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A Radioimmunoassay was developed for the individual measurement of ajmalicine and serpentine in plant extracts. Each RIA was assessed for its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The preparation of antigens and antibodies specific for these alkaloids as well' as the radiochemical preparation of ajmalicine-W and serpentine-3H with high specific activities is described.The RIA method allowed the detection of 0.27 pmol (0.1 ng) ajmalicine and 1.4 pmol (0.5 ng) serpentine and has been successfully applied in the selection of individual plants with higher than average contents of these alkaloids for breeding and tissue culture purposes.

Successive fractionation of a crude methanolic extract of cultured Picralima nitida cells accompanied by opiate receptor binding studies led to the detection and isolation of two compounds with opioid activity. The substances were identified as the indole alkaloids pericalline and pericine, the latter, as yet, not described. Half-maximal inhibition (IC0) by the alkaloids was 2.3 l.tMol/l for pericalline and 0.6 tMol/l for pericine, values which lie within the micromolar range of the weak analgetic codeine (1C50: 3.6 Mol/ I).

Successive fractionation of a crude methanolic extract of cultured PLAGIORHEGMA DUBIUM cells, followed by assay of the biological activity using cobra venom factor induced paw oedema, led to the detection and isolation of three compounds with antiinflammatory activity. The substances were identified as the protoberberine alkaloid jatrorrhizine and the lignaneglucosides dehydrodiconiferyl-alcohol-4-beta- D-glucoside and its isomer dehydrodiconiferyl-alcohol-gamma-beta- D-glucoside, the latter a compound not previously described in the literature.