Nerinine and Homolycorine: Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids from the Bulbs of Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin

The main aims of this study was the identification of alkaloid compounds from Galanthustranscaucasicus Fomin, a medicinal plant belong to Amaryllidaceae. A particularcharacteristic of Amaryllidaceae is a consistent presence of an exclusive group of alkaloids,which have been isolated from the plants of all the genera of this family.Planar and column chromatography techniques were used for isolation of alkaloid components.GC/MS analysis was carried out for the identification of alkaloid compounds. Results: Silica gelcolumn chromatography of the alkaloidal extract of G. transcaucasicus afforded seven fractions.Preparative thin layer chromatography of these fractions led to the isolation of compounds 1(Nerinine) and 2 (Homolycorine) and 3 (bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, 1-methylamino). Galantaminewas not detected in any of these fractions .Our findings showed that G. transcaucasicus couldhave different chemo-types and be a new source of bioactive alkaloids for possible applicationsin pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords:

Alkaloid , Galanthus , Amaryllidaceae , GC/MS