Papaver phenanthridine alkaloids

HUANG, F.-C., KUTCHAN, T.M., Distribution of morphinan and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid gene transcript accumulation in Papaver somniferum, Phytochemistry, 2000,53, 555-564. 

Stermitz et al. have recently reviewed the chemotaxonomy and the systematization of Papaver and Argemone plants (36, 833). They have also pointed out the characteristic features of the individual genera and sections from the viewpoint of the alkaloids. On the basis of the contained alkaloids, they have tried to differentiate the A. subfusiformis taxa from A. poly-anthemos (Scheme 20). According to these authors, the benzo-phenanthridine alkaloids (including the N-nor derivatives) may not be significant chemotaxonomic markers because they are formed in callus tissues (269). The alkaloids contained in the seeds of A. mexicana (grown in the U.S.S.R. and in Vietnam) have been studied (834). 

Phytophthora megasperma, an often used elicitor, and chitosan were not active on these cultures. On the other hand, polypeptide antibiotics, like polymyxin B, were found to be the most active elicitors. The yeast extract elicitor was tested on callus cultures of 190 different plant species from 25 families. The strongest effects were found in seven species and subspecies of Eschscholtzia, Chelidonium majus, Glaucium rubrum, G. flava, Cory-dalis ophiocarpa, and Papaver somniferum, and in all cases the production of the quaternary phenanthridine alkaloids was induced, as easily recognized by the red coloration of the cultures. 

The Rutaceae are known as a large plant frunUy with approximately ISO genera and 1,000 to 2,000 swedes, chemically characterized by numerous alkaloids of extensive structural diversity. Some isoquinoline alkaloids are known in this family of which especially aporphines, protopines, protoberberines, and benzo[c]phenanthridines are common in the Papave-... 

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