Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of Erythrina alkaloids from the foliage of genetic clones of three Erythrina species
1992
Payne, L.D. | Foley, J.P.
The foliage of genetic clones of the nitrogen-fixing trees Erythrina berteroana, E. poeppigiana and E. costarricensis was evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for toxic alkaloid content. The major alkaloid identified in all three species was beta-erythroidine, a naturally derived drug used in the 1940s and 1950s as a neuromuscular blocking agent in surgery and electroshock treatments. Other biologically active alkaloids identified were alpha-erythroidine, erybidine, erythraline and various minor aromatic Erythrina alkaloids. Although all clones tested contained some amount of beta-erythroidine, a few clones were notably lower in this drug. Several clones contained a variety of alkaloids not present in all clones or in all species. The results indicate that the expression of Erythrina alkaloids is at least partially under genetic control and the differences in alkaloid composition between clones of E. berteroana and E. poeppigiana are more quantitative in nature rather than qualitative.
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