l-stepholidine

**l-stepholidine** is a naturally occurring tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herb Stephania. It acts as a mixed dopamine D1 receptor partial agonist and dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, giving it a unique pharmacological profile relevant for central nervous system disorders. Preclinical and limited clinical research suggests l-stepholidine may improve both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia without causing significant extrapyramidal side effects. It has also been investigated for its role in Parkinson’s disease, countering L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, and possesses neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects in experimental models, including models of Alzheimer’s disease. Its mechanism includes antagonism of both D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors, although some reports describe partial agonism at D1-like receptors and antagonism at D2-like receptors.

Other names

stepholidine(-)-stepholidineSPD3,9-dimethoxy-6,8,13,13a-tetrahydro-5H-isoquinolino[2,1-b]isoquinoline-2,10-diol