Pharmacological actions of cerpegin, a novel pyridine alkaloid from Ceropegia juncea

Abstract

Cerpegin, a novel furopyridine alkaloid isolated from the plant. C. juncea was subjected to various pharmacological investigations. A dose-related analgesic effect was observed in mice. Cerpegin did not produce any autonomic or behavioral changes up to a dose of 200 mg/kg but doses of more than 400 mg/kg produced excitation and later convulsions in mice. The compound did not show any antibacterial activity against a few gram-positive and gram-negative organisms tested. Eventhough cerpegin reduced the percentage growth in a few cancer cell lines, the results were not significant. It also did not show any antiviral activity against HIV.