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Larkspur Chemistry: Toxic Alkaloids in Tall Larkspurs

1992; University of Arizona; Volume: 45; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/4002527

2162-2728

Gary D. Manners, James A. Pfister, Michael H. Ralphs, Kip E. Panter, John D. Olsen,

Archaeology and Natural History

Three species of tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi(Huth), Delphinium occidentak(Wats.) Wats, and De&hi&mglaucesccns) that are toxic to cattle were chemically analyzed to determine "total alkaloid" content.D. barkyi and D. occidentale contained more "total alkaloids" than D. glaucescens.The "total alkaloid" content of all plant tissues in the 3 species declined as the growing season progressed.Variation in the occurrence of specific diterpe noid alkaloids wqs established by gas chromatographic analysis of D. barb@ plant tissues at different phenological growth stages.Highest yields of specific alkaloids were found in early growth stage plant tissues.Deltaline was the most prominent diterpenoid alkaloid inD.burbeyiand 14-0-acetyldictyocarpine is a new diterpenoid alkaloid with high occurrence in this plant.The toxicity of speciIic diterpenoid alkaloids obtained from the tall larkspurs evaluated in a mouse bioassay showed methyllcaconltine to be highly toxic.Other diterpenoid alkaloids isolated from the 3 Iarkspurs showed much lower levels of toxicity compared to methyllycaconitine.