Alkaloids of Erythroxylum lucidum stem-bark

Abstract

Thirteen alkaloids were identified from the stem-bark of Erythroxylum lucidum by GC-MS. Seven of these have not been reported previously in the genus Erythroxylum. Most of them are precursors or intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway of tropane alkaloids. Additionally, one alkaloid characterized as 2,1'-dehydrohygrine, a key putative intermediate in the formation of tropinone, has been identified unambiguously.