Mesembrenone is an

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

constituent of ''

Sceletium tortuosum ''Mesembryanthemum tortuosum'' or ''Sceletium tortuosum'', commonly known as kanna, channa, kougoed, or Namaqua skeletonfig, is a succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Traditionally, it has been fe ...

'' (Kanna) and minor constituent of ''

Lampranthus aureus ''Lampranthus aureus'' is a species of shrub in the family Aizoaceae (stone plants). They are succulent plants. They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Phytochemistry L. aureus contains mesembrenol and low levels of re ...

'' and ''

Lampranthus spectabilis ''Lampranthus spectabilis'', the trailing iceplant (a name Trailing iceplant, it shares with other members of its family), is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. The unimproved speci ...

''. Similar to modern synthetic

antidepressant Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction. Common side effects of antidepressants include Xerostomia, dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathi ...

s, it is a potent (IC₅₀ < 1 μM) selective inhibitor of the

serotonin transporter The serotonin transporter (SERT or 5-HTT) also known as the sodium-dependent serotonin transporter and solute carrier family 6 member 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC6A4 gene. SERT is a type of monoamine transporter protein t ...

(SERT) (that is, a

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychological conditions. SSRIs primarily work by blo ...

; K_i = 27 nM) and also a

phosphodiesterase 4 At least four types of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) are known: * PDE4A * PDE4B * PDE4C * PDE4D See also * 3',5'-cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase * Phosphodiesterase (PDE) * PDE4 inhibitor A phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, commonly ref ...

(PDE4)

inhibitor Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to: Biology * Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity * Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotransmi ...

(K_i = 470 nM).

References

{{Phosphodiesterase inhibitors Antidepressants Indole alkaloids Ketones Monoamine releasing agents Phenol ethers PDE4 inhibitors Serotonin reuptake inhibitors