Description
This amorphous hepatotoxic alkaloid is present in Amsinckia intermedia Fisch & Mey. Alkaline hydrolysis gives retronecine and an acid, C
8H
16/sub>04 , forming colourless needles when crystallized from C6H6/sub> , m.p. 138-9°C; [α]20D + 5.8° (c 0.52, EtOH). Two hydroxyl groups are present in the alkaloid, one in the side chain and the other in the pyrrolizidine ring.
Uses
Heliotrine is a monoester pyrrolizidine alkaloid that can be found in the seeds of Heliotropium indicum, one of the most widely used herbs in India. Heliotrine exhibits mutagenic activity and ganglion blocking activity.
References
Culvenor, Smith., Austral. J. Chem., 19,1955 (1966)
