noscapine

Also known as 6,7-dimethoxy-3-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-7,8-dihydro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-5-yl)-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one, (−)-α-narcotine, alpha-narcotine, (−)-noscapine

Noscapine, also known as narcotine, nectodon, nospen, anarcotine and (archaic) opiane, is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid of the phthalideisoquinoline structural subgroup, which has been isolated from numerous species of the Papaveraceae (poppy) family. It lacks effects associated with opioids such as sedation, euphoria, or analgesia (pain-relief) and lacks addictive potential. Noscapine is primarily used for its antitussive (cough-suppressing) effects.

Key facts

Drug.Verifiedfields: changed
Drug.Watchedfields: changed
Drug.verifiedrevid: 408343932
Drug.IUPAC_name: (3S)-6,7-Dimethoxy-3-[(5R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3-dioxolo(4,5-g)isoquinolin-5-yl]-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone
Drug.image: Noscapine Structure.svg
Drug.image_class: skin-invert-image
Drug.image2: Noscapine.png
Drug.image_class2: bg-transparent
Drug.pregnancy_category: Contraindicated
Drug.legal_status: Rx-only
Drug.bioavailability: ~30%
Drug.elimination_half life: 1.5–4 h (mean 2.5 h)

Article

17 sections

Contents

Medical uses
Side effects
Interactions
Biosynthesis
Mechanism of action
Structure analysis
History
Society and culture
Recreational use
Noscapine in heroin
Research
Clinical trials
Noscapine biosynthesis reconstitution
Anticancer derivatives
Anti-inflammatory effects
See also
References

==Medical uses== Noscapine is often used as an antitussive medication. A 2012 Dutch guideline, however, does not recommend its use for acute coughing.