L-Norpseudoephedrine
-Norpseudoephedrine, or '-norpseudoephedrine, less commonly known as -cathine or -cathine', is a psychostimulant drug of the amphetamine family. It is the levorotary isomer of Norpseudoephedrine and is one of the 4 optical isomers of phenylpropanolamine .
-Norpseudoephedrine is an alkaloid of Ephedra sinica, Ephedra equisetina, and Catha edulis. In khat, -norpseudoephedrine is a secondary alkaloid present alongside cathinone. It is likely responsible for some of the milder stimulant effects of the plant, while cathinone produces the stronger psychoactive effects. In the Ephedra genus, -norpseudoephedrine is a trace alkaloid compared to the more abundant alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Unlike in khat, -Norpseudoephedrine does not contribute significantly to the pharmacological actions of Ephedra, as the amount contained in stems/leaves is negligible.
Pharmacology
-Norpseudoephedrine is a modestly selective or preferential norepinephrine releasing agent, similarly to other related compounds like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. It acts as a releasing agent of norepinephrine and to a lesser extent of dopamine.-Norpseudoephedrine is not classified as a norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent because of its minimal dopaminergic action and the peripheral predominance of its sympathomimetic effects.