Variation of Total Nitrogen, Non-protein Nitrogen Content, and Types of Alkaloids at Different Stages of Development in Erythrina americana Seeds

Abstract

The flowers, string beans, seeds, and pods (without seeds) of Erythrina americana were studied in connection with the protein nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen content, and type of alkaloid at different stages of development of the fruit. The protein nitrogen from flowers to mature seeds increased, while the levels of non-protein nitrogen decreased with maturation. The alkaloids accumulated not only at the end of maturation in the seeds but also in young tissues. On a dried basis, a high content of alkaloids was observed in flowers and dry seeds in comparison to low levels in dry pods. The highest concentrations were found in the mature seeds. The GC/MS analysis showed the presence of β-erythroidine, which was the major alkaloid in all the tissues examined. Erysodine and erysovine were found in the mature and dry tissues but not in flowers. N-Oxide alkaloids were only found in mature tissues. Keywords: Alkaloids; development; erysodine; erysovine; Erythrina americana; gas chromatography−mass spectrometry; Le...