4125 Gelsemine Gelsemine is a toxic alkaloid found in the plant Gelsemium sempervirens. It has convulsant effects with a similar mechanism of action to strychnine. Due to its complex structure, gelsemine has been the target for a number of total synthesis projects. 509-15-9 5462429 C20H22N2O2 White powder. Gelsemine has convulsant effects with a similar mechanism of action to strychnine. Strychnine is a neurotoxin which acts as an antagonist of glycine and acetylcholine receptors. It primarily affects the motor nerves in the spinal cord which control muscle contraction. An impulse is triggered at one end of a nerve by the binding of neurotransmitters to the receptors. In the presence of a neuroinhibitor, such as glycine, a greater quantity of excitatory neurotransmitters must bind to receptors before there will be an action potential generated. Glycine acts primarily as an agonist of the glycine receptor, which is a ligand-gated chloride channel in neurons located in the spinal cord and in the brain. This chloride channel will allow the negatively charged chloride ions into the neuron, causing a hyperpolarization which pushes the membrane potential further from threshold. Strychnine is an antagonist of glycine, which means it binds to the same receptor, preventing the inhibitory effects of glycine on the postsynaptic neuron. Therefore, action potentials are triggered with lower levels of excitatory neurotransmitters. When the inhibitory signals are prevented, the motor neurons do will be more easliy activated and the victim will have spastic muscle contractions. Structure of strychnine in complex with ACh binding protein (AChBP). Strychnine is also an antagonist for acetylcholine receptors, which is known to be homologous to the glycine receptor. (Wikipedia) No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC). Gelsemine is a toxic alkaloid found in the plant Gelsemium sempervirens. 2014-08-29T05:02:45Z 2014-12-24T20:26:37Z C09207 true [H][C@]12CO[C@]3([H])CC1([H])[C@@]1(CN(C)[C@@]2([H])[C@]1([H])[C@@]31C(O)=NC2=CC=CC=C12)C=C C20H22N2O2 InChI=1S/C20H22N2O2/c1-3-19-10-22(2)16-11-9-24-15(8-13(11)19)20(17(16)19)12-6-4-5-7-14(12)21-18(20)23/h3-7,11,13,15-17H,1,8-10H2,2H3,(H,21,23)/t11-,13?,15+,16+,17-,19-,20-/m0/s1 InChIKey=NFYYATWFXNPTRM-ICFOCEFXSA-N 322.4009 322.168127958 Exogenous Solid 4575404