Page 70 - Phytochemistry 2 (06-PG 605)

Minor alkaloids and related analogues

Apo-atropine
It occurs in Belladonna roots; it is optically inactive (as

apotropic acid has no asymmetric carbon).
It is used as antispasmodic

Homatropine (Mandelyl tropine)
It is a synthetic alkaloid. It is prepared by passing hydrogen

chloride gas for 3-4 hours through a mixture of 7 parts of tropine,
10 parts of mandelic acid and 2 parts of water.

Homatropine is freely soluble in ether and chloroform.
Homatropine gives +ve reaction with Gerrard’s test giving red
colour while with Vitali’s test it gives yellow colour (instead of
violet). Homatropine resembles atropine and hyoscyamine in its
general physiological effects, but is much less toxic, and in small
doses it exerts a hypnotic effect. It has mydriatic effect like
atropine but its action is more rapid, weaker, and less prolonged
than atropine.

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