Nuciferine
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nuciferine is an alkaloid found within the plants Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nucifera.[1][2] It interacts with various serotonin and dopamine receptors, acting as an antagonist of some receptors and as an agonist of others, and additionally acts as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, among other actions.[3]
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| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
1,2-Dimethoxy-6aβ-aporphine | |
| Systematic IUPAC name
(6aR)-1,2-Dimethoxy-6-methyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline | |
| Other names
(R)-1,2-Dimethoxyaporphine | |
| Identifiers | |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C19H21NO2 | |
| Molar mass | 295.376 g/mol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Pharmacology
A 1978 study found that nuciferine acts as a dopamine receptor blocker producing neuroleptic effects, whereas its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine stimulates dopamine receptors, producing opposing psychopharmacological effects.[4]
According to a newer study from 2016, nuciferine acts as an antagonist at 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT2B receptors, an inverse agonist at the 5-HT7 receptor, a partial agonist at D2, D5, and 5-HT6 receptors, and an agonist at 5-HT1A and D4 receptors. Additionally, it inhibits the dopamine transporter (DAT).[3]
In rodent models relating to antipsychotic drug effects, nuciferine has shown various actions such as blocking head-twitch response and discriminative stimulus effects of a 5-HT2A receptor agonist, enhancing amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, inhibiting phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion, and restoring PCP-induced disruption of pre-pulse inhibition without inducing catalepsy.[3]
Nuciferine may also potentiate morphine analgesia. The median lethal dose in mice is 289 mg/kg. It is structurally related to apomorphine and other aporphine derivatives.[5][6]
Nuciferine has been reported to have various anti-inflammatory effects, possibly mediated via PPAR delta activation.[7]