Ammothamnine

Oxymatrine is a natural alkaloid isolated from the root of S. flavescens, an herb used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It has antiviral properties, inhibiting the replication of hepatitis B alone and in combination with lamivudine. Oxymatrine also prevents fibrosis in a number of organs including liver, at least in part by interfering with TGF-β signaling. This compound also induces apoptosis in certain cancer cells and ameliorates inflammation by impairing the translocation of nuclear factors-κB.

An alkaloid from Sophora angustifolia var. flavescens S. and Z., the bas'e crystal_x0002_lizes as the monohydrate having the lower melting point given above. It is dextrorotatory with [α]¹⁹_D + 47.7° (EtOH) and yields crystalline salts and derivatives: hydrobromide, m.p. 21SoC; aurichloride, m.p. 207°C (dec.); perchlorate, m.p. 240°C (dec.); picrate, m.p. 21SoC and the methochloride aurichloride, m.p. 18SoC (dec.). Ochiai and Ito have shown that it is formed by the action of hydrogen peroxide on Matrine (q.v.), indicating that its structure is matrine-N-oxide.

Oxymatrine is a an anti-tumor agent triggering apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

antifungal, hepatoprotectant

ChEBI: Ammothamnine is an alkaloid and a tertiary amine oxide.

Kondo et al., Arch. Pharm., 275,493 (1937)
Ochiai, Ito., Ber., 81,938 (1938)