Alkaloids of the Cactaceae — The Classics

Abstract

Alkaloids of the Cactaceae have been studied for the last 120 years. The first half of that period provided the "classic" compounds, after which a large number of usually very similar analogs were isolated or determined with modern methods. Although some unusual synthetic approaches have been developed, their preparation is generally quite straightforward. Their biosynthesis has been studied but, particularly in the case of the isoquinoline compounds, important aspects have not been addressed. Due to its striking effects, the pharmacology of mescaline has been studied more intensely than that of the other phenethylamines present in cacti, followed only by hordenine. The many 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids have attracted much less interest and have often been considered practically inactive. Nevertheless, some recorded activities of this group of compounds suggests a need for additional studies, especially in connection with their co-administration with mescaline, as in dried cacti and in beverages prepared from them.

Cactus: Chemical, nutraceutical composition and potential bio‐pharmacological properties

“…Alkaloids are a widespread group of complex and diverse phytochemicals, which generally nitrogen‐containing cyclic structures with, at least, one nitrogen atom (Mondal, Gandhi, Fimognari, Atanasov, & Bishayee, 2019). Alkaloids are also a valuable class of secondary metabolites found in cactus plants that have been studied for over 100 years being mainly isoquinoline and phenethylamine derivatives (Cassels, 2019; del Socorro Santos‐Díaz & Camarena‐Rangel, 2019). Alkaloids are one of the main groups of natural compounds present in plants that comprise one or more nitrogen atoms in their structure.…”

“…Phenethylamines have been much more investigated than isoquinolines that have attracted little interest. Among phenethylamines, mescaline and hordenine have been widely investigated due to their extraordinary hallucinogenic effects, among other interesting biological properties (Cassels, 2019). Mescaline is mainly found in L. williamsii and L. diffusa , but also in Trichocereus pachanoi , T. peruvianus , and T. bridgesii , while hordenine appears in the genera Turbinicarpus , Mammillaria , and Ariocarpus (Cassels, 2019; del Socorro Santos‐Díaz & Camarena‐Rangel, 2019).…”

“…Besides the plants from the genus Opuntia and Pereskia that are the most interesting and investigated cactus plants from a phytochemical point of view, other genera are producing interesting bioactive compounds, mainly Lophophora , Coryphantha , Hylocereus , and Echinopsis , Turbinicarpus . As previously mentioned, Lophophora plants are valuable sources of alkaloids (Cassels, 2019; del Socorro Santos‐Díaz & Camarena‐Rangel, 2019), and Echinopsis spp. contain triterpenoid saponins (Okazaki et al, 2011).…”

“…Berries and leaves of some Pereskia species have also been reported as a source of carotenoids with health-promotion effects, which can also be used as important biomarkers in these species(Agostini-Costa, Pêssoa, Silva, Gomes, & Silva, 2014).Besides the plants from the genus Opuntia and Pereskia that are the most interesting and investigated cactus plants from a phytochemical point of view, other genera are producing interesting bioactive compounds, mainly Lophophora, Coryphantha, Hylocereus, and Echinopsis, Turbinicarpus. As previously mentioned, Lophophora plants are valuable sources of alkaloids(Cassels, 2019;del Socorro Santos- Díaz & Camarena-Rangel, 2019), and Echinopsis spp. contain triterpenoid saponins(Okazaki et al, 2011).…”

“…L. williamsii and L. diffusa, but also in Trichocereus pachanoi, T. peruvianus, and T. bridgesii, while hordenine appears in the genera Turbinicarpus, Mammillaria, and Ariocarpus(Cassels, 2019;del Socorro Santos-Díaz & Camarena-Rangel, 2019).…”