• 대한임상독성학회지
• /
• 제5권1호
• /
• pp.67-70
• /
• 2007

Aconitum is an extremely dangerous plant that contains various toxic diterpenoid alkaloids, primarily concentrated in the roots. We report a case of acute intoxication of a 60-year-old man admitted to our emergency department after ingestion of a large amount of homemade aconitine decoction. At presentation about one hour after intake, the patient was unconscious and electrocardiographic analysis showed a ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Several times defibrillation was applied and antiarrhythmic agents were administered, but the patient still exhibited a refractory ventricular fibrillation and failed to return to spontaneous circulation. Sustained cardiopulmonary resuscitation finally produced a pulsatile cardiac rhythm at two hours after intake. The patient was discharged from our hospital on day 8. The authors stress that clinicians must be aware of the possible occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in cases of aconitine intoxication and be prepared to persist with prolonged CPR as necessary.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.249-256
• /
• 2011

Tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix Scop.) is resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses through a symbiotic relationship with Neotyphodium coenophialum. However, this endophyte has been considered detrimental since it produces toxic alkaloids to animals. It is vital to understand mutuality between these two to maximize positive impact of the endophyte on agri-ecosystem. Little research has been conducted on endophyte transmission mechanism in planta. To provide basic information related to endophyte transmission, an experiment was conducted to examine the effect of endophyte genotype and water stress on endophyte transmission by imposing soil moisture deficits at different stages of panicle development. There was water stress effect on endophyte frequency but not on concentration, whereas endophyte genotype significantly influenced endophyte concentration in pseudostem of tall fescue at boot stage. Reproductive tillers showed greater endophyte frequency and concentration. Endophyte frequency in florets or seeds depended on position within panicle. There was no drought effect on endophyte concentration, but showed the effect of endophyte genotype on endophyte concentration in florets and seeds. Overall endophyte concentration in seeds was higher. From this study, we may conclude that although water stress reduced endophyte frequency in vegetative tiller, water stress does not have effect on endophyte transmission, suggesting that drought is not an important factor controlling the endophyte transmission from plant to seed. Endophyte genotype and seed position in a panicle affected endophyte transmission, indicating that these two factors are involved in endophyte transmission and may determine seed transmission of endophyte in tall fescue.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.41-45
• /
• 1980

It has long teen known in herbal medicine that the mugwort not only exerts a strong hemostatic and parasiticidal actions but also has therapeutic effects for stomachache and diarrhea. In recent pharmaceutical botany the mugwort is known to have antipyretic and astringent actions also. Among the major principles which have been found in the leaves and stems of mugwort are inulin, alkaloids, vitamines, and esestial oil. It is well known that santonin, one of the well known parasiticides, is one of the glucosides extracted from the limited species of mugwort. The present study was undertaken to investigate effects of mugwort(Artemisia asiatica Nakai) on the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum. The results obtained are as follows: At does of 0.2%, 0.5% and 1. 0% AAJ(Artemisia asiatica juice) markedly enhanced contractility of isolated duodenum and tonus of the intestine was also augmented with doses of 0.5% and 1.0%. The augmentative effect of AAJ on intestinal motility was not affected by pretreatment with epinephrine and avil while it was completely abolished by atropine. Therefore it is strongly suggested that augmentative action of AAJ on duodenal motility was exerted solely through muscarinic cholinergic receptors.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.141-145
• /
• 2012

Zizyphi spinosi semen (Z. spinosi) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and wounds. However, toxicity in high doses was often observed due to the presence of alkaloids. This study was conducted to investigate the potential genotoxicity of Z. spinosi in vitro and in vivo. This was examined by the Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA, Chromosomal aberration was investigated using Chinese hamster lung cells and the micronucleus test using mice. Z. Spinosi did not induce mutagenicity in the Ames test, and it did not produce chromosomal aberration in Chinese hamster lung cells with and without metabolic activation, nor in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow cells in mice. Based on these results, it is concluded that Z. spinosi does not have mutagenic potential under the conditions examined in each study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.539-542
• /
• 2007

Glycosyltransferase family 1 (UOT) uses small chemicals including phenolics, antibiotics, and alkaloids as substrates to have an influence in biological activities. A glycosyltransferase (XcGT-2) from Xanthomonas campestris was cloned and consisted of a 1,257 bp open reading frame encoding a 45.5 kDa protein. In order to use this for the modification of phenolic compounds, XcGT-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. With the E. coli transformant expressing XcGT-2, biotransformation of flavonoids was carried out. Flavonoids having a double bond between carbons 2 and 3, and hydroxyl groups at both C-3' and C-4', were glycosylated and the glycosylation position was determined to be at the hydroxyl group of C-3', using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These results showed that XcGT-2 regiospecifically transferred a glucose molecule to the 3'-hydroxyl group of flavonoids containing both 3' and 4'-hydroxyl groups.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2005

O-methylation mediated by O-methyltransferases (OMTs) is a common modification in natural product biosynthesis and contributes to diversity of secondary metabolites. OMTs use phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, other phenolics and alkaloids as substrates, and share common domains for S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and substrate binding. We searched Arabiposis genome and found 17 OMTs genes (AtOMTs). AdoMet- and substrate-binding sites were predicted. AdoMet binding domain of AtOMTs is highly conserved, while substrate-binding domain is diverse, indicating use of different substrates. In addition, expressions of six AtOMT genes in response to UV and in different tissues were investigated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. All the AtOMTs investigated were expressed under normal growth condition and most, except AtOMT10, were induced after UV illumination. AtOMT1 and AtOMT8 were expressed in all the tissues, whereas AtOMT10 showed flower-specific expression. Analysis of these AtOMT gene expressions could provide some clues on AtOMT involvement in the cellular processes.

• Plant Resources
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2003

Higenamine [1-(4-hydroxy-6, 7-dihydroxy-l, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is a cardiotonic constituent of Aconiti tuber, one of the most widely prescribed oriental medicines. S-(-)higenamine was reported to have a stronger cardiotonic activity than R-(+)-higenamine and known as a central intermediate in the biosynthesis of various benzyl isoquionoline alkaloids in plants. The separation of higenamine enantiomers has been accomplished with capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors. Good resolution of this enantiomers was obtained using a 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer containing hydroxypropyl $\beta$-CDs using 27 cm fused silica capillary (50${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ i.d., 20 cm to detector) at 25 $^{\circ}C$. With the electric field of 340 V/cm, the separation time of higenamine enantiomers was less than 6 min. Under this optimum conditions, the relative standard deviations of migration time and peak area were less than 1.6% and 3.2%. A 512-channel diode array detector was confirmed for the higenamine. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of these enantiomers are $1.5mutextrm{m}$/mL. We confirmed the chiral form of higenamine in medicinal plants.

• 한국약용작물학회지
• /
• 제12권5호
• /
• pp.366-371
• /
• 2004

Aconitine alkaloids produced from cell suspension cultures of Aconitum napellus for the first time. The effects of various culture conditions on cell biomass and aconitine accumulation in cell suspension cultures were investigated. Suspension cell cultures of A. napellus were established by transferring callus tissues from leaf explants onto liquid MS medium supplemented with $1\;mg/l$ NAA and $0.1\;mg/l$ kinetin. Among the culture media tested, MS medium had a pronounced effect on cell growth and aconitine accumulation. The maximum dry cell weight was obtained at inoculum size of 3 g (FCW) per flask and in MS medium supplemented with 5% sucrose after 8 weeks. The addition of salicylic acid (SA) and yeast extract (YE) in the MS medium enhanced aconitine accumulation. Using a proper combination of culture condition and supplements, aconitine content could reach 0.043% (dry weight basis), that was $2.5{\sim}3$ fold higher that detected in control cultures.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2009

Medicinal herbs are significant source of synthetic and herbal drugs. In the commercial market, medicinal herbs are used as raw drugs, extracts or tinctures. Isolated active constituents are used for applied research. For the last few decades, phytochemistry (study of plants) has been making rapid progress and herbal products are becoming popular. According to Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, the classical texts of Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita were written around 1000 B.C. The Ayurvedic Materia Medica includes 600 medicinal plants along with therapeutics. Herbs like turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, garlic and holy basil are integral part of Ayurvedic formulations. The formulations incorporate single herb or more than two herbs (poly-herbal formulations). Medicinal herb contains multitude of chemical compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, resins, oleoresins, sesquiterpene, lactones and oils (essential and fixed). Today there is growing interest in chemical composition of plant based medicines. Several bioactive constituents have been isolated and studied for pharmacological activity. R. cordifolia is an important medicinal plant commonly used in the traditional and Ayurvedic system of medicine for treatment of different ailments. This review illustrates its major constituents, pharmacological actions substantiating the claims made about this plant in the traditional system of medicine and its clinical applications.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제20권4호
• /
• pp.262-268
• /
• 2014

Rutaecarpine is one of the major alkaloids present in the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. In this study, rutaecarpine was evaluated, both in vitro and in vivo, for its hepatoprotective properties against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced cytotoxicity, reduced the expression of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$), and induced the expression of bcl-2. To evaluate its in vivo effects, animal models with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis were utilized. Levels of liver tissue injury-associated enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were monitored. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) were measured as markers of the protective effects on hepatic fibrosis. The AST and ALT levels in blood were greatly enhanced by TAA and completely blunted by rutaecarpine. Rutaecarpine led to the down-regulation of $TGF-{\beta}$ and Bax mRNA expression, as well as the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ mRNA levels. In conclusion, rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis by inducing the expression of Bcl-2 while blocking $TGF-{\beta}1$ in our TAA-intoxicated model.