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Alkaloidal variation in cissampelos capensis (Menispermaceae)
Helene de Wet1, Fanie R van Heerden, Ben-Erik van Wyk
1Department of Botany, University of Zululand, P/Bag X1001, Kwa-Dlangezwa 3880, South Africa. hdewet@pan.uzulu.ac.za
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 9, 2011
Summary
Cissampelos capensis, a key South African medicinal plant, contains diverse alkaloids in its leaves, stems, and rhizomes. Alkaloid profiles vary significantly between plant parts and populations, impacting its medicinal uses and chemotaxonomic classification.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacognosy
- Chemotaxonomy
- Ethnobotany
Background:
- Cissampelos capensis (dawidjies) is a significant medicinal plant in South Africa.
- It belongs to the Menispermaceae family, utilized by indigenous communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify the main alkaloids in Cissampelos capensis.
- To investigate alkaloid variation across plant parts and geographical provenances.
- To explore the chemotaxonomic and pharmacognostic implications of these findings.
Main Methods:
- Alkaloid isolation and identification from leaves, stems, and rhizomes.
- Comparative analysis of alkaloid profiles from different plant parts.
- Comparison of alkaloid patterns between coastal and inland Cissampelos capensis forms.
Main Results:
- Leaves contain aporphine alkaloids (bulbocapnine, dicentrine) and morphinane alkaloids (salutaridine).
- Stems and rhizomes are rich in bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (e.g., cissacapine, cycleanine).
- Significant alkaloid variation exists, with salutaridine prominent in coastal leaves but absent in inland forms.
Conclusions:
- The diverse alkaloid content of Cissampelos capensis likely contributes to its medicinal properties.
- Alkaloid variation provides valuable data for chemotaxonomy, toxicology, and pharmacognosy.
- The close relationship between Cissampelos and Antizoma genera is supported by alkaloid similarities.
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