New alkaloids from Corydalis species.

A new alkaloid, chaerophylline (1), together with known alkaloids (-)-corypalmine, berberine chloride, (-)-isocorypalmine, (-)-corydalmine and (+)-bicuculline have been isolated from the crude base fraction of Corydalis chaerophylla. The crude base fractions of Corydalis longipes gave a new alkaloid, longicine (4), together with known alkaloids (+/-)-alpha-hydrastine, (+/-)-beta-hydrastine, N-methylhydrasteine hydroxylactam, 1-methoxyberberine chloride and berberinium hydroxide. These alkaloids are reported for the first time from the above species and their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic evidence.