Dr. Grey AI

Higenamine

Higenamine (Norcoclaurine) is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist from the Nandina plant, marketed as a fat burner with similar mechanisms to ephedrine. REGULATORY WARNING: On FDA Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List since April 2019 - not considered a lawful dietary supplement ingredient. NO GRADED OUTCOMES - very limited human research. May have bronchodilator effects (anti-asthmatic) and theoretical fat-burning effects via beta-2 agonism. Also WADA-banned substance in competitive sports. The similarity to ephedrine (a banned stimulant) and lack of human safety data makes this a concerning supplement. Not recommended due to regulatory status and insufficient evidence.

Quick Answer

What it is

Higenamine (Norcoclaurine) is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist from the Nandina plant, marketed as a fat burner with similar mechanisms to ephedrine. REGULATORY WARNING: On FDA Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List since April 2019 - not considered a lawful dietary supplement ingredient.

Key findings

  • Grade D: Cardiac Contractility
  • Grade D: Heart Rate
  • Grade D: Plasma cAMP Levels

Safety

  • REGULATORY WARNING: On FDA Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List since April 2019 - not considered a lawful dietary supplement ingredient.
ℹ️ Quick Facts: Higenamine

Quick Facts: Higenamine

  • Best Evidence:Grade D
  • Conditions Studied:3
  • Research Outcomes:6
  • Key Effect:Cardiovascular Health
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C0
D6
3 conditions · 6 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

|
D
Cardiac Contractility
Multiple in vitro and animal studies demonstrate higenamine increases cardiac contractile force (positive inotropy). In isolated guinea pig papillary muscle, higenamine shifted the calcium curve leftward and enhanced isoproterenol-induced responses. In porcine ventricular myocardial cells, it increased action potential amplitude and duration by activating slow calcium channels, and abolished potassium-induced conduction blocks. Additional studies in cultured rat heart cells and guinea pig heart failure models confirmed cardiotonic properties via beta-adrenergic agonism. No human data exists.
moderate↑Improves
D
Heart Rate
In isolated mouse right atria, higenamine produced positive chronotropic effects (increased heart rate) via beta-1 adrenergic receptor activation. Acetylcholine physiologically antagonized this heart-rate-increasing effect, with cholera toxin pretreatment accentuating the antagonism. Cultured rat heart cell studies also indexed chronotropic activity. All evidence is from animal tissue preparations with no human data.
small↑Worsens
D
Hemodynamic Support
A single animal study examined the effects of demethylcoclaurine (alongside ginsenosides) on hemodynamic parameters in dogs under experimentally induced septic shock. The compound was classified as a cardiotonic beta-adrenergic agonist. No abstract or detailed results are available in English, and no human studies exist for this application.
small↑Improves
D
Plasma cAMP Levels
In mice, demethylcoclaurine affected plasma cyclic AMP levels, consistent with its beta-adrenergic receptor agonist mechanism. A separate study in rats and turkeys confirmed effects on both alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylyl cyclase metabolism. These mechanistic findings support the compound's sympathomimetic activity but all data is from animal models.
small↑Improves
D
Fat Oxidation
Higenamine is widely marketed as a fat-burning supplement based on its beta-2 adrenergic agonist mechanism, which theoretically promotes lipolysis. An analytical study (PMID:30188222) found higenamine doses up to 62 mg per serving in US weight-loss supplements, with none accurately labeled. However, no animal or human studies among available evidence directly measured fat oxidation or body composition changes. The fat-burning claim remains entirely theoretical and unproven.
small↑Improves
D
Bronchodilation
As a confirmed beta-2 adrenergic agonist, higenamine has theoretical bronchodilator (anti-asthmatic) properties based on its established pharmacological mechanism. Beta-2 agonism is a well-validated pathway for airway smooth muscle relaxation. However, none of the available PubMed studies directly tested bronchodilation, and no human respiratory data exists for higenamine.
small↑Improves

Research Citations (10)

The stimulant higenamine in weight loss and sports supplements
(2019)
PMID: 30188222
Cholera toxin accentuates the antagonism by acetylcholine of higenamine-induced positive chronotropy in isolated right atria of mice
(1995)
PMID: 8593468
Inotropic effects of (+/-)-higenamine and its chemically related components, (+)-R-coclaurine and (+)-S-reticuline, contained in the traditional sino-Japanese medicines 'bushi' and 'shin-i' in isolated guinea pig papillary muscle.
(1989)
PMID: 2724702
Effects of DL-demethylcoclaurine on experimental heart failure
(1988)
PMID: 2903610
Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors
(1988)
PMID: 2904145
Effects of ginsenosides and demethylcoclaurine on hemodynamics in dogs under septic shock
(1986)
PMID: 2954419
Effect of higenamine on action potential of ventricular myocardial cells
(1985)
PMID: 3973525
Effects of dl-demethylcoclaurine on electrophysiological properties of porcine myocardial cells
(1982)
PMID: 6287803
Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on cultured rat heart cells
(1981)
PMID: 6278830
Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on plasma cAMP in mice
(1981)
PMID: 6278831

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