Antimicrobial agents from higher plants. An investigation of Hunnemannia fumariaefolia pseudoalcoholates of sanguinarine and chelerythrine.

The antimicrobial activity seen in extracts of Hunnemmania fumariaefolia S. resides in the alkaloids. The activity seen in the non-polar fractions had been shown by chromatography, physicochemical measurements, and comparisons with authentic samples to be due to apparently artifactual formation of the pseudomethanolates and pseudoethanolates of the alkaloids sanguinarine and chelerythrine, which are abundant in the plant. The enhanced potency of the pseudoalcoholates of sanguinarine over the parent benzophenanthridine is discussed in comparison with the in vitro biopotencies of other analogs prepared for the purpose. It appears that the pseudoalcoholates may be useful prodrugs.