Corymine Explained

Corymine, also known as NSC381080, is a natural alkaloid found in Hunteria zeylanica.

This compound acts as a glycine antagonist and could therefore, be classed as a neurotoxin.

Occurrence

Corymine and many other indole alkaloids can be isolated from parts of the Hunteria zeylanica plant.

The plant also contains other similar alkaloids, such as^[1]

• 3-epi-dihydrocorymine
• 3-epi-dihydrocorymine 3-acetate
• 3-epi-dihydrocorymine 17-acetate
• norisocorymine

Toxicity

Corymine and related alkaloids can act as convulsants.^[2]

Tests on Xenopus occyte species have shown that corymine can decrease glycine's action at the inhibitory glycine receptors.^[3] These same tests have revealed that Corymine can reduce the response of receptors to GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Other experiments have shown that corymine can potentiate convulsions induced by strychnine, a potent glycine antagonist.^[4] This was also observed in mice.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Lavaud . C. . Massiot . G. . Vercauteren . J. . Le Men-olivier . L. . 1982-01-01 . Alkaloids of Hunteria zeylanica . Phytochemistry . 21 . 2 . 445–447 . 10.1016/S0031-9422(00)95285-3 . 1982PChem..21..445L . 0031-9422.
2. Web site: PubChem . Corymine - Associated Disorders and Diseases . 2024-02-01 . pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . en.
3. Leewanich . P. . Tohda . M. . Matsumoto . K. . Subhadhirasakul . S. . Takayama . H. . Aimi . N. . Watanabe . H. . 1997-08-13 . Inhibitory effects of corymine, an alkaloidal component from the leaves of Hunteria zeylanica, on glycine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes . European Journal of Pharmacology . 332 . 3 . 321–326 . 10.1016/s0014-2999(97)01097-2 . 0014-2999 . 9300267.
4. Leewanich . P. . Tohda . M. . Matsumoto . K. . Subhadhirasakul . S. . Takayama . H. . Aimi . N. . Watanabe . H. . 1998-05-08 . A possible mechanism underlying corymine inhibition of glycine-induced Cl- current in Xenopus oocytes . European Journal of Pharmacology . 348 . 2–3 . 271–277 . 10.1016/s0014-2999(98)00147-2 . 0014-2999 . 9652343.
5. Leewanich . P. . Tohda . M. . Matsumoto . K. . Subhadhirasakul . S. . Takayama . H. . Aimi . N. . Watanabe . H. . March 1996 . Behavioral studies on alkaloids extracted from the leaves of Hunteria zeylanica . Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin . 19 . 3 . 394–399 . 10.1248/bpb.19.394 . 0918-6158 . 8924908.