Picrinine (Pic)

Picrinine is a bio-active alkaloid from Alstonia boonei, a medicinal tree of West Africa. The alkaloids fraction significantly inhibited mice's frequency of cough induced by ammonia, increased mice's latent period of cough induced by sulfur dioxide, and increased guinea pigs' latent period of cough and inhibited frequency of cough. Besides, the alkaloids fraction increased delitescence of convulsion, and tumble of guinea pigs in anti-asthmatic test, and enhanced tracheal phenol red output in expectorant evaluation. Moreover, the main alkaloid, picrinine exhibited anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic activities in vivo. The alkaloids fraction was anti-tussive, anti-asthmatic and expectorant activities component of Alstonia scholaris leaf, and it may also be a valuable lead material for respiratory diseases drug development. Picrinine, the main anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic compound, could be applied in quality control of products from Alstonia scholaris leaf.