Changes in content of benzophenanthridine alkaloids in three species of the family Papaveraceae during the vegetation period

Abstract

Some species of the family Papaveraceae, especially Dicranostigma lactucoides (HOOK.f.et THOMS), Macleaya microcarpa (Willd.), and Stylophorum lasiocarpum (Oliv.), are known by their high content of quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (QBAs) in roots. The QBAs are divided into two groups. The main QBAs are sanguinarine (SA) and chelerythrine (CHE) and the minor are chelirubine (CHR), chelilutine (CHL), [sanguilutine (SL), sanguirubine (SR) ] and macarpine (MAC). The main QBAs show very wide range of biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antiinflamatory, antifungal activity, interact with many enzymes, inhibit microtubule assembly and interact with DNA. On the other hand, the knowledge about the effects of minor QBAs is very poor. The aim was to determine the best period for the collection of plants and the subsequent isolation of minor quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids.