Activity-directed Isolation of Spasmolytic (anti-cholinergic) Alkaloids from Brugmansia arborea (L.) Lagerheim

Abstract

This paper examined the effects of the extracts MeOH and H 2 O, chromatographic fractions and three pure alkaloids from Brugmansia arborea (L.) Lagerheim (Solanaceae) on the electrically- and acetylcholine (Ach)-induced contractions of isolated guinea-pig ileum. The results indicate that both MeOH and H 2 O extracts dose-dependently reduced the electrical contractions of guinea-pig ileum. Furthermore, the partially purified fractions 2 and 3 from MeOH extract and three pure compounds obtained from the fraction 2 of MeOH extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced the electrical and the Ach-induced contractions of the ileum. The chemical identification, performed by spectroscopic methods, indicate that the three active substances – atropine, scopolamine, nor-hyoscine – were tropane alkaloids.