Corynanthine Explained

Corynanthine, also known as rauhimbine, is an alkaloid found in the Rauvolfia and Corynanthe (including Pausinystalia) genera of plants.[1] [2] It is one of the two diastereoisomers of yohimbine, the other being rauwolscine.[3] [4] It is also related to ajmalicine.

Corynanthine acts as an α1-adrenergic and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist with approximately 10-fold selectivity for the former site over the latter.[5] [6] This is in contrast to yohimbine and rauwolscine which have around 30-fold higher affinity for the α2-adrenergic receptor over the α1-adrenergic receptor.[7] [8] As a result, corynanthine is not a stimulant (or an aphrodisiac for that matter), but a depressant, and likely plays a role in the antihypertensive properties of Rauvolfia extracts. Like yohimbine and rauwolscine, corynanthine has also been shown to possess some activity at serotonin receptors.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. PHILLIPS DD, CHADHA MS . The alkaloids of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth . Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association . 44 . 9 . 553–67 . September 1955 . 13251932 . 10.1002/jps.3030440912.
  2. Alkaloids from Rauvolfia canescens; Pharmaceutical Biology - 39(3):Pages 239-240 - Informa Healthcare . Pharmaceutical Biology . 10.1076/phbi.39.3.239.5923 . 85168336 .
  3. Shepperson NB, Duval N, Massingham R, Langer SZ . Pre- and postsynaptic alpha adrenoceptor selectivity studies with yohimbine and its two diastereoisomers rauwolscine and corynanthine in the anesthetized dog . The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 219 . 2 . 540–6 . November 1981 . 6270312 .
  4. Doxey JC, Lane AC, Roach AG, Virdee NK . Comparison of the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist profiles of idazoxan (RX 781094), yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine . Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 325 . 2 . 136–44 . February 1984 . 6144048 . 10.1007/bf00506193. 24276613 .
  5. Shepperson NB, Duval N, Massingham R, Langer SZ . Pre- and postsynaptic alpha adrenoceptor selectivity studies with yohimbine and its two diastereoisomers rauwolscine and corynanthine in the anesthetized dog . The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 219 . 2 . 540–6 . November 1981 . 6270312 .
  6. Doxey JC, Lane AC, Roach AG, Virdee NK . Comparison of the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist profiles of idazoxan (RX 781094), yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine . Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 325 . 2 . 136–44 . February 1984 . 6144048 . 10.1007/bf00506193. 24276613 .
  7. Shepperson NB, Duval N, Massingham R, Langer SZ . Pre- and postsynaptic alpha adrenoceptor selectivity studies with yohimbine and its two diastereoisomers rauwolscine and corynanthine in the anesthetized dog . The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 219 . 2 . 540–6 . November 1981 . 6270312 .
  8. Doxey JC, Lane AC, Roach AG, Virdee NK . Comparison of the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist profiles of idazoxan (RX 781094), yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine . Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 325 . 2 . 136–44 . February 1984 . 6144048 . 10.1007/bf00506193. 24276613 .
  9. Feuerstein TJ, Hertting G, Jackisch R . Endogenous noradrenaline as modulator of hippocampal serotonin (5-HT)-release. Dual effects of yohimbine, rauwolscine and corynanthine as alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists and 5-HT-receptor agonists . Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 329 . 3 . 216–21 . May 1985 . 2991775 . 10.1007/bf00501871. 19770424 .

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