Norspermidine Explained

Norspermidine is a polyamine of similar structure to the more common spermidine. While norspermidine has been found to occur naturally in some species of plants,^{[1] [2]} bacteria,^[3] and algae,^[4] it is not known to exist in humans.

Norspermidine is being researched for use as a cancer medication.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Rodriguez-Garay, B. Detection of Norspermidine and Norspermine in Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) . Plant Physiology . 89 . 2. 525–529 . 1989 . 0032-0889 . 10.1104/pp.89.2.525 . 16666576 . 1055875 . etal.
2. Hamana, K. Unusual polyamines in aquatic plants: the occurrence of homospermidine, norspermidine, thermospermine, norspermine, aminopropylhomospermidine, bis(aminopropyl)ethanediamine, and methylspermidine . Can. J. Bot. . 76 . 1 . 130–133 . 1998 . 10.1139/cjb-76-1-130 . etal.
3. Yamamoto, S. Occurrence of norspermidine in some species of genera Vibrio and Beneckea . Biochem Biophys Res Commun . 87 . 4 . 1102–1108 . Apr 27, 1979 . 313792 . 10.1016/S0006-291X(79)80021-2 . etal.
4. Hamana, K . Matsuzaki, S . Widespread Occurrence of Norspermidine and Norspermine in Eukaryotic Algae . J. Biochem. . 91 . 4 . 1321–1328 . 1982 . 0021-924X . 7096289 .
5. Prakash, NJ. Antitumor activity of norspermidine, a structural homologue of the natural polyamine spermidine . Anticancer Res. . 8 . 4 . 563–568 . 1988 . 3140710 . etal.
6. Sunkara, PS. Mechanism of antitumor activity of norspermidine, a structural homologue of spermidine . Adv Exp Med Biol . 250 . 707–716 . 1988 . 3255245 . 10.1007/978-1-4684-5637-0_62. etal.