Preliminary Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation of Fumaria vaillantii

Abstract

The presence of protopine was confirmed in the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Fumaria vaillantii. In addition, β-sitosterol was isolated from the ether extract and the presence of choline confirmed in the water-soluble fraction. Preliminary pharmacological studies of aqueous alcoholic extract in Tween 80 solution, injected intraperitoneally into rats resulted in decreased motor activity, ataxia, and a general loss of muscle tone. The weakly basic alkaloidal fraction yielded weaker but similar effects. These responses, however, were not found to be due to the isolated protopine. From these preliminary studies, fraction C appears to contain the most potent constituents.