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Cytisine
IUPAC name	(1R,5S)-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro- 1,5-methano-8H-pyrido[1,2a][1,5] diazocin-8-one
Other names	Cytisine Baptitoxine Sophorine
Identifiers
CAS number	[485-35-8]
SMILES	O=c1cccc2C3CNCC(C3)Cn21
InChI	1/C11H14N2O/c14- 11-3-1-2-10-9-4-8 (5-12-6-9)7-13(10) 11/h1-3,8-9,12H,4-7H2
Properties
Molecular formula	C11H14N2O
Molar mass	190.24 g/mol
Melting point	152-153 °C
Boiling point	218 °C at 2 mmHg
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Cytisine is a toxic pyridine-like alkaloid. Pharmacologically it exhibits similar effects to nicotine due to structural similarity of the two molecules. In large doses it can interfere with respiration and become fatal.

Sources

Plants that contain the alkaloid in various concentrations include those from several genera of the Faboideae subfamily, including Laburnum, Anagyris, Thermopsis, Cytisus, Genista and Sophora. Also present in Gymnocladus of the Caesalpinioideae subfamily.

Māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) can contain amounts of cytisine that are lethal to most animals. The palila (a bird) and Uresiphita polygonalis virescens as well as Cydia species (moths), and possibly sheep and goats are not affected by the toxin for various reasons and utilize māmane, or parts thereof, as food. U. p. virescens caterpillars are possibly able to sequester the cytisine to give themselves protection from getting eaten; they have aposematic coloration which would warn off potential predators.(Banko et al. 2002)

Uses

Cytisine is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, and as a pharmaceutical preparation it is available for the treatment of nicotinism. Cytisine derivative varenicline was approved in 2006 as a smoking cessation drug. A 2006 literature review concludes that while trials performed with cytisine itself are mostly of poor quality, there is some evidence that cytisine may be prescribed to aid in smoking cessation.^[1]

Plants containing cytisine, including the Common Broom and Mescalbean have also been used recreationally. Positive effects are reported to include a mild intoxication and heightened awareness of color. However this practice is not recommended since negative side-effects can include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, heart pain, headache and in larger doses even death via respiratory failure.

References

• Banko, P.; Cipollini, M.L.; Breton, G.; Paulk, E.; Wink, M. & Izhaki, I. (2002): Seed chemistry of Sophora chrysophylla (Mamane) in relation to the diet of the specialist seed predator Loxioides bailleui (Palila) in Hawai'i. Journal of Chemical Ecology 28(7): 1393-1410.doi:10.1023/A:1016248502927 PDF fulltext

1. ^ Etter JF. Cytisine for smoking cessation; a literature review and a meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1553-9. PMID 16908787.

External links

• Shaman Australis Cytisine pharmacology and information on substance availability in various plants.
• Erowid Library: Golden Guide Hallucinogenic Plants by Richard Evans Schultes More on the dangerous effects of cytisine on health and respiration.
• The Vaults of Erowid : Legal Highs by Adam Gottlieb Information on recreational use.

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 1 June 2008, at 11:32.

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