Cryogenine

Cryogenine is the name for two different unrelated chemical compounds:

Cryogenine is a name for the antipyretic medication phenicarbazide (1-phenylsemicarbazide).

Cryogenine is also the name for the biphenylquinolizidine lactone alkaloid, also known as vertine or (10α)-4,5-dimethoxy-2-hydroxylythran-12-one, from Heimia salicifolia and Heimia myrtifolia. This compound has anticholinergic properties and produces mild euphoria as well as aching of the muscles when taken in pure form in large doses.

The freebase form melts at 250-251 °C and is soluble in moderatly polar organic solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, benzene, and methanol, but is insoluble in water and petroleum ether.

In the development of thin layer chromatography plates with diazotized p-nitroaniline spray, vertine produces a purple spot (as does sinicuichine, another biphenylquinolizidine lactone alkaloid found in the Heimias).