Description
An alkaloid of Veratrum album, this base was first isolated by Salzberger and reexamined by Poethke. The above formula is due to Jacobs and Craig who also
describe the melting point as varying with the rate of heating. It has [α]
27D - 40°
(pyridine) or - 9.1 ° (CHC13). The alkaloid dissolves in H2S04 giving a blue
colour that changes to violet on heating. In HCl and H3P04, the colour is cherryred. The hydrochloride monohydrate forms small tablets, m.p. 234-6°C (dry,
dec.); the hydro bromide trlhydrate melts at 230-2°C (dec.); the aurichloride,
m.p. 199°C (dec.) and the picrate, m.p. 216-220°C (dec.). On alkaline hydrolysis
the alkaloid yields protoverine, acetic, methylethylacetic and methylethylglycollic acids.
Uses
Medicine to lower blood pressure.
Definition
A substance isolated from the
Veratrum album plant. It is a mixture of two alka-
loids, designated protoveratrine A and protovera-
trine B.
brand name
Protalba (Marion Merrell Dow).
References
Salzberger., Arch. Pharm., 228,462 (1890)
Poethke., ibid, 275,571 (1937)
Jacobs, Craig.,!. Bioi. Chem., 143, 427 (1942)
Jacobs, Craig., ibid, 149,271 (1943)
