Analysis and characteristics of coronaridine, an alkaloid found in <i>Catharanthus roseus</i>

Coronaridine, a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, is present in <i>Tabernanthe iboga</i> and the related species <i>Tabernaemontana divaricata</i>. Recent exhaustive analysis revealed its presence in <i>Catharanthus roseus</i>, though specific details remain unknown. We conducted a detailed analysis of coronaridine in <i>C. roseus</i>, 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 <i>T. iboga</i>. 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.