MORPHOLOGISCHE UND PHYTOCHEMISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN AN SIPPEN DER GATTUNG ATROPA L

Populations of various proveniences and species of Atropa in 1976–78 were studied in morphological and phytochemical respect. The main aim was to prove the systematic classifications of the genus, which is still under dispute, by means of analysis of alkaloids in leaves and roots.

Our studies were made with various Atropa belladonna L. proveniences from natural stands and with A. baetica Willk., A. acuminata Royle ex Miers, A. komarovii Blin. et Schal. and A. pallidiflora Schönb.-Tem.. Observations and measurements were done during the vegetation period with cultivated plants from experimental fields. Alkaloids from leaves and roots were analysed gaschromatographyically.

European populations of A. belladonna are morphologically rather similar. Only leafs shape and expecially size and shape of sepals are varying. Alkaloid content in leaves is 0.18–0.43 %, in roots 0.34–0.93 %. Scopolamine portion is very low.

Distinctly increased alkaloid content is exhibited by A. baetica /0.91 %/ from Spain. The same is due to scopolamine portion.

One of the main features is the lacking integument along the shoot axis in asiatic species of Atropa, corresponding with a thin glaucous waxy layer. Therefore A. caucasica Kreyer and A. acuminata should be treated as separate species, systematically different enough from A. belladonna. The leaves of A. pallidiflora and A. acuminata contain relatively large portions of scopolamine /up to 30 % of alkaloid content/.

The roots, however, also by A. komarovii, contain cuskhygrine.