CHEMISTRY OF THE SCROPHULARIACEAE .33. TRANSFER OF ALKALOIDS FROM DELPHINIUM TO CASTILLEJA VIA ROOT PARASITISM - NORDITERPENOID ALKALOID ANALYSIS BY ELECTROSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Norditerpenoid alkaloids which are present in the roots of Delphinium occidentale are assimilated into its root parasite, Castilleja sulphur ea. The alkaloids are found in all plant parts of the Castilleja (root s, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds) and in the flower nectar. The major root alkaloids (browniine, delcosine, deltaline and dictyocarpine; ana lyzed by positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry, ESMSH+) were tra nsmitted into the Castilleja. Little or none of the highly mammalian t oxic alkaloids (such as methyllycaconitine) were found in D. occidenta le. ESMSH+ also was used to identify alkaloids of D. barbeyi, where br owniine, delcosine and a small amount of methyllycaconitine (roots onl y) were found. ESMSH+ provided a useful method for analysis of nordite rpenoid alkaloids. Their presence as assimilates in a root parasite pl ant could provide a defense against herbivory. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.