€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ARZNEIMITTEL-FORSCHUNG***** Patnaik GK Kohler E Pharmacological investigation on asclepin--a new cardenolide from Asclepias curassavica. Part II. Comparative studies on the inotropic and toxic effects of asclepin, g-strophantin, digoxin and digitoxin). In: Arzneimittelforschung (1978) 28(8):1368-72 ISSN: 0004-4172 The cardiac effects of asclepin, a new glycoside from the plant Asclepias curassavica, were studies in vitro (isolated atrium and heart of guineapig) and in vivo (anaesthetized cat) and were compared with g-strophanthin, digoxin, digitoxin, or digitoxigenin, resp. Asclepin showed a marked positive inotropic effect as evidenced by the increase in the force of contraction, measured by (dp/dt)max and (formula: see text). It was found to be more active than the other glycosides. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA***** Brockbank WJ Lynn KR Purification and preliminary characterization of two asclepains from the latex of Asclepias syriaca L. (milkweed). In: Biochim Biophys Acta (1979 May 23) 578(1):13-22 ISSN: 0006-3002 Two groups of asclepains have been isolated from Asclepias syriaca L. (milk-weed) latex and a representative of each has been purified. Asclepains A3 and B5 are homogeneous proteins with molecular weights of 23 000 and 21 000, respectively. Both require a reducing and chelating agent for maximum activity and hydrolyze ester, amide and peptide bonds. The optimum pH for hydrolysis of casein is 7.5 to 8.5 for asclepain A3 and 7.0 to 7.5 for asclepain B5. Both enzymes are autolytic when active and are inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, iodoacetic acid and sodium tetrathionate. Asclepains A3 and B5 each contain one titratable SH group per molecule and no bound carbohydrate. Each of the two enzymes has leucine as the N-terminal amino acid. There are notable differences in their amino acid compositions. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN***** Koike K Bevelle C Talapatra SK Cordell GA Farnsworth NR POTENTIAL ANTICANCER AGENTS. V. CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES OF ASCLEPIAS ALBICANS (ASCLEPIADACEAE) In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1980) 28(2):401-405 ISSN: 0009-2363 The cytotoxic activity of the Californian milkweed Asclepias albicans S Wats was shown by silica gel chromatography of 1 chloroform-soluble extracts and monitoring with cultured KB (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma) cells to be due principally to the constituent uzarigenin. Chromatography also revealed two additional active constituents: desglycouzarin and a new glycoside formed by the union of cellobiose and uzarigenin was active at concentrations of 1-3.5 ug/ml when tested in vitro against the KB cells, and the uzarigenin-cellobiose isolated was active at 15-60 mg/kg when tested in vivo against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice. (17 Refs) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Abe F Mori Y Okabe H Yamauchi T Steroidal constituents from the roots and stems of Aclepias fruticosa. In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1994 Sep) 42(9):1777-83 ISSN: 0009-2363 Steroidal constituents from the roots and stems of Asclepias fruticosa L. were investigated separately. From the roots, twelve pregnane pentaosides and uzarigenin beta-sophoroside were isolated together with three known coroglaucigenin and corotoxigenin glycosides. Pregnane glycosides were composed of ikemagenin or kidjolanin as an aglycone, and D-digitoxose, D-cymarose, D-oleandrose and terminal D-glucose as component sugars. Among the constituents from the stems, cardenolides show a similar pattern to those from leaves. 17 alpha-Hydroxycalactin and 17 alpha-hydroxyafroside were newly obtained along with known doubly linked and normally linked glycosides. Two pregnane glycosides and uzarigenin beta-sophoroside obtained from the roots were also isolated. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Warashina T Noro T Steroidal glycosides from Asclepias fruticosa L. In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1994 Feb) 42(2):322-6 ISSN: 0009-2363 Five novel steroidal glycosides 2-6 were isolated from the whole plant of Asclepias fruticosa L. (Asclepiadaceae). The structures of these steroidal glycosides were determined on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. All of these glycosides contain 2,6- dideoxyhexopyranoses as component sugars and their structures were elucidated as polyoxypregnane-type glycosides, which have lineolon as the aglycone moiety. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CIBA FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM***** Jain SK Ethnobotany and research on medicinal plants in India. In: Ciba Found Symp (1994) 185:153-64; discussion 164-8 ISSN: 0300-5208 Vast ethnobotanical knowledge exists in India from ancient time. Since the 1950s the study of ethnobotany has intensified; 10 books and 300 papers have been published. Our work over four decades, both in the field and literary studies, has resulted in a dictionary of Indian folk-medicine and ethnobotany that includes 2532 plants. India has about 45,000 plant species; medicinal properties have been assigned to several thousand. About 2000 figure frequently in the literature; indigenous systems commonly employ 500. Despite early (4500-1500 BC) origins and a long history of usage, in the last two centuries Ayurveda has received little official support and hence less attention from good medical practitioners and researchers. Much work is now being done on the botany, pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmacology and biotechnology of herbal drugs. The value of ethnomedicine has been realized; work is being done on psychoactive plants, household remedies and plants sold by street drug vendors. Statistical methods are being used to assess the credibility of claims. Some recent work in drug development relates to species of Commiphora (used as a hypolipidaemic agent), Picrorhiza (which is hepatoprotective), Bacopa (used as a brain tonic), Curcuma (antiinflammatory) and Asclepias (cardiotonic). A scrutiny of folk claims found 203 plants for evaluation. Less well known ethnomedicines have been identified that are used to treat intestinal, joint, liver and skin diseases. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Kelley BD Appelt GD Appelt JM Pharmacological aspects of selected herbs employed in hispanic folk medicine in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, USA: II. Asclepias asperula (inmortal) and Achillea lanulosa (plumajillo). In: J Ethnopharmacol (1988 Jan) 22(1):1-9 ISSN: 0378-8741 Interviews with Hispanic families in the San Luis Valley of Colorado revealed that several herbs, including Asclepias asperula (inmortal) and Achillea lanulosa (plumajillo), are popular ingredients in Hispanic folk medicine preparations. A review of the scientific literature indicates that related species of Asclepias asperula and Achillea lanulosa contain pharmacologically active compounds; these data serve as the focal point for continuing ethnopharmacologic investigation at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MYCOSES***** Giordani R Moulin-Traffort J Regli P Glycosidic activities of Candida albicans after action of vegetable latex saps (natural antifungals) and isoconazole (synthetic antifungal). In: Mycoses (1991 Jan-Feb) 34(1-2):67-73 ISSN: 0933-7407 Glycosidic activities have been examined in Candida albicans grown on medium culture containing latex sap (natural antifungal) or isoconazole (synthetic antifungal). The different types of utilized latex sap were those of Lactuca sativa (latex exuded from articulated laticifers) and Asclepias curassavica (latex flowing from non- articulated laticifers). The same enzyme assays were performed on C. albicans grown without antifungal compounds. Except for alpha- arabinosidase, all glycosidase activities were increased when C. albicans was grown in medium supplemented with L. sativa latex sap. The most stimulated activities were those of beta-fucosidase, alpha- galactosidase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase, alpha- and beta- mannosidase, acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase. The presence of A. curassavica latex sap in culture medium produced similar results: the most stimulated activities were those of alpha-mannosidase, alpha- galactosidase, acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-fucosidase. Electron microscope observations suggested a correlation between this stimulation of glycosidic activities and the fungal cell wall breakdown. For comparison the presence of isoconazole in culture medium yields no increase in glycosidic activities and no ultrastructural modification of fungal cell wall. The mode of action of latex saps in cell wall breakdown is discussed. Registry Numbers: EC 3.2.1. (Glycoside Hydrolases) 22916-47-8 (Miconazole) 27523-40-6 (isoconazole) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Moulin-Traffort J Giordani R Regli P Antifungal action of latex saps from Lactuca sativa L. and Asclepias curassavica L. In: Mycoses (1990 Jul-Aug) 33(7-8):383-92 ISSN: 0933-7407 Asclepias curassavica and Lactuca sativa latex saps inhibit the growth of Candida albicans because they degrade a great number of yeasts. This was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations. After a contact of 4 h and 6 h yeasts are deformed and emptied of their cytoplasmic content. Moreover, it appears that these saps, particularly Asclepias, also act on the cell wall: the substances presumed to be responsible for these effects were probably terpens and cardenolids but also enzymes, in particular glucanases. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHYTOCHEMISTRY***** Warashina T Noro T Steroidal glycosides and cardenolide glycosides from Asclepias fruticosa. In: Phytochemistry (1994 Sep) 37(1):217-26 ISSN: 0031-9422 Asclepias fruticosa afforded, in addition to five known pregnane glycosides and 11 known cardenolide glycosides, four new pregnane glycosides and eleven new cardenolide glycosides. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and from chemical evidence. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€