National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Send to Printer
NCI Drug Dictionary

noscapine hydrochloride
The orally bioavailable hydrochloride salt of the opioid agonist noscapine, a phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid derived from the opium poppy Papaver somniferum, with mild analgesic, antitussive, and potential antineoplastic activities. Noscapine binds to tubulin and alters its conformation, resulting in a disruption of the dynamics of microtubule assembly (by increasing the time that microtubules spend idle in a paused state) and, subsequently, the inhibition of mitosis and tumor cell death. Unlike other tubulin inhibitors such as the taxanes and vinca alkaloids, noscapine does not affect microtubule polymerization. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

Synonyms:narcosine hydrochloride
narcotine hydrochloride
Chemical structure name:6,7-dimethoxy-3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3- dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-5-yl)-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone, [S-(R*,S*)] hydrochloride monohydrate

Previous:norgestrel, Norlutate, Norlutin, Norplant, Norvir
Next:Novantrone, Novarel, NovaSoy, Novolauden, Noxafil