THE ALKALOIDS OF FUMARIACEOUS PLANTS: XVIII. FUMARIA OFFICINALIS L.

Abstract

An examination of Fumaria officinalis has disclosed the presence of seven alkaloids. Of these, only protopine (0.05%) had been previously reported. In this plant other known alkaloids are dl-tetrahydro-coptisine (2.5 p.p.m.), cryptocavine (20 p.p.m.), aurotensine (0.4 p.p.m.), and possibly sinactine (22 p.p.m.) which, however, was not conclusively identified and is referred to as alkaloid F36. The remaining two alkaloids are apparently new; F37 (26 p.p.m.), C21H23O5N, is non-phenolic and contains two methoxyl groups; F38 (3 p.p.m.) C20H19O6N, is phenolic and is probably a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid. A neutral substance, C11H16O3, was also isolated.Attention is directed to the significance of alkaloid structure in an evolutionary series of plants, and some preliminary generalizations are adumbrated.