TROPANE ALKALOID DISTRIBUTION IN ATROPA-BAETICA PLANTS

Fifteen different tropane alkaloids and derivatives were identified by GC-MS in various plant organs of Atropa baetica. The main root and le aves displayed the largest number of tropane alkaloids, most of which were also present in lateral roots. In contrast, only five of these al kaloids appeared in stem tissue. Quantitative analysis by HPLC showed the presence of the two major tropane alkaloids, atropine and scopolam ine, in all the samples studied. Atropine was more abundant, with the highest concentration in the main root (ca. 10.0 mg/g dry wt) followed by leaves (ca. 3.0 mg/g dry wt); scopolamine was present in highest c oncentration in the main root (0.6 mg/g dry wt) followed by leaves (0. 4 mg/g dry wt). The lowest concentrations of these compounds were dete cted in stem tissue, followed by the lateral roots. The main root cons titutes the major tropane alkaloid storage site; moreover, the distrib ution of these compounds does not appear to be organ dependent. These latter two characteristics are in contrast to closely related Atropa g enera.