Identification of Steroidal Alkaloids in Veratrum parviflorum
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Grant No. P20GM103408.
Abstract
Plants of the Veratrum genus have been used throughout history for the treatment of high blood pressure, emetic properties, and treatment of venereal diseases. Inadvertent consumption of these plants, which resembles wild onion, induces life threatening side effects attributable to an abundance of steroidal alkaloids. Several of the steroidal alkaloids from Veratrum spp. have been investigated for their ability to antagonize the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, a key pathway for embryonic development and cell proliferation. Uncontrolled activation of this pathway is linked to the development of various cancers such as basal cell carcinoma. Additional investigation of Veratrum spp. may lead to the identification of novel alkaloids with potential to serve as chemotherapeutics. Veratrum parviflorum grows in the southeastern United States and has yet to be studied for alkaloid composition. The current investigation will target the identification of steroidal alkaloids in V. parviflorum. Plant samples harvested along the Appalachian trail in Georgia, USA, were sent to our lab for processing and extraction of steroidal alkaloids. The extract has been analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). A variety of commercially available alkaloid standards, including cyclopamine, veratramine, veratrimine, and verazine, have been used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of alkaloids in V. parviflorum plant extract. Alkaloids that have not been reported from Veratrum spp. prior, will be evaluated for inhibition of Hh signaling and potential as basal cell carcinoma therapeutics.
Identification of Steroidal Alkaloids in Veratrum parviflorum
Plants of the Veratrum genus have been used throughout history for the treatment of high blood pressure, emetic properties, and treatment of venereal diseases. Inadvertent consumption of these plants, which resembles wild onion, induces life threatening side effects attributable to an abundance of steroidal alkaloids. Several of the steroidal alkaloids from Veratrum spp. have been investigated for their ability to antagonize the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, a key pathway for embryonic development and cell proliferation. Uncontrolled activation of this pathway is linked to the development of various cancers such as basal cell carcinoma. Additional investigation of Veratrum spp. may lead to the identification of novel alkaloids with potential to serve as chemotherapeutics. Veratrum parviflorum grows in the southeastern United States and has yet to be studied for alkaloid composition. The current investigation will target the identification of steroidal alkaloids in V. parviflorum. Plant samples harvested along the Appalachian trail in Georgia, USA, were sent to our lab for processing and extraction of steroidal alkaloids. The extract has been analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). A variety of commercially available alkaloid standards, including cyclopamine, veratramine, veratrimine, and verazine, have been used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of alkaloids in V. parviflorum plant extract. Alkaloids that have not been reported from Veratrum spp. prior, will be evaluated for inhibition of Hh signaling and potential as basal cell carcinoma therapeutics.