Abstract
We isolated four Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA) from Senecio nemorensis L. growing in Mongolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods to be 7-Senecioyl-9-sarracinoyl-retronecine, Retroisosenine, Doriasenine and Bulgarsenine. The alkaloidal pattern is very similar to that of the European Senecio nemorensis L., ssp. nemorensis (Rchb.) Celak. The medicinal use of this plant or of preparations from it may be hazardous to human health because of the high PA level in the plant (≈ 0.1%) and the fact that three of the PA are known to have toxic side-effects.
Highlights
Since it belongs to the Senecio tribe, the plant contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA)
Because of the generally low PA content and the fact that only traces of toxic P.4 occurred, the plant can be declared a non-toxic Senecio species
In context with our studies on Senecio species, which are used in the traditional medicine of Mongolia, we investigated S. nemorensis
Summary
The drug is said to have anti-diabetic properties when administered in form of a herbal tea. Since it belongs to the Senecio tribe, the plant contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA). This is important because those PA that have a double-bond in position 1-2 of their five-member ring system (necine) and occur as diesters (open-chain or macrocycle) show a toxic potential. The main PA show the structures of the non-toxic Platyphylline, Sarracine and Fuchsisenecionine. Because of the generally low PA content (less than 0.01%) and the fact that only traces of toxic P.4 occurred, the plant can be declared a non-toxic Senecio species
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