Chemical investigation of Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) desv.: β‐phenethylamine and tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids

Abstract

From the stems of Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) Desv. (Leguminosae), five β‐phenethylamine and one tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids were isolated and characterized. On the basis of chemical transformation and spectral (UV, IR, PMR, and mass) evidence, the alkaloids were identified as β‐phenethylamine (I), N‐methyl‐β‐phenethylamine (II), hordenine (III), 3,4‐dihydroxy‐β‐phenethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (IV), N‐methylmescaline (V), and salsolidine (VI). This is the first time that the occurrence of a 3,4,5‐trioxygenated β‐phenethylamine such as V has been demonstrated outside the family Cactaceae. The roots of this plant contain essentially the same alkaloids but in poorer yields. Preliminary pharmacological studies of the total alkaloids indicated that some curative properties of the plant extract are due to these entities. Copyright © 1973 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company