Sinomenine or cocculine is an

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

found in the root of the climbing plant '' Sinomenium acutum'' which is native to Japan and China. The plant is traditionally used in herbal medicine in these countries for rheumatism and arthritis. However, its analgesic action against other kinds of pain is limited. Sinomenine is a

morphinan Morphinan is the prototype chemical structure of a large chemical class of psychoactive drugs, consisting of opiate analgesics, cough suppressants, and dissociative hallucinogens, among others. Structure Morphinan has a phenanthrene core struct ...

derivative, related to

opioid Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. Other medical uses include suppression of diarrhea, replacement therapy for opioid use ...

s such as

levorphanol Levorphanol (brand name Levo-Dromoran) is an opioid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is the levorotatory enantiomer of the compound racemorphan. Its dextrorotatory counterpart is dextrorphan. It was first described in Ge ...

and the non-opioid cough suppressant

dextromethorphan Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a medication most often used as a cough suppressant in over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. It is sold in syrup, tablet, spray, and lozenge forms. In 2022, the FDA approved a formulation of it combined with bu ...

. Its anti-rheumatic effects are thought to be primarily mediated via release of

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Since histamine was discovered ...

, but other effects such as inhibition of prostaglandin,

leukotriene Leukotrienes are a family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced in leukocytes by the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) and the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the enzyme arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase. Leukotrienes ...

and nitric oxide synthesis may also be involved.

References

{{Glycinergics Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids Morphinans Phenols Phenol ethers Ethers Ketones GABAA receptor antagonists Glycine receptor antagonists

See also

References