ABSTRACT
Three compounds, including scolosprine C(1), uracil(2) and hypoxanthine(3), were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate fraction of centipede by silica gel normal-phase column chromatography, reversed-phase medium pressure preparation chromatography, and high-pressure semi-preparative HPLC. The structure was elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic analyses [such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and mass spectrometry(MS)] and literature review. Among them, compound 1 was a new quinoline alkaloid. In previous reports, we have described the isolation and structure elucidation of one new and two known quinoline alkaloids. In this paper, we would report the isolation and structure elucidation of scolosprine C in detail.
Subject(s)
Animals , Alkaloids , Arthropods , Chilopoda , QuinolinesABSTRACT
Scolopendra polymorpha (S. polymorpha) is a predatory centipede whose venom contains a multiplicity of biochemical effectors that can cause muscle damage and cumulative cell destruction in its prey. Despite previous investigations of S. polymorpha and other centipede venoms, there is a lack of information on the morphological and biochemical patterns elicited by their myotoxic effects. To elucidate these processes, this paper presents evidence of skeletal muscle damage, and alterations in key biochemical mediators that appear only after exposure to centipede venom. Methods: Venom was collected and fractionated using RP-HPLC; mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle was exposed to whole venom and venom fractions to evaluate myotoxicity by means of creatine kinase (CK) - a muscle damage marker - activity measurements and histochemical analysis. Results: CK activity was higher in EDL muscle exposed to venom than in unexposed muscle. This increase was observed after 15 min of venom incubation, and remained stable up to 45 min. Venom-exposed EDL muscle showed signs of muscle damage including necrosis, loss of fascicular structure as well as mitochondrial accumulations and ragged red fibers (RRF), suggesting an impairment in the normal mitochondrial arrangement. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and cytochrome oxidase (COX) tests also indicate that respiratory complexes might be affected. Conclusion: Our results suggest a different biochemical composition of S. polymorpha venom, based on the different effects of four venom fractions on the cells tested, according to statistical evidence. Fractions F6 and F7 caused the most important alterations.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Creatine Kinase , Myotoxicity , Chilopoda , Biochemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure LiquidABSTRACT
He leído con atención y beneplácito la carta al editor de Agudelo-Espina y colaboradores (1), en donde realizan comentarios acerca de la importancia y relevancia de incluir todo lo relacionado con la enseñanza de la entomología médica en las pensa de estudio para la formación de un médico general, particularmente en Risaralda, Pereira, Colombia. Aplaudo dichos comentarios especialmente porque la mayoría de los autores son estudiantes de pregrado, quienes, de acuerdo con nuestra experiencia, muchas veces consideran, si se quiere, con cierto desdén este tipo de conocimiento básico; al menos ese es al caso en la Universidad Nacional Experimental "Francisco de Miranda", estado Falcón, Venezuela. A pesar de que compartimos similares puntos de vista con los autores en la mayoría de los tópicos abordados en su artículo, no obstante, deseamos hacer comentarios, y ampliar y complementar las ideas abordadas. Si bien la palabra entomología deriva etimológicamente del griego "entomón" (insecto) y "logo" (ciencia), por extensión la entomología médica se encarga del estudio no sólo de los insectos que poseen importancia en la salud pública, sino que también de otras clases del Phylum de los artrópodos (Arachnida, Crustacea, Chilopoda, Diplopoda) (2), ya que muchos de los mismos pueden afectar a los humanos y sus animales de varias maneras, ya sea como i) una simple y mera molestia, e inclusive se considera la entomofobia dentro de los problemas médicos de tipo psiquiátrico; ii) pueden ocasionar envenenamientos con sus picaduras; iii) pueden actuar como endo y ectoparásitos, y iv) pueden actuar como vectores de peligrosos microorganismos patógenos (3). Por ello, pareciera ser deseable implementar también, probablemente con mayor propiedad y amplitud, el término artropodología médica o sanitaria.
I have read with attention and pleasure the letter to the editor by Agudelo-Espina et al (1), in which they comment on the importance and relevance of including everything related to the teaching of medical entomology in the curriculum for the training of a general practitioner, particularly in Risaralda, Pereira, Colombia. I applaud these comments especially because most of the authors are undergraduate students, who, according to our experience, often regard, if you will, this kind of basic knowledge with some disdain; at least that is the case at the Universidad Nacional Experimental "Francisco de Miranda", Falcón state, Venezuela. Although we share similar points of view with the authors on most of the topics addressed in their article, we would nevertheless like to make comments, and to expand and complement the ideas addressed. Although the word entomology is etymologically derived from the Greek "entomón" (insect) and "logo" (science), by extension medical entomology is concerned not only with the study of insects of public health importance, but also with other classes of the arthropod phylum (Arachnida, Crustacea, Chilopoda, Diplopoda) (2), as many of them can affect humans and their animals in various ways, either as (i) a mere nuisance, and entomophobia is even considered to be a psychiatric medical problem; ii) they can cause poisoning with their bites; iii) they can act as endo- and ectoparasites; and iv) they can act as vectors of dangerous pathogenic micro-organisms (3). Therefore, it would seem desirable to implement the term medical or sanitary arthropodology, probably more appropriately and more broadly.