Veratrum viride
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440241a0c064628944995 |
| Scientific name | Veratrum viride |
| Authority | Aiton |
| First published in | Hort. Kew. 3: 422 (1789) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among the Cherokee of the southeastern United States, a root decoction was used historically as a strong emetic for dropsy, and the powdered root was added to infusions for fevers (Moerman, 1998). In the northern Plains, Cree healers employed a root decoction as an emetic during sweat-lodge purges and as a cold remedy taken in small sips (Hart, 1999). On the Pacific Northwest coast, Haida communities treated high fevers and throat infections with infusions made from the ground root (Mollat, 2014). The Algonquin of eastern Canada also used the plant as an emetic, preparing it as an infusion of the dried root (Moerman, 1998). Across these traditions, the preparation was viewed as potent and potentially dangerous, and doses were carefully controlled.
For those who wish to know how such a preparation might have been made, here is a concise, safety‑critical example of a root decoction used as an emetic. In a conventional ethnobotanical preparation, about one tablespoon of finely chopped dried root would be covered with roughly 200 mL of water, brought to a simmer, and kept at a low boil for 10 to 15 minutes before cooling. The strained liquid is then taken in small mouthfuls at intervals until emesis occurs. Because Veratrum viride contains highly irritating veratrum alkaloids that affect cardiac and neurological function, this type of preparation is extremely hazardous and is not recommended for modern home use; avoid during pregnancy or in children, the elderly, or anyone with heart disease (Bisset, 1981; Stone & Mir, 2016).
The documented activity aligns with well‑established phytochemistry. The plant is best known for protoveratrine A and B, along with veratridine and related steroidal alkaloids, which are strongly cardiotoxic at higher doses (Bisset, 1981). These compounds affect sodium channels and blood pressure, supporting the traditional use as a strong emetic and febrifuge, though their toxicity cautions against any unsupervised use.
Today Veratrum viride is primarily studied for its alkaloids rather than used in herbal practice, and it is not generally available as a dietary or medicinal tea (Harvey, 2021). Its dangerous nature and the availability of safer alternatives have limited its modern herbal use.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Alkaloid extracts from V. viride rhizomes, sometimes marketed as “veratrine”, are supplied by specialty chemical suppliers.
- Commercial extracts are typically prepared from dried rhizomes and are standardized to a defined percentage of total veratridine alkaloids by HPLC to ensure batch consistency.
- Purified veratridine (CAS 2599‑71‑1), cevadine (CAS 630‑94‑4) and related steroidal alkaloids are sold as research reagents.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Botanical insecticide formulations that incorporate V. viride rhizome extracts have been investigated for controlling stored‑grain insects and certain agricultural pests. The extracts are applied as aqueous sprays or powders in low‑concentration formulations to provide protection against weevils and moths.
- The insecticidal activity is attributed to the neurotoxic steroidal alkaloids that bind to insect sodium channels, causing prolonged depolarization and paralysis.
Scientific/model‑organism use:
- Veratridine is a standard tool in electrophysiology; it binds to site‑2 of voltage‑gated Na+ channels, causing a persistent depolarizing current that is widely employed in neurobiology studies of channel gating, excitability, and toxin action.
- V. viride is frequently employed in research on steroidal alkaloid biosynthesis; its high alkaloid content makes it a model system for elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of jervine and related compounds. Genomic and transcriptomic datasets for the species have been deposited in public repositories (e.g., NCBI) supporting comparative studies within the Melanthiaceae.
Properties relevant to use:
- The plant’s rhizomes contain high concentrations of lipophilic steroidal alkaloids (veratridine, cevadine, jervine) that are readily extracted with ethanol, methanol or chloroform.
- These alkaloids exhibit strong sodium‑channel activator activity and have high octanol–water partition coefficients, facilitating rapid uptake across insect cuticles and efficient formulation in lipid‑based carriers.
- The extracts are stable as dry powders, enabling long‑term storage and easy incorporation into pesticide formulations.
Standards and regulation:
- Bulk veratridine is classified as a hazardous chemical under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard; safety data sheets (SDS) must be provided, and the substance is listed in the EU REACH registration system.
- Pesticide products containing V. viride extracts are regulated in the United States under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); EPA registration and labeling are required, and products are listed in the EPA Pesticide Product Label (PPL) database.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Commercial material is obtained primarily from wild‑harvested rhizomes, as the species is not cultivated at scale. Sustainable collection practices recommend limiting harvest to a small proportion of mature individuals per site and allowing a recovery period.
- Cultivation trials have been explored in some regions as an alternative to wild harvest, though commercial scale production remains limited.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Helonias viridis | [Ker-Gawl.] | Bot. Mag. 27: t. 1096 (1808) |
| Veratrum album f. viride | (Aiton) Regel | Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Pétersbourg, Sér. 7 , 4(4): 153 (1861) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | false hellebore |
| English | green false hellebore |
| English | indian poke |
| Spanish | falso eleboro verde |
| Spanish | falso eléboro verde |
| Azerbaijani | yaşıl asırqal |
| azb | یاشیل آسیرقال |
| Persian | وراتروم ویرید |
| French | vératre vert |
| Swedish | grön nysrot |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Veratrum viride var. eschscholtzianum | (Schult. & Schult.f.) Breitung | Canad. Field-Naturalist 71: 49 (1957) |
| Veratrum viride var. viride | Unknown |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Requires Soaking: These seeds need to be soaked in warm water until they swell, which can take 24-48 hours. Seeds that float are usually not viable and should be discarded, along with the soaking water. |
| Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate. |
| seed very poisonous, wash hands after handling; store @ 4°C; sow 20°C x 4 weeks, then -7°C x 6 weeks, 10°C to germinate |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Québec
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Washington
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Subarctic America
- Alaska
- Northwest Territorie
- Yukon
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000751734 |
| UNII | 36K54AW5KX |
| Canadensys | 6665 |
| USDA Plants | VEVI |
| Tropicos | 18400395 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:543543-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-291258 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 453154 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 72650 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000014612 |
| Nature Serve | 2.158937 |
| IPNI | 543543-1 |
| iNaturalist | 79484 |
| GBIF | 2742131 |
| Freebase | /m/05wq65 |
| EPPO | VEAVI |
| EOL | 1083443 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 8223 |
| USDA GRIN | 41142 |
| Wikipedia | Veratrum_viride |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Fluorenes | |||||
| 14,15,16,17-Tetradehydroveratraman-3,23-diol | 229854 | Click to see CC1CC(C(NC1)C(C)C2=C(C3=C(C=C2)C4CC=C5CC(CCC5(C4C3)C)O)C)O | 409.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.3030411014 |
| Veratramine | 6070 | Click to see | 409.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.3030411014 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / 22,26-epiminocholestanes | |||||
| (3S,8R,9S,10R,12R,13S,14S,17R)-10,13-dimethyl-17-[(1S)-1-[(2S,5S)-5-methylpiperidin-2-yl]ethyl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,12-diol | 101919103 | Click to see | 415.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| (3S,8R,9S,10R,12S,13R,14S,17R)-10,13-dimethyl-17-[(1S)-1-[(2S,5S)-5-methylpiperidin-2-yl]ethyl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,12-diol | 162936272 | Click to see | 415.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| 10,13-dimethyl-17-[1-(5-methylpiperidin-2-yl)ethyl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,12-diol | 162936271 | Click to see | 415.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / Cerveratrum-type alkaloids | |||||
| (10,12,13,14,23-Pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl) 2-methylbut-2-enoate | 78410119 | Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1CCC2(C3C1(OC24CC5C6CN7CC(CCC7C(C6C(C(C5(C4CC3)O)O)O)(C)O)C)O)C | 575.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| (16,22-Diacetyloxy-10,12,14,23-tetrahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-13-yl) 2-methylbutanoate | 12305686 | Click to see | 677.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| (1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16R,18S,19S,22S,23R,25R)-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosane-10,12,13,14,16,22,23-heptol | 23616919 | Click to see | 509.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| (1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,18S,19S,22S,23R,25R)-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosane-10,12,13,14,22,23-hexol | 163185348 | Click to see CC1CCC2C(C3C(CN2C1)C4CC56C(C4(C(C3O)O)O)CCC7C5(CCC(C7(O6)O)O)C)(C)O | 493.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| (22-Acetyloxy-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-13-yl) 2-methylbutanoate | 23290444 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(CC6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C)O)C)O)O)O | 635.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16R,18S,19S,22S,23S,25R)-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 162912692 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(CC6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(C(C)O)O)O)C)O)O)O | 709.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16R,18S,19S,22S,23S,25R)-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (2S,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 162912695 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(CC6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(C(C)O)O)O)C)O)O)O | 709.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16R,18S,19S,22S,23S,25R)-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (2S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 163194108 | Click to see | 693.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16R,18S,19S,22S,23S,25R)-16-acetyloxy-10,12,14,23-tetrahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (2S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 163003057 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(CC6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(CC)O)O)C)OC(=O)C)O)O | 735.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,16S,17R,18R,19S,22S,23S,25R)-17-acetyloxy-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-[(2R)-2-methylbutanoyl]oxy-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 163019773 | Click to see | 767.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 |
| [(1S,2S,6S,9S,10S,11R,12R,13S,14S,15S,18S,19S,22S,23R,25R)-10,12,13,14,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoate | 134145571 | Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1CCC2(C3C1(OC24CC5C6CN7CC(CCC7C(C6C(C(C5(C4CC3)O)O)O)(C)O)C)O)C | 575.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| [10,12,14,16,23-Pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 78410929 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(CC6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(CC)O)O)C)O)O)O | 693.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19552881005 |
| [10,12,14,16,23-Pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 3818601 | Click to see | 709.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 |
| [16-Acetyloxy-10,12,14,23-tetrahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 74369277 | Click to see | 735.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| [17-Acetyloxy-10,12,14,16,23-pentahydroxy-6,10,19-trimethyl-13-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosan-22-yl] 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate | 163019772 | Click to see | 767.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 |
| 6,10,19-Trimethyl-24-oxa-4-azaheptacyclo[12.12.0.02,11.04,9.015,25.018,23.019,25]hexacosane-10,12,13,14,22,23-hexol | 4486612 | Click to see | 493.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| 6,10,23-Trimethyl-4-azahexacyclo[12.11.0.02,11.04,9.015,24.018,23]pentacos-17-ene-10,12,20-triol | 12444725 | Click to see | 429.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1076/PHBI.34.3.161.13210 |
| 7-Deoxygermine | 409814 | Click to see | 509.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| Germindine | 131879509 | Click to see | 635.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| Neogermitrine | 91799750 | Click to see | 677.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01132A027 |
| Protoveratrine | 4974 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(C(C6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(CC)O)O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)O)O | 793.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19552881005 |
| Protoveratrine | 4975 | Click to see | 809.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19530360326 |
| protoveratrine A | 8931 | Click to see CCC(C)C(=O)OC1C(C2C(CN3CC(CCC3C2(C)O)C)C4C1(C5C(C(C6C7(C5(C4)OC6(C(CC7)OC(=O)C(C)(CC)O)O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)O)O | 793.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/JA01617A058 https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19552881005 |
| Protoveratrine B | 222158 | Click to see | 809.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19530360326 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / Jerveratrum-type alkaloids | |||||
| Iervin | 222153 | Click to see | 425.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E https://doi.org/10.1039/CT8793500421 https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.3030411014 |
| Jervine | 10098 | Click to see CC1CC2C(C(C3(O2)CCC4C5CC=C6CC(CCC6(C5C(=O)C4=C3C)C)O)C)NC1 | 425.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1039/CT8793500421 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.3030411014 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / Solanidines and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,2R,7S,10R,11S,13R,14S,15R,16S,17R,20S,23S)-14-(hydroxymethyl)-10,16,20-trimethyl-22-azahexacyclo[12.10.0.02,11.05,10.015,23.017,22]tetracos-4-ene-7,13-diol | 101919102 | Click to see CC1CCC2C(C3C(N2C1)CC4C3(C(CC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)O)CO)C | 429.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| Rubijervine | 253295 | Click to see | 413.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| Solanid-5-en-3beta,12alpha-diol | 591288 | Click to see CC1CCC2C(C3C(N2C1)CC4C3(C(CC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)O)C)C | 413.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| Solanidine base + 2O | 139292073 | Click to see | 429.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides / Steroidal saponins | |||||
| 11-Oxo-17,23-epoxyveratraman-3-yl hexopyranoside | 3605588 | Click to see | 587.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1039/CT8793500421 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
| Pseudojervine | 16398499 | Click to see CC1CC2C(C(C3(O2)CCC4C5CC=C6CC(CCC6(C5C(=O)C4=C3C)C)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)C)NC1 | 587.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1039/CT8793500421 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00825-E |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |