Alkaloids from the Amaryllidaceae Crinum variabile - including a full house of lycorine and its acylated derivatives

An investigation into the alkaloidal content of the bulbs of the Amaryllidaceae species, Crinum variabile (Jacq.) Herb., was performed for the first time and led to the isolation of 8 known alkaloids, namely: lycorine, 1,2-O-diacetyllycorine, 1-O-acetyllycorine, 2-O-acetyllycorine, haemanthidine, 6-epihaemanthidine, bulbis-permine and criwelline. It should be noted that a full set of lycorine and its acetylated derivatives (1,2-O- diacylated, 1-O- and 2-O-monoacylated) were obtained from the C. variabile bulbs, with lycorine being obtained in significant amounts (0.80% of dry bulb mass, i.e., 8.0 g/Kg C. variabile dry bulb mass).(c) 2021 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

An investigation into the alkaloidal content of the bulbs of Crinum variabile led to the isolation of 8 known alkaloids, including lycorine, haemanthidine, and criwelline. The study also found a significant amount of lycorine in the bulbs.