Lupine alkaloids are natural substances classified as quinolizidine alkaloids. They are named after their presence in lupins.
Occurrence Depending on the variety, lupins contain between 0.6% and 4.3% lupine alkaloids.
Representatives More than 170 lupine alkaloids have been identified. The primary alkaloid is lupinin. Other notable compounds include lupanine, lupinine, lupanolin and sparteine. (-)-Lupanine is found in the white lupin, while (+)-lupanine is present in the blue lupin. Both (+)-sparteine and (-)-sparteine occur naturally. (-)-cytisine, the primary alkaloid of the laburnum, is also classified as a lupine alkaloid.T. Dingermann, K. Hiller, G. Schneider, I. Zündorf: Schneider Arzneidrogen. 5. Auflage. Elsevier 2004, ISBN 3-8274-1481-4, S. 339 f.
Properties Lupine alkaloids are considered toxic. Grazing animals should not ingest more than 60 g/kg. Symptoms of poisoning include liver and kidney degeneration, miscarriages, and congenital deformities. Sheep are particularly sensitive to these toxins.
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