Kratom Crackdown: FDA Intensifies Warnings with Limited, Inconclusive Data. To Scientists, Kratom-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Signals Need for Quality Control, Not a Ban

Kratom is a tropical, evergreen, broad-leafed tree that can grow to 25 meters (82 feet) tall. It is native to peninsular Thailand, southeastern Myanmar, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, the Philippines, and New Guinea. The species belongs to the madder (Rubiaceae) family, a large plant family that also includes coffee (Coffea arabica, C. canephora). The name "kratom" originates from Thailand and likely derives from the Sanskrit kadam, a name that refers to Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae), a widespread tree that is sacred in Hinduism. Similar names are used for various related tree species in the region. Preparations of kratom leaves have been used for centuries in Southeast Asia for a wide range of purposes, including to treat cough, diarrhea, and diabetes; to manage pain and opioid withdrawal; and to stave off fatigue. Leaf preparations of the plant, including powders and teas, act on the central nervous system. At low doses, they can produce stimulant effects, while higher doses often produce sedative and intoxicating effects.

Triterpenes from the stem bark of Mitragyna diversifolia and their cytotoxic activity / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the stem bark of Mitragyna diversifolia.@*METHOD@#Compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV, MS, and NMR), and they were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities by the MTT method.@*RESULTS@#Eight triterpenes were isolated and identified as 3α, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3β, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 3-oxo-6β-19α-dihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3), 3β, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-24, 28-dioic acid 24-methyl ester (4), 3β, 6β, 19α, 24-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (5), rotundic acid (6), 23-nor-24-exomethylene- 3β, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), and pololic acid (8), respectively. All of the isolates were tested against two human tumor cell lines, MCF-7 (breast) and HT-29 (colon).@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 was a new triterpene. Compounds 5 - 7 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the growth of MCF-7 and HT-29 cells, and the others showed no cytotoxicity.

Studies on triterpenoid saponins in Hemsleya chensnsis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the triterpenoid saponins in Hemsleya chensnsis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven known triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the root of H. chensnsis and were identified as 3-O-beta-D-glucuropyranosyl-oleanol-icacid (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyra-noside-oleanolicacid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3-O-(6'-methylester)-beta-D-glucuropyranosyl olea- nolic acid-28-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (3), 3-O-(6'-methylester)-beta-D- glucuropyranosyl- oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D-mannupyranoside (4), 3-O-(6'-ethyl ester)-beta-D-glucuropyranosyl oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside (5), 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside-(1-->3) -beta-D-glucuropyranosyl- oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), 3-O-beta-D-glucu-ropyranosyl-oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyra-noside-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.</p>

Quinovic acid triterpenoid saponins from bark of Mitragyna rotundifolia / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents from the bark of Mitragyna rotundifolia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Column chromatographic techniques were applied to isolate constituents. A combination of IR, MS and NMR spectroscopy was used to identify structures of constituents.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Six compounds were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction and their structures were elucidated as quinovic acid-3-O-beta-D-6-deoxy-glucopyranoside, 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), quinovic acid-27-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl ester (2), quinovic acid-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), qunovic acid-27-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4), quovic acid-3-O-beta-D-6-deoxy-glucopyranoside (5), qunovic acid-27-O-beta-6-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl ester (6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1 - 6 were isolated for the first time from the plant. Compounds 1 - 4 and 6 were isolated for the first time form the genus.</p>

Screening phytochimique de deux especes de plantes : crotalia retusa L (Papilionaceae) et hallea ciliata Aubrev et Pellegr. (Rubiaceae) recoltees au Gabon

Notre etude qui a porte sur la determination de la composition en substances chimiques organiques de deux especes vegetales : Crotalaria retusa et Hallea ciliata recoltees au Gabon a comporte : Un rappel sur les travaux anterieurs qui a permis d'obtenir des renseignements sur les utilisations traditionnelles de Hallea ciliata et de Crotalaria retusa (en plus de la toxicite de cette derniere) ;Des reactions de caracterisation qui ont permis d'identifier differents groupements chimiques que renferment ces deux especes qui sont : les alcaloides; les tanins; les flavonoides; les sterols et terpenes; les saponosides; les composes reducteurs; les mucilages; les derives anthraceniques; les heterosides cardiotoniques et les coumarines. Les trois derniers cites etant en quantites moins importantes.Une chromatographie sur couche mince des alcaloides totaux au cours delaquelle; apres revelation avec la reactif de Dragendorff; nous avons obtenu pour Crotalaria retusa un spot pour les feuilles et deux pour chacun des quatre autres organes etudies (fleurs; tiges; graines; racines). Et pour les ecorces de Hallea ciliata nous avons egalement obtenu deux spots

Triterpenoid saponins from bark Mitragyna inermis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the constituents of Mitragyna inermis that have an anti-tumor activity on Bel-7402 of hepatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 separately and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral technology.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Three quinovic acid glycosides, quinovic acid 3 beta-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-28-O-beta- D-glucopyranoside(I), quinovic acid 3 beta-O-beta-D-quinovopyranoside(II), quinovic acid 3 beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(III), were obtained.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>I, II were isolated from Mitragyna for the first time.</p>