Activation and inhibition of thermosensitive TRP channels by voacangine, an alkaloid present in Voacanga africana, an African tree

J Nat Prod. 2014 Feb 28;77(2):285-97. doi: 10.1021/np400885u. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Abstract

Voacangine (1) is an alkaloid found in the root bark of Voacanga africana. Our previous work has suggested that 1 is a novel transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) antagonist. In this study, the agonist and antagonist activities of 1 were examined against thermosensitive TRP channels. Channel activity was evaluated mainly using TRP channel-expressing HEK cells and calcium imaging. Herein, it was shown that 1 acts as an antagonist for TRPV1 and TRPM8 but as an agonist for TRPA1 (EC50, 8 μM). The compound competitively blocked capsaicin binding to TRPV1 (IC50, 50 μM). Voacangine (1) competitively inhibited the binding of menthol to TRPM8 (IC50, 9 μM), but it showed noncompetitive inhibition against icilin (IC50, 7 μM). Moreover, the compound selectively abrogated chemical agonist-induced TRPM8 activation and did not affect cold-induced activation. Among these effects, the TRPM8 inhibition profile is unique and noteworthy, because to date no studies have reported a menthol competitive inhibitor of TRPM8 derived from a natural source. Furthermore, this is the first report of a stimulus-selective TRPM8 antagonist. Accordingly, 1 may contribute to the development of a novel class of stimulus-selective TRPM8 blockers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Capsaicin / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ibogaine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ibogaine / chemistry
  • Ibogaine / isolation & purification
  • Ibogaine / pharmacology
  • Menthol / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Bark / chemistry
  • Pyrimidinones / pharmacology
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / agonists*
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / metabolism
  • Trees / chemistry
  • Voacanga / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Pyrimidinones
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 receptor
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels
  • Menthol
  • Ibogaine
  • voacangine
  • icilin
  • Capsaicin
  • Calcium