Castanospermine

Castanospermine is a natural indolizidine alkaloid isolated from the seeds of the Australian black bean or Moreton Bay chestnut tree (Castanospermum australe). It functions as a potent inhibitor of various glucosidase enzymes, including lysosomal alpha- and beta-glucosidases, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) alpha-glucosidases I and II. This inhibition disrupts the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides, which can lead to the misfolding of viral envelope glycoproteins, thereby impairing viral maturation and infectivity. Additionally, castanospermine exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anti-metastatic activities, and has been shown to inhibit cyclooxygenase.

Other names

1,6,7,8-tetrahydroxyoctahydroindolizineCastinospermine