The alkaloids characteristically produced by the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous plant species that include well know genera such as Narcissus (daffodils) and Galanthus (snowdrops), are a source of new pharmaceutical compounds. Presently, only the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, is pr...

Two new Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, named lycoranines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the bulbs of Lycoris radiata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 2 was a new-type alkaloid, which provided a new insight into the biosynthesis of alkaloids in Amaryllidaceae plants.

A comparative study of the lectins from the families Amaryllidaceae and Alliaceae reveals many common features: all bind D-mannose exclusively and have similar molecular structures and amino acid compositions. All these lectins contain subunits of M, 11500-14000 which are not linked by disulphide bonds and occur as dimers (in Allium sativum, A. vineale, A. ursinum, A. moly, Narcissus pseudonarc...

Amaryllidaceae is a well-known family for its high alkaloidal content. These alkaloids comprise a unique group of bases that have been found to occur in this family. The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids represent a large and still expanding group of isoquinoline alkaloids, the majority of which are not known to occur in any other family of plants. This article reports on the phytochemical investigation...

Amaryllidaceae is a well-known family for its high alkaloidal content. These alkaloids comprise a unique group of bases that have been found to occur in this family. The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids represent a large and still expanding group of isoquinoline alkaloids, the majority of which are not known to occur in any other family of plants This article reports on the phytochemical investigation ...

Background and objectives: Many members of the Amaryllidaceae are regarded as toxic. The toxic constituents that occur in the whole family are referred to as the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The main aim of this study was the identification of alkaloid compounds from Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin, a medicinal plant from Amaryllidaceae. Methods: Planar and column chromatography techniques were us...

Alkaloids isolated from the Amaryllidaceae plants have potential as therapeutics for treating human diseases. Haemanthamine has been studied as a novel anticancer agent due to its ability to overcome cancer cell resistance to apoptosis. Biochemical experiments have suggested that hemanthamine targets the ribosome. However, a structural characterization of its mechanism has been missing. Here we...

In the alkaloid galanthamine, the plant family Amaryllidaceae has endowed the pharmaceutical community with a potent and selective inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinestersae (AChE), of prominence in the chemotherapeutic approach towards motor neuron diseases. Following on the commercial success of this prescription drug in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, it is anticipated that other dru...

background and objectives: many members of the amaryllidaceae are regarded as toxic. the toxic constituents that occur in the whole family are referred to as the amaryllidaceae alkaloids. the main aim of this study was the identification of alkaloid compounds from galanthus transcaucasicus fomin, a medicinal plant from amaryllidaceae. methods: planar and column chromatography techniques were us...

Amaryllidaceae is a well-known family for its high alkaloidal content. These alkaloids comprise a unique group of bases that have been found to occur in this family. The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids represent a large and still expanding group of isoquinoline alkaloids, the majority of which are not known to occur in any other family of plants This article reports on the phytochemical investigation ...