Methylecgonine is a prominent
tropane alkaloid found in
coca leaves.
It is metabolite of
cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...
,
and maybe is used as precursor for it. It also occurs as minor alkaloid in roots of many ''
Datura
''Datura'' is a genus of nine species of highly poisonous, vespertine-flowering plants belonging to the nightshade family Solanaceae. They are commonly known as thornapples or jimsonweeds, but are also known as devil's trumpets (not to be conf ...
'' species such as ''
Datura stramonium''
and ''
Datura innoxia''.
Biosynthesis
It is the last step before cocaine is biosynthesized in coca plants with the help of
BAHD acyltransferase
{{technical, date=September 2015 General Information
The BAHD acyltransferases are a super family of enzymes found primarily in plants, algae and bacteria. They are CoA-dependent enzymes that transfer acylated moieties (RC(O)R’) of an acyl-activa ...
.
Animal study
Animals study suggest that it has beneficial effect on cognition and protects against
cocaine lethality.
It showed inhibition of
sodium channel
Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that form ion channels, conducting sodium ions (Na+) through a cell's membrane. They belong to the superfamily of cation channels and can be classified according to the trigger that opens the channel ...
s only at very high dosages.
See also
*
Ecgonine
Ecgonine (tropane derivative) is a tropane alkaloid found naturally in coca leaves. It has a close structural relation to cocaine: it is both a metabolite and a precursor, and as such, it is a controlled substance in many jurisdictions, as are so ...
References
Tropane alkaloids
{{Alkaloid-stub