The fraction of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids from roots of Chelidonijim maiMs L., containing chelerythrine and sanguinarine, has been tested for its antiinflammatory activity. On the basis of its low toxicity, high antiinflammatory activity and antimicrobial action, it is recommended for medical use in the treatment of oral inflammatory processes.

The quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids sanguinarine (1) and chelerythrine (2) inhibit rat liver L-alanine-:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) activity. Nitidine (3) has no inhibitory effect. The inhibitory activity of alkaloids depends on the reactivity of the iminium bond with the nucleophilic reagent, e.g., the thiol group. The stability constants of adduct formation for thioethanol, cysteine, and glutathione with sanguinarine (1) and chelerythrine (2) are given. The mechanism of the inhibition of alanine aminotransferase activity by the alkaloids 1 and 2 is discussed.

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Plants as a Source of Isoquinoline Alkaloids N.G. Bisset (With 5 Figures) 1 Chemotaxonomy of the Papaveraceae Alkaloids V. Preininger (With 8 Figures) 23 Structure Activities and Pharmacological Properties of the Opium Alkaloids E. Lindner (With 7 Figures) 38 The Occurrence of Simple Isoquinolines in Plants J. Lundström (With 3 Figures) 47 Erythnna Alkaloids AÜ. Jackson (With 12 Figures) Annonaceae Alkaloids A. Cave (With 22 Figures) The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Cularine Alkaloids L. Castedo (With 28 Figures) Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids P.L. Schiff, Jr. (With 5 Figures) Natural Degradative Routes for the Aporphines M. Shamma (With 5 Figures) Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Apoq)hines as Dopamine Receptor Agonists and Antagonists J.L. Neumeyer (With 8 Figures) The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Morphinan Alkaloids A. Brossi (With 15 Figures)

The alkaloid content in fresh and dry leaves and flowers of Colchicum autumnale ,L. was studied. Results show that 2-and 3-demethylated derivatives of colchicine do not occur in extracts from fresh material but they are present in considerable quantity in material slowly dried before extraction due to enzymatic liberation. Demethylated products are not bound in form of glycosides, but are attached in an unknown manner to cell constituents. In addition to known alkaloi,ds we have found cornigerine, 2and 3-demethyl-N-deacetyl-N-formylcolchicine, 2-and 3-demethyldemecolcine, and a new alkaloid 2-demethylcolchifoline but no alkaloids with,out tropolone ring. Suitably dried Substances from Plants of the Subfamily Wurmbaeoideae and their Derivatives. Part LXXXV. Part LXXXIV: Collection Czechoslov. Chem. Commun. .42,. 1581(1977. leaves and flowers could be used for the commercial isolation of colchicine alkaloidsinstead of seeds and corms which are difficult t o obtain.Downloaded by: University of British Columbia. Copyrighted material.------