Rutaecarpine

Description

This alkaloid occurs with Evodiamine (q.v.) in the Chinese drug 'Wou-chou-yu' which is the dried fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth. It crystallizes from boiling EtOH as colourless, or pale yellow, needles and is optically inactive. The acetyl derivative has m.p. 184-6°C and the benzoyl compound, m.p. 194°C. The alkaloid gives a yellow colour with concentrated H2S04 and is decomposed by KOH in boiling amyl alcohol yielding anthranilic acid and 3-{3-aminoethylindole- 2-O!carboxylic acid, CllH120 2N2, silky crystals, m.p. 257°C.
Pharmacologically, the alkaloid causes increased arterial pressure on injection.

Chemical Properties

Solid

Uses

Rutaecarpine is an indole alkaloid contained in the fruit of Evodiae fruits. It been shown to ameliorate bodyweight gain through orexigenic neuropeptides NPY and AgRP. It also playes a role in the treatment of high blood pressure

Definition

ChEBI: Rutecarpine is a member of beta-carbolines.

in vivo

IC 50

COX-2: 0.28 μM (IC₅₀, in BMMC); COX-1: 8.7 μM (IC₅₀, in BMMC)

References

Asahina, Kashiwagi., J. Pharm. Chim., 14,54 (1916)
Asahina, Mayeda.,J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, No. 416 (1916)
Asahina, Fujita., ibid, 863 (1921)
Kermack, Perkin, Robinson.,J. Chem. Soc., 119,1615 (1921)
Asahina, Manske, Robinson., ibid, 1708 (1927)
Asahina, Irie, Ohta., J. Pharm. Soc., Japan, 48, 51 (1928)
Ohta., ibid, 60, 109 (1940)
Schopf, Steuer., Annalen, 558, 124 (1947)
Biosynthesis:
Yamazaki, Ikuta., Tetrahedron Lett., 3221 (1966)
Yamazakietal., ibid, 3317 (1967)
Pharmacology:
Raymond-Hamet., Cornpt. rend., 220, 749 (1945)