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A study on the antibacterial properties of alkaloidal fractions of Vallesia antillana Wood, a Cuban plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family, is performed for the first time. Four partial fractions from bark of stems were prepared according to a classical extraction of total alkaloids and a partial fractionation of these, with the use of tartaric acid and ethyl ether and by a pH gradient with values of 2.5, 5.0, 7.0 and alkaline one. Data from thin layer chromatography on the alkaloidal content of different fractions are added and an assessment of antibacterial activity was made; for this, a method of sections in agar medium with bacterial species of human clinical interest was used; inhibitory halos found within 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C are reported in millimeters.

From the seeds of Macoubea guianensis (Apocynaceae), mixtures of the antipodes of two indole alkaloids, vincadifformine and vincadine, have been isolated; in the first the (+)- and in the second the (-)-isomer predominated.

Extracts of Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory seed are active in vivo in the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia system and cytotoxic in the KB assay. Systematic fractionation of S. drummondii has yielded sesbanine (1), a novel spirocyclic alkaloid based on the 2,7-naphthyridine nucleus, and drummondol (2), a new abscisic acid (5) metabolite. Sesbanine and drummondol are present in highly cytotoxic fractions; however, these purified compounds are essentially devoid of antitumor activity

Pachygone ovata (Menispermaceae), indigenous to the sandy seashores of southern India, is a woody climber whose fruits have been used as a rodenticide and fish poison. Chromatography of the extract of the roots resulted in the reisolation of the alkaloids liriodenine, coclaurine, trilobine (1), and magnoflorine and the isolation of stepholidine, coreximine, isoboldine, norjuziphine, and nortrilobine (2). Nortrilobine (2) is a new dibenzo-p-dioxin bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid whose structure was established by a consideration of spectral data and conversion to isotrilobine (3).

Cleft palates were induced in newborn pigs of gilts fed Conium maculatum seed or plant during gestation days 30 through 45. Twelve of 23 newborn pigs born to 3 gilts given Utah-grown C maculatum seed and 9 of 12 newborn pigs born to a single gilt given the fresh Utah spring-growth C maculatum plant had cleft palates. The cleft palates ranged from a unilateral cleft, involving only 1 side of the palate, to a full bilateral cleft. Brachygnathia was also observed in some of these newborn pigs with cleft palate. Other malformations were not observed. Chemical analysis of seed and plant samples indicated that gamma-coniceine was the responsible teratogenic alkaloid. A daily dose of plant or seed that provided greater than or equal to 1.07 mg of gamma-coniceine/kg of body weight fed to gilts during the 30th through the 45th day of pregnancy resulted in teratogenic effects.

Strychnopentamine has been tested for its cytotoxic and antitumor activities and compared with two other bisindolic alkaloids that possess an usambarane skeleton. The presence of a N-methylpyrrolidine group increases the antimitotic activity of this type of alkaloids.

An indolizidine alkaloid (swainsonine) was isolated from the plant Swainsona canescens. Swainsonine is a specific and potent inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) and when administered to animals produces a phenocopy of the genetically based lysosomal storage disease, mannosidosis. Evidence is presented to suggest that swainsonine is a reversible active site-directed inhibitor of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase.

The seeds of Sophora secundiflora (mescalbeans) have been purported to have hallucinogenic activity because of their past use in certain Native American ceremonies during which visions were experienced by those consuming the seeds. Chemical analysis of mescalbeans revealed the absence of detectable amounts of tryptamine derivatives; however, two additional quinolizidine alkaloids, epi-lupinine and delta5-dehydrolupanine, were isolated. Thus far, seven quinolizidine alkaloids have been detected in mescalbeans and quantitation of these constituents showed that the major alkaloid present is cytisine (o.25%). The toxicity of mescalbeans in mice (oral LD50 1.4 g/kg) is only partially attributable to the known alkaloid content. In addition, the ethnobotanical reports regarding the Native American use of mescalbeans were reviewed. No unequivocal evidence was found in this study to support the proposal that mescalbeans are hallucinogenic.