Narcissus and Daffodil

Table 6.4 Continued
Alkaloid Activity References
pre-rRNA (38S) and
low-molecular weight
(4–5 S) RNA
* Inhibitor of ascorbic acid
biosynthesis in vivo
* Inhibitor of cell division in
plant tissue cultures
* Inhibitor of seed germination
and seedling growth in a
dose-dependant manner,
interacting with hormones in
some physiological responses.
The O-glucoside of narciclasine
has the reverse effect
* Strong antibiotic. Active against
Corynebacterium fascians
* Active against RNA-containing
flaviviruses and bunyaviruses
* Narciclasine-4-O-β-Dglucopyranoside
has shown
cytotoxic and antitumour
activity very similar to narciclasine
* The peculiar activity of
narciclasine seems to arise from
the functional groups and
conformational freedom of
its C-ring
76 narwedine * Hypotensive
* Increases the amplitude and
frequency of respiratory
movements
* Increases the amplitude and
decreases the frequency of
cardiac contractions
* Decreases soporific effects of
ethanol and barbiturics
* Increases the analgesic effect
of morphine
* Protective against thiopental
poisoning
* Enhances the effects of caffeine,
corazole, arecoline, and nicotine
* Evaluated as potential agent for
treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
* Probably acts primarily on
m-cholinoreactive structures
of the brain
44 papyramine * Cytotoxic against fibroblastic
LMTK cells
* Weak cytotoxic against human
tumoural cell lines Molt 4 and
HepG2
Bazhenova et al., 1971
Ghosal et al., 1985b
Szewczyk et al., 1995
Zakirov and Umarova, 1971
Weniger et al., 1995