Description

Senecionine N-oxide is a natural product that has been shown to have strong cytotoxic effects on cultured liver cells. It is a metabolite of retrorsine and senecionine, which are quinolizidine alkaloids found in plants of the genus Senecio. The presence of the hydroxyl group in senecionine N-oxide makes it more reactive than its parent compounds. This leads to metabolic changes, including an increase in metabolic rate and dose-dependent effects. Senecionine N-oxide also has a high molecular weight, which makes it difficult to measure using analytical methods such as HPLC or GCMS. To overcome this challenge, researchers use sample preparation techniques like thin layer chromatography (TLC) or liquid chromatography (LC). Tissue culture experiments have shown that senecionine N-oxide has biological properties similar to retrorsine and can induce cell death by inhibiting DNA synthesis.