Metabolomic analysis of bioactive Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of ornamental varieties of Narcissus by GC–MS combined with k-means cluster analysis

• Amaryllidaceae alkaloid profile of 106 Narcissus ornamental varieties was determined by GC–MS.
• Important differences were found between bulbs and leaves, and among Narcissus varieties.
• Relationship between Narcissus varieties was explored by multivariate statistical methods.
• k-Means cluster analysis revealed five groups of varieties with common alkaloid profile.

One hundred and six ornamental varieties of Narcissus were analysed by GC–MS in an attempt to determine their alkaloid profile and the relationships between them were explored by multivariate statistical methods. Leaf and bulb tissues were analysed separately. A total of 61 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and 2 protoalkaloids were identified and quantified. Different alkaloid profiles were found in leaves and bulbs, with leaves showing a higher quantity and more complex profile of alkaloids. Important differences were also found among plant varieties. k-Means cluster analysis determined five clusters based on similarities in alkaloid composition in both leaves and bulbs. The predominant alkaloids were lycorine-type in leaves, and galanthamine-type in bulbs. A correspondence analysis suggested that a global relationship between horticultural divisions of ornamental Narcissus varieties and k-means clusters based on alkaloid composition was unlikely, although some clusters were found to be particularly associated with certain divisions.

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