Skimmianine is a furoquinoline alkaloid found in Skimmia japonica, a flowering plant in family Rutaceae that is native to Japan and China.

[2] The biosynthesis of skimmianine starts from anthranilic acid,[3] which is very abundant in the family Rutaceae.

By combining anthranilic acid acetate, anthraniloyl-CoA is formed as a starting unit and able to extend side chain by adding malonyl-CoA by Claisen condensation.

With the formation of quinolone, alkylation is happening at C-3 position by introducing dimethylallyl diphosphate.

Another key step is the cyclization on the dimethylallyl sidechain, forming a new heterocyclic five-member-ring.