Anagyrine is an alkaloid that has been found in L. albus and has nematocidal and anticancer activities.1,2,3 It binds to muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) with IC50 values of 132 and 2,096 µM, respectively, in radioligand binding assays using pig brain membranes that endogenously express high levels of the receptors.1 Anagyrine decreases survival of B. xylophilus worms.2 It inhibits proliferation of TE-671 and SH-SY5Y cancer cells (EC50s = 18.1 and 19.1 µM, respectively).3 Maternal ingestion of anagyrine during gestation is associated with the teratogenic condition crooked calf disease in cattle.4
1.Schmeller, T., Sauerwein, M., Sporer, F., et al.Binding of quinolizidine alkaloids to nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptorsJ. Nat. Prod.57(9)1316-1319(1994) 2.Matsuda, K., Kimura, K., Komai, K., et al.Nematicidal activities of (-)-N-methylcytisine and (-)-anagyrine from Sophora flavescens against pine wood nematodesAgr. BioI. Chem.53(8)2287-2288(1989) 3.Green, B.T., Lee, S.T., Panter, K.E., et al.Actions of piperidine alkaloid teratogens at fetal nicotinic acetylcholine receptorsNeurotoxicol. Teratol.32(3)383-390(2010) 4.Keeler, R.F., Cronin, E.H., and Shupe, J.L.Lupin alkaloids from teratogenic and nonteratogenic lupins. IV. Concentration of total alkaloids, individual major alkaloids, and the teratogen anagyrine as a function of plant part and stage of growth and their relationship to crooked calf diseaseJ. Toxicol. Environ. Health1(6)899-908(1976)