Verticinone (Steroidal Alkaloid · Antitussive · Expectorant)

Compound	Verticinone (3-Ketovertcine; Fritillaria cevanine ketone alkaloid)
Class	Alkaloid — Steroidal (Cevanine-type; C-3 ketone series)
CAS	18059-10-4
Molecular formula	C₂₇H₄₁NO₂
Primary sources	Fritillaria verticillata, Fritillaria thunbergii, Fritillaria cirrhosa
Plant part	Bulbs
Claim strength	Moderate
Key applications	Antitussive; expectorant; anti-inflammatory; TCM respiratory support
Buy from Herbuno	Availability on request — request bulk pricing →

Name origin: Verticinone is the C-3 ketone oxidation product of verticine — the "one" suffix (-one) denoting the ketone functional group at C-3 of the cevanine steroidal skeleton. The two compounds co-occur in Fritillaria bulbs, with the verticine/verticinone ratio varying by species maturity, cultivation conditions, and post-harvest processing. Traditional use: Verticinone is a constituent of Bei Mu (Fritillaria bulbs) with the same classical TCM respiratory indications as verticine and imperialine — antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory for cough, bronchitis, and lung conditions. TCM formulas containing Fritillaria, such as Bei Mu Gua Lou Wan (Fritillaria and Trichosanthes Pill) and Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao (the well-known cough syrup), deliver verticinone as part of their total alkaloid matrix. Research trajectory: Verticinone has been studied both alone and in combination with verticine and imperialine to characterise the individual contributions of Fritillaria steroidal alkaloids to Bei Mu's clinical effects. Its C-3 ketone differentiates its receptor interaction profile from verticine and contributes distinct pharmacokinetic properties. Commercial source: Verticinone is available as part of Fritillaria bulk alkaloid preparations on request from specialty TCM botanical suppliers; Herbuno can source this on request.

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Evidence for Verticinone Applications

Antitussive activity: Verticinone demonstrates concentration-dependent cough suppression in guinea pig and mouse models. Its antitussive ED₅₀ is comparable to that of verticine but achieved through a slightly different balance of central and peripheral mechanisms, attributed to its ketone group at C-3 altering binding geometry at cough reflex regulatory sites. Claim strength: Moderate.

Expectorant activity: Verticinone promotes tracheal ciliary beat frequency and reduces mucus viscosity in ex vivo tracheal preparations, facilitating mucociliary clearance. This mucokinetic activity is synergistic with the antitussive effect — reducing cough drive while improving the clearance of secretions. This mechanism underpins the TCM compound formula rationale for pairing Bei Mu with Platycodon (which promotes mucus secretion) and Glycyrrhiza (which has direct mucosal soothing activity). Claim strength: Moderate.

Anti-inflammatory: NF-κB inhibition, COX-2 suppression, and reduction of mucin hypersecretion driven by IL-13 and IL-4 (Th2 cytokines of allergic airway disease) have been characterised for verticinone in cell models. The IL-13/mucin axis inhibition is potentially relevant to allergic cough and eosinophilic bronchitis. Claim strength: Emerging.

Alkaloid interaction studies: The combination of verticinone + verticine + imperialine at natural Fritillaria ratios shows synergistic antitussive activity greater than any single alkaloid at equivalent total dose — supporting the traditional and pharmacological rationale for whole Fritillaria bulb extract over single-compound preparations. Claim strength: Moderate.

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Dosage & Formulator Specification

No isolated verticinone human clinical dosing data exist. Verticinone specifications for formulation follow the same framework as verticine: within the TCM Fritillaria bulb dosing of 3–9 g/day dried equivalent, with steroidal alkaloid content specification (≥0.080% total, PhP method) serving as the primary quality indicator.

Verticinone's C-3 ketone group increases its carbonyl reactivity compared to the C-3 hydroxyl of verticine — relevant to stability in aqueous formulations. In acidic conditions (pH < 4), the ketone is susceptible to ketal formation and degradation. Neutral to mildly alkaline pH (5.5–7.5) is optimal for formulations requiring verticinone retention. This is less critical for dry extract capsule/tablet forms.

Commercial Bei Mu respiratory preparations (cough syrups, lozenges, TCM granules) routinely contain verticinone as part of the total Fritillaria alkaloid matrix. Modern commercially standardised Bei Mu preparations report total steroidal alkaloids by HPLC without typically separating verticine and verticinone — combined specification is the practical approach.

For research applications requiring isolated verticinone, preparative HPLC separation from Fritillaria crude alkaloid extracts is required. Research-grade verticinone is commercially available from specialist alkaloid suppliers in China with full characterisation.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Verticinone

How does the C-3 ketone of verticinone affect its pharmacology compared to verticine?
The C-3 hydroxyl of verticine is replaced by a C-3 ketone in verticinone — a change that affects hydrogen bonding capacity, polarity, and metabolic stability. The ketone reduces glucuronidation susceptibility at C-3 (a major phase II conjugation site), potentially extending plasma half-life. Pharmacodynamically, the ketone modifies the steroidal conformation and receptor interface, producing a shifted potency profile — slightly stronger central antitussive activity and modestly altered smooth muscle relaxation compared to verticine.

What is Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao and does it contain verticinone?
Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao is the Chinese cough syrup — one of the most commercially successful traditional Chinese medicine preparations globally, containing Fritillaria cirrhosa (Chuan Bei Mu) among multiple botanical ingredients. Fritillaria alkaloids including verticinone, verticine, and imperialine are constituents of the Fritillaria fraction in this formula. The product has multiple clinical precedent studies for acute upper respiratory cough, though rigorous RCT data meeting Western evidence standards are limited.

Is verticinone a more or less stable compound than verticine for commercial extract use?
Verticinone is generally slightly less stable than verticine in aqueous formulations due to ketone reactivity. In dry solid extracts (capsule, tablet, granule), both are equivalently stable. For cough syrup applications at pH 4–5, verticinone degrades more rapidly — an important consideration for shelf-life validation of standardised Bei Mu liquid preparations.

Why do studies sometimes report imperialine and verticine/verticinone CAS numbers as identical?
CAS 18059-10-4 appears in multiple databases assigned to both imperialine and verticine — a known registry error resulting from early ambiguity in structural assignment when these compounds were first characterised. Modern pharmacopoeial and reference standard databases distinguish them by molecular formula, NMR data, and HPLC retention time profiles. Formulators requesting CoA documents should verify by molecular formula and spectral data rather than CAS number alone for Fritillaria steroidal alkaloids.

Related compounds: Verticine, Imperialine, Conessine, Solanine

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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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