Pyrrolidine alkaloids

The pyrrolidine alkaloids are natural products chemically derived from pyrrolidine.^[1]

pyrrolidine, the fundamental chemical structure of pyrrolidine alkaloids.

Occurrence

Alkaloids with partial pyrrolidine structure are usually sub-categorized based on their occurrence and biogenetic origin. Hygrin and cuscohygrin were isolated from the leaves of the coca shrub,^[2] while (-)-codonopsinine was isolated from the woodland vine tiger bell.^[3]

• 
  Coca shrub (Erythroxylum coca) with leaves and fruits.
• 
  Wood vine tiger bell (Codonopsis clematidea)

Representatives

Among the most important representatives of the pyrrolidine alkaloids are hygrin and cuscohygrin.^[2] Another representative is the (-)-codonopsinine.^[3] Furthermore, ruspolinone, norruspolinone and norruspoline also belong to this alkaloid group.^[4]

• 
  (+)-Hygrine
• 
  (-)-Codonopsinine
• 
  (-)-Ruspolinone
• 
  (R)-Norruspoline

Properties

Many plants containing cuscohygrin are used in the folk medicine of various peoples as sedatives or narcotics.^[5]