Mesembrenone Explained

Mesembrenone is an alkaloid constituent of Sceletium tortuosum (Kanna) and minor constituent of Lampranthus aureus and Lampranthus spectabilis ^[1]

Similar to modern synthetic antidepressants, it is a potent (IC₅₀ < 1 μM) selective inhibitor of the serotonin transporter (SERT) (that is, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; K_i = 27 nM) and also a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor (K_i = 470 nM).^[2]

See also

Other alkaloids present in Kanna include:

• • Mesembrine Mesembranol
• Tortuosamine

Notes and References

1. 10.1076/phbi.36.3.173.6350 . The Distribution of Mesembrine Alkaloids in Selected Taxa of the Mesembryanthemaceae and their Modification in the Sceletium Derived 'Kougoed' . 1998 . Smith . Michael T. . Field . Courtney R. . Crouch . Neil R. . Hirst . Manton . Pharmaceutical Biology . 36 . 3 . 173–179 .
2. Harvey, A. L. . Young, L. C. . Viljoen, A. M. . Gericke, N. P. . Pharmacological actions of the South African medicinal and functional food plant Sceletium tortuosum and its principal alkaloids . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 137 . 3 . 1124–1129 . October 2011 . 21798331 . 10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.035 .