Rhynchophylline
Encyclopedia
Rhynchophylline is an alkaloid
found in certain Uncaria
species, notably Uncaria rhynchophylla
and Uncaria tomentosa
. It is a non-competitive NMDA antagonist and calcium
channel
blocker
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
found in certain Uncaria
Uncaria
Uncaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It has about 40 species. Their distribution is pantropical, with most species native to tropical Asia, three from Africa and the Mediterranean and two from the neotropics. They are known colloquially as Gambier, Cat's Claw or Uña de...
species, notably Uncaria rhynchophylla
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Uncaria rhynchophylla or the cat's claw herb is a plant species used in traditional Chinese medicine.-Catechin and -epicatechin are found in the plant as well as the alkaloid rhynchophylline....
and Uncaria tomentosa
Uncaria tomentosa
Uncaria tomentosa is a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which derives its name from its claw-shaped thorns...
. It is a non-competitive NMDA antagonist and calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
channel
Ion channel
Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells...
blocker