Scoulerine, also known as discretamine and aequaline, is a benzylisoquinoline

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 ...

(BIA) that is derived directly from (''S'')-

reticuline Reticuline is a chemical compound found in a variety of plants including ''Lindera aggregata'', ''Annona squamosa'', and ''Ocotea fasciculata'' (also known as ''Ocotea duckei''). It is based on the benzylisoquinoline structure. Reticuline is one ...

through the action of berberine bridge enzyme. It is a precursor of other BIAs, notably

berberine Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids found in such plants as ''Berberis vulgaris'' (barberry), '' Berberis aristata'' (tree turmeric), '' Mahonia aquifolium'' (Oregon grape), '' Hyd ...

noscapine Noscapine (also known as Narcotine, Nectodon, Nospen, Anarcotine and (archaic) Opiane) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, of the phthalideisoquinoline structural subgroup, which has been isolated from numerous species of the family Papaveraceae ( ...

, (''S'')- tetrahydropalmatine, and (''S'')-stylopine, as well as the alkaloids

protopine Protopine is an alkaloid occurring in opium poppy, ''Corydalis'' tubers and other plants of the family papaveraceae, like ''Fumaria officinalis''. Protopine is metabolically derived from the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid ''(S)''- Reticuline through ...

, and

sanguinarine Sanguinarine is a polycyclic quaternary alkaloid. It is extracted from some plants, including the bloodroot plant, from whose taxonomic name, ''Sanguinaria canadensis,'' its name is drawn; the Mexican prickly poppy (''Argemone mexicana''); ''Chel ...

. It is found in many plants, including opium poppy, ''

Croton flavens Croton may refer to: Biology *Crotoneae, a tribe of the flowering plant subfamily Crotonoideae * ''Croton'' (plant), a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae **''Croton capitatus'', also known as the woolly croton **''Croton hancei'', a species ...

'', and certain plants in the genus '' Erythrina''. Studies show that scoulerine is an antagonist ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology ...

'' at the α₂-

adrenoceptor The adrenergic receptors or adrenoceptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are targets of many catecholamines like norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline) produced by the body, but also many medications like beta ...

, α_1D-

and

5-HT receptor 5-HT receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, or serotonin receptors, are a group of G protein-coupled receptor and ligand-gated ion channels found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They mediate both excitatory and inhibitory ne ...

. It has also been found to be a GABA_A receptor agonist ''in vitro''.

References

{{reflist Isoquinolinoisoquinolines Natural opium alkaloids Phenols Catechol ethers Methoxy compounds