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Chemo- and karyotaxonomic studies on some rhizomatous species of the genusSymphytum (Boraginaceae)

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Abstract

InS. tuberosum subspp.tuberosum andnodosum, S. grandiflorum andS. ibericum the presence of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine, echimidine and symphytine could be demonstrated. The taxonS. tuberosum contains an unknown compound that seems to be specific for this taxon. This compound is not the pyrrolizidine alkaloid anadoline which has previously been reported for this species. It is possibly represented by a peak on GC/MS with a molecular ion peak at m/z 623 (as TMS derivative) and can be used as a chemotaxonomic marker for the speciesS. tuberosum. The pyrrolizidine alkaloid pattern of the two subspecies ofS. tuberosum reinforces the close relationship. Fresh material ofS. tuberosum contained the triterpene isobauerenol, but in herbarium material isobauerenol was lacking. InS. grandiflorum, neither fresh nor dried material contains isobauerenol. In herbarium material ofS. ibericum also no isobauerenol could be found. More extensive chemotaxonomical research is necessary to support the view thatS. abchasicum is more closely related toS. ibericum than toS. grandiflorum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Centre of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 2, NL-9713 AW, Groningen, The Netherlands

    T. A. Jaarsma, E. Lohmanns, H. Hendriks & T. M. Malingré

  2. Laboratory of Population and Evolutionary Biology, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    T. W. J. Gadella

Authors
  1. T. A. Jaarsma
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  2. E. Lohmanns
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  3. H. Hendriks
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  4. T. W. J. Gadella
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  5. T. M. Malingré
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Jaarsma, T.A., Lohmanns, E., Hendriks, H. et al. Chemo- and karyotaxonomic studies on some rhizomatous species of the genusSymphytum (Boraginaceae). Pl Syst Evol 169, 31–39 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935982

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935982

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