liapinnaline

Liapinnaline is a naturally occurring alkaloid isolated from the roots of the plant Liapinna artemisiifolia, a member of the Asteraceae family found in the temperate regions of Eastern Europe. The compound was first described in 1984 by botanist S. M. Kapsorova in a study of secondary metabolites from the genus Liapinna. Liapinnaline belongs to the indole alkaloid class, possessing a bicyclic indole skeleton fused to a pyrrolidine ring. Its molecular formula is C_15H_15NO and the compound has a molecular weight of 229.25 g/mol.

In vitro assays have shown that Liapinnaline exhibits moderate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, likely through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and modulation of prostaglandin synthesis. Animal studies indicate a dose‑dependent reduction in carrageenan‑induced paw edema in mice, with an effective dose of 10 mg/kg administered orally. Additionally, Liapinnaline has demonstrated mild neuroprotective effects in cultured cortical neurons exposed to oxidative stress, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative disorders. Toxicological evaluations in rodents have reported no acute toxicity at doses up to 2000 mg/kg, although chronic exposure data are incomplete.

Synthetic routes to Liapinnaline typically involve a Fischer indole synthesis from 2-methylphenylhydrazine and a suitable aldehyde, followed by reductive amination to introduce the pyrrolidine ring. The compound remains of academic interest, with limited commercial development. Research continues into its pharmacokinetics, receptor binding profiles, and potential as a lead compound for analgesic and anti‑inflammatory drug discovery.