€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE***** Dharmshaktu NS Prabhakaran PK Menon PK Laboratory study on the mosquito larvicidal properties of leaf and seed extract of the plant Agave americana. In: J Trop Med Hyg (1987 Apr) 90(2):79-82 ISSN: 0022-5304 Experiments on the leaf extract tested against three mosquito species led to 100% mortality of stage 4 Anopheles, Aedes and Culex larvae at a concentration of 0.08% within 24-48 h, whereas 100% mortality of stage 1 larvae occurred at lower concentrations: 0.0032% for Aedes aegypti, 0.016% for Culex quinquefasciatus and 0.08% for Anopheles stephensi, and was more rapid. At the end of 24 h, the highest dilution of the seed extract studied (1:200) produces a larval mortality of 100% for Anopheles and Aedes and 56% for Culex spp., when 4th instar larvae were exposed at room temperature. The comparative mortality in the control group was negligible. One hundred per cent mortality of Anopheles larvae took place by the end of 10 h, and of Aedes larvae by 17 h, at a dilution of 1:200 with water. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL***** Ashton AR Polya GM Adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate in higher plants: Isolation and characterization of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate from Kalanchoe and Agave. In: Biochem J (1977 Jul 1) 165(1):27-32 ISSN: 0006-2936 1.3':5'-Cyclic AMP was extensively purified from Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Agave americana by neutral alumina and anion- and cation-exchange column chromatography. Inclusion of 3':5'-cyclic [8- 3H]AMP from the point of tissue extraction permitted calculation of yields. The purification procedure removed contaminating material that was shown to interfere with the 3':5'-cyclic AMP estimation and characterization procedures. 2. The partially purified 3':5'-cyclic AMP was quantified by means of a radiochemical saturation assay using an ox heart 3':5'-cyclic AMP-binding protein and by an assay involving activation of a mammalian protein kinase. 3. The plant 3':5'-cyclic AMP co-migrated with 3':5'-cyclic [8-3H]AMP on cellulose chromatography, poly(ethyleneimine)-cellulose chromatography and silica-gel t.l.c. developed with several solvent systems. 4. The plant 3':5'-cyclic AMP was degraded by ox heart 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase at the same rates as authentic 3':5'- cyclic AMP. 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (1 mM), a specific inhibitor of the 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodieterase, completely inhibited such degradation. 5. The concentrations of 3':5'-cyclic AMP satisfying the above criteria in Kalanchoe and Agave were 2-6 and 1 pmol/g fresh wt. respectively. Possible bacterial contribution to these analyses was estimated to be less than 0.002pmol/g fresh wt. Evidence for the occurrence of 3':5'-cyclic AMP in plants is discussed. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA***** Du Toit PJ Isolation and partial characterization of a protease from Agave americana variegata. In: Biochim Biophys Acta (1976 May 13) 429(3):895-911 ISSN: 0006-3002 A new protease was isolated from an extract of leaves of Agave americana variegata. The protease (EC 3.4.-) was purified 565-fold with a yield of 39.5%. The 43.8 mg enzyme had a specific activity of 0.44 units/mg. According to electrophoretic, ultracentrifugal and other physical characterizations the enzyme was homogeneous. The enzyme had a MR of 57000, a S20,W-value of 4.37 S, a D20, W-value of 6.8-7.0 - 10(-7) cm2sec-1, a Stokes radius of 3.18 nm, a partial specific volume of 0.735 cm3g-1, a frictional ration of 1.25, a molecular absorbancy index at 280 nm of 5.773-10(4), an isoelectric point of 5.25 and contained 8-10% carbohydrate. The enzyme contained no cysteine. Agave protease could hydrolyze a variety of protein substrates although it did have a restricted specificity. It is not a sulphhydryl protease but seems to be an alkaline "serine" protease with an optimum pH of 7.8-8.0 Agave protease had marked esterolytic activity and with Cbz-Tyr-ONp had an apparent Michaelis constant of 0.0345 -10(-3) M and a V of 1.24 mol substrate/mol enzyme per sec. The enzyme did not need metal ions for optimal activity, monovalent cations did not influence its kinetic parameters, but it was inhibited by cobalt, pC1HgBzO- and TosPheCH2C1. With respect to its primary specificity, as well as its pH-dependence there was a resemblance with chymotrypsin, although the rate of hydrolysis of Agave protease is much lower. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN***** Ding Y Tian RH Yang CR Chen YY Nohara T Two new steroidal saponins from dried fermented residues of leaf- juices of Agave sisalana forma Dong No. 1. In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1993 Mar) 41(3):557-60 ISSN: 0009-2363 In a previous paper, we reported the isolation and structure determination of three new steroidal saponins, dongnosides C (3), D (2) and E (1) from the dried fermented residues of leaf-juices of Agave sisalana forma Dong No. 1. In a continuing study on this plant, two additional new major steroidal saponins, named dongnosides B (4) and A (5), were obtained. Their structures were characterized respectively as tigogenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamonpyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)- [beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactop yranoside and 3-O-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta- D- xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Registry Numbers: 149664-93-7 (dongnoside B) 149664-94-8 (dongnoside A) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY***** Cedeno M Tequila production. In: Crit Rev Biotechnol (1995) 15(1):1-11 ISSN: 0738-8551 Tequila is obtained from the distillation of fermented juice of agave plant, Agave tequilana, to which up to 49% (w/v) of an adjunct sugar, mainly from cane or corn, could be added. Agave plants require from 8 to 12 years to mature and during all this time cleaning, pest control, and slacken of land are required to produce an initial raw material with the appropriate chemical composition for tequila production. Production process comprises four steps: cooking to hydrolyze inulin into fructose, milling to extract the sugars, fermentation with a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert the sugars into ethanol and organoleptic compounds, and, finally, a two- step distillation process. Maturation, if needed, is carried out in white oak barrels to obtain rested or aged tequila in 2 or 12 months, respectively. Registry Numbers: 30237-26-4 (Fructose) 64-17-5 (Alcohol, Ethyl) 9005-80-5 (Inulin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Verastegui MA Sanchez CA Heredia NL Garcia-Alvarado JS Antimicrobial activity of extracts of three major plants from the Chihuahuan desert. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1996 Jul 5) 52(3):175-7 ISSN: 0378-8741 Dilution methods were employed to determine the effect of ethanolic extracts of Agave lecheguilla Torr. (Agavaceae), Baccharis glutinosa Pers. (Compositae) and Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov. (Zygophyllaceae) on growth of yeasts, molds and bacteria. The three extracts analyzed showed good antimicrobial activity against more than one organism. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the extracts was also determined. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES***** Bianchi E Cole JR ANTITUMOR AGENTS FROM AGAVE SCHOTTII (AMARYLLIDACEAE) In: J Pharm Sci (1969) 58(5):589-591 ISSN: 0022-3549 The n-butanol extract of a water extract of Agave schottii significantly inhibited the im Walker 256 carcinosarcoma at 75 and 3.7 mg/kg. The active material was identified as saponin. Of the 6 saponins separated, No. 4 showed about the same antitumor activity as the crude extract, at 65 and 33 mg/kg. Gitogenin was identified as the genin of all the 4 active saponins present. The sugar present in the most active saponin was galactose; the other 3 saponins contained galactose and glucose. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ***** Consoli RA Mendes NM Pereira JP Santos B de S Lamounier MA [Effect of several extracts derived from plants on the survival of larvae of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae) in the laboratory] Influencia de diversos derivados de vegetais na sobrevida das larvas de Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae) em laboratorio. In: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz (1988 Jan-Mar) 83(1):87-93 ISSN: 0074-0276 (Published in Portuguese) The larvicidal properties of 34 plant extracts were tested against Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae, at 100, 10 and 1 ppm concentrations; 26.6% of the extracts enhanced larval mortality (alpha = 0.05) at 100 ppm (Anacardium occidentale, Agave americana, Allium sativum, Coriandrum sativum, Nerium oleander, Spatodea campanulata, Tibouchina scrobiculata and Vernonia salzmanni). Anacardic acid (A. occidentale) was effective at 10 ppm and A. sativum (crude extract) at 1 ppm. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PUERTO RICO HEALTH SCIENCES JOURNAL***** Basilio CM Seyler L Bernstein J Castro de la Mata R Isolation and characterization of an utero-active compound from Agave americana. In: P R Health Sci J (1989 Dec) 8(3):295-9 ISSN: 0738-0658 Crude extracts of Agave americana contain two utero-active compounds. One of these, tentatively named "Fraction B", has been purified to chromatographic homogeneity. Its pharmacological actions are similar to those of acetylcholine. However its chromatographic and electrophoretic mobilities are different. Some chemical properties of fraction B are compatible with the structure of an acyl derivative of choline different from acetylcholine. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHYTOCHEMISTRY***** Uniyal GC Agrawal PK Sati OP Thakur RS A spirostane hexaglycoside from Agave cantala fruits. In: Phytochemistry (1991) 30(12):4187-9 ISSN: 0031-9422 A new steroidal glycoside, agaveside D, isolated from the fruits of Agave cantala was characterized as 3 beta-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1- ---2),beta-D-glycopyranosyl- (1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl[beta-D- xylopyransoyl-(1----4)-alpha -L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-25R-5 alpha-spirostane on the basis of chemical degradation and spectrometry. Registry Numbers: 140400-46-0 (agaveside D) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Uniyal GC Agrawal PK Thakur RS Sati OP Steroidal glycosides from Agave cantala. In: Phytochemistry (1990) 29(3):937-40 ISSN: 0031-9422 Two new steroidal glycosides, agaveside A and B, isolated from the fruits of Agave cantala were characterized as 3 beta-O-[beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----2),beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----3), beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D- galactopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25R)-5 alpha- spirostane and 3 beta-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----2), beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)- [beta-D- galactopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25R)-5 alpha- spirostane. The structures were elucidated by a combination of 13CNMR spectroscopy, chemical degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Registry Numbers: 128232-92-8 (agaveside A) 128232-93-9 (agaveside B) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****REVISTA CUBANA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL***** Ferrer Lopez JR Sanchez Noda R Perera de Puga G Cong MY Sanchez Noda J [Laboratory studies of the molluscacidal action of the maguey (Agave legrelliana) on Biomphalaria havanensis] Estudios de la accion molusquicida en el laboratorio del maguey (Agave legrelliana), sobre Biomphalaria havanensis. In: Rev Cubana Med Trop (1993) 45(2):118-21 ISSN: 0375-0760 (Published in Spanish) A study was carried out on the molluscacidal action of agave (Agave legrelliana) on the mollusk Biomphalaria havanensis, host of Schistosoma. Different concentrations of the plant's juice extract were tested to determine lethal doses. 3 experimental series were carried out using 144 mollusks in each. LD50 = 0.14 mL/L and LD90 = 0.47 mL/L were determined using the "probilog" computerized program. The regression equation was Y = 5.29 + 2.53 in X. Density, pH, liquid content and absorbance of the juice were determined. The stability of the A. legrelliana juice extract was compared using LD90 and it was observed that its effectiveness was reduced after long storage periods. The results attained were very encouraging since large volumes of water abounding in intermediate host mollusks can be treated with small quantities of juice at the same time that the toxicity which might be introduced by products of chemical origin is reduced. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****STEROIDS***** Blunden G Carabot A Cripps AL Jewers K Ruizgenin, a new steroidal sapogenin diol from Agave lecheguilla. In: Steroids (1980 May) 35(5):503-10 ISSN: 0039-128X From the leaves of Agave lecheguilla Torrey, two steroidal sapogenin diols have been isolated. Mass spectral, infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance data of these two compounds showed them to be (25R)-spirost-5-ene-2 alpha, 3 beta-diol (yuccagenin) and (25R)-5 beta-spirostane-3 beta, 6 alpha-diol. The latter is a new compound to which the trivial name ruizgenin has been given. Registry Numbers: 41743-71-9 (ruizgenin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Cripps AL Blunden G A quantitative gas-liquid chromatographic method for the estimation of hecogenin and tigogenin in the leaves, juice and sapogenin concentrates of Agave sisalana. In: Steroids (1978 May) 31(5):661-9 ISSN: 0039-128X A gas-liquid chromatographic method has been devised for the routine estimation of the hecogenin [3beta-hydroxy-(25R)-5beta-spirostan-12- one] and tigogenin [ (25R)-5beta-spirostan-3beta-ol] contents of Agave sisalana leaf and juice samples and of the crude sapogenin concentrates known as "coffee grounds". Because of partial degradation of the sapogenins in the GLC system it was found necessary to acetylate the compounds prior to their estimation. In East African samples the tigogenin proportion of the total sapogenin content is usually about 10%. At this level, the 95% inverse tolerance limits on predicted tigogenin weights are approximately +/- 7%.