Sinomenine Explained

Sinomenine or cocculine is an alkaloid found in the root of the climbing plant Sinomenium acutum which is native to Japan and China. The plant is traditionally used in herbal medicine in these countries for rheumatism and arthritis.^[1] However, its analgesic action against other kinds of pain is limited. Sinomenine is a morphinan derivative, related to opioids such as levorphanol and the non-opioid cough suppressant dextromethorphan. Its anti-rheumatic effects are thought to be primarily mediated via release of histamine,^[2] but other effects such as inhibition of prostaglandin, leukotriene and nitric oxide synthesis may also be involved.^[3]

See also

• Hasubanan
• Oreobeiline

Notes and References

1. Zhao ZZ, Liang ZT, Zhou H, Jiang ZH, Liu ZQ, Wong YF, Xu HX, Liu L . 6 . Quantification of sinomenine in caulis sinomenii collected from different growing regions and wholesale herbal markets by a modified HPLC method . Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin . 28 . 1 . 105–9 . January 2005 . 15635172 . 10.1248/bpb.28.105 . free .
2. Yamasaki H . Pharmacology of sinomenine, an anti-rheumatic alkaloid from Sinomenium acutum . Acta Medica Okayama . 30 . 1 . 1–20 . February 1976 . 61710 .
3. Liu L, Riese J, Resch K, Kaever V . Impairment of macrophage eicosanoid and nitric oxide production by an alkaloid from Sinomenium acutum . Arzneimittel-Forschung . 44 . 11 . 1223–6 . November 1994 . 7848335 .