Tubocurarine is a skeletal muscle relaxant in the category of non-depolarizing neuromuscular-blocking drugs, used adjunctively in anesthesia to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. It is now rarely considered clinically to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Tubocurarine is classified as a long-duration, antagonist for Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is the active agent of curare. Currently, tubocurarine is rarely used as an adjunct for clinical anesthesia because safer alternatives, such as cisatracurium and rocuronium, are available. Tubocurarine biosynthesis involves a radical coupling of two enantiomeric tetrahydrobenzylisoquinolines, more specifically, the two enantiomers of N-methyl-coclaurine. (R) and (S)-N-methyl-coclaurine come from a Mannich-like reaction between dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenyl-acetaldehyde, facilitated by norcoclaurine synthase (NCS).
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