Metabolism of the α-Pyridone Ring of Ricinine in Ricinus communis L.

Abstract

Chemically synthesized ricinine-3,5-14C was used to study the metabolism of this alkaloid in the plant which produces it, Ricinus communis L. In a time course study, ricinine-3,5-14C was administered to a series of castor plants (Ricinus communis L.) and the radioactivity recovered in the ricinine samples showed a decrease with increase in time. It was also observed that the alkaloid was translocated to the seed. The in vivo conversion of ricinine-3,5-14C to respiratory 14CO2 occurred in both light and dark and indicated that the α-pyridone ring of ricinine could be degraded.