Antitussives Noscapine narcotine

In relation to their chemical structure and action, they can be classified into two categories. The first are phenanthrene alkaloids and are under international control morphine (MO), codeine (COD), and thebaine (TB), which act on the central nervous system and are used as analgesics, narcotics, and potentially addicting compounds (pain relievers). Heroin is synthesized from MO. The second group is isoquinoline alkaloids Papaverine (PV) and narcotine (also known as noscapine). Narcotine acts only to relax involuntary smooth muscles, for which it is considered an antitussive, and lacks addictive, analgesic, respiratory, narcotic, depressant, and sedative properties. Next to MO, which constitute about 10% by weight of raw opium, is the second most abundant alkaloid present in opium. The three last alkaloids (PV, narcotine, and narceine) are not under international control specially, narcotine and narceine which have scarcely any medical or other uses. Consequently, the five economically significant alkaloids of opium are MO, COD, TB, PV, and narcotine. 

Another heterocyclic nucleus investigated as a basis for analgesics is isoquinoline with a fully reduced heterocycle moiety and carrying a 1-phenethyl substituent. The series was reported by Hoffman-La Roche in 1960(1S) but no further information has appeared since 1965, when a full account of the work appeared in deStevens book Analgetics.(16) 1-Benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids such as papaverine occur in opium but lack analgesic properties, while others, for example, a-narcotine (noscapine), have antitussive activity. Some of the novel 1-phenethyl analogs 9 behaved as analgesics in mice after sc administration when tested by the tail-flick assay, but potency levels were mostly low and close to that of codeine. Details of the most active compounds are shown in Table 11.2. All have 6,7-methoxyls and 4 -substituents with... 

Novoseven eptacogalfa factor VII. noscapine [ban, inn] (narcotine i-a-narcotine) is an alkaloid from Corydalis cava (Corydalis tuberosa), Papaver somniferum and other Papaver spp. It is a by-product in extraction of morphine from opium, and one of the first alkaloids to be isolated. It can be used as a centrally acting ANTITUSSIVE, similar in pharmacology to codeine, novobiocin [ban, inn] (Albamycin ) is an antibiotic with ANTIBACTERIAL activity against Gram-positive bacteria. It is also a LEUKOTRIENE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST. 

Noscapine was first isolated and characterized in the chemical breakdown and properties in 1817 under the denominatiOTi of Narcotine by Pierre Robiquet, a French chemist in Paris. Noscapine s antitussive effects appear to be primarily mediated by its sigma receptor agonist activity. Noscapine is currently under investigation for use in the treatment of several cancers and hypoxic ischemia in stroke patients. Noscapine can survive the manufacturing processes of heroin and can be found in street heroin. 

Noscapine or narcotine (3) is a phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the Papaveraceae family. It is an important alkaloid from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), occurring in variable quantities (level ranges from 2% to 10%) [38]. Unlike opioid morphinane drugs, noscapine lacks hypnoanalgesic, euphoric, and respiratory depressant properties. Its main therapeutic application is as oral antitussive drug, which is indicated to treat nonproductive coughs [39, 40]. 

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