• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.202-208
• /
• 1989

The photochemical reaction of harmaline and N-methylmaleimide has been investigated by spectroscopic methods. A photoproduct was isolated from the irradiation mixture of harmaline and N-methylmaleimide. Spectroscopic results suggested that the amine group of harmaline was added photochemically to the double C=C bond of N-methylmaleimide. This synthesized harmaline derivative has a biological toxicity, because it inhibits the growth of some yeasts and photosynthetic bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.345-353
• /
• 1995

${\beta}-Carboline$ alkaloids including harmaline have been shown to inhibit enzymatically or nonenzymatically induced-lipid peroxidation of microsomes. This study was done to explore the antioxidant ability of harmaline and harmalol on the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and collagen by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$. Their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species were also examined. Harmaline, harmalol, superoxide dismutase, catalase and DMSO inhibited both degradation of hyaluronic acid by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxidation of microsomes by $Fe^{2+}$. In these reactions, DABCO inhibited degradation of hyaluronic acid but did not affect lipid peroxidation. ${\beta}-Carbolines$ inhibited degradation of cartilage collagen by $Fe^{2+}$, $H_2O_2$ and ascorbic acid. The reduction of ferricytochrome c due to autoxidation of $Fe^{2+}$, which is inhibited by superoxide dismutase, was not affected by harmaline and harmalol. They also did not have a decomposing action on $H_2O_2$. Hydroxyl radical production in the presence of $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ was inhibited by harmaline, harmalol and DMSO. Harmaline and harmalol may inhibit the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and cartilage collagen by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ through their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species, OH and probably iron-oxygen complexes and exert antioxidant abilities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.112-120
• /
• 1999

The protective actions of ambroxol, rutin, glutathione and harmaline on oxidative damages of various tissue components were compared. The mechanisms by which they prevent oxidative tissue damages were explored. Lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes induced by combinations of $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate or $Fe^{+3}$, ADP and NADPH was inhibited by $50\; \muM$ of rutin, ambroxol, harmaline and glutathione. Ambroxol ($100\; \muM$) inhibited the degradation of hyaluronic acid by $Fe^{2+}$, $H_2O$_2$ and ascorbate, and it was greater than that of harmaline, whereas hyaluronic acid degradation was not prevented by rutin and glutathione. The compounds used ($100\; \muM$) did not protect the degradation of cartilage collagen by xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Rutin, glutathione and harmaline decreased the degradation of IgG by xanthine and xanthine oxidate, while ambroxol did not attenuate degradation of IgG. Glutathione showed a scavenging action on $H_2O_2$. The compounds all showed scavenging actions on hydroxyl radical. Ambroxol and harmaline exhibited quenching effects en singlet oxygen. In conclusion, ambroxol, rutin, glutathione and harmaline may exert protective effects differently on tissue components against oxidative attack depend on kind of tissue component and free radical.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.12
• /
• pp.824-829
• /
• 2010

Melanin synthesis is regulated by melanocyte specific enzymes and related transcription factors. $\beta$-carboline alkaloids including harmaline and harmalol are widely distributed in the environment including several plant families and alcoholic beverages. Presently, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were increased in melanoma cells by harmaline and harmalol in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Increased protein levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2 were also evident. In addition, immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses revealed harmaline and harmalol increased cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression. In addition to studying the signaling that leads to melanogenesis, roles of the p38 MAPK pathways by the harmaline and harmalol were investigated. Harmaline and harmalol induced time-dependent phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Harmaline and harmalol stimulated melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, as well as expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 and TRP-2 indicating that these harmaline and harmalol induce melanogenesis through p38 MAPK signaling.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2010

This study is intended to examine the motor skill learning and treadmill exercise on motor performance and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar injured rats by harmaline. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 15 rats to each group. Group I was a normal control group(induced by saline); Group II was a experimental control group(cerebellar injured by harmaline); Group III was a group of motor skill learning after cerebellar injured by harmaline; Group IV was a group of treadmill exercise after cerebellar injured by harmaline. In motor performance test, the outcome of group II was significantly lower than the group III, IV(especially group III)(p<.001). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of dendrities and nucleus of cerebellar neurons. Group III, IV were decreased in degeneration of cerebellar neurons(especially group III). In immunohistochemistric response of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex, experimental groups were decreased than group I. Group III's expression of synaptophysin was more increased than group II, IV. In electron microscopy finding, the experimental groups were degenerated of Purkinje cell. These result suggest that improved motor performance by motor skill learning after harmaline induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.285-287
• /
• 1991

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.152-158
• /
• 2002

The present study elucidated the effect of $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) on brain mitochondlial dysfunction caused by the tyrosinase-induced oxidation of dopamine. Harmaline, harmalol and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase) attenuated the dopamine-induced alteration of membrane potential, cytochrome c release and thiol oxidation in mitochondria. In contrast, antioxidant enzymes failed to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction induced by dopmnine plus tyrosinase. $\beta$-Carbolines decreased the damaging effect of dopamine plus tyrosinase against mitochondria, except no effect of harmalol on thiol oxidation. Antioxidant enzymes decreased the melanin formation from dopamine in the reaction mixture containing mitochondria but did not reduce the formation of dopamine quinone caused by tyrosinase. Both harmalol and harmaline inhibited the formation of reactive quinone and melanin. Harmalol being more effective for quinone formation and vise versa. The results indicate that compared to MAO-induced dopamine oxidation, the toxic effect of dopamine in the presence of tyrosinase against mitochondria may be accomplished by the dopamine quinone and toxic substances other than reactive oxygen species. $\beta$-Carbolines may decrease the dopamine plus tyrosinase-induced brain mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibition of the formation of reactive quinone and the change in membrane permeability.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.143-147
• /
• 2005

The simultaneous determination of harman, harmaline and norharman has been described using synchronous fluorescence technique. The method has been based on their natural fluorescence. It is difficult to analyze and determine their contents by conventional fluorescence method because of their similar molecular structures. The synchronous spectrum, maintaining a constant wavelength difference of ${\Delta}{\lambda}=185nm$ between the excitation and emission monochromators, was selected as optimum to perform the determination. The method was also performed in aqueous medium at pH 4.0 and in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), $1{\times}10^{-5}M$. Under the optimum conditions, each analyte has the linear determination range of $1{\times}10^{-7}M-\;1{\times}10^{-4}M$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.160-161
• /
• 1993

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.243-250
• /
• 2009

In the present study, a simple one medium formulation protocol for callus culture, somatic embryogenesis and in vitro production of ${\beta}-carboline$ alkaloids and diosgenin in Tribulus terrestris L. was developed. Extensive callus induction and proliferation was obtained in leaf explant on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with $5.0{\mu}M$ 6 benzyl adenine (BA) and $2.5{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}-naphthaleneacetic$ acid (NAA). The embryogenic callus was maintained on subculture to fresh parental medium at 4-week intervals over a period of 28 months. The frequency of embryo formation was at a maximum ($18.1{\pm}0.9$ per g of callus) on MS medium containing $5.0{\mu}M$ BA and $2.5{\mu}M$ NAA together with $75mg\;1^{-1}$ casein hydrolysate. Globular embryo developed into torpedo stage embryo under the influence of starvation. The accumulation of ${\beta}-carboline$ alkaloids (harmaline and harmine) and steroidal saponin (diosgenin) in non-embryogenic and embryogenic callus culture derived from leaf explant was compared with root, leaf, stem, and fruit of the mother plant. The embryogenic callus accumulated equivalent amounts of harmaline ($66.4{\pm}0.5{\mu}g/g$ dry weight), harmine ($82.7{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/g$ dry weight), and diosgenin ($170.7{\pm}1.0{\mu}g/g$ dry weight) to that of the fruit of T. terrestris. The embryogenic callus culture of this species might offer a potential source for production of important pharmaceuticals.