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2D Structure
Also known as: 315-22-0, Crotaline, Monocrotalin, (-)-monocrotaline, Chebi:6980, Retronecine cyclic 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3,4-trimethylglutarate
Molecular Formula
C16H23NO6
Molecular Weight
325.36  g/mol
InChI Key
QVCMHGGNRFRMAD-XFGHUUIASA-N
FDA UNII
73077K8HYV

A pyrrolizidine alkaloid and a toxic plant constituent that poisons livestock and humans through the ingestion of contaminated grains and other foods. The alkaloid causes pulmonary artery hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pathological changes in the pulmonary vasculature. Significant attenuation of the cardiopulmonary changes are noted after oral magnesium treatment.
1 2D Structure

2D Structure

2 Identification
2.1 Computed Descriptors
2.1.1 IUPAC Name
(1R,4R,5R,6R,16R)-5,6-dihydroxy-4,5,6-trimethyl-2,8-dioxa-13-azatricyclo[8.5.1.013,16]hexadec-10-ene-3,7-dione
2.1.2 InChI
InChI=1S/C16H23NO6/c1-9-13(18)23-11-5-7-17-6-4-10(12(11)17)8-22-14(19)16(3,21)15(9,2)20/h4,9,11-12,20-21H,5-8H2,1-3H3/t9-,11+,12+,15+,16-/m0/s1
2.1.3 InChI Key
QVCMHGGNRFRMAD-XFGHUUIASA-N
2.1.4 Canonical SMILES
CC1C(=O)OC2CCN3C2C(=CC3)COC(=O)C(C1(C)O)(C)O
2.1.5 Isomeric SMILES
C[C@H]1C(=O)O[C@@H]2CCN3[C@@H]2C(=CC3)COC(=O)[C@]([C@]1(C)O)(C)O
2.2 Other Identifiers
2.2.1 UNII
73077K8HYV
2.3 Synonyms
2.3.1 MeSH Synonyms

1. Monocrotaline Hydrochloride (13alpha,14alpha)-isomer

2. Monocrotaline, (all-xi)-isomer

2.3.2 Depositor-Supplied Synonyms

1. 315-22-0

2. Crotaline

3. Monocrotalin

4. (-)-monocrotaline

5. Chebi:6980

6. Retronecine Cyclic 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3,4-trimethylglutarate

7. (13-alpha,14-alpha)-14,19-dihydro-12,13-dihydroxy-20-norcrotalanan-11,15-dione

8. Nci-c56462

9. 14,19-dihydro-12,13-dihydroxy-20-norcrotolanan-11,15-dione

10. 73077k8hyv

11. Nsc 28693

12. (3r,4r,5r,13ar,13br)-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-4,5,8,10,12,13,13a,13b-octahydro-2h-[1,6]dioxacycloundecino[2,3,4-gh]pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione

13. Ncgc00164256-01

14. Dsstox_cid_902

15. A 6080

16. Dsstox_rid_75856

17. Dsstox_gsid_20902

18. 2h-(1,6)dioxacycloundecino(2,3,4-gh)pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione, 4,5,8,10,12,13,13a,13b-octahydro-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-, (3r,4r,5r,13ar,13br)-

19. 2h-[1,6]dioxacycloundecino[2,3,4-gh]pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione, 4,5,8,10,12,13,13a,13b-octahydro-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-, (3r,4r,5r,13ar,13br)-

20. Ccris 416

21. Hsdb 3513

22. Sr-01000838886

23. (2,3,4-gh)pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione, (4,5,8,10,12,13,13a,13b)-octahydro-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-2h-(1,6)dioxacycloundecino-

24. Brn 0048732

25. Unii-73077k8hyv

26. Nsc-28693

27. Cas-315-22-0

28. Prestwick_338

29. 20-norcrotalanan-11,15-dione, 14,19-dihydro-12,13-dihydroxy-, (13alpha,14alpha)-

30. Spectrum_001224

31. Prestwick0_000603

32. Prestwick1_000603

33. Prestwick2_000603

34. Prestwick3_000603

35. Spectrum2_000906

36. Spectrum3_000947

37. Spectrum4_001057

38. Spectrum5_001233

39. Monocrotaline [mi]

40. 12-beta,13-beta-dihydroxy-12-alpha,13-alpha,14-alpha-trimethylcrotal-1-enine

41. 14,19-dihydro-12,13-dihydroxy(13-alpha,14-alpha)-20-norcrotalanan-11,15-dione

42. Monocrotaline [hsdb]

43. Monocrotaline [iarc]

44. Bspbio_000506

45. Kbiogr_001354

46. Kbioss_001704

47. 4-27-00-06660 (beilstein Handbook Reference)

48. Mls002153902

49. Divk1c_000959

50. Schembl164486

51. Spectrum1502252

52. Spbio_000752

53. Spbio_002725

54. Bpbio1_000558

55. Chembl521035

56. Megxp0_001899

57. Dtxsid9020902

58. Acon0_000305

59. Acon1_000179

60. Hms502p21

61. Kbio1_000959

62. Kbio2_001704

63. Kbio2_004272

64. Kbio2_006840

65. Kbio3_002014

66. Monocrotaline, Analytical Standard

67. Ninds_000959

68. Hms1569j08

69. Hms1921p04

70. Hms2096j08

71. Hms2235j12

72. Hy-n0750

73. Tox21_112094

74. Tox21_201509

75. Tox21_302874

76. Bdbm50480309

77. Ccg-39621

78. Mfcd00084656

79. S3812

80. Zinc53195720

81. Akos015969712

82. Akos032962048

83. Tox21_112094_1

84. Cs-6164

85. Fs-5652

86. Sdccgmls-0066675.p001

87. 20-norcrotalanan-11,15-dione, 14,19-dihydro-12,13-dihydroxy-, (13-alpha,14-alpha)-

88. Idi1_000959

89. Ncgc00179538-01

90. Ncgc00179538-02

91. Ncgc00179538-03

92. Ncgc00256518-01

93. Ncgc00259060-01

94. Ncgc00262539-03

95. Ac-34918

96. Smr001233251

97. N1470

98. Jacs 72: 158 (1950)

99. Q-100395

100. Sr-01000838886-3

101. Sr-01000838886-4

102. Brd-k65508953-001-05-5

103. Brd-k65508953-001-08-9

104. Q27107379

105. (1r,4r,5r,6r,16r)-5,6-dihydroxy-4,5,6-trimethyl-2,8-dioxa-13-azatricyclo[8.5.1.0??,??]hexadec-10-ene-3,7-dione

106. (1r,4r,5r,6r,16r)-5,6-dihydroxy-4,5,6-trimethyl-2,8-dioxa-13-azatricyclo[8.5.1.013,16]hexadec-10-ene-3,7-dione

107. (3r,4r,5r,8a1r,13ar)-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-4,5,8,8a1,10,12,13,13a-octahydro-2h-[1,6]dioxacycloundecino[2,3,4-gh]pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione

108. 109525-74-8

109. 2h-(1,6)dioxacycloundecino(2,3,4-gh)pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione, 4,5,8,10,12,13,13a,13b-octahydro-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-, (3r-(3r*,4r*,5r*,13ar*,13br*))-

110. Rel-(3r,4r,5r,8a1r,13ar)-4,5-dihydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-4,5,8,8a1,10,12,13,13a-octahydro-2h-[1,6]dioxacycloundecino[2,3,4-gh]pyrrolizine-2,6(3h)-dione

2.4 Create Date
2005-06-24
3 Chemical and Physical Properties
Molecular Weight 325.36 g/mol
Molecular Formula C16H23NO6
XLogP3-0.7
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count2
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count7
Rotatable Bond Count0
Exact Mass325.15253745 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass325.15253745 g/mol
Topological Polar Surface Area96.3 Ų
Heavy Atom Count23
Formal Charge0
Complexity575
Isotope Atom Count0
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count5
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count0
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count0
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count0
Covalently Bonded Unit Count1
4 Drug and Medication Information
4.1 Therapeutic Uses

/Exptl Ther/ Antitumor effects of 22 pyrrolizidine alkaloids and derivatives were studied in mice with adenocarcinomas 755, l-1210 leukemia or sarcoma 180, rats with im or sc walker 256 carcinomasarcoma and in kb carcinoma cell cultures; 1 compound each was also tested in mice with ascites ehrlich carcinoma and hamsters with plasmacytoma number 1. Significant activity against the solid tumors, by CCNSC standards (58% or more decrease in tumor size), was seen with monocrotaline (NSC-28693) in 3 of the above tumors and in p-1. Monocrotaline n-oxide was without significant activity in any of the systems tested.

CULVENOR CC; J PHARM SCI 57(7) 1112 (1968)


/Exptl Ther/ Monocrotaline from crotalaria sessiliflora has been shown to be effective against human skin cancer and cancer of uterine cervix.

YIN L; YAOXUETONGBAO 16 (11): 54 (1981)


5 Pharmacology and Biochemistry
5.1 Absorption, Distribution and Excretion

After sc administration of monocrotaline /in rats/, 50-70% of the dose was found in urine as unchanged monocrotaline... monocrotaline (or metabolite) concentration were highest in the liver, kidney and stomach.

IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V10 295 (1976)


The pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline has been shown to cause hepatic necrosis and pulmonary hypertension in the rat. To better understand the mechanism of action, tissue distribution and covalent binding studies were conducted at 4 and 24 hr following administration of (14)C monocrotaline (60 mg/kg, 200 microCi/kg, sc). For the 4 hr study, the levels of monocrotaline equivalents were 85, 74, 67, 36, and 8 nmol/g of tissue for RBC, liver, kidney, lung, and plasma, respectively, while the covalent binding levels were 125, 132, 39, 64, 44 pmol/mg of protein for tissues as listed above. The 24 hr tissue distribution levels were 49, 25, 9, 10, 2 nmol/g of tissue for RBC, liver, kidney, lung, and plasma, respectively, while covalent binding was 74, 28, and 55 pmol/mg of protein for liver, kidney, and lung, respectively. We also studied the kinetics of (14)C monocrotaline (60 mg/kg, 10 microCi/kg, iv), which demonstrated rapid elimination of radioactivity with approximately 90% recovery of the injected radioactivity in the urine and bile by 7 hr. The plasma levels of radioactivity dropped from 113 nmol/g of monocrotaline equivalents to 11 nmol/g at 7 hr while RBC levels decreased from 144 to only 81 nmol/g at the same time point. The apparent retention of monocrotaline equivalents in the RBC suggests that this organ may act as the carrier of metabolites from the liver to other organs including the lung and may play a role in the pulmonary toxicity.

PMID:1673386 Estep JE et al; Drug Metab Dispos Biol Fate Chem 19 (1): 135-9 (1991)


5.2 Metabolism/Metabolites

Studies with monocrotaline have confirmed the formation of pyrrolic metabolites by the mixed-function oxidase system of the microsomal fraction of rat liver. Dehydromonocrotaline (monocrotaline pyrrole) is highly cytotoxic, producing pulmonary, cardiac, vascular and hepatic lesions similar to those produced by the parent alkaloid. It is a highly reactive alkylating agent which, on formation within the cell, reacts immediately with cell constituents to give soluble or bound secondary metabolites or hydrolyzes to the dehydroaminoalcohol, dehydroretronecine.

IARC. Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Geneva: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1972-PRESENT. (Multivolume work). Available at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php, p. V10 295 (1976)


Using microsomes from livers of phenobarbital-pretreated male rats, all 13 alkaloids tested were metabolized to n-oxide and pyrrole formation. The 2 pathways appeared to be independent. Ratio of n-oxide to pyrrolic metabolites varied, depending on type of ester: it was highest for open diester alkaloids and lowest for 12-membered macrocyclic diesters and for monoesters. Monocrotaline was one of those tested.

PMID:6825198 MATTOCKS AR, BIRD I; CHEM-BIOL INTERACT 43 (2): 209 (1983)


The comparative metabolism of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid, (14)C monocrotaline, was studied using rat and guinea pig hepatic microsomes. ... Esterase hydrolysis accounted for 92% of the metabolism in the guinea pig; the rat displayed no esterase activity. This result may explain the guinea pig's resistance to pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity. Dehydropyrrole was found to be the major pyrrolic metabolite in the guinea pig, although colorimetric analysis indicated multiple pyrrolic moieties in the rat microsomal incubations.

PMID:1352221 Dueker SR et al; Drug Metab Dispos Biol Fate Chem 20 (2): 275-80 (1992)


This report demonstrates that an Ehrlich reagent positive metabolite of monocrotaline and senecionine is excreted in the urine of male rats as an N-acetylcysteine conjugate of (+/-)-6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine ... This finding suggests that reactive metabolites of pyrrolizidine alkaloids generated in the liver can survive the aqueous environment of the circulatory system as glutathione conjugates or mercapturic acids.

PMID:2123045 Estep JE et al; Toxicol Lett 54 (1): 61-9 (1990)


For more Metabolism/Metabolites (Complete) data for MONOCROTALINE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.


5.3 Mechanism of Action

The toxicology of monocrotaline is complex, and the mechanisms by which it causes lung injury, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart enlargement have remained elusive. ... Monocrotaline is bioactivated by the liver to a reactive, electrophilic pyrrole that travels via the circulation to the lung, where injury results. When low, iv doses of monocrotaline pyrrole are given to rats, a delay of several days occurs before lung injury and pulmonary hypertension become apparent. Moderate depletion of blood platelets around the time of the onset of lung injury lessens the subsequent development of right ventricular enlargement, suggesting a reduction in the pulmonary hypertensive response to monocrotaline pyrrole. This observation prompted a study of the role of platelet-derived mediators in the cardiopulmonary response to monocrotaline pyrrole. A stable analog of thromboxane A2(TxA2) caused a greater increase in right ventricular pressure in monocrotaline pyrrole treated rats compared to controls, and lungs isolated from monocrotaline pyrrole treated rats produced more TxB2 than those of controls. However, administration of drugs that either inhibited thromboxane synthesis or antagonized the effects of thromboxane did not afford protection from monocrotaline pyrrole in vivo. Serotonin, another vasoactive mediator released by platelets, caused an exaggerated vasoconstrictor response in isolated lungs from rats treated with monocrotaline pyrrole. Moreover, removal and inactivation of circulating serotonin by the pulmonary vasculature was impaired by treatment of rats with monocrotaline pyrrole. However, administration of serotonin receptor antagonists did not attenuate the cardiopulmonary effects of monocrotaline pyrrole in vivo. These results suggest that neither TxA2 nor serotonin is the sole mediator of the pneumotoxicity due to monocrotaline pyrrole. Thus, the mechanism by which platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of the pneumotoxic response to monocrotaline pyrrole remains an unsolved puzzle.

PMID:3130680 Roth RA, Ganey PE; Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 93 (3): 463-71 (1988)


Monocrotaline propagates changes in the contractile response of arterial smooth muscle, changes in smooth muscle Na/K-ATPase activity, release of platelet factors, and decreased serotonin transport by vascular endothelial cells.

Klaassen, C.D. (ed). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2001., p. 529


Effect of ip administration of monocrotaline on activities of hepatic epoxide hydrolase, and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase was investigated in young, male long-evans rats. Monocrotaline failed to stimulate epoxide hydrolase while diminishing the activity of glutathione s-transferase, aminopyrine demethylase and AHH. There was no effect in vitro on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes studied except for slight stimulation of epoxide hydrolase activity and small reduction of aminopyrine demethylase activity.

PMID:6775360 MIRANDA CL ET AL; RES COMMUN CHEM PATHOL PHARMACOL 29 (3): 573-87 (1980)


... An active metabolite of monocrotaline, dehydromonocrotaline (DHM), alkylates guanines at the N7 position of DNA with a preference for 5'-GG and 5'-GA sequences. In addition, it generates piperidine- and heat-resistant multiple DNA crosslinks, as confirmed by electrophoresis and electron microscopy. On the basis of these findings, we propose that DHM undergoes rapid polymerization to a structure which is able to crosslink several fragments of DNA.

PMID:9826770 Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC147994 Pereira T et al; Nucleic Acids Res 26 (23): 5441-7 (1998)