Studies on the Alkaloids of Lotus Receptacle

Abstract

Abstract From lotus receptacle (seed pod of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn ., four alkaloids, nuciferine (I), N‐nornuciferine (VIII), oxoushinsunine (IX) and N‐norarmepavine (X) were isolated. Identification of these bases were carried out by their spectral data and direct comparison with authentic samples. It is interesting that oxoushinsunine (IX), a cytotoxic alkaloid shows tumor inhibitory activity against nasopharynx carcinoma reported recently by D. Warthen et al 13) . The biscoclaurine (IV and V) and quaternary water soluble base (VI) only occures in the embryo. Comparison their alkaloids distribution in each part of Formosan lotus was listed in the Table 1.