Conopharyngine is the major
alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...
present in the leaves and stem-bark of ''
Tabernaemontana pachysiphon
''Tabernaemontana pachysiphon'' grows as a shrub or small tree up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . Its fragrant flowers feature white to pale yellow corolla lobes. The fruit is green, almost spherical, up to in diameter. Its habitat is ...
'' and ''
Conopharyngia durissima''.
It is closely related
voacangine
Voacangine (12-methoxyibogamine-18-carboxylic acid methyl ester) is an alkaloid found predominantly in the root bark of the '' Voacanga africana'' tree, as well as in other plants such as ''Tabernanthe iboga'', '' Tabernaemontana africana'', ''Tra ...
and
coronaridine
Coronaridine, also known as 18-carbomethoxyibogamine, is an alkaloid found in ''Tabernanthe iboga'' and related species, including ''Tabernaemontana divaricata'' for which (under the now obsolete synonym ''Ervatamia coronaria'') it was named.
Li ...
. Conopharyngine pseudoindoxyl, a derivative of it, is also found in the same plant ''Tabernaemontana pachysiphon''.
Pharmacology
It possess central nervous system stimulant activity and produces
bradycardia and
hypotension
Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is indicated by two numbers, the systolic blood pressure (the top number) and the dia ...
in cats. It has weak
acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and significantly increases
hexobarbitone induced sleeping time.
Toxicity
It has low
intravenous toxicity in mice (LD
50 = 143 mg/kg).
See also
*
Ibogaline
References
Alkaloids found in Iboga
Methoxy compounds
Heterocyclic compounds with 5 rings
Methyl esters
Nitrogen heterocycles
Tryptamine alkaloids
{{Alkaloid-stub