Menispermaceae alkaloids. I. The alkaloids of Cissampelos pareira Linn. and the origin of radix pareirae brave.

The roots and vines of Cissampelos pareira Linn. from Madras yielded l -curine, d -iso-chondrodendrine, and hayatin. Preliminary pharmacological study of the methanol-extractable alkaloids, of the methiodide prepared from the latter mixture, and of the quaternary alkaloids, showed that all had curare-like activity. The relationship of the composition and pharmacological activity of the alkaloidal mixture to the problem of the botanical source of the drug radix pareirae bravae is discussed.