Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: Discovering New Alkaloids in Plants with Advanced Mass Spectrometry Techniques
Published on: March 8, 2024
Lycodine-Type Lycopodium Alkaloids from the Whole Plants of Huperzia serrata
Yu-Chen Liu1,2, Zhi-Jun Zhang1,2, Jia Su1
1State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Three new lycodine-type Lycopodium alkaloids, namely 1-methyllycodine (1), 8α-hydroxy-15,16-dehydro-des-N-methyl-α-obscurine (2), N-methyl-16-hydroxyhuperzine B (3), and one new natural lycodine-type Lycopodium alkaloid, N-methylhuperzine A (4), along with 11 known analogues (5-15), were isolated from the whole plants of club moss Huperzia serrata. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. Among them, compound 1 was the first lycodine-type alkaloid possessing a methyl group at C-1. In addition, the structure of 5 was confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray crystallography data and its 13C NMR was reported for the first time in current study. Compounds 1-5 were tested their BACE1 inhibitory activity.
Related Concept Videos
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...
Spasmolytic Agents: Chemical Classification
A major class of centrally acting spasmolytics is the α2-agonist, such as tizanidine. These drugs bind to α2-adrenoceptors, inhibiting the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. They also...
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

