Brucine is an alkaloid resembling strychnine but it is much less potent than strychnine. Brucine was first discovered in 1819 by Pelletier and Caventou in the bark of the Strychnos nux vomica tree. Brucine causes paralysis of the peripheral nerve endings and produces violent convulsions. Since brucine is a large chiral molecule, it has been used as an enantioselective recognition agent using in chiral resolution. While brucine has been shown to have good anti-tumor effects, on both hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer, its narrow therapeutic window has limited its use as a treatment for cancer. Brucine is also used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, as well as in some Ayurveda and homeopathy drugs. Like strychnine, brucine also functions as antagonist at the glycine receptor and paralyzes the inhibitory neurons

Cevadine, veratridine, and related lipophilic ceveratrum alkaloids cause activation of the voltage-sensitive Na+ channels of nerve, heart, and skeletal muscle cell membranes similar to pyrethrins. Both veratridine and cevadine alter the ion selectivity of Na+ channels and cause persistent activation. The receptor for these alkaloids has not been isolated, but experiments indicate it is distinct from that of pyrethrin. Structurally, veratridine and cevadine differ only in their acyl group. Cevadine has been used as an insecticide, acting as a paralytic agent with higher toxicity to insects than to mammals. It has been used to study Na+ channel blockers such as vincamine and vincanol by inducing Na+ channels in the presence and absence of the drugs being tested.

Brucine is an alkaloid resembling strychnine but it is much less potent than strychnine. Brucine was first discovered in 1819 by Pelletier and Caventou in the bark of the Strychnos nux vomica tree. Brucine causes paralysis of the peripheral nerve endings and produces violent convulsions. Since brucine is a large chiral molecule, it has been used as an enantioselective recognition agent using in chiral resolution. While brucine has been shown to have good anti-tumor effects, on both hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer, its narrow therapeutic window has limited its use as a treatment for cancer. Brucine is also used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, as well as in some Ayurveda and homeopathy drugs. Like strychnine, brucine also functions as antagonist at the glycine receptor and paralyzes the inhibitory neurons

Cevadine, veratridine, and related lipophilic ceveratrum alkaloids cause activation of the voltage-sensitive Na+ channels of nerve, heart, and skeletal muscle cell membranes similar to pyrethrins. Both veratridine and cevadine alter the ion selectivity of Na+ channels and cause persistent activation. The receptor for these alkaloids has not been isolated, but experiments indicate it is distinct from that of pyrethrin. Structurally, veratridine and cevadine differ only in their acyl group. Cevadine has been used as an insecticide, acting as a paralytic agent with higher toxicity to insects than to mammals. It has been used to study Na+ channel blockers such as vincamine and vincanol by inducing Na+ channels in the presence and absence of the drugs being tested.

Cevadine, veratridine, and related lipophilic ceveratrum alkaloids cause activation of the voltage-sensitive Na+ channels of nerve, heart, and skeletal muscle cell membranes similar to pyrethrins. Both veratridine and cevadine alter the ion selectivity of Na+ channels and cause persistent activation. The receptor for these alkaloids has not been isolated, but experiments indicate it is distinct from that of pyrethrin. Structurally, veratridine and cevadine differ only in their acyl group. Cevadine has been used as an insecticide, acting as a paralytic agent with higher toxicity to insects than to mammals. It has been used to study Na+ channel blockers such as vincamine and vincanol by inducing Na+ channels in the presence and absence of the drugs being tested.

Cevadine, veratridine, and related lipophilic ceveratrum alkaloids cause activation of the voltage-sensitive Na+ channels of nerve, heart, and skeletal muscle cell membranes similar to pyrethrins. Both veratridine and cevadine alter the ion selectivity of Na+ channels and cause persistent activation. The receptor for these alkaloids has not been isolated, but experiments indicate it is distinct from that of pyrethrin. Structurally, veratridine and cevadine differ only in their acyl group. Cevadine has been used as an insecticide, acting as a paralytic agent with higher toxicity to insects than to mammals. It has been used to study Na+ channel blockers such as vincamine and vincanol by inducing Na+ channels in the presence and absence of the drugs being tested.