Pharmacological Properties of Canescine ('Recanescine'), a New Alkaloid Isolated from Rauwolfia canescens Linn

Abstract

Pharmacological properties of Recanescine, a new alkaloid recently isolated from Rauwolfia canescens, were similar to reserpine and rescinna-mine. Recanescine produces hypotension, bradycardia and sedation accompanied by characteristic alterations in cardiovascular responses. These are depression of the pressor response to bilateral carotid occlusion and blockade or reversal of the pressor reponse to central vagal stimulation. Sedative effects of Recanescine were observed grossly in dogs and mice, and they were demonstrated objectively in mice by prolongation of pento-barbital induced sleeping time and by increased "fall-outs" from roller cages. Recanescine significantly raised the tolerance of mice to toxic doses of amphetamine. This was interpreted as due to the sedative effect of this alkaloid.