Alstonine Explained

Alstonine is a pentacyclic alkaloid and putative antipsychotic constituent of various plant species including Alstonia boonei, Catharanthus roseus, Picralima nitida, Rauwolfia caffra and Rauwolfia vomitoria.^[1] In preclinical studies alstonine attenuates MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion, working memory deficit and social withdrawal.^[2] It also possesses anxiolytic-like effects in preclinical studies,^[1] attenuates amphetamine-induced lethality and stereotypy as well as apomorphine-induced stereotypy,^[1] and attenuates haloperidol-induced catalepsy.^[3] These effects appear to be mediated by stimulation of the 5-HT_2C receptor.^[4] In addition, alstonine, similarly to clozapine, indirectly inhibits the reuptake of glutamate in hippocampal slices.^[5] Unlike clozapine however, the effect of which is abolished by the D₂ receptor agonist apomorphine, alstonine requires 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_2C receptors to produce this effect, as it is abolished by antagonists of these receptors. Also unlike clozapine, alstonine lacks pro-convulsant activity in mice.^[6]

See also

• Ajmalicine
• Corynanthine
• Deserpidine
• Mitragynine
• Rauwolscine
• Spegatrine
• Reserpine
• Rescinnamine
• Yohimbine

Notes and References

1. Elisabetsky E, Costa-Campos L . The alkaloid alstonine: a review of its pharmacological properties . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 3 . 1 . 39–48 . March 2006 . 16550222 . 1375234 . 10.1093/ecam/nek011 .
2. Linck VM, Bessa MM, Herrmann AP, Iwu MM, Okunji CO, Elisabetsky E . 5-HT2A/C receptors mediate the antipsychotic-like effects of alstonine . Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry . 36 . 1 . 29–33 . January 2012 . 21925231 . 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.08.022 . 3236174 . free .
3. Linck VM, Herrmann AP, Piato AL, Detanico BC, Figueiró M, Flório J, Iwu MM, Okunji CO, Leal MB, Elisabetsky E . 6 . Alstonine as an antipsychotic: effects on brain amines and metabolic changes . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 2011 . 418597 . 418597 . July 2011 . 19189988 . 3140158 . 10.1093/ecam/nep002 .
4. Book: Meltzer HY . Current Antipsychotics . Serotonergic Mechanisms as Targets for Existing and Novel Antipsychotics . Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology . 212 . 212 . 87–124 . 2012 . 23129329 . 10.1007/978-3-642-25761-2_4 . Springer . Berlin Heidelberg . 978-3-642-25761-2 . Gross G, Geyer MA .
5. Herrmann AP, Lunardi P, Pilz LK, Tramontina AC, Linck VM, Okunji CO, Gonçalves CA, Elisabetsky E . 6 . Effects of the putative antipsychotic alstonine on glutamate uptake in acute hippocampal slices . Neurochemistry International . 61 . 7 . 1144–1150 . December 2012 . 22940693 . 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.08.006 . 14234269 . free .
6. Costa-Campos L, Iwu M, Elisabetsky E . Lack of pro-convulsant activity of the antipsychotic alkaloid alstonine . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 93 . 2–3 . 307–310 . August 2004 . 15234769 . 10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.056 .