Harmine, a beta-carboline alkaloid, is widely distributed in the plants, marine creatures, insects, mammalians as well as in human tissues and body fluids. Harmine was originally isolated from seeds of Peganum harmal in 1847 having a core indole structure and a pyridine ring. Harmine has various types of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, cytotoxic, antiplasmodial, antioxidaant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic and hallucinogenic properties. It acts on gamma-aminobutyric acid type A and monoamine oxidase A or B receptor, enhances insulin sensitivity and also produces vasorelaxant effect. Harmine prevents bone loss by suppressing osteoclastogenesis. The current review gives an overview on pharmacological activity and analytical techniques of harmine, which may be useful for researcheres to explore the hidden potential of harmine and and will also help in developing new drugs for the treatment of various diseases.

A review on medicinal importance, pharmacological activity and bioanalytical aspects of beta-carboline alkaloid “Harmine”

A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of the genus Peganum.

Simultaneous determination of atropine, anisodamine, and scopolamine in plant extract by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence and electrochemistry dual detection

On-line molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective spectrophotometric determination of nicotine in the urine of smokers.

Tropane alkaloid analysis by chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques: An update

A new screening method for the simultaneous determination of thirteen plant alkaloids (aconitine, anabasine, atropine, brucine, colchicine, cotinine, cytisine, harmine, ibogaine, nicotine, scopolamine, strychnine, yohimbine) in a human specimen was developed based on solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The validated method enables selective identification as well as accurate and sensitive quantification. The analysis of forensic and clinical samples emphasizes the applicability for intoxications and drug abuse, as well as for compliance control.

Jana Günther

Papers

Simultaneous determination of thirteen plant alkaloids in a human specimen by SPE and HPLC.