Chemotaxonomic studies of mesembrine-type alkaloids in Sceletium plant species

Patnala, Srinivas; Kanfer, Isadore

Title: Chemotaxonomic studies of mesembrine-type alkaloids in Sceletium plant species
Creator: Patnala, Srinivas
Creator: Kanfer, Isadore
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2013
Date: 2013
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480394
Identifier: vital:78438
Identifier: https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC133140
Description: Complementary medicines containing the succulent herb Sceletium are being sold without information regarding their phytochemical contents, which is essential for the quality control of medicines. Furthermore, several different Sceletium species exist and little has been reported on the alkaloidal identities and contents of the various species. We therefore conducted phytochemical investigations on six selected Sceletium specimens, identified on the basis of their venation pattern as either 'emarcidum' or 'tortuosum' type. The tortuosum type consisted of S. tortuosum, S. expansum and S. strictum, whereas the emarcidum type consisted of S. emarcidum, S. exalatum and S. rigidum. Analysis was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and alkaloids were identified by online mass spectroscopy. S. tortuosum and S. expansum samples contained mesembrine together with mesembrenone, mesembranol and epimesembranol, although the latter two alkaloids were present in low concentrations in S. expansum. S. strictum contained mesembrenone, mesembrine and either 4'-O-demethylmesembrenone or 4'-O-demethylmesembrenol. The emarcidum type specimens showed a complete absence of the major alkaloid mesembrine, as well as the other alkaloids usually associated with these species. In only one of the species of the emarcidum type - S. exalatum - two peaks corresponded to either 4'-O-demethylmesembrenone or O-methyljoubertiamine and either 4'-O-demethylmesembrenol or N-demethylmesembrenol, respectively. This study clearly indicates that not all Sceletium species contain the mesembrine-type alkaloids usually associated with Sceletium. It is thus important to identify the correct Sceletium species to ensure correct alkaloidal content for the manufacture and quality control of products containing this plant material.
Format: 4 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: South African Journal of Science
Relation: Patnala, S. and Kanfer, I., 2013. Chemotaxonomic studies of mesembrine-type alkaloids in Sceletium plant species. South African Journal of Science, 109(3), pp.1-5
Relation: South African Journal of Science volume 109 number 3 1 5 2013 1996-7489
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Sabinet Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.sabinet.co.za/terms-conditions)

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Kanfer, Isadore (Prof)

RU Department of Pharmacy

SDG 03. Good Health and Well-Being

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