THE ALKALOIDS OF FUMARIACEOUS PLANTS: XXI. CORYDALIS LUTEA (L.) DC.

Abstract

Corydalis lutea (L.) DC. has yielded a total of seven alkaloids, four of which, namely: protopine, l-tetrahydro-palmatine, l-isocorypalmine, and isocorydine, are well known from other sources. The occurrence of the last, unaccompanied by corydine, is unique thus far. The name stylopine is retained for one of the alkaloids. On racemization it yields dl-tetrahydro-coptisine. Ochrobirine (alkaloid F14), one of the constituents, contains an esterifiable non-phenolic hydroxyl group, and the suggestion is advanced that it may be 13-hydroxy-protopine. Finally, a new non-phenolic alkaloid for which the name luteanine (alkaloid F44) is proposed, was found. It is isomeric with cularine, C20H23O4N, and, like the latter, contains three methoxyl groups and an indifferent oxygen atom. It is pointed out that the nature of the chemical constituents, in this case alkaloids, offers a possible means of determining interrelations within a family. The close relation between C. lutea, C. claviculata, and C. ochroleuca, which has been proposed on morphological grounds, is not evidenced in the alkaloid constituents.