Alkaloid Screening of Herbarium Samples of Rubiaceae from Panama

Abstract

In an effort to study plants of the Rubiaceae from Panama, 299 herbarium samples, representing 133 species, were subjected to alkaloid screening. From this total, 234 samples (78%) afforded a positive test for alkaloids, and 99 samples (33%) gave a positive reaction for indole alkaloids; 109 species (82%) contain alkaloids and 58 (44%) produce indole alkaloids. This is the first time that 102 (94%) and 52 (90%) species are reported as alkaloid and indole alkaloid bearing, respectively. The results of 10 out of 15 species, that is 67%, corroborate earlier studies. The richest indole alkaloid species were: Materials and Methods Plant materialLeaf, flower, fruit or seed samples were provided by Mireya Correa, Director of the Herbarium of the University of Panama (PMA). Screening of alkaloidsLess than 1 g of samples was moistened with diluted 10% ammonia, shaken with chloroform for 24, and brought to acid-base extraction to yield the alkaloid extracts. The extracts were redissolved in 1 ml of chloroform, and 15 drops of the extract were spotted on a filter paper. For comparison, 5, 10 and 15 drops of 0.5 mg/ml emetine hydrochloride were spotted on the same filter paper. Then, the paper was sprayed with Dragendorff 's reagent. A positive test for alkaloids was recorded when an orange colour ranging from light (+) to very deep (++++) developed. A score of four crosses (++++) means that the color reaction of the sample is more intense

Ethnopharmacology of Q’eqchi’ Maya antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants: Effects on the GABAergic system

“…was the most active Rubiaceae species, however the known biological properties are limited. In addition to the identification of indole alkaloids (Soto-Sobenis et al, 2001), antimicrobial activity of the dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of Gonzalagunia rosea has been reported (Niño et al, 2006). Interestingly, the genus Psychotria L. is also known for its alkaloid content.…”

Chemistry and Biological Activity of Condamineeae Tribe: A Chemotaxonomic Contribution of Rubiaceae Family

“…The E. nitidiflora species presented positive results for alkaloids on tests with chromatographic reagents and on this same investigation the E. auriculata species presented negative results [15].…”

“…The C. parviflora species also presented positive results for alkaloids on TLC tests with chromatographic reagents [15].…”

“…Studies with stem extracts of B. veraguensis species, as well as to B. panamensis [15], also presented positive results on TLC chromatographic tests (with Dragendorff reagents) to alkaloids [23].…”

“…The W. coccinea shell was tested on a histochemical study for alkaloid presence, presenting negative result [65], however presented positive results on another investigation regarding chromatographic techniques [15].…”