Reserpine: A Central Nervous System Depressant and an Inhibitor of Multidrug Efflux Pumps in Bacteria
Reserpine is an alkaloid of rauwolfia sharing the yohimbine [
Y0002] pentacyclic skeleton. Pharmacological studies have revealed that reserpine is a central nervous system depressant. Reserpine depletes stores of catecholamines (dopamine [
A0305], noradrenaline [
A0906] and adrenaline [
A0173]) and 5-hydroxytryptamine [
S0370] by inhibiting their accumulation in many organs, including the brain and adrenal medulla. The depression of the central nervous system results in a decreased heart rate and a lowering of arterial blood pressure.
In addition, some studies have reported that reserpine enhances the
in vitro activity of fluoroquinolones, such as norfloxacin [
N0817], ciprofloxacin [
C2227,
C2510] and sparfloxacin [
S0840], against strains of
Staphylococcus aureus expressing distinct efflux-related multidrug resistance pumps. (The product is for research purpose only.)