Stachys recta

Experiments (although subject to some criticism) carried out by Klein and Linser (57) would indicate that stachydrine formation in the plant is markedly increased by injection into the hollow stalks of the possible precursor of the betaine. On the assumption that stachydrine could result from simple methylation of proline which in turn might be derived from glutamic acid via pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, or from arginine via ornithine, injections were made of 1-2 % solutions of proline, ornithine dihydrochloride and sodium glutamate. The experiments carried out on Stachys palustris L., Stachys recta L., and Galeopsis ochroleuca Lam. revealed an apparent increase in stachydrine content as a result of these injections. 

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