• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1992

Higenamine is an Aconiti tuber derived compound whose chemical structure is 1-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)-6, 7-dihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline containing catechol ring and tetrahydroisoquinoline nucleus in its own structure, both of which are well known to have agonistic effects on adrenergic receptors. Using guinea-pig atria(rich in ${\beta}_1$-receptor) and treachea(rich in ${\beta}_2$-receptor), we studied pharmacological actions of higenamine on these organs with special interest of its relevancy of ${\beta}$-receptor selectivity. In order to further clarify its pharmacological characteristics, the influncences of pretreatment of reserpine or cocaine were also investigated. The results were summarized as follows : 1. Higenamine had remarkable chronotropic, inotropic and bronchodilator effects in guinea-pig spontaneously beating right atria, left atria and trachea, in dose-dependent manners. 2. All of above actions were blocked competitively by propranolol, which shows nonselectivity of higenamine on ${\beta}$-receptor. $pA_2$ values of propranolol against higenamine were 7.93, 7.76 and 8.46 in guinea-pig right atria, left atria and treachea, respectively. 3. Reserpine pretreatment(5mg/kg, ip, 24h) did not show my decrease in pharmacological actions of higenamine, which suggests higenamine has direct action on ${\beta}$-receptor not via catecholamine release. 4. Cocaine pretreatment$(1{\mu}M)$ had no influence on pharmacological actions of higenamine in contrast with nor epinephrine, which suggests there is no neuronal uptake mechanism of higenamine in the studied organ preparations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.217-217
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• 1994

Calcium entry blockers, capable of inhibiting transmembrane influx of extracellular calcium through specific calcium channels, are useful drugs in the treatment of angina pectoris, hypertension, cardiac arrythmia, and various cardiovascular disorders. Compounds having isoquinoline structures have recently been reported to possess calcium antagonistic action. Therefore, in the present study, we have attempted to synthesize some isoquinoline and related compound.; in order to search for potentially effective chemicals acting on cardiovascular system, and evaluated their pharmacological properties focusing on calcium antagonistic actions. Almost all of the compounds so far synthesized, had inhibitory action against phenylephrine or high potassium-induced contraction in vascular smooth muscle with different degrees of potencies depending on their structures, However, some of tetrahydroisoquinoline analogs showed directly inhibit calcium current in isolated rabbit cardiac myocytes examined by patch clamp techniques. The pharmacological properties of these compounds need more intensive investigation as to whether these chemicals may have developed as a new cardiovascular active drugs. Therefore, we are now under investigation of the mechanism of action of these compounds.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.3421-3424
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• 2011

The endogenous neurotoxin, 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (salsolinol), has been considered a potential causative factor for the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we examined oxidative modification of neurofilament-L (NF-L) induced by salsolinol. When disassembled NF-L was incubated with salsolinol, the aggregation of protein was increased with the concentration of sasolinol. The formation of carbonyl compound was obtained in salsolinol-mediated NF-L aggregates. This process was protected by free radical scavengers, such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine and glutathione. These results suggest that the aggregation of NF-L is mediated by salsolinol via the generation of free radicals. We also investigated the effects of copper ion on salsolinol-mediated NF-L modification. In the presence of copper ions, salsolinol enhanced the modification of NF-L. We suggest that salsolinol might be related to abnormal aggregation of NF-L which may be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and related disorders.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.132-135
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• 1982

Three phenolic alkaloid compounds (A,B,C) were isolated from the roots of Thalictrum uchiyamai Nakai (Ranunculaceae). Compound A, a colorless crystalline substance $mp168^{\circ}$, $C_{11}H_{15}NO_2$ was identified to be corypalline (6-methoxy-7-hydroxy-N-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) which has been reported by Wu from Thalictrum rugosum. Compound B, $mp166^{\circ}$ and Compound C, $mp164^{\circ}$ were shown aromatic rings by UV, IR spectra and chiral center by CD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2013

Methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (salsolinol), an endogenous neurotoxin, is known to perform a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we evaluated oxidative modification of cytochrome c occurring after incubation with salsolinol. When cytochrome c was incubated with salsolinol, protein aggregation increased in a dose-dependent manner. The formation of carbonyl compounds and the release of iron were obtained in salsolinol-treated cytochrome c. Salsolinol also led to the release of iron from cytochrome c. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and iron specific chelator inhibited the salsolinol-mediated cytochrome c modification and carbonyl compound formation. It is suggested that oxidative damage of cytochrome c by salsolinol might induce the increase of iron content in cells, subsequently leading to the deleterious condition which was observed. This mechanism may, in part, provide an explanation for the deterioration of organs under neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.44-44
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• 1993

Rat 기관 평활근에서 GS 283은 Carbachol에 의한 수축을 용량 의존적으로 억제시켰으며 특히 $Ca^{2＋}$-free 용액에서 G5 283은 농도에 비례하여 $Ca^{2＋}$에 의한 수축을 억제 시켰으며, 전형적인 $Ca^{2＋}$ 길항제인 Verapamil도 유사한 효과를 나타내었으나 GS 283보다 강력하였다. GS 283은 칼슘 길항 효과 이외에도 약하지만 Antihistamine 및 Antimuscarine작용도 가지고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 한편 Rat 대동맥에서 GS 389는 Phenylephrine(PE)에 의한 수축을 용량 의존적으로 억제시켰으며 $Ca^{2＋}$-free 용액에서 PE에 의한 수축과 KCI에 의한 수축율 모두 억제시켰다. 이러한 결과는 GS283과 GS 389는 $Ca^{2＋}$에 길항적용이 있음을 암시하며 특히 수용체를 통한 $Ca^{2＋}$-channel과 세포막의 voltage를 통한 $Ca^{2＋}$-channel을 모두 억제함을 강력히 시사한다. 향후 in vivo model에 대한 이들 약물의 효과를 연구해 보아야 할 것으로 생각하며 이러한 효과가 직접 $Ca^{2＋}$-channel에 대한 작용인지 또는 GS화합물이 cyclic nucleotide를 증가시키는 효과가 있어서 이로 인한 2차적 작용인지를 더욱 밝혀야 할것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 1994

Pharmacological characterization of GS 283, a tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative has been elucidated using rat thoracic aorta, guinea pig tenea coli and rabbit mesentery artery in vitro. GS 283 showed calcium antagonistic action in vascular smooth muscle, since high $K^+-induced$ contraction was concentration dependently inhibited. GS 283 also inhibited the contraction induced by ${\alpha}_1$ receptor activation. Vasodilating action of GS 283 was not modified by the propranolol, indicating that GS 283 has no ${\beta}$ receptor stimulatory action. Simultaneous measurement of intracellular calcium change and muscle tension indicated that the inhibitory effect of GS 283 was accompanied by the increase in tissue fluorescence. This increment was not due to fura 2 fluorescence but to endogenous pyridine nucleotide, suggesting that GS 283 has an effect to inhibit mitochondrial function. GS 283 had an inhibitory action on cyclic AMP and GMP-dependent phosphodiesterases from rat brain with Ki values of 2.5 and 6.7 mM. From these findings we concluded that GS 283 has multiple action such as the inhibition of cyclic nucleotide-dependent phosphodiesterases, blocking of calcium channel as well as inhibition of mitochondrial function which are responsible for vasodilatation.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.30-33
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• 2001

Salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, SAL), a dopaminergic isoquinoline neurotoxin, has been implicated to contribute the etiology of Parkinson's disease and neuropathology of chronic alcoholism. In our previous results, SAL was reported to have the mutagenicity and clastogenicity not in bacteria but in mammalian cells, and its genotoxic potential was known to be potentiated in the presence of rat liver S-9 fraction. This may indicate that some metabolite(s) of SAL was involved in the mutagenic potentials. To investigate the SAL metabolites, the metabolism studies of SAL were conducted in vitro rat liver S-9 fraction and in vivo using rats by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The methylated metabolite of SAL was found in urine of rats, while the same methylating form of metabolite was not produced from the in vitro metabolism system using rat liver S-9 fraction.

• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 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.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 1994

Higenamine is a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid which was isolated as a cardiotonic principle from Aconiti tuber. 1.v. injection of higenamine was reported to increase the cardiac output and heart rate and to decrease the blood pressure and the systemic vascular resistance presumably by stimulating the adrenergic ${\beta}-receptors$. The anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effects of higenamine were investigated in this paper. Higenamine(0.5 mg/ml) showed mild inhibitory effect against collagen induced platelet aggregation in vitro and the inhibito교 effect was increased with the pre-incubation$(5{\sim}30\;min)$ of platelet rich plasma(PRP) with higenamine. With the 30 min incubation, the platelet aggregation was almost completely inhibited. And the oral administration of higenamine$(50{\sim}200\;mg/kg)$ enhanced the survival in the mouse model of thrombosis and that of endotoxic shock. The anti-thrombotic and anti-septic effects of higenamine thus appear to be due to the ${\beta}-agonistic$ and the anti-platelet effects of this compound.