Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids Isolated fromEschscholtzia californicaCell Suspension Cultures Interact with Vasopressin (V1) Receptors

Abstract

Chelerythrine and sanguinarine, two benzophenanthridine alkaloids, have been isolated from a crude methanolic extract of Eschscholtzia californica cell suspension cultures by successive fractionations. These two molecules exhibited affinity for rat liver vasopressin V₁ receptors and are competitive inhibitors of [³ H]-vasopressin binding within the micromolar range (K_i). Chelerythrine and sanguinarine represent two of the first non-peptidic structures providing original chemical leads for the design of synthetic vasopressin compounds.