Chapter XI Alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae

Publisher Summary This chapter presents information on the alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae . The chapter presents a table that summarizes the present state of knowledge, regarding the distribution of alkaloids, in Amaryllidaceae. From the demonstrated fungicidal action of lycorine, considered together with the quantity and localization of the alkaloids in the plants, they concluded that the alkaloid content contributes to the immunity displayed by this plant family towards Phymatotrichum root rot. The chapter discusses the chemistry of individual alkaloids. The chapter discusses pseudolycorine, sekisanine, crinamine, lycorenine, alkaloids from Buphane Disticha, etc. Most of the experimental work, bearing on the chemical structure of the alkaloids, suggested the presence of an isoquinoline residue in lycorine. Lycorine is a tertiary base that contains one ethylenic bond, two nonphenolic hydroxyl groups, and a methylenedioxy group but no methoxyl group. Tazettine, C 18 H 21 O 5 N, was isolated from the bulbs of Narcissus tazeita and was subsequently identified with “Base VIII,” from Lycoris radiata , arid also with “ungernine,” from the bulbs of Ungernia sewerzowii.