リシニン

解説リシニン，化学式 C8H8N2O2 。トウダイグサ科の植物トウゴマ (ヒマ) の葉および種子に存在するアルカロイド。アルコールから再結晶して針状晶として得られる。融点 201.5℃。 170～180℃ (20mmHg) で昇華する。水，アルコール，クロロホルム，エーテルなどにわずかに溶ける。苦みを有する中性物質で，酸とは塩をつくらない。毒性が強く，摂取すると，嘔吐，溶血性胃腸炎，肝臓・腎臓障害，けいれん，昏睡，血圧および呼吸低下などを経て死にいたる。

説明First isolated by Tuson from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor-oil seed), the alkaloid was subsequently examined by Soave, Schultze and Evans. The base crystallizes from H20 in colourless prisms or leaflets and sublimes at 170-lS0°C/ 20 mm. It is soluble in hot H20 or CHCI3, only sparingly so in EtOH and insoluble in petroleum ether, is neutral in reaction, optically inactive and forms no normal salts although the mercurichloride, m.p. 204°C has been prepared. The alkaloid reduces KMn04 and may be hydrolyzed by alkalies to MeOH and ricininic acid which forms brilliant, slender needles, m.p. 296-8°C (dec.). The structure of ricinine has been confirmed by synthesis from 4-chloroquinoline. Other syntheses have also been achieved. The base is not particularly toxic and the poisonous character of castor-oil seeds has been shown to be due to a more complex substance, ricin, the toxicity of which may be destroyed by heating.

使用Ricinine is an alkaloid extract from the seeds of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communalis). Ricinine is a central nervous system stimulant that could potentially be a cognition-enhancing agent used for the treatment of human amnesias. Ricinine also has bactericidal effects on three pests and heptaprotective activity.