The major alkaloids of the genus Melolobium

• Published in: South African journal of botany Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 386 - 388
• Main Authors: van Wyk, B-E., Verdoorn, G.H., Burger, Linda, Greinwald, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.1988
• Subjects: alkaloids; chemical composition; chemical constituents of plants; Chemotaxonomy; Crotalarieae; Fabaceae; Melolobium; quinolizidine alkaloids; Chemotaxonomy; Crotalarieae; Melolobium; quinolizidine alkaloids; Fabaceae
• ISSN: 0254-6299; 1727-9321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-6299(16)31308-4

The major alkaloids of 12 species of the genus Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh. have been characterized. Variable quantities of anagyrine, camoensine, leontidine, lupanine, N-methylcytisine and thermopsine are present in nearly all of the extracts. Sparteine, cytisine and some unidentified alkaloids occur less frequently. If one species [Melolobium involucratum (Thunb.) Stirton] is excluded, the genus is morphologically very uniform and also appears to be uniform in its alkaloidal metabolites. Within the tribe Crotalarieae, the combination of thermopsine and the two C14 alkaloids leontidine and camoensine may prove to be a unique chemotaxonomic character for Melolobium. Die hoof alkaloïede van 12 spesies van die genus Melolobium Eckl. & Zeyh. is gekarakteriseer. Variërende hoeveelhede anagirien, camoensien, leontidien, lupanien, N-metielcitisien en thermopsien was teenwoordig in feitlik al die ekstrakte. Sparteien, citisien en enkele ongeïdentifiseerde alkaloïede kom minder algemeen voor. As een spesie [Melolobium involucratum (Thunb.) Stirton] buite rekening gelaat word, is die genus morfologies baie eenvormig en skynbaar ook eenvormig in akaloïedmetaboliete. In die tribus Crotalarieae, mag dit blyk dat die kombinasie van thermopsien en die twee C14-alkaloïede leontidien en camoensien, ’n unieke chemotaksonomiese kenmerk vir Melolobium is.