Planta Med 2014 Jun 01;808-9:740-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1368590.

Natural products as potential human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel inhibitors - screening of plant-derived alkaloids.

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Inhibition of the cardiac human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel is a problematic off-target pharmacological activity and, hence, a major safety liability in clinical practice. Several non-cardiac drugs have been restricted in their use, or even removed from the market due to this potentially fatal adverse effect. Comparatively little is known about the human ether-a-go-go-related gene inhibitory potential of plant-derived compounds. In the course of an ongoing human ether-a-go-go-related gene in vitro study, a total of 32 structurally diverse alkaloids of plant origin as well as two semi-synthetically obtained protoberberine derivatives were screened by means of an automated Xenopus oocyte assay. Protopine, (+)-bulbocapnine, (+)-N-methyllaurotetanine, (+)-boldine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-corynoline, reserpine, and yohimbine reduced the human ether-a-go-go-related gene current by ≥ 50% at 100 µM, and were submitted to concentration-response experiments. Our data show that some widely occurring plant-derived alkaloids carry a potential risk for human ether-a-go-go-related gene toxicity.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: gnao1 kcnh1