Abstract : Recent phytochemical studies have shown that the seeds of several members of the Convolvulaceae family, in particular certain Rivea, Ipomoea, and Argyreia species contain significant amounts of ergoline alkaloids. The isolation and structural determination is reported of a new hexahydroindolizine alkaloid from the seeds of Ipomoea alba L. (Moonflowers), the first time indolizines have been isolated from Ipomoea species. (Author)

THE globus pallidus is considered to play an important part in the causation of rest tremor (JUNG and HASSLER, 1960). PAKKENBERC~ (1963) found a hyperactivity of the globus pallidus in patients with Parkinsonism, and destruction of the globus pallidus results in an improvement in the clinical picture in Parkinson’s disease (BUCY, 1961). Furthermore, this is the area of the brain that contains the most iron (SPATZ, 1922). For these reasons it seemed of interest to investigate the effect of Tremorine, a substance which gives rise to symptoms exactly imitating Parkinsonism, on the iron content of the brain. In addition to Tremorine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD 25) was used to see if the tremor of Parkinsonian type behaved differently from a tremor of different origin. Lysergic acid diethylamide is a substance known to produce a tremor that cannot be inhibited by anticholinergic drugs.