THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OFALHAGI PSEUDALHAGI:β–PHENETHYLAMINE AND TETRAHYDROISOQUINOLINE BASES

Abstract

From the stems of Alhagi pseudalhagi (BIEB.) DESV. (Leguminosae, Lotoidae), seven ,B-phenethylamines and one tetrahydro-isoquinoline were isolated. T h e compounds were identified by m.p. of the parent compounds and their derivatives, where possible, co-TLC with authentic markers, and spectral properties. T h e alkaloids are ,B-phenethylamine ( I ) , N-methyl-p-phenethylamine (Il), N-methyltyramine (Ill), hordenine (IV), 3 : 4-dihydroxy-p-phenethyltrirnethylammonicrm hydroxide (V), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-,!?-phenethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (Vl), N-methylmescaline (VII), and salsolidine (VIII). This is the first report of occurrence of (VI) in nature and of any 3,4,5-trioxygenated ,B-phenethylamine, e.g., (VII), in the family Leguminosae. The roots afforded essentially the same alkaloids as the stems but in different quantities. The phylogenetic significance o f the cooccurrence o f the eight alkaloids in a single plant species, A. pseudalhagi, is appraised in the light of ,,parallelism" and complexities int/olved. Detailed pharmacological screening of the total alkaloids from the stems were conducted which showed essentially sympathotnimetic activity. The results would further seem to indicate that the therapeutic properies ascribed to the plant extracts are due to the contained alkaloids.In connection with search for active principles of Indian medicinal plants (GHOSAL, 1972), we had occasion to investigate the alkaloidal' constituents of Alhagi pseudalhagi (BIEB.) DESV. (Syn. A. camelorum FISCH., A. maurorum BAKER) Leguminosae: Lotoidae). A. psertdalhagi is a low erect shrub, widely distributed in the gangetic plains of India. The plant is bitter and acrid with a distinct flavour and finds uses in the Indian system of medicine for a variety of purposes (KIRTIKAR and BASU, 1932;CHOPRA et al., 1956). The extracts of the stems and roots are used as a refrigerant, an antipyretic, as a stimulant, laxative, diuretic, and in the treatment of certain brain affection and bronchitis. Interest for the detailed chemical and pharmacological evaluation of the plant was piqued Downloaded by: University of Illinois. Copyrighted material.

Effect of salinity on growth and accumulation of organic and inorganic solutes in the leguminous plantsAlhagi pseudoalhagiandVigna radiata

“…Alhagi commonly occurs in drylands associated with low rainfall, and in areas with high salinity and alkaline soils (Kawase and Kanno 1983). Alhagi is currently of particular interest because of its potential as a medicinal plant and a fodder crop in the saline drylands of central Asia (Ghosal et al 1974;Liu and Adilla 1991). Alhagi yields more than 2.4 t of palatable green fodder per ha per year (Liu and Adilla 1991).…”

Alhagi: A Plant Genus Rich in Bioactives for Pharmaceuticals

“…Alhagi shrubs are widely distributed in Central Asia, North America, Europe, Mediterranean, Orient, North Africa, South Africa and Northwestern China (Ghosal et al , ; Liu and Adilla, ; Ali, ; Smailov et al , ). Alhagi plants commonly occur in dry lands associated with low rainfall and in areas with high salinity and alkalinity (Kawase and Kanno, ).…”

“…Alhagi is of particular interest as an ingredient of functional foods because of the presence of high amounts of digestible protein along with a variety of other bioactives and essential minerals (Towhidi and Zhandi, ). Alhagi as a fodder crop is widely found growing in saline dry lands of Central Asia, Northwestern China and North Africa, wherein it provided the most common feedstuff for ruminants (Piri et al , ; Ghosal et al , ; Liu and Adilla, ; Towhidi, ).…”

Antiulcerogenic Activity ofAlhagi maurorum.

“…The family provides us with many edible plants as well as a variety of medicinal plants that constitute an important source of raw materials used in the pharmaceutical industries. Chemical investigation of the Alhagi species revealed the presence of several contents such as fatty acids and sterols (Ghosal et al, 1974;Kudliki et al, 1991;Kalhoro et al, 1997), flavonoids (Al-Yahya et al, 1987;El-Saayed et al, 1993;Singh et al, 1999), coumarins (Behari & Gupt, 1980), alkaloids (Behari & Gupt, 1980), and vitamins. Twelve flavonoids (El-Saayed et al 1993;Singh et al, 1999) were isolated from Alhagi graecorum Boiss.…”