€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE***** Lin CC Lin JM Chiu HF Studies on folk medicine "thang-kau-tin" from Taiwan. (I). The anti- inflammatory and liver-protective effect. In: Am J Chin Med (1992) 20(1):37-50 ISSN: 0192-415X Five species of crude drugs are used as "Thang-kau-tin" on Taiwan market: (1) the stem of Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg, (2) the stem and root of M. repandus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg, (3) the stem of Bauhinia championii Benth, (4) the stem with hooks of Uncaria hirsuta Haviland and (5) the stem with hooks of U. rhynchophylla Miquel. To clarify the effect of these crude drugs as anti-inflammatory and liver-protective agents, studies were conducted on water extracts of these five crude drugs. The statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated that the stem of M. repandus showed the best anti-inflammatory activity against the paw edema induced by carrageenan. Nevertheless, the acute increase of GOT and GPT levels caused by CCl4 were markedly decreased by the treatment of M. repandus (stem), B. championii and U. hirsuta as a recipe group. The pathological changes around the central vein including fatty change, ballooning degeneration, cell necrosis, the increase in lymphocytes and Kupffer cells were improved by the treatment with the group of crude drugs as mentioned above. Registry Numbers: EC 2.6.1.1 (Aspartate Aminotransferase) EC 2.6.1.2 (Alanine Aminotransferase) 56-23-5 (Carbon Tetrachloride) 9000-07-1 (Carrageenan) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Lin JM Lin CC Chen MF Ujiie T Takada A Studies on Taiwan folk medicine, thang-kau-tin (II): Measurement of active oxygen scavenging activity using an ESR technique. In: Am J Chin Med (1995) 23(1):43-51 ISSN: 0192-415X Using an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, we measured the superoxide radical (O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging activity from Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg., Bauhinia championii Benth., Uncaria hirsuta Haviland and Uncaria rhynchophylla Miquel. O2- and OH were detected as spin adducts of spin traps 5,5- dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). The scavenging potencies of water extracts of crude drugs were evaluated in terms of their ability to reduce the peaks of spin adducts. The extract of B. championii showed the greatest superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical scavenger activity. Registry Numbers: 11062-77-4 (Superoxides) 3352-57-6 (Hydroxyl Radical) 50-81-7 (Ascorbic Acid) 7439-95-4 (Magnesium) 7782-44-7 (Oxygen) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BASIC LIFE SCIENCES***** Morton JF Widespread tannin intake via stimulants and masticatories, especially guarana, kola nut, betel vine, and accessories. In: Basic Life Sci (1992) 59:739-65 ISSN: 0090-5542 Tannins are increasingly recognized as dietary carcinogens and as antinutrients interfering with the system's full use of protein. Nevertheless, certain tannin-rich beverages, masticatories, and folk remedies, long utilized in African, Asiatic, Pacific, and Latin American countries, are now appearing in North American sundry shops and grocery stores. These include guarana (Paullinia cupana HBK.) from Brazil, kola nut (Cola nitida Schott & Endl. and C. acuminata Schott & Endl.) from West Africa, and betel nut (Areca catechu L.) from Malaya. The betel nut, or arecanut, has long been associated with oral and esophageal cancer because of its tannin content and the tannin contributed by the highly astringent cutch from Acacia catechu L. and Uncaria gambir Roxb. and the aromatic, astringent 'pan' (leaves of Piper betel L.) chewed with it. In addition to the constant recreational/social ingestion of these plant materials, they are much consumed as aphrodisiacs and medications. Guarana and kola nut enjoy great popularity in their native lands because they are also rich in caffeine, which serves as a stimulant. Research and popular education on the deleterious effects of excessive tannin intake could do much to reduce the heavy burden of early mortality and health care, especially in developing countries. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BOLLETTINO - SOCIETA ITALIANA BIOLOGIA SPERIMENTALE***** Senatore A Cataldo A Iaccarino FP Elberti MG [Phytochemical and biological study of Uncaria tomentosa] Ricerche fitochimiche e biologiche sull'Uncaria tomentosa. In: Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper (1989 Jun) 65(6):517-20 ISSN: 0037-8771 (Published in Italian) The investigation on steroidic fraction of Uncaria tomentosa, commonly called Una de gato, showed the presence of beta-sitosterol (60%), stigmasterol, and campesterol. The percentage of sterols have been carried out by GLC. The spectroscopic data 1H-NMR and MS of the three compounds are also reported, with the beta-sitosterol as the main sterol. Preliminary pharmacological investigations prove a moderate antiinflammatory activity. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ **CHUNG-KUO CHUNG YAO TSA CHIH CHINA JOURNAL OF CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA* Qin CL Liu JY Cheng ZM Jiao Y [Experimental studies on Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil and Achyranthes bidentata Blume and their compacibility] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1994 Jun) 19(6):371-3, 384 ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) Pharmacological studies were conducted on Uncaria sinensis and Achyranthes bidentata both separately and combined. Comparison was made on the hypotensive effect on normal and renal-type hypertensive rats as well anti-spasmodic and sedative effects in mice. The results showed that Uncaria sinensis and Achyranthes bidentata have obvious synergic action in compatibility. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****FARMACO. EDIZIONE SCIENTIFICA***** de Matta SM Monache FD Ferrari F Marini-Bettolo GB Alkaloids and procyanidins of an Uncaria sp. from Peru. In: Farmaco [Sci] (1976 Jul) 31(7):527-35 ISSN: 0430-0920 The alkaloid and procyanidin composition of Uncaria sp. from eastern Peru, used in folk medicine was studied. Five alkaloids have been separated and identified as pteropodine, speciophylline, isopteropodine, uncarine F and isomytraphylline, all belonging to the oxindole group characteristic of the Rubiaceae. Moreover (--) epicatechin and four dimeric procyanidins A1, B1, B2 and B4 have been shown to constitute the polyphenolic fraction of the plant extract. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY***** Phillipson JD Hemingway SR Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for the identification of alkaloids from herbarium samples of the genus Uncaria. In: J Chromatogr (1975 Feb 19) 105(1):163-78 ISSN: 0021-9673 A combination of thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques for the alkaloid screening of herbarium samples of the genus Uncaria (Rubiaceae) is described. Some sixty alkaloids are distinguished by the screening procedure, and they represent heteroyohimbine, oxindole, roxburghine, simple beta-carboline, pyridino-indolo-quinolizidinone and gambirtannine types. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Zhu M Bowery NG Greengrass PM Phillipson JD Application of radioligand receptor binding assays in the search for CNS active principles from Chinese medicinal plants. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1996 Nov) 54(2-3):153-64 ISSN: 0378-8741 Extracts of Schefflera bodinieri and S. delavayi (Araliaceae), Celastrus angulatus and C. orbiculatus (Celastraceae), Clerodendrum mandarinorum and C. bungei (Verbenaceae), Periploca callophylla and P. forrestii (Asclepiadaceae), Alangium platanifolium (Alangiaceae) and Uncaria rhynchophylla (Rubiaceae) were assessed for CNS activity against 18 radioligand receptor binding assays. The receptors used were alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors, 5HT-1, 5HT-1A, 5HT-2, opiate, adenosine-1, benzodiazepine, Ca+2 channel, sulphonylureas, dopamine-1, dopamine-2, muscarinic, histamine-1, Na+/K+ ATPase, GABAA and GABAB. The results indicate that these ligand-receptor binding assays are useful for understanding the mode of action of herbal medicines and for bioassay guided fractionation of plant active ingredients. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Rizzi R Re F Bianchi A De Feo V de Simone F Bianchi L Stivala LA Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of Uncaria tomentosa and its extracts. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1993 Jan) 38(1):63-77 ISSN: 0378-8741 Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of extracts and chromatographic fractions of Uncaria tomentosa bark are reported. The plant extracts and fractions show no mutagenic effect in different strains of Salmonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activation. However, the plant extracts and fractions show a protective antimutagenic effect in vitro against photomutagenesis induced by 8-methoxy-psoralen (8-MOP) plus UVA in S. typhimurium TA 102. A decoction of U. tomentosa ingested daily for 15 days by a smoker decreased the mutagenicity induced in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 by the subject's urine. Registry Numbers: 298-81-7 (Methoxsalen) 67-56-1 (Alcohol, Methyl) 67-66-3 (Chloroform) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Mok JS Chang P Lee KH Kam TS Goh SH Cardiovascular responses in the normotensive rat produced by intravenous injection of gambirine isolated from Uncaria callophylla B1. ex Korth. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1992 Jun) 36(3):219-23 ISSN: 0378-8741 Among several alkaloids, including dimeric indoles, isolated from Uncaria callophylla, gambirine which is an alkaloid unique to this plant, has been found to be another hypotensive principle from the plant. Intravenous injections of gambirine in the dose range of 0.2 to 10.0 mg/kg caused a dose-related fall in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as heart rate. At all doses gambirine showed a prompt onset of action and at the higher doses (5.0-10 mg/kg), marked persistence of hypotension accompanied by severe bradycardia were observed. In addition, higher doses of gambirine produced a more marked decrease in diastolic than systolic pressure while at lower doses both decreased equally. It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of gambirine may be peripheral in origin and is associated, at least in part, with a cardiac action. Registry Numbers: 29472-77-3 (gambirine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS***** Aquino R De Feo V De Simone F Pizza C Cirino G Plant metabolites. New compounds and anti-inflammatory activity of Uncaria tomentosa. In: J Nat Prod (1991 Mar-Apr) 54(2):453-9 ISSN: 0163-3864 Bioassay-directed fractionation of the anti-inflammatory extracts of Uncaria tomentosa, using the carrageenan-induced edema in rat paw, has led to the isolation of a new quinovic acid glycoside 7 as one of the active principles. Furthermore, a new triterpene 8 was isolated as its methyl ester. The structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical studies. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Aquino R De Simone F Vincieri FF Pizza C Gacs-Baitz E New polyhydroxylated triterpenes from Uncaria tomentosa. In: J Nat Prod (1990 May-Jun) 53(3):559-64 ISSN: 0163-3864 Three novel polyhydroxylated triterpenes have been isolated from Uncaria tomentosa. Their structures were established as 1, 2, and 3 by detailed spectral studies including 1H-13C correlations via long range couplings using the INAPT pulse sequence, nOeds, and 2D 1H-13C direct chemical shift correlation (HETCOR) nmr techniques. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Aquino R De Simone F Pizza C Conti C Stein ML Plant metabolites. Structure and in vitro antiviral activity of quinovic acid glycosides from Uncaria tomentosa and Guettarda platypoda. In: J Nat Prod (1989 Jul-Aug) 52(4):679-85 ISSN: 0163-3864 A reinvestigation of the bark of Uncaria tomentosa afforded, in addition to the major quinovic acid glycosides 1-3, three further glycosides 4-6. The structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical studies. Furthermore, a series of antiviral tests were performed on all these glycosides and on the related glycosides 7-9, previously isolated from Guettarda platypoda. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY***** Kanatani H Kohda H Yamasaki K Hotta I Nakata Y Segawa T Yamanaka E Aimi N Sakai S The active principles of the branchlet and hook of Uncaria sinensis Oliv. examined with a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor binding assay. In: J Pharm Pharmacol (1985 Jun) 37(6):401-4 ISSN: 0022-3573 Of the alkaloids obtained from Uncaria sinensis Oliv., geissoschizine methyl ether, corynantheine and dihydrocorynantheine decreased specific [3H]5-HT binding to membrane preparations from rat brain and from in-vitro experiments on guinea-pig ileum, these alkaloids were found to be partial agonists for 5-HT receptors. Therefore, they might be useful in the treatment of diseases resulting from disorders of 5-HT metabolism. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY***** Watano T Nakazawa K Obama T Mori M Inoue K Fujimori K Takanaka A Non-competitive antagonism by hirsuteine of nicotinic receptor- mediated dopamine release from rat pheochromocytoma cells. In: Jpn J Pharmacol (1993 Apr) 61(4):351-6 ISSN: 0021-5198 Effects of hirsuteine, an indole alkaloid extracted from Uncaria genus, on nicotine- and high K-induced responses were investigated in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Hirsuteine (300 nM-10 microM) inhibited dopamine release evoked by 100 microM nicotine in a concentration-dependent manner. Hirsuteine did not produce a parallel shift of the concentration-response relationship curve for nicotine, but reduced maximal dopamine release. Dopamine release evoked by 60 and 155 mM KCl was also inhibited by hirsuteine, but the concentration necessary for significant inhibition was higher (more than 10 microM). Under whole cell voltage-clamp, hirsuteine reversibly inhibited inward currents activated by 100 microM nicotine. The current inhibition was slightly accelerated by hyperpolarization. The results suggest that hirsuteine non- competitively antagonizes nicotine-evoked dopamine release by blocking ion permeation through nicotinic receptor channel complexes. The blockade of Ca channels, which are activated during nicotine- evoked depolarization, may not play a major role in the antagonism. Registry Numbers: 18904-54-6 (hirsuteine) 51-61-6 (Dopamine) 54-11-5 (Nicotine) 56-65-5 (Adenosine Triphosphate) 7440-09-7 (Potassium) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****LIFE SCIENCES***** Horie S Yano S Aimi N Sakai S Watanabe K Effects of hirsutine, an antihypertensive indole alkaloid from Uncaria rhynchophylla, on intracellular calcium in rat thoracic aorta. In: Life Sci (1992) 50(7):491-8 ISSN: 0024-3205 The effects of hirsutine, an indole alkaloid from Uncaria rhynchophylla (MIQ.) Jackson, on cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]cyt) were studied by using fura-2-Ca2+ fluorescence in smooth muscle of the isolated rat aorta. Noradrenaline and high K+ solution produced a sustained increase in [Ca2+]cyt. Application of hirsutine after the increases in [Ca2+]cyt induced by noradrenaline and high K+ notably decreased [Ca2+]cyt, suggesting that hirsutine inhibits Ca2+ influx mainly through a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel. Furthermore, the effect of hirsutine on intracellular Ca2+ store was studied by using contractile responses to caffeine under the Ca(2+)-free nutrient condition in the rat aorta. When hirsutine was added at 30 microM before caffeine treatment, the agent slightly but significantly reduced the caffeine-induced contraction. When added during Ca2+ loading, hirsutine definitely augmented the contractile response to caffeine. These results suggest that hirsutine inhibits Ca2+ release from the Ca2+ store and increases Ca2+ uptake into the Ca2+ store, leading to a reduction of intracellular Ca2+ level. It is concluded that hirsutine reduces intracellular Ca2+ level through its effect on the Ca2+ store as well as through its effect on the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel. Registry Numbers: 51-41-2 (Norepinephrine) 58-08-2 (Caffeine) 7440-70-2 (Calcium) 7729-23-9 (hirsutine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Kuramochi T Chu J Suga T Gou-teng (from Uncaria rhynchophylla Miquel)-induced endothelium- dependent and -independent relaxations in the isolated rat aorta. In: Life Sci (1994) 54(26):2061-9 ISSN: 0024-3205 Gou-teng is a drug used for treatment of hypertension in Chinese medicine. Its antihypertensive action has been previously confirmed in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Here, its vasorelaxing effect and the mechanisms of actions were studied in vitro. Gou-teng extract (GTE) relaxed the norepinephrine (NE)-precontracted aortic ring preparations isolated from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) with and without intact endothelium; the latter was significantly less sensitive than the former. The GTE-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) in a dose-dependent manner while indomethacin did not affect the relaxation. Atropine inhibited the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation but did not the GTE-induced one. Furthermore, once GTE was applied, the following NE-induced contraction was significantly reduced even after repeated washout. NMMA effectively reduced and rather reversed this residual effect of GTE. From these results, it is concluded that GTE relaxes the NE- precontracted rat aorta through endothelium-dependent and, to lesser extent, -independent mechanisms. The endothelium-dependent component would be mediated by EDRF/NO pathway in which the muscarinic cholinoceptors were not involved. Thus, GTE appears to be a potent and long-lasting vasodilator mainly through EDRF/NO release. Registry Numbers: 17035-90-4 (omega-N-Methylarginine) 51-41-2 (Norepinephrine) 51-55-8 (Atropine) 51-84-3 (Acetylcholine) 7004-12-8 (Arginine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****NEUROPHARMACOLOGY***** Liu J Mori A Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Gastrodia elata Bl. and Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks. In: Neuropharmacology (1992 Dec) 31(12):1287-98 ISSN: 0028-3908 Gastrodia elata Bl. (GE) and Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks (UR) are two traditional Chinese medicinal herbal drugs, used for the treatment of convulsions and epilepsy. Their antioxidant effects in vivo and their free radical scavenging effects in vitro were investigated. Epileptogenic foci in the lateral brain of the rat were induced by the injection of ferric chloride into the lateral cortex. Both extracts significantly inhibited the increase in levels of lipid peroxide in the ipsilateral cortex, at all times observed. In addition, the two extracts also induced an early increase of activity of superoxide dismutase in the mitochondrial fraction of the ipsilateral cortex. In in vitro experiments, the two extracts exhibited significant dose-dependent scavenging effects on free radicals, using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These results suggest that the proposed antiepileptic effects of GE and UR may be attributable to the antioxidant activity of the active components in these two medicinal herbs. Registry Numbers: EC 1.15.1.1 (Superoxide Dismutase) 7705-08-0 (ferric chloride) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****NIPPON YAKURIGAKU ZASSHI. FOLIA PHARMACOLOGICA JAPONICA***** Ozaki Y [Vasodilative effects of indole alkaloids obtained from domestic plants, Uncaria rhynchophylla Miq. and Amsonia elliptica Roem. et Schult] In: Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi (1990 Feb) 95(2):47-54 ISSN: 0015-5691 (Published in Japanese) Vasodilative effects of hirsutine (HS) and hirsuteine (HST) which were isolated from the domestic plant Uncaria rhynchophylla Miq. and beta-yohimbine (beta-Y) which was isolated from the domestic plant Amsonia elliptica Roem. et Schult. were carried out. In the hind-limb artery of anesthetized dogs, intra-arterial administration of HS, HST and beta-Y caused a vasodilatation. The vasodilative potency of HS was somewhat stronger than that of HST, and the potency of both alkaloids was approximately equal to that of papaverine. The vasodilative effect of beta-Y was similar to that of yohimbine, which is considered to be derived from its alpha-adrenoceptor blocking effect, and the potency of both alkaloids was approximately the same, while the effect of beta-Y was stronger than that of papaverine. In the coronary artery, HS showed a vasodilatation and its potency was weaker than that of papaverine. Also, HS showed the same effect in the cerebral artery, and the potency of HS was approximately the same as that of papaverine. These results suggest that the mode of the vasodilative effect induced by HS may partly differ from that of papaverine. Registry Numbers: 146-48-5 (Yohimbine) 18904-54-6 (hirsuteine) 7729-23-9 (hirsutine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Ozaki Y [Pharmacological studies of indole alkaloids obtained from domestic plants, Uncaria rhynchophylla Miq. and Amsonia elliptica Roem. et Schult] In: Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi (1989 Jul) 94(1):17-26 ISSN: 0015-5691 (Published in Japanese) Pharmacological studies on hirsutine (HS), hirsuteine (HST), rhynchophylline (RP), isorhynchophylline (IRP) and dihydrocorynantheine (DCT) which were isolated from the domestic plant Uncaria rhynchophylla Miq. and beta-yohimbine (beta-Y) which was isolated from the domestic plant Amsonia elliptica Roem. et Schult. were carried out. These alkaloids showed a mild central depressive effect in mice, a week non-competitive anti-spasmodic action in the mouse intestine, and a hypotensive effect in rats. Since beta-Y showed alpha-adrenoceptor blocking action, the hypotensive effect of beta-Y may be partly due to the vasodilative effect induced by its alpha-adrenoceptor blocking action. HS and beta- Y showed a preventive effect on the development of gastric erosions in mice. HS had antiarrhythmic effects on both aconitine-induced arrhythmias in mice and ouabain-induced arrhythmias in guinea pigs. The potency of the antiarrhythmic effects induced by HS was approximately the same as that of ajmaline, an indole alkaloid. Since HS did not show beta-adrenoceptor blocking action, the antiarrhythmic effects of HS would not be due to its beta-adrenoceptor blocking effect. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHYTOCHEMISTRY***** Yepez AM de Ugaz OL Alvarez CM De Feo V Aquino R De Simone F Pizza C Quinovic acid glycosides from Uncaria guianensis. In: Phytochemistry (1991) 30(5):1635-7 ISSN: 0031-9422 From the bark of Uncaria guianensis, two new quinovic acid glycosides, quinovic acid 3 beta-O-beta-D-quinovopyranoside and quinovic acid 3 beta-O-beta-D-fucopyranosyl-(27----1)-beta-D- glucopyranosylester, have been isolated, in addition to known quinovic acid 3 beta-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D- fucopyranosyl]-(27----1)- beta-D-glucopyranosylester and quinovic acid 3 beta-O-beta-D-fucopyranoside. Their structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical studies. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Yano S Horiuchi H Horie S Aimi N Sakai S Watanabe K Ca2+ channel blocking effects of hirsutine, an indole alkaloid from Uncaria genus, in the isolated rat aorta. In: Planta Med (1991 Oct) 57(5):403-5 ISSN: 0032-0943 Ca2+ channel blocking activity of hirsutine and its pharmacological features were studied. Hirsutine (10(-6) to 3 x 10(-5) M) produced a dose-dependent relaxation of the isolated rat aorta contracted by norepinephrine and high K+ concentration. This effect was exhibited in the aorta strips with or without the endothelium, suggesting an involvement of vasodilative mechanisms not dependent on the endothelium. Hirsutine also inhibited the contractions induced by serotonin and Ca2+ channel activator YC-170, but not by Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The pA2 value of hirsutine was 6.6 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- S.E.; n = 4) in antagonizing cumulative dose-response curve for Ca2+ in the depolarized aorta strips. It is concluded that hirsutine apparently exhibits Ca2+ channel blocking activity mainly through inhibition of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx. Registry Numbers: 21829-25-4 (Nifedipine) 50-67-9 (Serotonin) 51-41-2 (Norepinephrine) 52665-69-7 (Calcimycin) 59946-73-5 (YC 170) 7440-09-7 (Potassium) 7729-23-9 (hirsutine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****SIDAHORA***** Steinberg PN [Cat's Claw: an herb from the Peruvian Amazon] Una de Gato: una hierba prodigiosa de la selva humeda Peruana. In: Sidahora (1995 Apr/May):35-6 (Published in Spanish) Uncaria tomentosa, also known as cat's claw, an herb from the highlands of the Peruvian Amazon, has been used by natives for hundreds of years to treat immunologic and digestive disorders. Research began in the 1970s to discover the benefits of this plant in relieving symptoms of cancers, arthritis, and other ailments. It has the ability to cleanse the digestive tract, aiding victims of Crohn's, colitis, gastritis and more. In a 1989 study by Klaus Keplinger, several alkaloid oxidants found in the plant's roots showed an ability to stimulate the immune system. The principal alkaloids are isopteropodine and rynchophyiline. Extracts of cat's claw mixed with AZT in an experimental drug, called Krallendom, were effective in reducing symptoms in AIDS patients in Austria. The plant has been useful in reducing secondary effects of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer victims as well. Registry Numbers: 30516-87-1 (Zidovudine) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****YAO HSUEH HSUEH PAO [ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA]***** Liu HM Jiang Z Feng XZ [New oxindole alkaloid glycosides from Uncaria sinensis] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1993) 28(11):849-53 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) Two 16-carboxy derivatives of pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids and its glucopyranosyl esters have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Uncaria sinensis (Olive.) Havil. These structures were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and chemical correlations, and named mitraphyllic acid (I), isomitraphyllic acid (II), isomitraphyllic acid (16-1)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (III) and mitraphyllic acid (16-1)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (IV). Registry Numbers: 10126-00-8 (mitraphyllic acid) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€