Chelerythrine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid present in the plant Chelidonium majus (greater celandine). It is a potent, selective, and cell-permeable protein kinase Cinhibitorin vitro.[1] And an efficacious antagonist of G-protein-coupledCB1 receptors.[2] This molecule also exhibits anticancer qualities and it has served as a base for many potential novel drugs against cancer. Structurally, this molecule has two distinct conformations, one being a positively charged iminium form, and the other being an uncharged form, a pseudo-base.[3]
^Dhopeshwarkar, Amey S.; Jain, Saurabh; Liao, Chengyong; Ghose, Sudip K.; Bisset, Kathleen M.; Nicholson, Russell A. (2011-03-01). "The actions of benzophenanthridine alkaloids, piperonyl butoxide and (S)-methoprene at the G-protein coupled cannabinoid CB₁ receptor in vitro". European Journal of Pharmacology. 654 (1): 26–32. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.11.033. ISSN1879-0712. PMID21172340.
^Dostál, Jiří; Táborská, Eva; Slavík, Jiří; Potáček, Milan; de Hoffmann, Edmond (May 1995). "Structure of Chelerythrine Base". Journal of Natural Products. 58 (5): 723–729. doi:10.1021/np50119a010. ISSN0163-3864.
^Gibbons, Simon; Leimkugel, Julia; Oluwatuyi, Moyo; et al. (2003). "<Activity of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis extracts against multi-drug resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mdr-MRSA)>". Phytotherapy Research. 17 (3): 274–275. doi:10.1002/ptr.1112. PMID12672160. S2CID32722743.