions and spectroscopic analyses. Immature seeds of Z. piperitum contained extremely high levels of compounds 1a and 1b of approximately 0.29% and 0.15% (w/w), respectively.