Alkaloids of Gloriosa superba L.

Abstract

From the corms and seeds of Indian Gloriosa superba L., 19 tropolone and 3 non-tropolone alkaloids were isolated. Of these, cornigerine, (S)-(+)-floramultine (bechuanine), 1,12-dihydroxy-2,10,11-trimethoxyhomoaporphine, colchicamide, 2-demethylcolchifoline, 3-demethylcolchifoline, colchicoside, and isoperlolyrine are reported for the first time from this plant. The new alkaloid isoperlolyrine has been assigned the structure III. This is the first alkaloid of carboline type found in the subfamily Wurmbaeoideae.