Planta Med 2014; 80 - PP3
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382698

Presence of the indole alkaloid reserpine in Bignonia capreolata

T Clark 1, K Lund 1
  • 1Department of Botanical Medicine, Bastyr University, Kenmore WA, USA; Bastyr University Research Institute, Kenmore WA, USA

Bignonia capreolata is a perennial semi-evergreen vine from the Southeast United States that was used as a medicine by the Native Americans but has since fallen out of use. A preliminary screen of B. capreolata suggested the presence of the indole alkaloid reserpine. This analysis was undertaken to 1) verify the presence reserpine using LC-MS referenced with an analytical standard of reserpine; and 2) if verified, quantitate the level of reserpine in B. capreolata leaf. LC-MS analysis has confirmed the presence of reserpine in B. capreolata, which makes this the only known plant outside the Apocynaceae family to contain this indole alkaloid.