Analysis and characteristics of coronaridine, an alkaloid found in Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

Coronaridine, a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, is present in Tabernanthe iboga and the related species Tabernaemontana divaricata. Recent exhaustive analysis revealed its presence in Catharanthus roseus, though specific details remain unknown. We conducted a detailed analysis of coronaridine in C. roseus, detecting it in seedlings post-germination up to 8 weeks after sowing, with peak abundance at 3–4 weeks. Gradual decrease occurred from the flowering stage, and it was absent during seed formation. The accumulation varied dramatically with the plant’s growth phase. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed (−) coronaridine, consistent with T. iboga. Additionally, cultivating at 35°C increased coronaridine accumulation over 10-fold. These findings hold potential for enhancing the stable production of iboga alkaloids for pharmaceutical use.