Securinine (Alkaloid · Neurostimulant · Antiviral)
| Compound | Securinine ((−)-Securinine; Norsecurinine; Phyllanthidine analogue) |
| Chemical class | Alkaloid — Securinega-type (Quinolizidine Lactone; lysine-derived; not BTIQ) |
| CAS | 5610-40-2 |
| Primary source | Securinega suffruticosa (Flueggea suffruticosa), Phyllanthus niruri, Phyllanthus urinaria |
| Key applications | Neurostimulant; GABA-A antagonism; antiviral; anti-leishmania |
| Claim strength | Moderate |
| Typical form | Phyllanthus niruri extract (securinine as minor alkaloid); Flueggea suffruticosa root bark (specialist source) |
| Buy from Herbuno | Availability on request — request bulk pricing → |
Name origin: Securinine takes its name from Securinega suffruticosa (now Flueggea suffruticosa), a shrub in the Phyllanthaceae family from which it was first isolated by Soviet phytochemists in the 1950s. It is the prototype of the Securinega-type alkaloids — a small, distinctive class of quinolizidine lactone alkaloids biosynthetically related to lysine, distinct from the tropane, isoquinoline, and indole alkaloid classes. Traditional use: Securinega (Flueggea) preparations have been used in Chinese and Russian traditional medicine for neurological weakness, post-stroke motor rehabilitation, and fatigue. In Russian phytomedicine, securinine was developed as a pharmaceutical product (Securinine Nitrate tablets) for CNS depression, flaccid paralysis, and ALS supportive care. Phyllanthus niruri (Bhumi Amla), which contains securinine as a secondary alkaloid, is widely used in Ayurveda for liver, kidney, and antiviral applications. Research trajectory: Securinine's primary mechanism is competitive GABA-A receptor antagonism — reducing GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission and producing a net stimulatory/excitatory effect. Research has also characterised antiviral, anti-leishmania, and antiproliferative activities including DNA methyltransferase inhibition. Commercial source: Securinine-standardised extracts are not currently available in the Herbuno catalogue at compound-specific level; Bhumi Amla Extract Powder delivers securinine as a minor alkaloid constituent.
Evidence for Securinine Applications
Neurostimulant and motor rehabilitation: Securinine nitrate was evaluated in Soviet and Russian clinical trials for post-stroke motor weakness, ALS, and multiple sclerosis, producing modest but measurable improvements in flaccid paralysis and grip strength in small studies at 2–4 mg/day oral. This represents actual pharmaceutical clinical use in older Russian literature. Claim strength: Moderate (pharmaceutical context).
Antiviral activity: Securinine has demonstrated antiviral activity against poliovirus, herpes simplex virus, and several respiratory RNA viruses in cell culture models. Anti-dengue and anti-Zika activities have been reported in recent years. The mechanism appears to involve RdRp inhibition and alteration of host cell protein synthesis during viral replication. Claim strength: Emerging.
Anti-leishmania activity: Securinine and related Phyllanthus alkaloids show marked activity against Leishmania donovani (visceral leishmaniasis) in vitro and in vivo hamster models, with IC₅₀ values competitive with miltefosine. This is a notable finding for an alkaloid from a plant used in endemic leishmania regions of South Asia. Claim strength: Emerging.
Antiproliferative and epigenetic: Securinine has been characterised as a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor — re-expressing silenced tumour suppressor genes (p16, RASSF1A) in cancer cell lines, paralleling the activity of azacitidine at higher concentrations. Claim strength: Emerging.
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Dosage & Formulator Specification
Securinine is a pharmacologically active alkaloid with a narrow therapeutic index for its GABA-A antagonist effects. The pharmaceutical dosing in Russian medicine is 2–4 mg/day securinine nitrate — doses where CNS stimulant effects are clinically detectable. At higher doses, GABA-A antagonism can cause convulsions; securinine requires careful dose control in any clinical context.
For supplement-context formulations based on Phyllanthus niruri (Bhumi Amla) — where securinine is a minor alkaloid — the total securinine delivered at standard extract doses (200–500 mg/day) is well below the pharmacologically active threshold. The primary clinical rationale for Bhumi Amla supplements is hepatoprotective and antiviral via lignans and tannins, not securinine.
Securinega suffruticosa (Flueggea suffruticosa) root bark extract is the most concentrated practical botanical source of securinine. This plant is not yet in the Herbuno catalogue; availability on request can be explored for specialty applications.
Securinine's GABA-A antagonist mechanism creates significant drug interaction risk with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or other GABA-A positive modulators. Professional supervision is required.
Frequently Asked Questions — Securinine
What does it mean that securinine is a GABA-A antagonist?
GABA-A receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels mediating inhibitory neurotransmission. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates enhance GABA-A activity (sedating). Securinine binds GABA-A competitively and reduces chloride conductance — producing net CNS excitation, which manifests as improved motor tone at low doses and convulsions at high doses.
Is Phyllanthus niruri (Bhumi Amla) a practical source of securinine?
Bhumi Amla contains securinine as a minor alkaloid alongside its primary lignan fraction (phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin). The clinically validated hepatoprotective and antiviral activities of Bhumi Amla are attributed to the lignan and tannin fractions, not to securinine. Flueggea suffruticosa root bark is the preferred source for securinine-concentrated preparations.
Has securinine been used clinically for ALS (motor neuron disease)?
Yes — in Soviet-era clinical practice, securinine nitrate was investigated for ALS and spinal muscular atrophy as a GABA-A antagonist to reduce excess inhibitory tone on lower motor neurons. These trials were small, not placebo-controlled by modern standards, and predate the current evidence-based medicine era. Securinine is not an approved treatment for ALS in any major regulatory jurisdiction.
What is the most distinctive structural feature of securinine compared to other alkaloids?
Securinine belongs to the Securinega-type quinolizidine lactone alkaloids — biosynthetically derived from lysine rather than tyrosine or tryptophan. Its bicyclic ring system containing a lactone fused to a tetrahydropyridine is structurally unique among pharmacologically important plant alkaloids.
Related compounds: Lappaconitine, Koumine, Gelsevirine, N,N-DMT
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.
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