An a-naphthaphenanthridine alkaloid, this base occurs in the roots of Sanguinaria
canadensis. It is separated from the remaining bases by chromatography and
purified by crystallization from CHC13 followed by sublimation in a high
vacuum. It is optically inactive and may also be prepared by oxidation of
sanguinarine nitrate by potassium ferricyanide in alkaline solution. No salts of
this alkaloid have been prepared.
Hydroxysanguinarine can be used to treat coronavirus infection.
ChEBI: Hydroxysanguinarine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid.
Spiithetal., Ber., 70, 1677 (1936)
Schlemmer, Gempp., Arch. Pharm., 276,506 (1938)