Rauwolscine Explained

Rauwolscine, also known as isoyohimbine, α-yohimbine, and corynanthidine, is an alkaloid found in various species within the genera Rauvolfia and Corynanthe (including Pausinystalia).^[1] It is a stereoisomer of yohimbine.^[1] Rauwolscine is a central nervous system stimulant, a local anesthetic and a vague aphrodisiac.^[1]

Rauwolscine acts predominantly as a α₂-adrenergic receptor antagonist.^{[2] [3]} It has also been shown to function as a 5-HT_1A receptor partial agonist and 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_2B receptor antagonist.^{[4] [5] [6]}

See also

• Ajmalicine
• Corynanthine
• Spegatrine
• Yohimbine

Notes and References

1. Kohli JD, De NN . Pharmacological action of rauwolscine . Nature . 177 . 4521 . 1182 . June 1956 . 13334509 . 10.1038/1771182a0 . 4212268 . free . 1956Natur.177.1182K .
2. Perry BD, U'Prichard DC . [3H]rauwolscine (alpha-yohimbine): a specific antagonist radioligand for brain alpha 2-adrenergic receptors . European Journal of Pharmacology . 76 . 4 . 461–464 . December 1981 . 6276200 . 10.1016/0014-2999(81)90123-0 .
3. Qin K, Sethi PR, Lambert NA . Abundance and stability of complexes containing inactive G protein-coupled receptors and G proteins . FASEB Journal . 22 . 8 . 2920–2927 . August 2008 . 18434433 . 2493464 . 10.1096/fj.08-105775 . free .
4. Arthur JM, Casañas SJ, Raymond JR . Partial agonist properties of rauwolscine and yohimbine for the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by recombinant human 5-HT1A receptors . Biochemical Pharmacology . 45 . 11 . 2337–2341 . June 1993 . 8517875 . 10.1016/0006-2952(93)90208-E .
5. Kaumann AJ . Yohimbine and rauwolscine inhibit 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction of large coronary arteries of calf through blockade of 5 HT2 receptors . Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 323 . 2 . 149–154 . June 1983 . 6136920 . 10.1007/BF00634263 . 23251900 .
6. Wainscott DB, Sasso DA, Kursar JD, Baez M, Lucaites VL, Nelson DL . [3H]Rauwolscine: an antagonist radioligand for the cloned human 5-hydroxytryptamine2b (5-HT2B) receptor ]. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology . 357 . 1 . 17–24 . January 1998 . 9459568 . 10.1007/PL00005133 . dead . 28910390 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010911115312/http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00210/bibs/7357001/73570017.htm . 2001-09-11 .