Preliminary psychopharmacological research in 1978 was unable to conclusively determine the compound's classification regarding dopamine-receptor activity.[3] On one hand, investigative studies found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptorstimulation: stereotypy, increase in spontaneous motor activity, inhibition of conditioned avoidance response, and an increase in pain sensitivity resulting in an inhibition of morphine analgesia.[3] On the other hand, these early investigative studies also found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptorblockade: decrease of spontaneous motor activity, chills, catalepsy, trance-like states of consciousness.[3]
Pharmacology
Nuciferine has been reported to have various
anti-inflammatory, possibly mediated via
PPAR delta activation[4] Nuciferine suppresses the
SOX2-AKT/
STAT3 signaling pathway in animal models. Targeting
SOX-2 pathways in human models with Nuciferine may offer a novel therapeutic approach for
cancer treatment.[5]
In rodent models relating to antipsychotic drug effects, Nuciferine has shown various actions such as blocking
head-twitch responses and discriminative stimulus effects of a
5-HT2A agonist, enhancing amphetamine-induced locomotor activity, inhibiting
phencyclidine (
PCP)-induced locomotor activity, and restoring
PCP-induced disruption of
pre-pulse inhibition without inducing
catalepsy.[6]