Spatial Distribution and Stability of Cholinesterase Inhibitory Protoberberine Alkaloids from .

During a research program to identify new cholinesterase inhibitors of natural origin, two new 7,8-didehydroprotoberberine alkaloids ( and ) and nine known compounds (-) were isolated from the capsules of the common ornamental poppy, (previously ). Despite their reported instability, the 7,8-didehydroprotoberberines isolated herein appeared relatively stable, particularly as their trifluoroacetic acid salts. The spatial distributions of the isolated alkaloids were also analyzed using desorption electrospray ionization imaging mass spectrometry.