This base occurs in the fruit of Capparis torrnentosa, Citrus grandis and in
Stachys tubi/era Naudin. It normally crystallizes as the monohydrate which has
m.p. 116-8°C. The specific rotation is [α]>D- 40.25° (c 4.0, H20). It is soluble
in EtOH and H20, insoluble in CHC13 and Et20. The free base is unstable in air
and decomposes quite rapidly. The hydrochloride yields colourless crystals from
EtOH with m.p. 222°C; [α]20D - 28.1° (c 4.83, H20); aurichloride, m.p. 232°C;
platinichloride, decomposing at 200°C; oxalate, colourless needles, m.p. 105-
7°C and the picrate, m.p. 199-2000 C. The structure is that of the methylbetaine
of hygric acid.
Stachydrine is used for various ethnobotany and ethnomedicinal uses. It can also be used to promote healthy neural development in an unborn baby, as well as to determine the differential effects of post-weaning diet and maternal obesity on mouse liver and brain metabolomes.
Schultz, Trier., Z. physiol. Chern., 67, 59 (1910)
Steenbock., J. Bioi. Chern., 35, 1 (1918)
Kuhn, Brydowna., Ber., 70, 1333 (1937)
Henry, King.,J. Chern. Soc., 2866 (1950)
Cornforth, Henry., ibid, 601 (1952)
Paudler, Wagner., Chern. & Ind., 1693 (1963)
