101: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1997 Sep-Oct;92(5):657-9
Photodegradation of the molluscicidal
latex of "crown-of-thorns" (Euphorbia milii var hislopii).
Oliveira Filho EC, Paumgartten FJ.
Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Escola Nacional de Saude Publica,
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
102: Braz J Med Biol Res
1997 Nov;30(11):1325-32
Study of the embryofeto-toxicity of
Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii) latex, a natural molluscicide.
Souza CA, de-Carvalho RR, Kuriyama SN, Araujo IB,
Rodrigues RP, Vollmer RS, Alves EN, Paumgartten FJ.
Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Escola Nacional
de Saude Publica, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The crude latex of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii
var. hislopii) is a potent plant molluscicide and a promising alternative to
the synthetic molluscicides used in schistosomiasis control. The present study
was undertaken to investigate the embryofeto-toxic potential of E. milii latex.
The study is part of a comprehensive safety evaluation of this plant
molluscicide. Lyophilized latex (0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in corn
oil was given by gavage to Wistar rats (N = 100) from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy
and cesarean sections were performed on day 21 of pregnancy. The numbers of
implantation sites, living and dead fetuses, resorptions and corpora lutea were
recorded. Fetuses were weighed, examined for external malformations, and fixed
for visceral examination, or cleared and stained with Alizarin red S for
skeleton evaluation. A reduction of body weight minus uterine weight at term
indicated that E. milii latex was maternally toxic over the dose range tested.
No latex-induced embryolethality was noted at the lowest dose (125 mg/kg) but
the resorption rate was markedly increased at 250 mg/kg (62.5%) and 500 mg/kg
(93.4%). A higher frequency of fetuses showing signs of delayed ossification
(control: 17.4%; 125 mg/kg: 27.4% and 250 mg/kg: 62.8%; P < 0.05 vs control)
indicated that fetal growth was retarded at doses > or = 125 mg latex/kg body
weight. No increase in the proportion of fetuses with skeletal anomalies was
observed at the lowest dose but the incidence of minor skeletal malformations
was higher at 250 mg/kg body weight (control: 13.7%; 125 mg/kg: 14.8%; 250
mg/kg: 45.7%; P < 0.05 vs control). Since a higher frequency of minor
malformations was noted only at very high doses of latex which are embryolethal
and maternally toxic, it is reasonable to conclude that this plant molluscicide
poses no teratogenic hazard or, at least, that this possibility is of a
considerably low order of magnitude.
103: Contact Dermatitis
1998 Feb;38(2):113-4
Contact dermatitis due to Euphorbia
pulcherrima Willd, simulating a phototoxic reaction.
Massmanian A.
Dermatology Department, Hospital Universitario La Fe,
Valencia, Spain.
104: Am J Trop Med Hyg
1998 Jan;58(1):7-10
The molluscicidal activity of Crown
of Christ (Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii) latex on snails acting as
intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium.
Schall VT, de Vasconcellos MC, de Souza CP, Baptista DF.
Department of Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute,
FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The present study describes the action of the latex of
Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii (E. milli) on species of the genus Bulinus
and on Biomphalaria pfeifferi, intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis in Africa,
and the Brazilian snails B. glabrata, B. tenagophila, and B. straminea,
intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis in Brazil. The impact of the latex on the
egg masses and embryos of B. glabrata was also evaluated. Using the
standardized methodology of the World Health Organization for testing
plant-derived molluscicides, we obtained a 90% lethal dose (LD90) ranging from 0.13
ppm for B. glabrata subjected to lyophilized latex to 4.0 ppm for B. pfeifferi
tested with the natural latex. This material has proved to be one of the most
potent and specific plant molluscicides discovered thus far, presenting
advantages in terms of application so that it could be used in programs
involving community participation in endemic areas in both Brazil and Africa.
105: J Urol 1997
Dec;158(6):2093-6
Comment in: J
Urol. 1997 Dec;158(6):2097.
Urodynamic effects of intravesical resiniferatoxin
in humans: preliminary results in stable and unstable detrusor.
Lazzeri M, Beneforti P, Turini D.
Department of Urology, University of Ferrara, Firenze,
Italy.
PURPOSE: Resiniferatoxin, a substance isolated from
some species of euphorbia, a cactus-like plant, presents pharmacological
effects similar to those of capsaicin. We studied the urodynamic effects of
intravesical resiniferatoxin* in normal subjects and patients with unstable
detrusor contraction to provide insight into the action mechanism of the
molecule on sensory neurons and possible future pharmacological and clinical
use.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 subjects with
normal (8 patients) or unstable detrusor muscle (1 with detrusor instability
and 6 with detrusor hyperreflexia) underwent urodynamic assessment during and
after intravesical instillation of resiniferatoxin. Volume required to elicit
the first desire to void, maximum bladder capacity and maximum bladder pressure
were recorded during instillation of resiniferatoxin at a flow rate of 20 ml.
per minute (normal subjects) or 15 minutes after instillation of 30 cc of a
saline solution containing 10(-8) M. of resiniferatoxin and kept for 30 minutes
in patients with unstable detrusor. The experiment was examined by the analysis
of variance for repeated measures and post hoc comparisons were performed by
Tukey-Kramer procedure. A p value <0.05 was accepted as significant.
RESULTS: Resiniferatoxin did not decrease the volume
required to elicit the first desire to void and did not produce warm or burning
sensations at the suprapubic/urethral level during infusion in subjects with
normal detrusor function. In patients with bladder hyperactivity mean bladder
capacity increased from 175.28 ml. plus or minus standard deviation 36.05 to
280.85 ml. plus or minus standard deviation 93.33 (p <0.01) immediately
after treatment, and no significant modification of bladder pressure was
recorded. Four weeks after treatment, bladder capacity remained increased in 2
patients but mean capacity did not increase significantly from 175.28 ml. plus
or minus standard deviation 36.053 to 216.71 plus or minus standard deviation
86.91. The 2 patients with stable increase of bladder capacity reported
significant clinical improvement of frequency, nocturia and incontinence 4
weeks later. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in humans there may be
substantial differences in urodynamic effects between resiniferatoxin and
capsaicin when the drugs are instilled into the bladder. Further studies, in
vitro and in vivo, are necessary to define the pharmacological and clinical
effects of resiniferatoxin. Because resiniferatoxin did not produce warm or
burning sensations at the suprapubic/urethral level during infusion and seems
to have rapid desensitization, it could be an interesting alternative to
intravesical capsaicin in the treatment of select cases of bladder
hyperactivity.
106: Mol Biochem Parasitol 1997 Oct;89(1):51-9
Characterisation of the two malate
dehydrogenases from Phytomonas sp. Purification of the glycosomal isoenzyme.
Uttaro AD, Opperdoes FR.
Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Catholic
University of Louvain ICP-TROP/74.39, Brussels, Belgium.
Two NAD(H)-dependent malate dehydrogenase (MDH)
isoenzymes were detected in Phytomonas isolated from the lactiferous tubes of
Euphorbia characias. The total specific activity in crude extracts using
oxaloacetate as substrate was 3.3 U mg-1 of protein. The two isoenzymes had
isoelectric points of 6.0 and 7.2, respectively. The acidic isoform represented
80% of the total activity in the cell and was present in the glycosome. It was
purified to homogeneity by a method involving hydrophobic interaction
chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose followed by ionic exchange on CM-Sepharose
and affinity chromatography on Blue-Sepharose. The purified glycosomal MDH is a
homodimeric protein with a subunit molecular mass of 37 kDa and it has a low
substrate specificity, since it was able to reduce both aromatic and aliphatic
alpha-ketoacids as substrate including oxaloacetate, phenyl pyruvate,
alpha-keto iso-caproate and pyruvate. The apparent K(m)s for oxaloacetate and
NADH were 166 and 270 microM, respectively and for L-malate and NAD+, 3000 and
246 microM, respectively. The basic isoform was present in the mitochondrion.
It has a high substrate specificity and an apparent K(m) of 132 and 63 microM
for oxaloacetate and NADH, respectively, and of 450 and 91 microM,
respectively, with L-malate and NAD+.
107: Vet Hum Toxicol
1997 Aug;39(4):248-9
Plant exposures ... a national
profile of the most common plant genera.
Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen
TD.
Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Plant exposures are the 4th most common cause of
poisoning and 85% of those exposures involve the pediatric population. The
large number of plant-related exposures and the lack of knowledge about plant
toxicity has led to plant paranoia and considerable educational efforts to
reduce the number of exposures. These efforts are often dictated by
misconceptions and folklore. American Association of Poison Control Centers
(AAPCC) data on all plant exposures for the years 1985-1994 were electronically
analyzed by plant genus to establish a frequency distribution of all plant
exposures in the United States. A total of 912,534 plant exposure cases were
analyzed to tabulate the top 100 plant exposures. Philodendron spp were the
most common exposures, followed by Dieffenbachia spp, Euphorbia spp, Capsicum
spp and Ilex spp. Plant exposures are very common and poison information
centers devote significant clinical service and educational effort to manage
these exposures and enhance the public's awareness. Awareness of specific plant
species and exposure frequency in a poison center region can serve as a basis
for staff education and as the cornerstone for the development of appropriate
information in poison prevention and education brochures. This can direct
better utilization of poison center financial resources.
108: Br J Ophthalmol
1997 Jun;81(6):518
Comment on: Br
J Ophthalmol. 1996 Sep;80(9):823-6.
Euphorbia sap keratouveitis.
Eke T.
109: J Pharm Pharmacol
1997 May;49(5):573-6
Analysis of rabbit vascular responses
to DBI, an ingol derivative isolated from Euphorbia canariensis.
Miranda FJ, Alabadi JA, Perez P, Orti M, Centeno JM, Yuste A, Sanz-Cervera
JF, Marco JA, Alborch E.
Department of Physiology, University of Valencia,
Spain.
We have analysed the effects of 7,12-O-diacetyl-8-O-benzoil-2,3-diepiingol
(DBI), an ingol derivative isolated from E. canariensis, on isometric tension
developed by isolated rabbit basilar and carotid arteries.
Concentration-response curves to DBI (10(-8) - 3 x 10(-5) M) were obtained cumulatively
in both arteries at resting tension and active tone (KCI, 50 mM). At resting
tension, DBI induced a concentration-dependent contraction, which was not
inhibited in Ca(2+)-free medium. H7 (1-(5-isoquinoline
sulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dichloride) (10(-4) M) inhibited the DBI-induced
contraction both in basilar and in carotid arteries. Calmidazolium (10(-4) M)
inhibited the maximum contraction of the carotid artery to DBI, and completely
abolished the response in the basilar artery. In pre-contracted basilar
arteries DBI induced a concentration-dependent relaxation that was not modified
by incubation with NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG; 10(-5) M) or indomethacin
(10(-5) M). In the carotid artery with active tone DBI induced further
contractions, which were not significantly modified by L-NOARG (10(-5) M) and
were potentiated by indomethacin (10(-5) M). These results suggest that DBI
contracts rabbit basilar and carotid arteries by a mechanism that is
independent of extracellular Ca2+ and involves the participation both of
protein kinase C and of calmodulin. DBI relaxes basilar but not carotid
arteries by a mechanism independent of the liberation of nitric oxide and
prostacyclin. In the carotid artery prostacyclin but not nitric oxide partially
counteracts the contractile action of DBI.
110: Mol Biochem Parasitol 1997 Apr;85(2):213-9
Purification and characterisation of
a novel iso-propanol dehydrogenase from Phytomonas sp.
Uttaro AD, Opperdoes FR.
Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Catholic
University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
An alcohol dehydrogenase with two identical subunits
and a subunit molecular mass of 40,000 was purified from Phytomonas sp.
isolated from the lactiferous tubes of Euphorbia characias. Digitonin titration
and subcellular fractionation suggest that the enzyme is present in the
mitochondrion. It utilises as substrates, primary and secondary alcohols, is
specific for NAD+ as coenzyme and is inhibited by HgCl(2). The pH optimum for
the oxidation of ethanol is 9.5, and for the reverse reaction 8.5. The apparent
Km values for iso-propanol and ethanol are 40 and 34 microM, respectively and
for the reverse reaction, with acetone as substrate, 14 microM. The respective
specific activities with iso-propanol and ethanol as substrate, as measured in
crude extracts are 300 and 16 mU (milligram of protein)-1. In isoelectric
focusing the enzyme showed three major bands with slightly differing
isoelectric points that ranged from 6.4 to 6.8. The name, iso-propanol
dehydrogenase is proposed for this enzyme.
111: Nat Biotechnol
1997 Feb;15(2):178-82
Phytoplasma induced free-branching in
commercial poinsettia cultivars.
Lee IM, Klopmeyer M, Bartoszyk IM, Gundersen-Rindal
DE, Chou TS, Thomson KL, Eisenreich R.
Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA ARS,
Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. imlee@asrr.arsusda.gov
Free-branching poinsettia cultivars that produce
numerous axillary shoots are essential for propagating desirable multi-flowered
poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. Klotz). For more than a decade, a
biological agent has been suspected to cause free-branching in poinsettias.
Attempts to identify the branching agent have failed. Isolation of the pathogen
was accomplished using a living host and it was concluded that an unculturable
phytoplasma is the cause of free-branching in poinsettias. This is the first
reported example of a pathogenic phytoplasma as the causal agent of a desirable
and economically important trait.
112: Life Sci
1997;60(10):681-96
Euphorbium: modern research on its
active principle, resiniferatoxin, revives an ancient medicine.
Appendino G, Szallasi A.
Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Universita degli Studi di
Torino, Italy.
Resiniferatoxin, an ultrapotent capsaicin analog
present in the latex of Euphorbia resinifera, interacts at a specific membrane
recognition site (referred to as the vanilloid receptor), expressed by primary
sensory neurons mediating pain perception as well as neurogenic inflammation.
Desensitization to resiniferatoxin is a promising approach to mitigate
neuropathic pain and other pathological conditions in which sensory
neuropeptides released from capsaicin-sensitive neurons play a crucial role.
Clinical trials to evaluate the potential of topical resiniferatoxin treatment
to relieve pain associated with diabetic polyneuropathy and postherpetic
neuralgia are in progress. Though resiniferatoxin was isolated only two decades
ago, the dried latex of Euphorbia resinifera, called Euphorbium, has been in
medicinal use since the time of recorded history. This review highlights the
most important events in the history of this ancient medicine, from the first
written record of the therapeutic potential of Euphorbium (at the time of the
reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus) to the identification of its active
principle as resiniferatoxin in 1975. A brief overview of the enormous
contribution of resiniferatoxin to our current understanding of the anatomical
localization, function, and pharmacology of vanilloid receptors is provided.
Lastly, the mechanisms are summarized by which capsaicin and resiniferatoxin,
despite sharing receptors, may have dissimilar biological actions.
113: Braz J Med Biol Res
1996 Nov;29(11):1519-23
Tumor promoter-like activity of the
molluscicidal latex of 'Crown-of-Thorns'(Euphorbia milii var. hislopii) in the
V79 metabolic cooperation assay.
Cruz CM, Kasper P, Cataldo A, Zamith HP, Paumgartten
FJ.
Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Escola Nacional de
Saude Publica Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The latex of 'Crown-of-Thorns' (Euphorbia milii var.
hislopii, syn. E. splendens) has been shown to be a potent plant molluscicide
that could be used against the snails which are intermediate hosts of
Schistosoma trematodes. However, a comprehensive toxicological evaluation of
the latex is necessary before its large-scale use in schistosomiasis control
becomes possible. In fact, one cause for concern is the presence of
tumor-promoting phorbol esters in several plants of the Euphorbiaceae family.
Phorbol esters as well as a number of other known tumor promoters share the
common property of inhibiting metabolic cooperation (i.e., exchange of low
molecular weight molecules via gap junctions) between Chinese hamster V79 cells
in monolayer cultures. The present study was undertaken to determine if latex
of E. milii presents tumor promoter-like activity is this short-term in vitro
assay. Samples of lyophilized E. milii latex were tested at a noncytotoxic
concentration range (1, 10, 50 and 100 micrograms/ml) in three independent
experiments. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (10 ng/ml) was used as
positive control. In all three assays, E. milii latex consistently inhibited
metabolic cooperation between V79 cells at concentrations > or = 10
micrograms/ml. These results that E. milii latex contains tumor-promoting
substances. These findings suggest that the use of crude latex as a
molluscicide may pose a carcinogenic hazard to people who are continuously
exposed to the product.
114: J Nat Prod
1996 Nov;59(11):1051-5
Constituents from the stem wood of
Euphorbia quinquecostata with phorbol dibutyrate receptor-binding inhibitory
activity.
Mbwambo ZH, Lee SK, Mshiu EN, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
Bioassay-guided fractionation of an EtOAc extract of
the stem wood of Euphorbia quinquecostata using a phorbol dibutyrate
receptor-binding assay system as a monitor yielded four inhibitory isolates
(1-4), inclusive of one new compound, 17-hydroxyingenol 20-hexadecanoate (1),
and three previously known compounds, ingenol 20-hexadecanoate (2), ent-16
alpha,17-dihydroxyatisan-3-one (3), and ent-3 beta,16 alpha,17-trihydroxyatisane
(4). Also isolated from this extract were 10 constituents inactive in this
bioassay, namely, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-3-methylacetophenone (5), a new
structure, and nine known compounds identified as ent-13S-hydroxyatis-16-ene-3,
14-dione; 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenone (xanthoxylin);
2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-3-methylacetophenone; 6-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin;
lupeol acetate; beta-sitosterol; sitosterol beta-D-glucopyranoside;
6,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin; and 3,3',4'-tri-O-methyl-4-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl
(1"'-->6")-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]ellagic acid. The structures of
compounds 1 and 5 were established by chemical and spectroscopic methods.
115: Am J Emerg Med
1996 Nov;14(7):671-4
Poinsettia exposures have good
outcomes...just as we thought.
Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen TD, Aronis JM.
Pittsburgh Poison Center, the Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh, and the Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh,
USA.
The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a much-maligned
plant which is thought by the public and some health professionals to be
extremely toxic. Despite pronouncements by public health officials to the
contrary, the poinsettia continues to be recognized as a poisonous plant. To
determine if there was any validity to the toxicity claims, 849,575 plant
exposures reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers were
electronically analyzed. Poinsettia exposures accounted for 22,793 cases and
formed the subset that was analyzed to critically evaluate the morbidity and
mortality associated with poinsettia exposures. There were no fatalities among
all poinsettia exposures and 98.9% were accidental in nature, with 93.3%
involving children. The majority of exposed patients (96.1%) were not treated
in a health care facility and 92.4% did not develop any toxicity related to
their exposure to the poinsettia. Most patients do not require any type of
therapy and can be treated without referral to a health care facility.
116: Bioorg Med Chem
1996 Oct;4(10):1679-83
New 19-acetoxyingol diterpenes from
the latex of Euphorbia poisonii (Euphorbiaceae).
Fatope MO, Zeng L, Ohayagha JE, McLaughlin JL.
Department of Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano,
Nigeria.
The poisonous latex of Euphorbia poisonii gave
bioactive 3,12-diacetyl-8-nicotinyl-7-phenylacetyl 19-acetoxyingol (1) together
with its less active congeners, 3,12-diacetyl-7-phenylacetyl 19-acetoxyingol
(2) and 3-acetyl-7-phenylacetyl 19-acetoxyingol (3). The chemical structures of
1-3 were determined by spectroscopic methods including HRMS, DEPT, HETCOR,
COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC. The absolute configurations of the hydroxylated
carbons in 2 and 3 were provisionally suggested by the Mosher ester method.
Bioactivity-guided isolation, structure determination and cytotoxic activity of
the new ingols are described.
117: Br J Ophthalmol
1996 Sep;80(9):823-6
Comment in: Br
J Ophthalmol. 1997 Jun;81(6):518.
Euphorbia sap keratopathy: four cases
and a possible pathogenic mechanism.
Scott IU, Karp CL.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of
Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33139, USA.
AIMS: To report four cases of Euphorbia sap causing
anterior segment toxicity.
METHODS: Medical records of four patients who presented
with Euphorbia sap keratoconjunctivitis were reviewed. Clinical findings were
compared with previously published reports.
RESULTS: All of these patients experienced a similar
clinical course. Initial contact with Euphorbia sap caused punctate epitheliopathy;
patients noted immediate burning and photophobia, but no visual loss. In all
cases, patients experienced epithelial slough with delayed healing, requiring
approximately 9 days to heal the epithelial defect. Patients were treated with
topical antibiotics, pressure patching or a bandage contact lens, and final
visual acuities were excellent in all cases. A review of the literature
revealed that Euphorbia sap contains a diterpenoid diester which exhibits
antineoplastic activity in rodents.
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who work with Euphorbia
plants should be cautioned to wear eye protection. Patients with Euphorbia sap
anterior segment toxicity should be informed that their condition may worsen
initially, but that visual outcome is generally excellent. The progressive
corneal epithelial sloughing and delayed corneal epithelial healing may be
secondary to the antineoplastic effects of Euphorbia sap.
118: Vet Hum Toxicol
1996 Aug;38(4):289-98
Plant exposures: a state profile of
the most common species.
Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen TD, Aronis JM.
Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Plant exposures are the fourth most common cause of
poisoning and 86% of those exposures involve the pediatric population. The
large number of plant-related exposures and the lack of knowledge about plant
toxicity has led to plant paranoia and considerable educational efforts to
reduce the number of exposures. These efforts are often dictated by
misconceptions and folklore. AAPCC TESS data on all plant exposures for the
years 1985-1994 were electronically analyzed by plant species and state to
establish a frequency distribution in the US. Aggregate national data was also
tabulated. A total of 912,534 plant exposures were analyzed to tabulate the top
30 plant exposures for each state. Philodendron species were the most common
exposures, followed by Dieffenbachia species, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Capsicum
annuum and Ilex species. There were considerable differences between states
relating to indoor vs outdoor plants and native vs introduced varieties. Plant
exposures are common and poison information centers devote significant clinical
service and educational effort to manage them and to enhance public awareness.
Recognition of specific plant species and exposure frequency in a poison center
region can be a basis for staff education and the development of appropriate
poison prevention education brochures. This can direct better utilization of
poison center's resources.
119: Planta Med
1996 Aug;62(4):322-5
Cytotoxic triterpenoids from the
leaves of Euphorbia pulcherrima.
Smith-Kielland I, Dornish JM, Malterud KE, Hvistendahl
G, Romming C, Bockman OC, Kolsaker P, Stenstrom Y, Nordal A.
Institute for Biochemistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
Two cytotoxic triterpenes have been isolated from
Euphorbia pulcherrima. Their structures and stereochemistry have been
established from NMR, IR, and EI-mass spectroscopy. The compounds were
identified as 9,19-cycloart-23-ene-3 beta,25-diol and, 9,19-cycloart-25-ene-3
beta,24-diol. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed using Ehrlich ascites tumor
cells. While cycloartenol induced no cytotoxic activity against Ehrlich ascites
tumor cells, both isolated triterpenes exhibited cell inactivating effects. The
IC50 is approximately 7.5 microM, while the IC90 is approximately 13.5 microM
for 9,19-cycloart-25-ene-3 beta,24-diol. The 3 beta,25-diol compound is 50%
less active.
120: Phytochemistry
1996 May;42(2):473-8
Aleppicatines A and B from Euphorbia
aleppica.
Oksuz S, Gurek F, Lin LZ, Gil RR, Pezzuto JM, Cordell
GA.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Istanbul, Turkey.
Two new pentacyclic diterpene polyesters, aleppicatine
A and B, have been isolated from the acetone extract of the whole plant of
Euphorbia aleppica, in addition to five known cycloartane-type triterpenes
(24-methylenecycloartanol, cyclolaudenol cycloart-25-en-3 beta-ol-24-one,
cycloart-22-en-3 beta,25-diol and cycloart-25-en-3 beta,24-diol), scopoletin, kaempferol
and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its methyl ether. The structures of the new
compounds and their hydrolysis products have been extensively characterized by
high-field NMR spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques.
121: Mutat Res
1996 May;368(1):15-20
Evaluation of the mutagenicity of the
molluscicidal latex of Christ's Crown (Euphorbia milii var. hislopii) in
mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo.
Zamith HP, Paumgartten
FJ, Speit G.
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, INCQS, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The latex of Christ's Crown (Euphorbia milii var.
hislopii, syn. E. splendens var. hislopii) is a highly active plant
molluscicide and could be used for snail control to reduce the prevalence of
schistosomiasis in endemic areas. In the course of its toxicological
evaluation, the mutagenicity of the latex of Euphorbia milii was tested in
mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. Latex was investigated for its capability
of inducing gene mutations and chromosome aberrations in V79 cells in the
absence and presence of S9-mix. Concentrations up to 800 micrograms/ml neither
induced gene mutations at the HPRT locus nor chromosome aberrations. Latex had
no effect on the frequencies of chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow of
male and female rats at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The results indicate that latex
of E. milii is not mutagenic in mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo and its
use as a molluscicide does not pose a mutagenic hazard for humans.
122: J Med Chem
1996 Feb 16;39(4):1005-8
Selectively cytotoxic diterpenes from
Euphorbia poisonii.
Fatope MO, Zeng L, Ohayaga JE, Shi G, McLaughlin JL.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana 49707, USA.
Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the latex of
Euphorbia poisonii Pax. (Euphorbiaceae) led to the isolation and
characterization of a new tigliane diterpene, 12-deoxyphorbol
13-(9,10-methylene)undecanoate (3), together with five known diterpenes
(1,2,4-6). When evaluated for cytotoxicity in a panel of six human solid tumor
cell lines, the diterpene esters, 1-3, 5, and 6, were selectively cytotoxic for
the human kidney carcinoma (A-498) cell line with potencies for 2 and 3
exceeding that of adriamycin by ten thousand times. Details of the isolations,
structural analyses, and cytotoxic activities are described.
123: Mol Biochem Parasitol 1996 Feb-Mar;76(1-2):43-56
An M(r) 145,000 low-density lipoprotein
(LDL)-binding protein is conserved throughout the Kinetoplastida order.
Bastin P, Stephan A, Raper J, Saint-Remy JM, Opperdoes
FR, Courtoy PJ.
Cell Biology Unit, Catholic University of Louvain and
International Institute of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Brussels, Belgium.
In view of the importance of the low-density
lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor in Trypanosoma brucei, we have examined whether
other bloodstream trypanosomes of medical and veterinary importance (T.b. rhodesiense,
T. equiperdum, T. vivax, T. congolense), but also related parasites developing
in mammalian (Leishmania donovani) and non-mammalian hosts (Crithidia luciliae
and Phytomonas sp. isolated from Euphorbia), would possess an LDL-receptor of
their own. (1) All these parasites specifically accumulate human 125I-LDL with
a relatively 2.5-fold higher rate for bloodstream trypanosomes. (2) A mixture
of monoclonal antibodies raised against T.b. brucei LDL-receptor inhibit
binding of LDL to all species but with different efficiency. (3) A single
glycoprotein of similar M(r) (gp145) is isolated by LDL-affinity chromatography
from all the above species, as well as from both human serum-resistant and
sensitive strain of T.b. rhodesiense, and from the bodonid member of the
Kinetoplastida Trypanoplasma borelli. (4) Several control experiments including
35S-metabolic labeling of procyclic T.b. brucei and of C. luciliae followed by
LDL-affinity chromatography or immunoprecipitation demonstrate that gp145 is
indeed synthesised by the parasites and is not a contaminant of the
experimental system. (5) In immunoblots and ELISA, these gp145 cross-react with
the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised against the LDL-receptor of
T.b. brucei, the highest degree of cross-reactivity being found among the
members of the Trypanozoon subgroup. (6) Finally, immunisation of mice with the
purified LDL-receptor from one strain of T.b. brucei is not sufficient to
confer durable protection against another strain of this parasite.
124: Biol Control
1996 Feb;57(3):105-13
Biology, Ecology, and Host
Specificity of European Aphthona spp. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Used as
Biocontrol Agents for Leafy Spurge, Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae), in North
America
Gassmann A, Schroeder D,
Maw E, Sommer G.
International Institute of Biological Control,
European Station, Delemont, CH-2800, Switzerland
Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is an herbaceous
perennial of European origin that was accidentally introduced into North
America where it has become a serious weed in pastures and rangelands. Five
species of root-feeding chrysomelid beetles in the genus Aphthona have been
released in North America for the biological control of leafy spurge. They
originate from central and eastern Europe and occur in different habitats. The
brown species, Aphthona cyparissiae, Aphthona flava, and Aphthona nigriscutis,
occur predominantly in open dry habitats, and the black species, Aphthona
czwalinai and Aphthona lacertosa, prefer moister habitats. All five species are
univoltine and overwinter as larvae. The host range of these five Aphthona
species is restricted to species in the subgenus Esula.
125: Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 1996;16(2):125-38
An investigation of some Turkish
herbal medicines in Salmonella typhimurium and in the COMET assay in human
lymphocytes.
Basaran AA, Yu TW, Plewa MJ, Anderson D.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara,
Turkey.
Medicinal plants play a major role in the life of Turkish
people and of late medicinal plant usage has increased in many countries. Green
plants in general contain mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, but there is
little information about the biological activities of herbal medicine. In the
present study, therefore, various Turkish medicinal herbs were investigated for
their genotoxic potential in the Salmonella typhimurium microsomal activation
assay and the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (COMET) assay. Extracts
from these medicinal herbs and some fractions of these extracts were examined.
The species investigated were Arctium minus, Ecballium elatterium, Momordica
charantia, Plantago major, Urtica dioica, Viscum album, Salvia triloba,
Euphorbia rigida, Stachys lavandulifolia, Acteoside, Abies nordmannia. They are
used for various immune disorders and are applied either topically or taken
orally as a herbal tea. Of the 19 samples of the extracts and fractions
investigated, none produced a positive response in strains TA98 and TA100 with
or without metabolic activation, but all produced an increase above negative
control values in the COMET assay. Some extracts were investigated further and
produced dose-related increases. In the case of Urtica and Euphorbia species,
where two fractions from these plants were examined, one fraction produced a
greater response than the other. It is suggested that the lesser response of
the fractions might be due to less DNA strand-breaking agents in the fractions
or they may have antigenotoxic properties. The breaks that are detected in the
COMET assay could be alkali-labile AP-sites and intermediates in base- or
nucleotide-excision repair and are difficult to interpret in terms of hazard
for man. Further studies with additional genotoxicity assays would be required to
make such a prediction.
126: J Ethnopharmacol
1995 Dec 1;49(2):115-8
Antibacterial effect of theaflavin,
polyphenon 60 (Camellia sinensis) and Euphorbia hirta on Shigella spp.--a cell
culture study.
Vijaya K, Ananthan S, Nalini R.
Department of Microbiology, University of Madras,
Taramani, India.
Antibacterial effect of compounds extracted from
Camellia sinensis L. and the methanol extract of Euphorbia hirta L. were
studied against dysentery causing Shigella spp. using the Vero cell line. Cytotoxicity
studies of the extracts were performed using the cell line and the
non-cytotoxic concentration of the extract was tested for antibacterial
activity against the cytopathic dose of the pathogen. These extracts were found
to be non-cytotoxic and effective antibacterial agents.
127: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1995 Dec;20(12):744-5, 764
[Chemical constituents of Euphorbia
hylonoma Hand. -Mazz]
[Article in Chinese]
Guo Z, Zhu R, Lu J, Li Y.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University.
Three compounds have been isolated from the root of
Euphorbia hylonoma and identified as 3,3',4-tri-O- methylellagic acid,
beta-sitosterol and sucrose by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The
compound 3,3'4-tri-O-methylellagic acid is discovered in Euphorbia for the
first time.
128: Biochem J
1995 Oct 15;311 ( Pt 2):495-503
The glycoinositol-phospholipids of
Phytomonas.
Redman CA, Schneider P,
Mehlert A, Ferguson MA.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Dundee,
Scotland, U.K.
The Phytomonas spp. are trypanosomatid parasites of
plants. A polar glycolipid fraction of a Phytomonas sp., isolated from the
plant Euphorbia characias and grown in culture, was fractionated into four
major glycolipid species (Phy 1-4). The glycolipids were analysed by chemical
and enzymic modifications, composition and methylation analyses, electrospray
mass spectrometry and microsequencing after HNO2 deamination and NaB3H4
reduction. The water-soluble headgroup of the Phy2 glycolipid was also analysed
by 1H NMR. All four glycolipids were shown to be glycoinositol-phospholipids
(GIPLs) with phosphatidylinositol (PI) moieties containing the fully saturated
alkylacylglycerol lipids 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-palmitoylglycerol and
1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-stearoylglycerol. The structures of the Phy 1-4 GIPLs are:
Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI, Glc alpha
1-2(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI,
[formula: see text] Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man
alpha 1-4(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)GlcN alpha 1-6PI [formula: see text] and Glc alpha
1-2Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2-CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha
1-4(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)-GlcN alpha 1-6PI. [formula: see text] The Phytomonas GIPLs
represent a novel series of structures. This is the first description of the
chemical structure of cell-surface molecules of this plant pathogen. The
Phytomonas GIPLs are compared with those of other trypanosomatid parasites and
are discussed with respect to trypanosomatid phylogenetic relationships.
129: J Ethnopharmacol
1995 May;46(2):73-93
The ethnopharmacology of Madeira and
Porto Santo Islands, a review.
Rivera D, Obon C.
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Facultad de
Biologia, Universidad de Murcia, Spain.
The ethnopharmacology of Madeira and Porto Santo
Islands is extremely interesting because of the cultural and biogeographic
features of this region, which make it a centre of medicinal plant diversity
(richness of endemic flora, geographical isolation in the Atlantic sea,
crosscultural influences, and past abundance of local healers). The medicinal
flora of Madeira is composed of 259 species. Some noteworthy medicinal taxa,
endemic or locally relevant, are: Acanthus mollis, Aeonium glandulosum, Aeonium
glutinosum, Bidens pilosa, Borago officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile var.
discoideum, Culcita macrocarpa, Echium nervosum, Euphorbia platiphylla,
Helichrysum melaleucum, Helichrysum obconicum, Hypericum glandulosum, Hypericum
humifussum, Kleinia repens, Laurus azorica, Monizia edulis, Ocotea foetens,
Psoralea bituminosa, Rubus bollei, Rumex maderensis, Sambucus lanceolata,
Scilla maderensis, Sedum brissemoretii, Sedum farinosum, Sedum nudum,
Sibthorpia peregrina, Teucrium betonicum, Thymus caespititius, Trifolium
squamosum and Vaccinium padifolium. Among the medicinal cryptogams, one can
underline the parasitic fungus Laurobasidium lauri, which grows on the stems of
Laurus azorica and is used as an antirheumatic, haemostatic, emmenagogue,
insecticide and analeptic.
130: Biochem Mol Biol Int 1995 May;35(6):1199-204
Purification and partial
characterization of a lectin from Euphorbia neriifolia latex.
Seshagirirao K, Prasad MN.
Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences,
University of Hyderabad, India.
A lectin was purified from Euphorbia neriifolia latex
to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B. The protein appears
to be a dimer with approximate M(r) of 60,000 on gel filtration and showing a
single band at M(r) 32,000 in SDS-PAGE, and contains 12.3% carbohydrate. It
agglutinated trypsinized human and rabbit erythrocytes, but not sheep
erythrocytes. However, sialidase-treated sheep erythrocytes were agglutinated.
The galactose and galactose containing sugars inhibited the heamagglutination with
increased beta-anomeric specificity. The Euphorbia lectin possesses mitogenic
activity with murine spleen lymphocytes but it does not inhibit protein
synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysate.
131: Br J Cancer
1995 Apr;71(4):776-9
Tumour promoter activity in Malaysian
Euphorbiaceae.
Norhanom AW, Yadav M.
Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University
of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
Herbal medication has been practised by the rural
Malaysian Malays for a long time. However, the long-term side-effects have
never been studied. In the present study, 48 species of Euphorbiaceae were
screened for tumour-promoter activity by means of an in vitro assay using a
human lymphoblastoid cell line harbouring the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome.
Twenty-seven per cent (13 out of 48) of the species tested were found to be
positive, and in four species, namely Breynia coronata Hk.f, Codiaeum
variegatum (L) Bl, Euphorbia atoto and Exocoecaria agallocha, EBV-inducing
activity was observed when the plant extracts were tested at low concentrations
of between 0.2 and 1.2 micrograms ml-1 in cell culture. This observation
warrants attention from the regular users of these plants because regular use
of plants with tumour-promoting activity could well be an aetiological factor
for the promotion of tumours among rural Malaysian Malays.
132: Phytochemistry
1995 Apr;38(6):1457-62
Four diterpene esters from Euphorbia
myrsinites.
Oksuz S, Gurek F, Gil RR, Pengsuparp T, Pezzuto JM,
Cordell GA.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Istanbul, Turkey.
The Turkish species Euphorbia myrsinites has yielded
four new tetracyclic diterpene tetraesters from a cytotoxic acetone extract, in
addition to the known cycloartane-type triterpenoids and betulin. The new
compounds and their hydrolysis product have been extensively characterized by
high field spectroscopic techniques, and were shown to be four new tetraesters
of the parent alcohol, myrsinol.
133: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1995 Mar-Apr;90(2):191-4
Effect of Niclosamide (Bayluscide WP
70), Anacardium occidentale hexane extract and Euphorbia splendens latex on
behavior of Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), under laboratory conditions.
Jurberg P, Sarquis O, dos Santos JA, Ferreira Rda C.
Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The repellent effect of the molluscicides Niclosamide
(Bayluscide WP 70), Anacardium occidentale and the latex of Euphorbia splendens
on Biomphalaria glabrata was observed through the investigation of the
occurrence of escape behavior among molluscs that were exposed to dosages lower
than the LD 50. The total number of individuals out of water among the
surviving snails in the control group provided a "Natural Escape Index".
The comparison between this total and the total number of surviving snails in
each group exposed to the different dosages of the molluscicides after 24 hr
provided the "Molluscicide Escape Index" and the detection of a
"Repellency Range" to these snails. The escape indexes for
Niclosamide, A. occidentale and E. splendens were 10%, 6.22% and 6.44%
respectively. Repellency occurred at the following concentration ranges: 0.01,
0.02 and 0.03 ppm Bayluscide, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ppm A. occidentale and 0.05, 0.10,
0.15 and 0.20 ppm E. splendens. The Natural Escape Index obtained in the
control group was zero.
134: J Nat Prod
1995 Mar;58(3):408-13
New myrsinol-related polyfunctional
pentacyclic diterpene esters from roots of
Euphorbia prolifera.
Wu D, Sorg B, Hecker E.
Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of
Science, People's Republic of China.
Five Euphorbia substances, SPr1-SPr5, were isolated
from the roots of Euphorbia prolifera. They were found to have similar
structures but were inactive in a mouse ear inflammation assay. By nmr analysis
and after single-crystal X-ray crystallography the structure of SPr5 was
established as a hexaester (tetraacetate-benzoate-propionate) of a hitherto
unknown polyfunctional pentacyclic diterpene parent alcohol, structurally
related to myrsinol. As judged from its nmr spectra, SPr4 is an analogue of
SPr5, carrying an isobutyrate substituent in place of a benzoate ester
functionality. SPr1-SPr3 were partially characterized by their mass spectra as
esters of diterpene parent alcohols possibly related to the myrsinol structure.
SPr1-SPr5 may represent one of the product lines branching off the proposed
main route of biogenesis of the oligocyclic diterpenoid skin irritants and
tumor promoters occurring in many, but not all, of the species in the plant
families Thymelaeaceae and Euphorbiaceae.
135: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1995 Mar;20(3):169-71, 192
[Chemical constituents of Euphorbia
nematocypha Hand.-Mazz.]
[Article in Chinese]
Zhao K, Liu S, Yang J, Li X, Xu G, Jin R, Xu L.
Beijing Medical College of PLA.
Four compounds were isolated from the roots of
Euphorbia nematocypha. Three of them were identified as
A'-neogammacer-22(29)-en-3 beta-ol (18 beta.21 alpha) (II), jolkinolide E (III)
and beta-sitoesterol (IV). Among them, II was obtained from the genus Euphorbia
and III from this plant for the first time.
136: Prep Biochem
1995 Feb-May;25(1-2):11-9
Fractionation and characterization of
two forms of peroxidase from Oryza sativa.
Padiglia A, Medda R, Pazzaglia G, Rescigno A, Cruciani E, Floris G.
Istituto di Chimica Biologica, Universita di Cagliari, Italy.
Peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.1.7., hydrogen donor
oxidoreductase) is widely distributed and has been isolated from many higher
plants (1). The wide distribution of the enzyme suggests that it could be of
great biological importance. However the role that it plays in metabolism is
not clear due to the large number of reactions it catalyzes and the
considerable number of isozymic species (2). In tomato plants, Evans and
Aldridge (3) separated out six isoperoxidases and in a later paper Evans
reported 12 isoperoxidases from tomato shoots (4). A homogeneous tomato fruit
peroxidase isozyme was obtained by Jen et al. (5) using hydrophobic chromatography.
Isozymes were not detected in Euphorbia characias peroxidase (6), in Ipomoea
batatas peroxidase (7) and in Hordeum vulgare peroxidase (8). The simultaneous
presence of Cu (II) amine oxidase and peroxidase in cell walls suggests that
the peroxide generated on oxidation of the amines could be utilized by the
peroxidase (6,8,9). In the graminea Oryza sativa, widely distributed, an FAD
amine oxidase is present that oxidizes diamines (10). In this plant we also
found two isoperoxidases called perox I and II. Only perox I was purified to
homogeneity and its enzymatic, physical and chemical properties have been
studied.
137: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1995 Jan;20(1):3-4
[A review of the processing of
Euphorbia kansui Liou]
[Article in Chinese]
Liang A.
Publication Types: Historical Article / Review /
Review, Tutorial
138: Can J Microbiol
1995;41 Suppl 1:14-21
Formation of novel
poly(hydroxyalkanoates) from long-chain fatty acids.
Eggink G, de Waard P, Huijberts GN.
Agrotechnological Research Institute (ATO-DLO),
Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) were isolated from
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 44T1 cultivated on euphorbia oil and castor oil. With
the aid of 2-D proton NMR spectra and proton-detected multiple bond coherence
NMR spectra the structures of the PHAs were determined. In addition to the
usual PHA constituents (C6-C14 3-hydroxy fatty acids), PHAs formed from
euphorbia oil contained delta 8,9-epoxy-3-hydroxy-5c-tetradecenoate, and
probably delta 6,7-epoxy-3-hydroxydodecanoate and delta
4,5-epoxy-3-hydroxydecanoate. These novel constituents account for
approximately 15% of the total amount of monomers and are clearly generated via
beta-oxidation of vernolic acid (delta 12,13-epoxy-9c-octadecenoic acid), the
main component of euphorbia oil. In PHAs formed from castor oil, 7% of the
monomers found were derived from ricinoleic acid (12-hydroxy-9c-octadecenoic
acid). The presence of 3,8-dihydroxy-5c-tetradecenoate was clearly
demonstrated. Furthermore, NMR analysis strongly suggested the presence of
3,6-dihydroxydodecanoate, 6-hydroxy-3c-dodecenoate, and 4-hydroxydecanoate.
139: Parasitol Res
1995;81(7):575-81
Isolation, in vitro culture,
ultrastructure study, and characterization by lectin-agglutination tests of
Phytomonas isolated from tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cherimoyas
(Anona cherimolia) in southeastern Spain.
Sanchez-Moreno M, Fernandez-Becerra C, Mascaro C, Rosales MJ, Dollet M,
Osuna A.
Instituto de Biotecnologia, Facultad de Ciencias,
Universidad de Granada, Espana.
Plants of Lycopersicon esculentum (grown in
greenhouses) and Anona cherimolia cultivated in southeastern Spain were
examined for the presence of trypanosomatid flagellates. Kinetoplastid protozoa
were found in the fruits but not in the phloem or other plant tissues.
Parasites were detected from the onset of fruiting. Isolates were detected from
the onset of fruiting. Isolates were adapted to in vitro culturing in monophase
media. The form and the structural organization was studied by scanning and
transmission electron microscopy. The parasites showed an ultrastructural
pattern similar to that of other species of the genus Phytomonas. In tomatoes
experimentally inoculated with flagellates cultivated in vitro, we observed
that the parasites did not lose their infectious capacity. Three strains of
trypanosomatids of the genus Phytomonas, isolated from different species of
Euphorbia (E. characias and E. hyssopifolia) and from Cocos nucifera, were
compared with our isolates by lectin-agglutination tests. Our isolates were
different from the two strains isolated from Euphorbia, but with this technique
we could not differentiate our isolates from those of the coconut, nor could we
differentiate between the isolates, their ultrastructural similarity together
with their similar behavior in the lectin-agglutination test suggesting that
these isolates have a common origin.
140: Planta Med
1994 Dec;60(6):594-6
Biologically active compounds from the
Euphorbiaceae; 2. Two triterpenoids of Euphorbia cyparissias.
Oksuz S, Gil RR, Chai H, Pezzuto JM, Cordell GA,
Ulubelen A.
141: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1994 Nov 22;91(24):11328-32
Lipases of the euphorbiaceae family:
purification of a lipase from Euphorbia characias latex and structure-function
relationships with the B chain of ricin.
Moulin A, Teissere M, Bernard C, Pieroni G.
Centre de Biochimie et de Biologie Moleculaire, Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France.
A lipase from the latex of Euphorbia characias was
purified using a method involving extraction with apolar solvent and adsorption
chromatography on silica gel. The lipase (specific activity, 1500 international
units/mg of protein) was eluted from silica gel complexes with a lipid. The
main protein fraction, which had a molecular mass of 38 kDa, was inactive when
dissociated from the lipid fraction. When the lipid and protein fractions were
reassociated, 72% of the lipolytic activity was recovered. This lipolytic
activity was inhibited by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, which was shown to
bind the lipase with a molar ratio of 0.75. High specific activities (1000
international units/mg) were measured for the lipase of E. characias on lipid
extracts rich in galactosyl diacylglycerols. The apolipase was sequenced up to
residue 23. The B chain of ricin has a strong homology (43.5%) with that
sequence and cross-reacted with antibodies raised against the purified lipase
from E. characias. The activity of the B chain of ricin was comparable (54
international units/mg) to that of the apolipase of E. characias (100
international units/mg) mixed with the same lipid cofactor complex. The primary
structure (residues 68-72) of the B chain of ricin contains the lipase consensus
sequence Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly. Its reactivity with diethyl p-nitrophenyl
phosphate indicates the presence of an activated serine that, in addition to
its well-documented lectin activity for galactosides, suggests that the B chain
of ricin may be a galactosyl diacylglycerol lipase, closely analogous to the
lipase from E. characias.
142: In Vivo 1994 Nov-Dec;8(6):1019-22
Cryptic dysfunction of cellular
immunity in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers and its
actualization by an environmental immunosuppressive factor.
Sugiura M, Imai S, Sakurada K, Miyazaki T, Osato T.
Department of Virology, Hokkaido University School of
Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 4 asymptomatic HIV-1
carriers with normally retained EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell activity were
exposed to EBV and incubated with 0.2 ng/ml 4-deoxyphorbol ester, an
immunosuppressive substance derived from an African plant Euphorbia tirucalli.
The regression of EBV-induced B-cell transformation by EBV-specific cytotoxic
T-cells was significantly impaired in the presence of a small amount of
4-deoxyphorbol ester, but not so in 5 HIV-1-seronegative healthy counterparts.
When the EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells from the asymptomatic carriers were
exposed to 0.2ng/ml 4-deoxyphorbol ester and incubated with 51Cr-labeled
autologous EBV-transformed B lymphocytes, the released radioactivity was
significantly smaller than that of the healthy counterparts. The results
suggest that the cellular immunity of the asymptomatic HIV-1 carriers is
cryptically impaired, and the cryptic immunological dysfunction is actualized
by exposure to a small amount of the immunosuppressive substance, a dose which
does not affect the immunity of uninfected healthy individuals.
143: Mol Biochem Parasitol 1994 Oct;67(2):321-31
Aerobic and anaerobic glucose
metabolism of Phytomonas sp. isolated from Euphorbia characias.
Chaumont F, Schanck AN,
Blum JJ, Opperdoes FR.
Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, International
Institute of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Brussels, Belgium.
Metabolic studies on Phytomonas sp. isolated from the
lactiferous tubes of the latex-bearing spurge Euphorbia characias indicate that
glucose is the preferred energy and carbon substrate during logarithmic growth.
In stationary phase cells glucose consumption was dramatically reduced. Glucose
consumption and end-product formation were measured on logarithmically growing
cells, both under aerobic (air and 95% O2/5% CO2) and anaerobic (95% N2/5% CO2
and 100% N2) conditions. The rate of glucose consumption slightly increased
under anaerobic conditions indicating that Phytomonas lacks a 'reverse Pasteur'
effect contrary to the situation encountered in Leishmania major. Major end-products
of glucose catabolism under aerobic conditions, detected by enzymatic and NMR
measurements, were acetate, ethanol and carbon dioxide and under anaerobic
conditions ethanol, glycerol and carbon dioxide. Smaller amounts of pyruvate,
succinate, L-malate, L-lactate, phosphoenolpyruvate, alanine and aspartate were
also detected.
144: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1994 Sep;42(9):1803-7
Tannins and related polyphenols of
euphorbiaceous plants. XI. Three new hydrolyzable tannins and a polyphenol
glucoside from Euphorbia humifusa.
Yoshida T, Amakura Y, Liu YZ, Okuda T.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama
University, Japan.
Three new hydrolyzable tannins, euphormisins M1, M2,
and M3, were isolated from Euphorbia humifusa WILLD., and respectively characterized
as 1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-4-O- brevifolincarboxyl-beta-D-glucose (19), an
oxidative metabolite (23) of geraniin, and 1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-alpha-D-glucose
(18), by spectroscopic and chemical methods. A new ellagic acid glucoside (16)
and fifteen known tannins, including geraniin (8) and four dimers [euphorbins A
(13), B (14), excoecarianin (15) and eumaculin A (12)], were also isolated.
145: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1994 Sep;25(3):419-24
Perspectives of using Euphorbia splendens
as a molluscicide in schistosomiasis control programs.
Baptista DF, Vasconcellos MC, Lopes FE, Silva IP,
Schall VT.
Departmento de Biologia-IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
A total of 1,426 species of plants had been tested in
order to find out a vegetal-derived molluscicide against the vectors of
Schistosoma mansoni. Euphorbia splendens is one of the most promising
molluscicides. In this article we briefly present the main aspects that have to
be considered to use this plant as a molluscicide, which include some
agricultural aspects and operational methods for application. This can be done
by the extraction of the active principles (millaminas) present in the latex or
in the raw juice obtained through total maceration of plants. The culture of E.
splendens, which spreads out by vegetative sprouts, showed an annual average
growth of 30 cm. After 1.5 years the average productivity of crude latex with a
DL90 of 12 ppm concentration, was 1 liter by 8m2 by cultivated area. This
amount is enough to treat a volume of water of 97,200 liters. A comparative
analysis between the cost of snail control through synthetic molluscicides was
carried out based upon the data presented by Jobim (1979) for six controlling
methods in several countries, and some cost aspects for E. splendens. This
analysis was done considering a geographic parameter expressed by the index
cubic meters of treated habitat per square kilometer, from which we can obtain
an estimate dimension of the geographic area to be cultivated with E. splendens
necessary to treat the same volume of water treated by synthetic molluscicides.
146: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1994 Jun;19(6):325-7, 382
[Identification of Euphorbia humifusa
Wind, and E. maculata Raf. from its confused species E. thymifolia L.]
[Article in Chinese]
Chu XL, Fan CS, Luo YZ.
Jiangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Nanchang.
147: Afr J Med Med Sci
1994 Jun;23(2):161-3
Characterisation of ingenol: an inflammatory
diterpene from some Nigerian Euphorbia and Elaeophorbia species.
Abo KA.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy,
College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Inflammatory latices of Euphorbia deightonii,
Euphorbia desmondi, Elaeophorbia drupifera and Elaeophorbia grandiflora were
found to contain ingenol as the parent alcohol of the diterpene esters. The
chemotaxonomic significance of the occurrence of ingenol in the genus
Elaeophorbia is discussed.
148: Anticancer Res 1994 May-Jun;14(3A):933-6
African Burkitt's lymphoma: a plant,
Euphorbia tirucalli, reduces Epstein-Barr virus-specific cellular immunity.
Imai S, Sugiura M, Mizuno F, Ohigashi H, Koshimizu K,
Chiba S, Osato T.
Department of Virology, Hokkaido University School of
Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Endemicity of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) coincides with
profusion of a plant Euphorbia tirucalli in tropical Africa. E. tirucalli contains
4-deoxyphorbol ester that enhances Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of B
lymphocytes. In this study, we found that 4-deoxyphorbol ester reduced
EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell function. Furthermore, the B lymphocytes dually
exposed to EBV and 4-deoxyphorbol ester were resistant to EBV-specific T cell
cytotoxicity, through down-regulation of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the
major target to EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells. These immunologic findings
strengthen the notion that E. tirucalli may be an important environmental risk
factor for the genesis of African BL.
149: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1994 May;14(5):282-4, 261
[Clinical analysis of 72 epileptic
patients treated with alkaline extract of Euphorbia fisheriana]
[Article in Chinese]
Liu YX, Wang MZ, Sun XF.
Dept. of Neurology, Shanxi Med. College, Taiyuan.
The effect of 72 epileptic patients treated with
alkaline extract of Euphorbia fisheriana (EF) was reported. 22 of them with
intractable epilepsy were compared with the treatment of both single-blind and
placebo. The results showed that the total effective rate with EF was 78%, its
marked effective rate was 42% and the effective rate 36%. The epileptic
patients reduced their frequency of seizures significantly (P < 0.05), while
the effective rate of 22 epileptic patients with single-blind treatment was
59%, and that with placebo was 32%. There was a significant difference between
the two groups (P < 0.05). The active principle of Euphorbia fisheriana was
Euphorbia alkaloid. There was no obvious adverse effect in clinical
observation. It is considered that Euphorbia fisheriana is rich in resource,
cheap, and with marked anticonvulsant effect.
150: J Ethnopharmacol 1994
Apr;42(2):111-6
Influence of some traditional medicinal
plants of Senegal on prostaglandin biosynthesis.
Hiermann A, Bucar F.
Institut fur Pharmakognosie der Universitat Graz,
Austria.
Aqueous extracts of Combretum micranthum G. Don, Euphorbia
hirta L., Guiera senegalensis Lam. and Melaleuca leucadendron L. were
investigated for their influence on prostaglandin biosynthesis (PG I2, PG E2,
PG D2). Only the extract of Euphorbia hirta strongly reduced the release of
prostaglandins I2, E2, and D2. Additionally Euphorbia hirta extracts exerted an
inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and depressed the formation of
carrageenin induced rat paw oedema. The chemical nature of the active principle
of Euphorbia hirta could be characterized as (a) compound(s) of medium polarity
in the molecular weight range of 1000 to 3000 Da.
Fanden
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