Alkaloids of Thalictrum. XXI. Isolation and characterization of alkaloids from the roots of Thalictrum podocarpum.

Thirteen alkaloids, hernandezine, thalidezine, N-desmethylthalidezine, isothalidezine, thalistyline, thalistyline methodiiodide, N-desemethylthalistyline, berberine, columbamine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, thalifendine, magnoflorine and the artifact, 8-trichloromethyldihydroberberine were isolated from the roots of Thalictrum podocarpum Humb. In addition, oxyberberine and thaliglucinone were obtained in very minor amounts and identified by tlc. Of these compounds, N-desmethylthalidezine and isothalidezine are new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Sucrose was isolated from the alcoholic extract. Hernandezine, thalistyline, thalidezine, thalistyline methodiiodide and N-desmethylthalistyline were found to possess antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis at concentrations of 100 microgram/ml or less.