Planta Med 2001; 67(2): 114-117
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-11512
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Structure-Antinociceptive Activity Studies of Incarvillateine, a Monoterpene Alkaloid from Incarvillea sinensis

Motoyuki Nakamura1 , Yu-Ming Chi2 , Wen-Mei Yan3 , Akihiko Yonezawa4 , Yumiko Nakasugi2 , Toyokichi Yoshizawa2 , Fumio Hashimoto1 , Junei Kinjo1 , Toshihiro Nohara1,*, Shinobu Sakurada4
  • 1 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
  • 2 Seiwa Pharmaceutical Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan
  • 3 Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Beijing, China
  • 4 Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku College of Pharmacy, Sendai, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

March 23, 2000

July 16, 2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

Abstract

Incarvillateine (1), a new monoterpene alkaloid carrying a characteristic cyclobutane ring, has been found to show significant antinociceptive activity in a formalin-induced pain model in mice. To investigate the correlation between its structure and antinociceptive activity, and especially to study whether a cyclobutane ring is necessary or not for expression of activity, we evaluated the antinociceptive activity of two constructive units of incarvillateine, such as a monoterpene unit (incarvilline, 3) and a phenylpropanoid unit (ferulic acid, 2) in the formalin test, and compared activity of the units with that of incarvillateine. Furthermore, in order to obtain more information about the structure-activity relationships, monoterpene alkaloid derivatives, such as incarvine C (5, a precursor of incarvillateine), incarvine A (4, an ester compound comprised of two monoterpene alkaloids and a monoterpene) and 3,3′-demethoxy-4,4′-dehydroxyincarvillateine (6, a synthetic new compound), were examined. The antinociceptive effect of 3,3′-demethoxy-4,4′-dehydroxyincarvillateine was equal to that of incarvillateine. Meanwhile, the other compounds exhibited no or weak activity. These results suggested that the cyclobutane moiety of incarvillateine plays an important role in expression of antinociceptive action.

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Prof. Dr. T. Nohara, Ph. D.

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Kumamoto University

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Kumamoto 862-0973

Japan

Email: none@gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp

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