Phytochemical analysis of yellow flower petals of Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) and other papaver species with yellow petal flowers

Plants of Papaveracae family are an unlimited source of alkaloids. Their functional role in plants is generally accepted as protective substances discouraging animal or insect attacks or playing diverse roles in ecological interaction between different organisms. Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) is a plant which is native to Northern landscapes and high altitudes. The yellow colour of flower petals of nudicaulins is attributed mainly to nudicaulins, a group of alkaloids[1]. These coloured alkaloids and their accumulation in the petals seem to enhance the attractiveness of flowers to pollinators. Nudicaulins show a unique structure with a flavonoid C6-C3-C6 substructure and an indole ring system (figure 1). Since a considerable number of alkaloids are used in modern medicine, nudicaulins are an interesting group of compounds. A prominent example of indole alkaloids are the Vinca alkaloids from Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), which are potent anticancer agents.[2] As yellow flowers of Papaver nudicaule as the only natural source of nudicaulins a further investigation of nudicaulins is performed with petals' phytochemical analysis of other papaver species with yellow flowers like Meconopsis cambrica.

Figure 1. Aglycon structure of nudicaulin

Acknowledgements: This work is supported by a Marie Curie IntraEuropean Fellowship from European Union to Dr E. Tatsis (BIOSYN-NUDICAUL project, Contract Number 221274)

References: 1. Schliemann, W. et al. (2006) Phytochemistry 61:191–201.

2. van Der Heijden, R. et al. (2004) Curr Med Chem. 11: 607–628.