Gramine (also called donaxine) is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid present in several plant species. Gramine may play a defensive role in these plants, since it is toxic to many organisms.[1]

Occurrence

Gramine has been found in the giant reed, Arundo donax,[2][3] Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple),[4] Hordeum,[1][3] (a grass genus that includes barley) and Phalaris[3] (another grass genus).

Effects and toxicity

Gramine has been found to act as an agonist of the adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1).[5]

The LD50 of gramine is 44.6 mg/ kg iv in mice and 62.9 mg/ kg iv in rats.[6] Numerous studies have been done on the toxicity of gramine to insects harmful to crops in order to assess its potential use as an insecticide.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Corcuera, L. J. (1993). "Biochemical Basis of the Resistance of the Barley to Aphids". Phytochemistry. 33 (4): 741–747. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(93)85267-U.
  2. ^ Orechoff, A.; Norkina, S. (1935). "Über die Alkaloide von Arundo Donax L.". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 68 (3): 436–437. doi:10.1002/cber.19350680312.
  3. ^ a b c Cheeke, P. R. (1989). Toxicants of Plant Origin, Alkaloids. CRC Press. p. 172. ISBN 0-8493-6990-8.
  4. ^ Pachter, I. J.; Zacharias, D. E.; Ribeiro, O. (1959). "Indole Alkaloids of Acer saccharinum (the Silver Maple), Dictyoloma incanescens, Piptadenia colubrina, and Mimosa hostilis". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 24 (9): 1285–1287. doi:10.1021/jo01091a032.
  5. ^ Sun Y, Zang Z, Zhong L, Wu M, Su Q, Gao X, Zan W, Lin D, Zhao Y, Zhang Z (2013). "Identification of adiponectin receptor agonist utilizing a fluorescence polarization based high throughput assay". PLOS ONE. 8 (5): e63354. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...863354S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063354. PMC 3653934. PMID 23691032.
  6. ^ Erspamer, V. (1954). "Pharmacology of Indolealkylamines". Pharmacological Reviews. 6 (4): 425–487. PMID 13236482.
  7. ^ Corcuera, L. J. (1984). "Effects of Indole Alkaloids from Gramineae on Aphids". Phytochemistry. 23 (3): 539–541. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80376-3.