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DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250314
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Metabolic Alterations in Different Developmental Stages of Pilocarpus microphyllus
Publication History
received January 26, 2010
revised June 11, 2010
accepted August 5, 2010
Publication Date:
15 September 2010 (online)
Abstract
Pilocarpine is an imidazole alkaloid that has been used for more than a century in glaucoma treatment. It is present in several species of the Pilocarpus genus (jaborandi), with its highest concentrations in P. microphyllus. In addition to pilocarpine, pilosine – an imidazole alkaloid without pharmacological use – is produced in high concentrations in mature plants. A metabolomic study was carried out on juvenile and mature plants to obtain information about pilocarpine metabolism at different developmental stages. Methanol-water and alkaloid extracts were analyzed by 1H NMR and ESI‐MS. Metabolic profiles from both techniques showed clear differences between various developmental stages. Intense signals in the aromatic region of the 1H NMR spectrum and ions from pilosine and related alkaloids by ESI/MS were found only in extracts from mature plant. Two new imidazole alkaloids were identified by MSn. Our results suggest that pilosine is produced exclusively in mature developmental stage, and juvenile plant material seems to be appropriate for further studies on pilocarpine biosynthesis.
Key words
jaborandi - Pilocarpus microphyllus - Rutaceae - metabolic change - NMR - MS - metabolomics
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Dr. Ilka Nacif de Abreu
Plant Product and Food Quality Department
Scottish Crop Research Institute
Invergowrie Dundee DD2 5DA
United Kingdom
Phone: + 44 13 82 56 27 31 31 14
Fax: + 44 13 82 56 85 03
Email: ilka.abreu@scri.ac.uk