Veratrum californicum is a plant native to the western United States that initially received negative publicity as the origin of birth defects in sheep throughout mountainous grazing lands in Idaho. Upon rigorous investigation, it was discovered that V. californicum produces a potent anti-cancer agent; cyclopamine. Cyclopamine is a steroid alkaloid that inhibits the hedgehog mechanism, which is integral to cell growth and maturation. Cyclopemia, a craniofacial defect, is commonly observed in newborn infants when the hedgehog mechanism is inhibited by cyclopamine during gestation. In-vivo and in-vitro studies of certain cancer cell lines have shown decreased tumor growth through inhibition of the hedgehog mechanism. Pancreatic, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer cell lines have shown diminished cell proliferation when treated with cyclopamine.  The purpose of this study was to extract, isolate and characterize cyclopamine from V. californicum. Initial extractions of V. californicum plant material yielded 0.14%, 0.26%,and 0.19% of combined alkaloid extract. The alkaloid solid showed a consistent infrared spectrum to cyclopamine.  Future work to be accomplished includes a final purification and characterization by HPLC, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.

Extraction and isolation of cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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