The Co-Occurrence of Two Pyridine Alkaloids, Mimosine and Trigonelline, in Leucaena leucocephala
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Shinjiro Ogita
Leucaena leucocephala is a nitrogen-fixing tropical leguminous tree that produces two pyridine alkaloids, i. e. mimosine [β-(3-hydroxy-4-pyridon-1-yl)-L-alanine] and trigonelline (1- methylpyridinium-3-carboxylate). Mimosine has been detected in leaves, flowers, pods, seeds, and roots, and it is one of the principal non-protein amino acids that occurs in all organs. Asparagine was the most abundant amino acid in flowers. The mimosine content varied from 3.3 μmol/g fresh weight (FW) in developing flowers to 171 μmol/g FW in mature seeds. Trigonelline was also detected in leaves, flowers, pods, and seeds, but not roots. The trigonelline content was lower than that of mimosine in all organs. It varied from 0.12 μmol/g FW in developing seeds to 2.6 μmol/g FW in mature seeds. [2-14C]Nicotinic acid supplied to the developing seeds was incorporated into trigonelline but not mimosine. This indicates that the pyridine and dihydroxypyridine structures of these two alkaloids are derived from distinct precursors. The physiological functions of mimosine and trigonelline are discussed briefly.
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Articles in the same Issue
- A New Ergostane Triterpenoid from a Solid Culture of the Basidiomycete Inocybe lilacina
- Non-Alkaloidal Compounds from the Bulbs of the Egyptian Plant Pancratium maritimum
- In vitro Investigation of Anticancer, Cell-Cycle-Inhibitory, and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Diversin, a Natural Prenylated Coumarin, on Bladder Carcinoma Cells
- Antileishmanial Compounds from Moringa oleifera Lam.
- Cytotoxic Polyacetylenes from the Red Sea Sponge Siphonochalina siphonella
- The Co-Occurrence of Two Pyridine Alkaloids, Mimosine and Trigonelline, in Leucaena leucocephala
- Aqueous Garlic Extract Alleviates Liver Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Bile-Duct-Ligated Rats
- The Wheat Aquaporin Gene TaAQP7 Confers Tolerance to Cold Stress in Transgenic Tobacco
- Isolation and Characterization of Wild-Type Lipoxygenase LOXPsa1 from Pleurotus sapidus
- Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Bombyx mori Gene Encoding the Transcription Factor Atonal
- Total Antioxidant Capacity of Feces of Mammalian Herbivores and Carnivores
- Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Lipase from Porcine Pancreas
Articles in the same Issue
- A New Ergostane Triterpenoid from a Solid Culture of the Basidiomycete Inocybe lilacina
- Non-Alkaloidal Compounds from the Bulbs of the Egyptian Plant Pancratium maritimum
- In vitro Investigation of Anticancer, Cell-Cycle-Inhibitory, and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Diversin, a Natural Prenylated Coumarin, on Bladder Carcinoma Cells
- Antileishmanial Compounds from Moringa oleifera Lam.
- Cytotoxic Polyacetylenes from the Red Sea Sponge Siphonochalina siphonella
- The Co-Occurrence of Two Pyridine Alkaloids, Mimosine and Trigonelline, in Leucaena leucocephala
- Aqueous Garlic Extract Alleviates Liver Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Bile-Duct-Ligated Rats
- The Wheat Aquaporin Gene TaAQP7 Confers Tolerance to Cold Stress in Transgenic Tobacco
- Isolation and Characterization of Wild-Type Lipoxygenase LOXPsa1 from Pleurotus sapidus
- Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Bombyx mori Gene Encoding the Transcription Factor Atonal
- Total Antioxidant Capacity of Feces of Mammalian Herbivores and Carnivores
- Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Lipase from Porcine Pancreas
