Structure and toxicity of alkaloids and amino acids of Sophora secundiflora.

Seeds from Sophora secundiflora were extracted into three major fractions: lipids, alkaloids, and amino acids. Most of the lipid material was composed of steroid esters. These esters were hydrolyzed, and the fatty acid compositions were determined. The major alkaloid component was cytisine, with N-methylcytisine, anagyrine, and the fatty acid compositions were determined. The major alkaloid component was cytisine, with N-methylcytisine, anagyrine, and termopsine in lower concentration. The major free ninhydrin-positive compound was gamma-glutamyltyrosine. In addition to several common amino acids, pipecolic acid and 4-hydroxypipecolic acid were identified. Both the amino acid fraction and the alkaloid fractions caused minor pharmacological disorder when injected into rats. However, when both fractions were simultaneously administered, they were lethal.