Occurrence of two epimeric alkaloids and metabolism compared with lycorine in Crinum latifolium

Abstract

Two new epimeric pyrrolophenanthridine alkaloids, 2-epilyocorine and 2-epipancrassidine, were isolated from the flower-stem fluid of Crinum latifolium. The structures of the two alkaloids were established by spectroscopic analyses, crucial chemical transformation, and synthesis in case of the former. The differences in the metabolic pathways of lycorine and 2-epilycorine were studied under simulated physiological conditions and their biochemical significance was appraised. © 1989.