Ajmalicine, also known as δ-yohimbine or raubasine, is an antihypertensive drug used in the treatment of high blood pressure.[1] It has been marketed under numerous brand names including Card-Lamuran, Circolene, Cristanyl, Duxil, Duxor, Hydroxysarpon, Iskedyl, Isosarpan, Isquebral, Lamuran, Melanex, Raunatin, Saltucin Co, Salvalion, and Sarpan.[1] It is an alkaloid found naturally in various plants such as Rauvolfia spp., Catharanthus roseus, and Mitragyna speciosa.[1][2][3]

Ajmalicine is structurally related to yohimbine, rauwolscine, and other yohimban derivatives.[4] Like corynanthine, it acts as a α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist with preferential actions over α2-adrenergic receptors, underlying its hypotensive rather than hypertensive effects.[1][5]

Additionally, it is a very strong inhibitor of the CYP2D6 liver enzyme, which is responsible for the breakdown of many drugs. Its binding affinity at this receptor is 3.30 nM.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wink, Michael; Roberts, M. W. (1998). Alkaloids: biochemistry, ecology, and medicinal applications. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-45465-3.
  2. ^ Kurz WG, Chatson KB, Constabel F, et al. (May 1981). "Alkaloid Production in Catharanthus roseus Cell Cultures VIII1". Planta Medica. 42 (5): 22–31. doi:10.1055/s-2007-971541. PMID 17401876.
  3. ^ León F, Habib E, Adkins JE, Furr EB, McCurdy CR, Cutler SJ (July 2009). "Phytochemical characterization of the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa grown in U.S.A". Natural Product Communications. 4 (7): 907–10. doi:10.1177/1934578X0900400705. PMC 9255435. PMID 19731590. S2CID 37709142.
  4. ^ Roberts, Margaret F. (1998-06-30). Alkaloids: Biochemistry, Ecology, and Medicinal Applications. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-0-306-45465-3.
  5. ^ Roquebert J, Demichel P (October 1984). "Inhibition of the alpha 1 and alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated pressor response in pithed rats by raubasine, tetrahydroalstonine and akuammigine". European Journal of Pharmacology. 106 (1): 203–5. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(84)90698-8. PMID 6099269.
  6. ^ Strobl GR, von Kruedener S, Stöckigt J, Guengerich FP, Wolff T (1993). "Development of a pharmacophore for inhibition of human liver cytochrome P-450 2D6: molecular modeling and inhibition studies". J Med Chem. 36 (9): 1136–45. doi:10.1021/jm00061a004. PMID 8487254.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)