Alkaloid composition of Lupinus campestris from Mexico

The content of quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) in Lupinus campestris, Fabaceae family, was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Samples of various organs of Lupinus campestris collected at different monthly stages of the growing plant, were subjected to extraction in a Merck Extrelut column. The quinolizidine alkaloid patterns of stems, leaves, flowers, pods and seeds were assessed and then identified and quantified by GC. Alkaloid structures were identified according to their mass fragmentation patterns, in combination with their indicative Kovats retention index. Alkaloids found in several developmental stages of the plant were mainly: aphyllidine, 5,6-dehydrolupanine, aphylline, dehydro-oxosparteine, lupanine, α-isolupanine, hydroxyaphylline and hydroxyaphyllidine, plus two alkaloids that were not identified. During the third month the relative abundance of total alkaloids were highest. The main alkaloids found in seeds were hydroxyaphylline and hydroxyaphyllidine.