Trichocereus candicans

Trichocereus candicans (Gillies) Britton and Rose, contains hordenine and candicine (31, 60, 61). 

Few observations only are available on this subject. Janot and Bernier (67) found that in pellote the alkaloids are almost exclusively located in the internal cells of the cortical parench3una at the top of the plant. In Trichocereus candicans Niedfeld (60), utilizing microchemical methods, observed that the alkaloids are mostly situated in the chlorophyllaceous cortical parenchyma. 

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. 

The quaternary ammonium base candicine was found by Reti (62) in the Argentine cactus Trichocereus candicans, in T. lamprochlorus... 

F. P. Luduena, La naturaleza quimica y la accidn farmacodindmica de los alcaloides del Trichocereus candicans Rosario, 1934. 

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). 

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