Studies on Constituents of Crude Drugs. I. Alkaloids of Symphytum officinale Linn.

Abstract

Two pyrrolizidine alkaloids, symphytine (I), a new compound, and echimidine (II) have been isolated from the dried roots of Symphytum officinale. Both have a retronecine nucleus esterified on the 7-hydroxyl group with angelic acid. The other esterifying acid of symphytine is l-viridifloric acid (III), identical with the authentic sample. The structure of symphytine, a diastereoisomer of echiumine (retronecine esterified with angelic acid and trachelanthic acid), has been confirmed. A large amount of allantoin has also been isolated from the dried roots and leaves. © 1968, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.