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Pyrrolic Metabolites from Non-toxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Nature New Biology volume 231, pages 114–115 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE is evidence that some or all of the cytotoxic effects of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids are, in some animals, caused by pyrrolic metabolites formed by enzymatic dehydro-genation of the alkaloids in the liver1,2. These metabolites are dihydropyrrolizine alcohols like I in Fig. 1 or their esters II; one such alcohol has been identified3. Compared with the parent alkaloids these metabolites are highly reactive alkylating agents, capable of reacting chemically with tissue constituents1,2,4.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Unit, MRC Laboratories, Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, Surrey

    A. R. MATTOCKS & I. N. H. WHITE

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  1. A. R. MATTOCKS
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  2. I. N. H. WHITE
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MATTOCKS, A., WHITE, I. Pyrrolic Metabolites from Non-toxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids. Nature New Biology 231, 114–115 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio231114a0

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