Identification of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from Bocconia arborea by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A methanol extract of the bark of Bocconia arborea was fractionated on silica gel and the fractions analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several benzophenanthridine alkaloids were identified including dihydrosanguinarine, oxysanguinarine, 11-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine, dihydrochelerythrine, chelerythrine, chelerythridimerine and angoline as the principal constituents. The results show that the direct GC-MS analysis of these alkaloids is possible with a clear distinction between the compounds. The technique is shown to be a valuable tool and an alternative technique to classical phytochemical procedures permitting the fast analysis of alkaloids mixtures.