Tabernaemontanine is a naturally occurring

monoterpene Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen funct ...

indole alkaloid Indole alkaloids are a class of alkaloids containing a structural moiety of indole; many indole alkaloids also include isoprene groups and are thus called terpene indole or secologanin tryptamine alkaloids. Containing more than 4100 known differe ...

found in several species in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Tabernaemontana ''Tabernaemontana'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. It has a pan-tropical distribution, found in Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America, and a wide assortment of oceanic islands. These plants are evergreen ...

'' including ''

Tabernaemontana divaricata ''Tabernaemontana divaricata'', commonly called pinwheel flower, crape jasmine, East India rosebay, and Nero's crown, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and China. In zones where it is not hardy it is grown a ...

''.

History

Tabernaemontanine was first reported in 1939 but its structure was only fully confirmed in the 1970s as there was confusion in the original literature regarding the

configuration Configuration or configurations may refer to: Computing * Computer configuration or system configuration * Configuration file, a software file used to configure the initial settings for a computer program * Configurator, also known as choice board ...

of the

ethyl group In organic chemistry, an ethyl group (abbr. Et) is an alkyl substituent with the formula , derived from ethane (). ''Ethyl'' is used in the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's nomenclature of organic chemistry for a saturated ...

in the

piperidine Piperidine is an organic compound with the molecular formula (CH2)5NH. This heterocyclic compound, heterocyclic amine consists of a six-membered ring containing five methylene bridges (–CH2–) and one amine bridge (–NH–). It is a colorless ...

ring of this alkaloid and its

isomer In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formulae – that is, same number of atoms of each element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. Isomerism is existence or possibility of isomers. Iso ...

dregamine, so that their identities had been reversed. Both compounds were isolated from plants of the dogbane (

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...

) family including '' Tabernaemontana coronaria''. They have structures that are reduced versions of

vobasine Vobasine is a naturally occurring monoterpene indole alkaloid found in several species in the genus ''Tabernaemontana'' including ''Tabernaemontana divaricata''. History Vobasine was first reported by Renner in 1959 after its isolation from ''Voac ...

Biosynthesis

As with other

Indole alkaloids Indole alkaloids are a class of alkaloids containing a structural moiety of indole; many indole alkaloids also include isoprene groups and are thus called terpene indole or secologanin tryptamine alkaloids. Containing more than 4100 known differe ...

, the biosynthesis of tabernaemontanine starts from the

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...

tryptophan Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α- carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic ...

. This is converted into

strictosidine Strictosidine is a natural chemical compound and is classified as a glucoalkaloid and a vinca alkaloid. It is formed by the Pictet–Spengler condensation reaction of tryptamine with secologanin, catalyzed by the enzyme strictosidine synthase. ...

before further elaboration.

Natural occurrence

Tabernaemontanine is found commonly in the

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

'' and ''

Kopsia ''Kopsia'' is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1823. ''Kopsia'' is native to China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and various islands of the western Pacific. Species Note: # '' Kopsia angustipetala'' Kerr - Tha ...

'', including the species '' Ervatamia hirta'',

Tabernaemontana elegans ''Tabernaemontana elegans'', the toad tree, is a shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to eastern Africa. Description ''Tabernaemontana elegans'' grows up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . Its fragrant flowers feat ...

and ''

''. The latter species is known to produce many other alkaloids including

catharanthine Catharanthine is a terpene indole alkaloid produced by the medicinal plant ''Catharanthus roseus'' and '' Tabernaemontana divaricata''. Catharanthine is derived from strictosidine, but the exact mechanism by which this happens is currently unknow ...

ibogamine Ibogamine is an anti-convulsant, anti-addictive, CNS stimulant alkaloid found in ''Tabernanthe iboga'' and Crepe Jasmine (''Tabernaemontana divaricata''). Basic research related to how addiction affects the brain has used this chemical. Ibogamin ...

and

voacristine Voacristine is a indole alkaloid occurring in ''Voacanga'' and ''Tabernaemontana'' genus. It is also an iboga type alkaloid. Chemistry Its structure is almost similar to voacangine, an alkaloid used in semi-synthesis of ibogaine. Compared to v ...

Research

Plant

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

s have been of interest for their possible

biological activity In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or ...

and alkaloids in particular are major subjects for

ethnobotanical Ethnobotany is the study of a region's plants and their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of a local culture and people. An ethnobotanist thus strives to document the local customs involving the practical uses of local flora for m ...

research. Tabernaemontanine has been studied, for example as a potential anti-cancer agent, for its

antimalarial Antimalarial medications or simply antimalarials are a type of antiparasitic chemical agent, often naturally derived, that can be used to treat or to prevent malaria, in the latter case, most often aiming at two susceptible target groups, young c ...

activity and in antifertility research. However, the alkaloid itself has not been developed as a drug.

History

Biosynthesis

Natural occurrence

Research

See also

References

Further reading