Pyrrolizidine alkaloid profiles of some Senecio species from Egypt.

Alkaloid profiles of two Egyptian Senecio species (Senecio aegyptius var. discoideus and S. desfontainei) in addition to a cultivated species (S. cineraria) were studied using capillary GLC and GLC-mass spectrometry with respect to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Four alkaloids were identified in S. aegyptius var. discoideus, 8 in S. desfontainei and 13 in S. cineraria. Some of these alkaloids have not been reported from these plants. The alkaloidal pattern of different plant organs (flowers, leaves, stem, root) were also investigated. Senecionine has been found to be a one of the major alkaloid in all studied species, it was isolated and its structure was elucidated by 1H- and 13C-NMR.