a psychotomimetic agent on dogs and cats; acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

Alkaloid C₁₁H₁₂N₂O derivative of Desoxypeganine from plants of the Zygophyllaceae family.

* psychotomimetic effects: (unpublished results)
dogs are specially sensitive to the psychotomimetic effects of Peganole.
- 0.5 mg/kg (s.c.) on dogs (5-10 mg/kg on rats): disruption of conditioned reflex.
- 1.0 mg/kg (i.v.): burst of motor activity and aggressiveness; usually gentle dogs start growling‚ barking and biting various objects with fury during 15 to 20 minutes. After this period‚ dogs are depressed during 4 to 6 hours.
- 3-5 mg/kg (i.v.) inhibit the synchronization of the main rhythm in the cortex and the reticular formation (activation reaction).
- 31 mg/kg and 62 mg/kg (respectively 0.25 and half DL50) enhance respectively 2 and 2.5 times the length of sleep caused by chloral hydrate‚ although Peganole does not possess any soporific effect by itself.

* cholinergic effects:
the main cholinergic effects of Peganole on mice (i.p.‚ i.v. and s.c.) are as follow:
- speeds up the breath rhythm;
- causes tremor and clonic cramps;
- enhances salivation and blood pressure;
Peganole increases the effects of the cholinergic transmission in the CNS and at the neuromuscular junction; at 15‚ 30 and 50 mg/kg (i.p.)‚ increases respectively 1.5‚ 2 and 2.5 times the effects of Arecoline on tremor and 1.0‚ 1.8 and 3 times the effects of Nicotine. Inhibits both cholinesterases and monoamine oxydases.

1. Telejnetskaya et al., Chem. Nat. Comp. (1971). 6:849
2. Telejnetskaya et al., Chem. Nat. Comp. (1989). 6:857