Pachycereus marginatus

The pharmacological action of bases from Cereus coryne Solm, Pachycereus marginatus, Trichocereus terscheki, Britton and Rose, and T. candicans B. and R., has also been recorded. T. terscheki is stated to contain trichocereine (A-dimethylmezcaline) and 3 4-dihydroxyphenyl-ethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide. The latter is probably also present in Cereus coryne. T. candicans is stated to contain hordenine (anhaline) and p-hydroxyphenylethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (candicine). 

In agreement with the results obtained in Lophocereus schottii on the origin of the C5 unit (C-1,T,2, 3, 4 ) in lophocerine (62), a specific incorporation of [3, 4- C]mevalonic acid and [2- " C]leucine was obtained into this alkaloid in Pachycereus marginatus. Degradation revealed a labelling pattern consistent with an equal distribution between C-T and C-4 plus C-3 from the experiment... 

It is interesting that the tertiary and quaternary tyramine derivatives found in the cacti, such as hordenine and candicine, although they take up appreciable amounts of oxygen, do not form pigments when oxidized by tyrosinase [Duli re and Raper (11)]. However, tyrosine or some other derivative must be present in all cacti since the darkening of cut stems, preceded by a red phase, is characteristic for the whole family. Roca (13) found tyrosine, tyrosinase, and unidentified alkaloidal substances in the Mexican cactus, Pachycereus marginatus Britton and Rose. Tyrosinase has been observed also in Trichocereus candicans Britton and Rose, which contains the alkaloids candicine and hordenine. 

Pachycarpine (d-sparteine), 118 Pachycereus marginatus, 161 Paipunine, 767 PaMcourea rigida, 781 Palmatine, 328, 329, 342, 345 Palmatine and associated alkaloids, constitution, 342 Palmatine-acetone, 288 Palmatisine, 674 Palustrine, 773... 

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