Narcissus spp. are of great importance to pharmaceutical industries because of biosynthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. N. tazetta with several varieties is a widespread species, native to the Mediterranean region with considerable distribution in Iran. In the present study, calli, roots and bulblets were regenerated from N. tazetta var. Meskin. In order to report alkaloid profile and quantify...

New species of the genera Stenomesson and Eucharis (Amaryllidaceae) are described from Ecuador. Stenomessonecuadorense is the second species of the genus reported from that country, and the only endemic one. It is related to Stenomessonminiatum and Stenomessoncampanulatum, both from Peru, with which it shares orange flower color and the fusion of the staminal corona to the perianth tube. It dif...

A straightforward and unified strategy to access Amaryllidaceae alkaloids comprising a cis-3a-aryloctahydroindole scaffold has been developed. The strategy features Eschenmoser-Claisen rearrangement of allylalcohol as a key step for the installation of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters present in these alkaloids. The consequent iodolactonization-reduction-oxidation sequence beautifully assemb...

Biotransformation of deuterated-4'-O-methylnorbelladine into alkaloids galanthamine and lycorine in tissue cultures of Leucojum aestivum was demonstrated using HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry. GC-MS screening was also carried to investigate other native and deuterated alkaloids. A total of six labeled alkaloids were identified indicating that 4'-O-methyl-d(3)-norbelladine is incorporated into...

Allium ampeloprasum (Amaryllidaceae) is recorded as a new taxon for the flora of Iran. It is morphologically most similar to Allium atroviolaceum and Allium iranicum. This species is compared with its two aforementioned relative species and some notes are given on its affinities. A full description, images and a distribution map are also provided. In addition, a lectotype is selected for A. atr...

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a slowly progressive neuropsychiatric illness, principally characterized by memory deficits, has become the fourth leading cause of death in developed nations. Since the patients with AD suffer from marked reduction of cholinergic neuronal function resulting in a deficiency in acetylcholine (ACh) concentration in the brain, and these reductions are associated with impa...

Allium formosum Sennikov & Lazkov sp. nov. is described as new to science and illustrated. This species is the second member of Allium sect. Spathulata F.O.Khass. & R.M.Fritsch, being different from Allium spathulatum F.O.Khass. & R.M.Fritsch in larger, broader, obtuse and more intensely purple-coloured tepals, and in a more robust habit. It is a local endemic of Babash-Ata Mt. Range situated e...