TWO new norditerpenoid alkaloids, ajadelphine 111 and ajadelphinine [2], have been isolated from the roots of Defpbinim ajaris L. The structure of 2 was determined with the aid of 'Hand '3C-nmr spectroscopy, including DEPT, COSY-90, and inverse detected HETCOR (heteronuclear multiplequantum coherence-HMQC) experiments. Ajadelphine [l] is the first lycoctonine-type norditerpenoid alkaloid having a methoxyl group at C-8 and a hydroxyl group at C-18. Ajadelphinine 121 is the first lycoctonine-type norditerpenoid alkaloid having a C-74-8-methylenedioxy group and an 18-OH group. Also isolated were the known norditerpenoid alkaloids delcosine 131, delsoline 141, deltaline {SI, gigactonine [61, 18methoxygadesine m, and delphisine [SI. The latter has not been previously reported in this plant.In continuation of our studies on the alkaloids present in the different plant organs of Delphinium ajacis L. (Ranunculaceae) (1-3), we now report the isolation of two new norditerpenoid alkaloids, ajadelphine 117 and ajadelphinine 121, together with six known ones: delcosine (31, delsoline (41, deltaline 151, gigactonine 161, 18methoxygadesine Trl., and delphisine 181. This is the first time that delphisine 181, an aconitine-type norditerpenoid alkaloid, has been found in this plant.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe air-dried and defatted powdered root material of D . ajacis was extracted exhaustively with 80% EtOH, and the crude alkaloidal mixture was processed as indicated in the Experimental section. Extensive chromatographic separations afforded eight alkaloids, of which three have not been reported previously in this plant.