The LC-QTOF-MS/MS method enabled profiling and rational, but tentative, identification of diverse alkaloids in Stephania hainanensis. The results obtained may be helpful for understanding the bioactivity of S. hainanensis and evaluating the quality of this plant. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study further clarified the chemical constituents in the roots of S. kwangsiensis, and revealed that diverse alkaloids were also present in the leaves. The comparative chemical profiling of the two parts provides useful information on their potential medicinal use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Many species of Stephania Lour. are used traditionally in South-east Asia as medicinal plants. Understanding and predicting their therapeutic properties could be improved, provided that the evolutionary relationships among lineages are clarified. We present the first molecular phylogeny of the genus Stephania, focusing on the species occurring in China on the basis of nuclear (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and chloroplast (trnL–F) markers sequenced from 29 species of Stephania. Our results showed that S. subgenus Stephania and S. subgenus Tuberiphania are not monophyletic, owing to the phylogenetic placement of a single species (S. mashanica). The relationships with the third subgenus, S. subgenus Botryodiscia, are not resolved. None of the sections in our analyses is monophyletic. Our study calls for further phylogenetic investigations including more accessions from the whole distribution area of the genus. A taxonomic revision of the genus Stephania, which would reassess the appropriateness of the macromorphological characters used so far to distinguish among subgenera (e.g. flower merism, size and aspect of the rootstock and main root), and sections (e.g. inflorescence morphology, sessiliflorous or not), is much needed.

Introduction The roots of Stephania succifera are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. Research on this plant has mainly focused on bioactive alkaloids from the roots, and no previous work on compounds from the abundant leaves has yet been reported. Objective To identify and compare alkaloidal compounds in S. succifera roots and leaves and to predict the potential bioactivity of some alkaloids. Methods High‐performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐QTOF‐MS/MS) was employed to identify alkaloidal compounds from S. succifera. The potential targets and bioactivities of most alkaloids were predicted using the PharmMapper server. Results Fifty‐six alkaloidal compounds, including protoberberine‐, aporphine‐, proaporphine‐, benzylisoquinoline‐, and lactam‐type alkaloids, were identified or tentatively identified in S. succifera roots and leaves based on the HPLC‐MS data. Forty‐one compounds have not been previously reported in S. succifera and eight of them have not been previously reported in the literature. Twenty‐four alkaloidal compounds were found in both roots and leaves. Twelve potential targets with different indications were predicted for some alkaloids. Conclusion Comparison of chemical constituents and their potential bioactivities for S. succifera roots and leaves indicated that diverse bioactive alkaloids were present in the leaves as well as the roots. PharmMapper provided new directions for bioactivity screening. This study will be helpful for further understanding the medicinal components of S. succifera and the rational utilisation of plant resources.