veratramine

Description

This alkaloid occurs naturally in Veratrum grandi/lorum and V. viride and is also formed during the hydrolysis of Veratrosine (q.v.). It forms colourless crystals of the monohydrate from aqueous EtOH and has [α]¹⁹_D - 70° (MeOH). The hydrochloride forms colourless plates from EtOH, m.p. 20l-2°C and the picrate, yellow plates, m.p. 217.5 - 218°C. Two non-phenolic hydroxyl groups and an imino group are present and the triacetyl derivative, m.p. 205.5-206°C; [α]^14.5_D + 37.8° (MeOH), on controlled hydrolysis furnishes the N-acetyl com_x0002_pound, m.p. 176-8°C. The O-acetate has also been prepared as colourless prisms from aqueous EtOH, m.p. 20l-2°C but it is still uncertain which of the hydroxyl groups is acetylated in this derivative. Treatment with methyl iodide in MeOH in the presence of sodium carbonate gives N-methylveratraminc methiodide, m.p. 268°C (dec.) from which the methochloride, m.p. 277°C can be obtained. On catalytic hydrogenation, the base furnishes the dihydro derivative, m.p. 198- 200°C; [α]²⁷_D + 27.4°, which forms the N-acetyl compound, m.p. 220-3°C; [α]²⁸_D + 81° and the triacetyl derivative, m.p. l89.5-190.5°C; [α]²⁴_D + 84°.

Chemical properties

White Solid

The Uses of veratramine

It is useful as signal transduction inhibitor for treating tumors

The Uses of veratramine

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which is blocked by cyclopamine , plays a key role in morphogenesis and has potential applications in the treatment of cancer. Veratramine, a teratogenic steroidal alkaloid isolated from the corn lily (Veratrum sp.), is an analog of cyclopamine that can inhibit the Hh signaling-dependent proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells at 8 μM. Additionally, veratramine has anti-thrombotic activity as it dose dependently inhibits platelet aggregation in rabbits ex vivo. While it may be most useful as a signal transduction inhibitor for treating tumors, veratramine also induces serotonin release and inhibits its re-uptake in the CNS.

What are the applications of Application

Veratramine is a signal transduction inhibitor for treating tumors

Definition

ChEBI: A piperidine alkaloid comprising the 14,15,16,17-tetradehydro derivative of veratraman having two hydroxy groups at the 3- and 23-positions.

References

Saito., Bull. Chem. Soc., Japan, 15, 22 (1940)
Jacobs, Craig.,J. Biol. Chem., 155,565 (1944)
Jacobs,.Craig., ibid, 160,555 (1945)
Tamm, Wintersteiner., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 74,3842 (1952)
Mass spectra: Budzikiwicz., Tetrahedron, 20,2267 (1964)
Synthesis: Masamune, Takasugi, Murai., Tetrahedron, 27,3369 (1971)