Knowra Reserpine Reserpine Reserpine is an indole alkaloid that inhibits vesicular monoamine transport, depleting monoamine neurotransmitters from nerve endings. It was used historically to treat hypertension and psychosis.
Vesicular monoamine transporter : A membrane protein that loads dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and related monoamines into synaptic vesicles. Reserpine binds this transporter and prevents monoamines from entering storage vesicles.
Hypertension : Persistently elevated arterial blood pressure that increases the risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Reserpine lowers blood pressure by reducing sympathetic neurotransmission.
Rauvolfia serpentina : A South Asian medicinal shrub whose roots contain reserpine and other indole alkaloids. Its roots supplied the plant extract from which reserpine became a defined medicine.
Monoamine hypothesis of depression : A family of hypotheses linking depression to altered signaling by serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine. Reports of depressive symptoms during reserpine treatment helped motivate early monoamine theories.
Monoamine : A class of neurotransmitters and hormones characterized by one amino group attached to a carbon-containing ring. Reserpine depletes several monoamines rather than targeting a single transmitter.
Antipsychotic : A medicine used to reduce psychosis symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Reserpine was used before modern antipsychotics, but its broad monoamine depletion limited tolerability.
Rauwolfia alkaloids : Indole alkaloids found in Rauvolfia plants, including reserpine and ajmaline. Reserpine was isolated within this family of pharmacologically active plant compounds.
Extrapyramidal symptoms : Drug-induced movement problems such as rigidity, tremor, dystonia, and akathisia. Depletion of dopamine in motor pathways could produce movement effects that constrained treatment.
Dopamine : A catecholamine neurotransmitter involved in movement, motivation, reward, and hormone regulation. Dopamine is among the transmitters depleted when reserpine blocks vesicular storage.
Psychosis : A mental state involving impaired reality testing, often with delusions or hallucinations. Reserpine's historical psychiatric use sought to reduce psychotic symptoms through central monoamine depletion.
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