Hirsuteine is an indole alkaloid that has been found in U. sinensis and has neuroprotective activities.1,2 It reduces glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in primary rat cerebellar granule neurons when used at concentrations ranging from 100 to 300 ?M.1 Hirsuteine (1-100 ?M) inhibits nicotine-induced dopamine release in PC12 cells.2
1.Shimada, Y., Goto, H., Itoh, T., et al.Evaluation of the protective effects of alkaloids isolated from the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis on glutamate-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells from ratsJ. Pharm. Pharmacol.51(6)715-722(1999) 2.Watano, T., Nakazawa, K., Obama, T., et al.Non-competitive antagonism by hirsuteine of nicotinic receptor-mediated dopamine release from rat pheochromocytoma cellsJpn. J. Pharmacol.61(4)351-356(1993)