Alkaloids of Antizoma angustifolia (Menispermaceae)

The main alkaloids in leaves, stems and rhizomes of Antizoma angustifolia, a traditional medicinal plant of the family Menispermaceae, were isolated and identified. The main compound in leaves is almost invariably crotsparine, while stems and rhizomes have several other alkaloids (glaziovine, pronuciferine, bulbocapnine, salutaridine, cissacapine, insularine) in lower yields. These results do not agree with a previous study, where salutaridine was identified as the main alkaloid. Salutaridine was detected as a minor constituent of the rhizomes of only one of the samples. Alkaloids appear to be quite variable within different plant parts and different provenances of A. angustifolia, a fact that may explain the apparent absence of salutaridine in our samples.