Biochemical studies on peptide alkaloids: induction of ion selective mitochondrial swelling.

The effect of frangulanine, a cyclopeptide alkaloid isolated from Hovenia dulcis Thunb., on mitochondrial swelling was studied. Frangulanine induced mitochondrial swelling in 0.15 M KCl solution at the concentration of 6.5 muM. The alkaloid showed ion selectivity on the induction of mitochondrial swelling. Upon addition of frangulanine, mitochondria underwent swelling in 0.15 M KCl or RbCl solution but in neither NaCl nor LiCl solution.