Alkaloids of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) species from Southern Brazil

A new alkaloid identified as 3 beta ,6 beta -ditigloyloxynortropane as 3 be ta ,7 beta -ditigloyloxynortropane, 4-hydroxyhygrinic acid, methylecgonidin e and tropacocaine have been isolated from the leaves of Erythroxylum argen tinum. The new structure was established by means of spectroscopic techniqu es. Four other species E. deciduum, E. microphyllum, E. pelleterianum and E . cuneifolium collected in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were screened for methylecgonidine and tropacocaine by CG/MS. Two of these plants contain tr opacocaine and two contain methylecgonidine. GC/MS analysis of all 5 specie s for cocaine proved fruitless. The chemotaxonomic significance of these re sults is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.