A new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Argemone mexicana

Abstract

A new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, argemexirine, together with two known protoberberine alkaloids, dl-tetrahydrocoptisine and dihydrocoptisine, have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Argemone mexicana L. The compounds were identified by spectral and chemical evidence. This is the first report of these alkaloids in this plant species.