Antianoxic action of evodiamine, an alkaloid in Evodia rutaecarpa fruit.

In order to determine the antianoxic potential of evodiamine, its effects were compared to those of vinpocetine (VPT), using a series of animal models of anoxia. In mice, evodiamine was equivalent to VPT in the KCN-induced anoxia model but was greater than VPT in the low-pressure-induced anoxia model. Its effectiveness was increased by combined treatment with physostigmine, suggesting the involvement of a cholinergic mechanism in the antianoxic action of evodiamine.