Gigactonine was reported in 1978 after its isolation from Aconitum gigas. Although a novel structure at that time, it was recognised to be related to known diterpene alkaloids including delsoline, which is methylated on its 4-hydroxymethyl primary alcohol sidechain.[1]
Synthesis
Although individual members of this class of alkaloids have been extensively studied, their chemical complexity has limited the number which have been individually synthesised. Similarly, their full biosynthetic pathway is only known in outline in most cases.[2]
Compounds related to aconitine are widely studied for their properties in biological systems and these have been reviewed.[6] For example, gigactonine has been reported to have hERG-inhibiting activity.[7]
^Chen, Ying; Katz, Alfred (1999). "Isolation of Norditerpenoid Alkaloids from Flowers of Aconitum lycoctonum". Journal of Natural Products. 62 (5): 798–799. doi:10.1021/np980576q. PMID10346976.
^Pelletier, S. William; Bhandaru, Sudhakar; Desai, Haridutt K.; Ross, Samir A.; Sayed, Hanna M. (1992). "Two New Norditerpenoid Alkaloids from the Roots of Delphinium ajacis". Journal of Natural Products. 55 (6): 736–743. doi:10.1021/np50084a005.