Variation in alkaloid type and content during Erythrina americana seed development

摘要

The flowers, green beans, seeds and pod valves of Erythrina americana were studied to determine the level and type of alkaloid present at different stages of pod development. The moisture content of the mature and dry seeds was 78.9 and 5.7 % respectively. The alkaloids were present in young tissues and at seed maturity. On a dry matter basis there was a high alkaloid content in flowers and dry seed and low levels in dry pods. The lowest alkaloid concentration was in mature seeds. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; (GC/MS) analysis showed beta-erythroidine was present. It was the major alkaloid in all the tissues examined. Erysodine and erysovine were found in the mature and dry tissues but not in flowers. The N-oxide alkaloids were only foundin mature tissues.