€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE***** Lin YS Chiang HC Kan WS Hone E Shih SJ Won MH Immunomodulatory activity of various fractions derived from Physalis angulata L extract. In: Am J Chin Med (1992) 20(3-4):233-43 ISSN: 0192-415X The immunomodulatory effects of Physalis angulata L. extract fraction VII (PA-VII), PA-VII-A, PA-VII-B and PA-VII-C were investigated in this study. The results showed that PA-VII and PA-VII-C strongly enhanced blastogenesis response, PA-VII-B had moderate activity, and PA-VII-A exerted only slight effect on cell proliferation. A synergistic effect was observed when the suboptimal dosage of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to the culture. Furthermore, PA-VII and PA-VII-C possessed stimulatory activity on B cells and less effect on T cells. The antibody responses were also augmented by PA-VII, PA-VII-B and PA-VII-C, but not by PA-VII-A. The enhancement of antibody response could be observed both in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice. Registry Numbers: 57423-71-9 (physalin F) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ANTICANCER RESEARCH***** Chiang HC Jaw SM Chen PM Inhibitory effects of physalin B and physalin F on various human leukemia cells in vitro. In: Anticancer Res (1992 Jul-Aug) 12(4):1155-62 ISSN: 0250-7005 Physalins B and F were isolated and characterized from the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae). Both physalin B and physalin F inhibited the growth of several human leukemia cells: K562 (erythroleukemia), APM1840 (acute T lymphoid leukemia), HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia), KG-1 (acute myeloid leukemia), CTV1 (acute monocytic leukemia) and B cell (acute B lymphoid leukemia). Physalin F showed a stronger activity against these leukemia cells than physalin B, especially against acute myeloid leukemia (KG-1) and acute B lymphoid leukemia (B cell). From the structural features, the active site seems to be the functional epoxy group for physalin F and the double bond for physalin B located at carbon 5 and 6; the former is much more active than the latter as regards anti-leukemic effects. Registry Numbers: 23133-56-4 (physalin B) 57423-71-9 (physalin F) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Chiang HC Jaw SM Chen CF Kan WS Antitumor agent, physalin F from Physalis angulata L. In: Anticancer Res (1992 May-Jun) 12(3):837-43 ISSN: 0250-7005 Physalin F and physalin D were isolated and characterized from the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae). Systematic fractionation of the ethanolic extract of the plant led to characterization of physalin F from the fraction PAIV-2 as an active ingredient which showed cytotoxicity in vitro by DEA and MTT assays on 8 cancer cell lines, five human cancer cell lines: HA22T(hepatoma), HeLa(cervix uteri), KB(nasopharynx), Colo- 205(colon) and Calu-1(lung); and three animal cancer cell lines: H1477(melanoma), Hep-2(laryngeal) and 8401(glioma). It was found that the anti-hepatoma action is the strongest, and the anti-HeLa is the next. Physalin F also had an antitumor effect in vivo against P388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice whereas physalin D was inactive both in vitro and in vivo. Registry Numbers: 57423-71-9 (physalin F) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH***** Roman Ramos R Alarcon-Aguilar F Lara-Lemus A Flores-Saenz JL Hypoglycemic effect of plants used in Mexico as antidiabetics. In: Arch Med Res (1992 Spring) 23(1):59-64 ISSN: 0188-0128 The objective of this work is to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of 12 "antidiabetic" plants used in Mexico. The studies were performed using 27 healthy rabbits with the gastric administration of water, tolbutamide or decoction of the "antidiabetic" plant before the induction of temporary hyperglycemia by subcutaneous injection of 50% dextrose solution (4 ml/kg of weight) at the beginning of the experiment and after 60 min. Blood glucose was determined every 60 min for a period of 5 h. Tolbutamide and eight of the studied plants decreased significantly the hyperglycemia as compared with control test (water) (p < 0.05). The strongest effect was yielded by Guaiacum coulteri, followed by Marrubium vulgare, Crataegus pubescens, Cynodon dactylon, Calea zacatechichi, Buddleia americana, Bauhinia divaricata and Coix lachryma. The decrease of hyperglycemia caused by Physalis phyladelphyca, Pavonia schiedeana and Eucaliptus globulus was not significant (p > 0.05). Urtica dioica increased glycemia slightly Registry Numbers: 64-77-7 (Tolbutamide) 7732-18-5 (Water) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART B, BIOCHEMISTRY AND**** Vessal M Rasti M Kooshesh F Modulation of the pituitary and basomedial hypothalamic lysyl- aminopeptidase activities be beta-estradiol and/or an aqueous extract of Physalis alkekengi fruits. In: Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol (1996 Oct) 115(2):267-71 Injections of an aqueous extract of winter cherry fruits (Physalis alkekengi) to adult female cycling rats by an intraperitoneal route resulted in the diminution of the pituitary lysyl-aminopeptidase (Lys- AP) activity by 50% and that of the basomedial hypothalamus (BMH) by 45%. Administration of daily doses of 3.75, 7.5, and 15 micrograms beta-estradiol for a period of 5-8 days to such animals increased pituitary Lys-AP activity from 31% to 61.5% and that of BMH from 20% to 87%, respectively. Administration of the same doses of beta- estradiol along with a given dose of the aqueous extract for 7-8 days diminished Lys-AP inhibitory effect of the extract in both the pituitary and BMH and eventually, at the highest dose of beta- estradiol, increased the pituitary enzyme activity by 9% and that of BMH by 5%. It is concluded that Lys-AP enzymes of both tissues, being estrogen-induced proteins, are inhibited by the estrogen antagonistic principle of the winter cherry aqueous extract. It is further suggested that BMH Lys-AP activity may be used as an enzyme marker for the action of beta-estradiol in hypothalamus. Registry Numbers: EC 3.4.11. (Aminopeptidases) EC 3.4.11.15 (lysyl aminopeptidase) 50-28-2 (Estradiol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART C, PHARMACOLOGY,***** Vessal M Yazdanian M Comparison of the effects of an aqueous extract of Physalis alkekengi fruits and/or various doses of 17-beta-estradiol on rat estrous cycle and uterine glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. In: Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol Endocrinol (1995 Oct) 112(2):229-36 Intraperitoneal injections of an aqueous extract of winter cherry fruits (Physalis alkekengi) to adult normal cycling female rats produced 100% diestrus and diminished uterine glucose 6-P dehydrogenase activity (an estrogen-induced protein) by 52%. Daily doses of 1.88, 3.75 and 7.5 micrograms 17-beta-estradiol administered intraperitoneally to adult female rats for a period of 6-8 days prolonged proestrus or estrus and increased uterine glucose 6-P dehydrogenase activity by 11.5%, 26.9% and 82.1%, respectively. Combined intraperitoneal injections of a given dose of the aqueous extract together with the above doses of 17-beta-estradiol for 8 consecutive days shortened the time spent in diestrus proportional to the dose employed and proportionately reduced the uterine glucose 6-P dehydrogenase inhibitory power of the aqueous extract (1.88 micrograms estradiol, 33.9% inhibition; 3.75 micrograms estradiol, 27% inhibition; and 7.5 micrograms estradiol, 6.0% activation). The data obtained clearly demonstrate the presence of an estrogen antagonist in the aqueous extract of Physalis alkekengi fruits. Registry Numbers: EC 1.1.1.49 (Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase) 50-28-2 (Estradiol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY***** Asano N Kato A Oseki K Kizu H Matsui K Calystegins of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti (Solanaceae). Structure determination and their glycosidase inhibitory activities. In: Eur J Biochem (1995 Apr 15) 229(2):369-76 ISSN: 0014-2956 Five calystegins were extracted from the roots of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti (Solanaceae) with hot water and purified to homogeneity by the combination of a variety of ion-exchange column chromatographies. Their structures have been determined from the 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data, and two of the compounds were identified as calystegins A3 and B2, which have been isolated from the roots of Calystegia sepium (Convolvulaceae). Two of the remaining three were found to be 1 alpha, 3 alpha, 4 beta-trihydroxy-nor-tropane and 1 alpha, 2 alpha, 3 alpha, 4 beta-tetrahydroxy-nor-tropane and given the trivial name calystegins A5 and B3, respectively. The last calystegin was assigned as 1 alpha, 2 beta, 3 alpha, 6 alpha- tetrahydroxy-nor-tropane, which was the same as the relative configuration proposed in the literature for calystegin B1 isolated from C. sepium. However, the 13C-NMR spectral data for the compound from C. sepium differed substantially from our results. From a personal communication with the authors of the original paper on calystegins, it was clarified that the 13C-NMR chemical shifts of calystegin B1 in the original paper had been erroneous. Since their corrected 13C-NMR data of calystegin B1 and its 1H-NMR chemical shifts in the original paper are very close to our present data, we concluded that both compounds from C. sepium and P. alkekengi are identical. Calystegin B2 has been known to be a potent competitive inhibitor of almond beta-glucosidase (Ki = 1.2 microM) and coffee bean alpha-galactosidase (Ki = 0.86 microM). In this study calystegin B1 (1 alpha, 2 beta, 3 alpha, 6 alpha-tetrahydroxy-nor-tropane) proved to be a potent competitive inhibitor of almond beta- glucosidase (Ki = 1.9 microM) and bovine liver beta-galactosidase (Ki = 1.6 microM), but not an inhibitor of alpha-galactosidases. Calystegin A3 was found to be a weaker inhibitor compared to calystegin B2 but with the same inhibitory spectrum. Calystegin A5, a 2-deoxy derivative of calystegin B2, showed no activity against any glycosidases tested. Since calystegin B3, a 2-epimer of calystegin B2, also exhibited only a weak inhibitory activity, it was concluded that the equatorially oriented OH group at C2 is the essential feature for recognition and strong binding by the active site of glycosidases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Registry Numbers: EC 3.2.1. (Glycoside Hydrolases) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Freiburghaus F Kaminsky R Nkunya MH Brun R Evaluation of African medicinal plants for their in vitro trypanocidal activity. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1996 Dec) 55(1):1-11 ISSN: 0378-8741 Petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol and water extracts from 24 plants, belonging to 19 families, which are reported in the literature as traditional remedies for sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis) were screened for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, as well as fro cytotoxicity for a human fibroblast cell-line (WI-38). The trypanocidal activity of the natural compounds berberine and harmane, both documented as being trypanocidal, was also evaluated. Promising trypanocidal activity with IC50 values below 10 micrograms/ml was found in 32 extracts of 13 plant species. The most active extracts with IC50 below 1 microgram/ml were derived from Annona senegalensis, Bussea occidentalis and Physalis angulata. The plant extracts showed a modest selectivity index, in contrast to commercially available trypanocides which have a more distinct selective toxicity against trypanosomes. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Vessal M Mehrani HA Omrani GH Effects of an aqueous extract of Physalis alkekengi fruit on estrus cycle, reproduction and uterine creatine kinase BB-isozyme in rats. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1991 Aug) 34(1):69-78 ISSN: 0378-8741 Intraperitoneal injections of the aqueous extract of winter cherry fruits (Physalis alkekengi) to female rats produced 100% diestrus. The rats resumed their normal estrus cycle upon withdrawal of this extract. Although there was no significant decrease in the number of implantation sites, the number of pups born to rats decreased by 96% with extract administration. Treatment with this extract had no effect on body weight, uterus weight, plasma protein level or plasma total creatine kinase activity. However, the level of plasma progesterone was diminished by 44%. In addition, uterine creatine kinase BB-isozyme (an estrogen-induced protein) showed a time- dependent inhibition of activity from 55% to 82%. Registry Numbers: EC 2.7.3.- (Creatine Kinase Isoenzymes) 57-83-0 (Progesterone) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Caceres A Alvarez AV Ovando AE Samayoa BE Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of respiratory diseases. 1. Screening of 68 plants against gram-positive bacteria. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1991 Feb) 31(2):193-208 ISSN: 0378-8741 Respiratory ailments are important causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Ethnobotanical surveys and literature reviews conducted in Guatemala during 1986-88 showed that 234 plants from 75 families, most of them of American origin, have been used for the treatment of respiratory ailments. Three Gram-positive bacteria causing respiratory infections (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes) were used to screen 68 of the most commonly used plants for activity. Twenty-eight of these (41.2%) inhibited the growth of one or more of the bacteria tested. Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited by 18 of the plant extracts, while 7 extracts were effective against Streptococcus pyogenes. Plants of American origin which exhibited antibacterial activity were: Gnaphalium viscosum, Lippia alba, Lippia dulcis, Physalis philadelphica, Satureja brownei, Solanum nigrescens and Tagetes lucida. These preliminary in vitro results provide scientific basis for the use of these plants against bacterial respiratory infections. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Caceres A Menendez H Mendez E Cohobon E Samayoa BE Jauregui E Peralta E Carrillo G Antigonorrhoeal activity of plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1995 Oct) 48(2):85-8 ISSN: 0378-8741 Plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of gonorrhoea were macerated in 50% alcohol and the tincture tested for in vitro activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae using strains isolated from symptomatic patients and confirmed by standard bacteriological procedures. From 46 plants investigated, 13 (28.3%) showed evident inhibition zones (> 9 mm), seven (15.2%) showed small activity (6.1- 8.9 mm) and 26 (56.5%) showed no activity; nine of these plants inhibited five strains of N. gonorrhoea freshly isolated. The most active plants of American origin were: bark of Bixa orellana fruits of Parmentiera edulis, leaf of Diphysa robinioides, Eupatorium odoratum, Gliricidia sepium, Physalis angulata, Piper aduncum and Prosopis juliflora, root of Casimiroa edulis, and whole Clematis dioica. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****NEUROSCIENCE***** Mas R Menendez R Garateix A Garcia M Chavez M Effects of a high molecular weight toxin from Physalia physalis on glutamate responses. In: Neuroscience (1989) 33(2):269-73 ISSN: 0306-4522 The effects of a high molecular weight toxin from Physalia physalis (P3) were investigated on glutamate evoked potentials in snail (Zachrysia guanesis) neurons and in crayfish (Cambarus clarkii) neuromuscular junction. The glutamate evoked potentials of snail neurons were reversibly blocked by P3 in a dose-dependent manner (2- 200 microM). A reversible blocking action was also found for P3 on excitatory junctional potentials and on glutamate potentials of crayfish at a concentration range of 6 nM-60 microM. Experiments carried out with independent stimulation of the excitatory and inhibitory nerves showed that the effect of P3 (60 nM-10 microM) was exerted predominantly on excitatory junctional potentials. However, at higher doses (greater than 10 microM) a slight reduction of the inhibitory potentials was also observed. These results suggest that P3 reversibly blocks glutamate receptors. Thus, it could be a promising tool for further studies on glutamatergic transmission. Registry Numbers: 56-86-0 (Glutamic Acid) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHARMAZIE***** Dornberger K [The potential antineoplastic acting constituents of Physalis alkekengi L. var franchetii Mast.] Untersuchungen uber potentiell antineoplastisch wirksame Inhaltsstoffe von Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii Mast. In: Pharmazie (1986 Apr) 41(4):265-8 ISSN: 0031-7144 (Published in German and Russian) In a continuing search for potent antineoplastic compounds in indigenous plants, a water extract of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii Mast. fruits was shown to have reproducible antineoplastic activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice. Systematic fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of citric acid as the major active principle. Registry Numbers: 77-92-9 (Citric Acid) 77-92-9 (citric acid) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION***** Bock MA Sanchez-Pilcher J McKee LJ Ortiz M Selected nutritional and quality analyses of tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa). In: Plant Foods Hum Nutr (1995 Sep) 48(2):127-33 ISSN: 0921-9668 Proximate composition, total dietary fiber and pH of tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa) grown in Baja, California were analyzed. Moisture content averaged 92%. On a dry matter basis (DMB), tomatillos contained 11% protein, 18% fat, 13% ash and 5% total dietary fiber. On an as consumed basis (ACB), tomatillos contained 1% protein, 1.5% fat, 1% ash and 0.4% dietary fiber. Carbohydrate (CHO) content was calculated by difference resulting in an average adjusted CHO (excluding dietary fiber) of 53% on a DMB and 4% on an ACB; total CHO (including dietary fiber) was 58 and 4.8%, respectively. Average kcalorie content was calculated to be about 31 kcals/100 g. The average pH of tomatillos was 3.76. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€