Abstract
The alkaloids of six species and subspecies of Pearsonia have been studied to provide data for comparisons with other genera. Four different esters of tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloids were found to be the major compounds in most of the extracts. These were lupanine-13α-angelate and three hitherto unknown esters, namely cajanifoline (lupanine-3β-hydroxy-13αangelate), sessilifoline (lupanine-3β-hydroxy-4ga-angelate) and pearsonine (lupanine-3β,8α-dihydroxy-13α-angelate). Other major alkaloids were sparteine, α-isolupanine, lupanine, nuttalline and ammodendrine. Our results strongly support the present generic concept of Pearsonia and provide evidence for a close taxonomic affinity with the genus Rothia. In Pearsonia, however, the major cornponents are esters of higher oxidized quinolizidine alkaloids than those of Rothia. The presence of esters of alkaloids in Pearsonia and Rothia is a unique character to distinguish them from all other genera of the tribe Crotalarieae and once again confirms the chemotaxonomic value of alkaloids as a generic character.
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