Common lupin

The majority of the acute studies has been performed on the common lupin alkaloids sparteine and lupanine [39-41]. They both display moderate acute toxicity, the former being the more toxic one. The observed symptoms suggest that alkaloids cause neurological effects leading to loss of motor coordination and muscular control. The effects are generally reversible. 

The biochemistry and molecular biology of quinolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis have not been fully characterized. Quinolizidine alkaloids are formed from lysine via lysine decarboxylase (LDC) whereby cadaverine is the first detectable intermediate (Figure 4.16). Biosynthesis of the quinolizidine ring is thought to arise from the cychzation of cadaverine units via an enzyme-bound intermediate (Suzuki et al. 1996). Lysine decarboxylase and the quinolizidine skeleton-forming enzyme have been detected in chloroplasts of Lupinus polyphyllus (common lupin) (Wink and Hartmann 1982). Once the quinolizidine skeleton has been formed it is modified by dehydrogenation, hydroxylation or esterification to generate the diverse array of alkaloid products. 

The most frequent elicitators of food allergy in children are peanuts and tree nuts [ 17]. In France the prevalence of food allergy has been estimated to be 3.2% [18]. Furthermore, in this study, food was identified as the most common cause of anaphylaxis. Here the major identified food allergens besides peanuts and tree nuts were shellfish, wheat and lupine flour [18]. 

Lupinus (lupin) seeds are commonly taken as an appetizer in Southern Europe and the Middle East. Lupin flour has been used as a source of energy and protein (42,43). An extract of Lupus termis has been used to treat chronic eczema (44). 

The most common group of alkaloids possessing a quinolizidine nucleus is that of the lupine alkaloids which can simply be classified as bicyclic (lupinine/epilupinine type), tricyclic (cytisine type) or tetracyclic, (sparteine/lupanine or matrine type). Fig. (23). This grouping is made according to structure complexity and without considering biosynthesis, as the detailed biosynthetic pathways are still not completely understood. 

Plants that can cause CNS stimulation include larkspur, locoweed, lupine, water hemlock, and fi-tweed. Common plants that produce CNS depression are black locust, bracken fern, horsetail, milkweed. 

Not included in the Table are the results of a colossal GC-MS chemotaxonomic survey of the alkaloidal profiles of 56 Lupinus species (embracing 90 subspecies and chemotypes) representing both Old World and New World taxa 337). Of interest in this survey is the finding that bicyclic alkaloids of the lupinine class occurred mainly in Old World species. Genetic evidence has also been obtained for a close relationship between (and probably a common ancestry for) lupines that produce the lupinine complex of metabolites 33S). 

The majority of the global lupin production is used by stockfeed manufacturers as a source of protein and fiber for ruminants, pig, and poultry or in aquaculture. Only 4% is currently consumed as human food. Seeds from bitter lupin cultivars are traditionally eaten as Lupini snacks in southern Europe. They are commonly sold in a salty solution in jars and can be eaten with or without the skin. However, since... 

Lupine alkaloids are among the simplest representatives of this group they are common in the genus Lupinus (Fig. 30.7) (Aslanov et al., 1987 Wink, 1984b). 

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