Cytisine

DescriptionCytisine (also known as baptitoxine and sophorine) is a kind of naturally occurring alkaloid that can be found in several plant genera including Laburnum and Cytisus in the family Fabaceae. It has been shown that it is effective in the smoking cessation treatment. It is a low efficacy partial agonist of alpha4-beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which is the central target of the nicotine that facilitates addiction. Cytisine is capable of reducing the effect of nicotine on dopamine release on the mesolimbic system as well as attenuating the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Cytisine is also a useful reagent for organic chemistry such as being used for the manufacture of sparteine surrogate.

DescriptionIt is an alkaloid that occurs naturally in several plant genera, such as Laburnum and Cytisus of the family Fabaceae. Pi-Zhen-Ye-Huang-Hua (Thermopsis lanceolata R.Br) contains large amount of cytisine, and it is distributed in the northeast, north, and northwest of China. This herb has been traditionally used for treating cough in China and was recorded in “Yue-Wang-Yao-Zhen,”“Jing-ZhuBen-Cao,”“Zhong-Hua-Ben-Cao,” and “Ning-Xia-Zhong-Cao-Yao-Shou-Ce.”

HistoryThe largest amount of cytisine (about 1–5%) is also found in the seeds of common garden decorative plant Du-Dou (Laburnum anagyroides). In the early twentieth century, cytisine was identified as the toxic component of this plant. The extracts of Laburnum seeds or flowers have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. In the Second World War, the leaves of Laburnum anagyroides were used as a tobacco substitute by soldiers. In 1960s, cytisine was firstly used as a smoking cessation aid in Bulgaria. The pharmacological and clinical studies of cytisine were also conducted in other Eastern European countries such as Poland and Russia. These results were promising. Stoyanov S. and Yanachkova M. studied 70 volunteers with a long experience in smoking. They found that 57% volunteers stopped smoking and 31.4% volunteers decreased cigarettes: reduction of the cigarettes smoked from 20–30 to 3–4 a day. Cytisine was developed and marked as Tabex (Sopharma, Bulgaria), which has been widely distributed in the Eastern Europe .

Usesantiinflammatory, respiratory stimulant

UsesToxic priniciple in seed of Laburnum anagyroides and other Leguminosae. A neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine agonist. Toxic priniciple in seed of Laburnum anagyroides and other Leguminosae. A neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine agonist.

UsesCytisine occurs in the seeds of Cytisus labur num L. and other Leguminosae.

General DescriptionCystine ((1R,5S)-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-1,5-methano-8H-pyrido[1,2a][1,5]diazocin-8-one) displays classical antidepressant action in various animal models of antidepressant efficacy. Infrared and Raman spectral studies suggest that it has two stable conformers.

DefinitionChEBI: An organic heterotricyclic compound that is the toxic principle in Laburnum seeds and is found in many members of the Fabaceae (legume, pea or bean) family. An acetylcholine agonist, it is widely used throughout Eastern Europe as n aid to giving up smoking.