Corymine, also known as NSC381080, is a natural alkaloid found in Hunteria zeylanica.
This compound acts as a glycine antagonist and could therefore, be classed as a neurotoxin.
Occurrence Corymine and many other indole alkaloids can be isolated from parts of the Hunteria zeylanica plant.
The plant also contains other similar alkaloids, such as
3-epi-dihydrocorymine 3-epi-dihydrocorymine 3-acetate 3-epi-dihydrocorymine 17-acetate norisocorymine
Toxicity Corymine and related alkaloids can act as convulsants.
Tests on Xenopus occyte species have shown that corymine can decrease glycine's action at the inhibitory glycine receptors. These same tests have revealed that Corymine can reduce the response of receptors to GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Other experiments have shown that corymine can potentiate convulsions induced by strychnine, a potent glycine antagonist. This was also observed in mice.
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