Preliminary psychopharmacological research in 1978 was unable to conclusively determine the compound's classification regarding dopamine-receptor activity.[3] On one hand, investigative studies found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptorstimulation: stereotypy, increase in spontaneous motor activity, inhibition of conditioned avoidance response, and an increase in pain sensitivity resulting in an inhibition of morphine analgesia.[3] On the other hand, these early investigative studies also found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptorblockade: decrease of spontaneous motor activity, chills, catalepsy, trance-like states of consciousness.[3]
In rodent models relating to antipsychotic drug effects, Nuciferine has shown various actions such as blocking head-twitch responses and discriminative stimulus effects of a 5-HT2A agonist, enhancing amphetamine-induced locomotor activity, inhibiting phencyclidine (PCP)-induced locomotor activity, and restoring PCP-induced disruption of pre-pulse inhibition without inducing catalepsy.[5]
^ abcBhattacharya, S. K.; Bose, R.; Ghosh, P.; Tripathi, V. J.; Ray, A. B.; Dasgupta, B. (1978-09-15). "Psychopharmacological studies on (--)-nuciferine and its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine". Psychopharmacology. 59 (1): 29–33. doi:10.1007/bf00428026. ISSN0033-3158. PMID100809. S2CID11847319.