DISTRIBUTION AND TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ALKALOIDS IN THE GENISTA-CINEREA AGREGAT

The alkaloid pattern of the Genista cinerea agregat was investigated by GC and GC-MS. At least 15 alkaloids were found in G. cinerascens, 20 alkaloids in G. majorica and 16 alkaloids in G. cinerea ssp. ausetana. Twigs of G. cinerascens contained the (alpha-pyridone alkaloids cytisine and anagyrine as main compounds, whereas lupanine, 13-hydroxylupanine and the ester alkaloids 13-tigloyloxylupanine and 13-benzoyloxylupanine were found as predominant constituents in twigs of G. majorica and the different subspecies of G. cinerea. Investigations of seeds, pods, fruits and flowers confirmed the alkaloid pattern found in twigs. The alkaloidal data give no support for a close affinity between G. cinerascens and the other two species of the agregat, G. majorica and G. cinerea.