Hypoglycemic Effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn were Compared with Glipizide on Male Diabetic Rats.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Strychnos Potatorum Linn (S.P. Linn) on streptozotocin induced male diabetic rats. Method: Male albino rats (150-200 gm) were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) at a fixed dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. Animals were then given either the test drug or the standard control drug i.e. glipizide orally and the effects on fasting blood glucose level, body weight, food and water intake were recorded and compared with the standard drug. Results: The test drug S. P. Linn reduces blood sugar significantly in STZ induced diabetic male rats which is comparable to that of glipizied. Conclusion: S.P. Linn has antidiabetic action as it significantly reduces blood sugar level in male diabetic rats.

Toxic effects of strychnine and strychnine N-oxide on zebrafish embryos / 中国天然药物

AIM@#The application of strychnine (S) is limited due to its toxicity; strychnine N-oxide (SNO) is a derivative of strychnine. The aim was to employ zebrafish embryos to investigate and compare the developmental toxicity induced by S and SNO.@*METHODS@#The toxicity of S and SNO was examined through the hatching rate and survival rate. Morphological changes of the zebrafish were observed with a dissecting microscope. Apoptosis was detected through acridine orange (AO) staining and flow cytometry. Apoptotic genes were measured by RT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#Embryo malformation was observed in the embryos exposed to S at 200 μmol·L(-1). When SNO concentration was increased to 1 mmol·L(-1), scoliolosis, and pericardial edema could be seen in some embryos. Results from fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed that S at 200 μmol·L(-1) induced apoptosis, whereas the apoptotic rate in the SNO-treated group (200 μmol·L(-1)) was much lower than that in the S group. RT-PCR analysis showed that p53 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the S group were significantly altered compared with the control group (*P < 0.05). Moreover, Bax mRNA expression in both S and SNO group were significantly different from that in the control group (**P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#These results lead to the conclusion that SNO has significantly lower toxicity than S in zebrafish embryos.

Dormancy break in seeds of quina (Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil.) / Superação da dormência de sementes de quina (Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil.)

"Quina" (Strychnos pseudoquina A. St. Hil) is a medicinal plant species from the Brazilian Cerrado. As its seeds show dormancy, they were subjected to the treatments pre-cooling at 5ºC during 7 days, pre-heating at 40ºC during 7 days, pre-soaking in sulfuric acid PA during 5 and 15 min, pre-soaking in boiling water during 5 and 15 min, pre-soaking in 100 and 200 ppm gibberellic acid during 48 h, pre-soaking in distilled water during 24 and 48 h, and mechanical scarification to break dormancy. Counts were daily conducted from the 2nd day after the experiment implementation until the germination stabilization at the 65th day. The germination speed index (GSI) and the germination percentage were evaluated. Germination rates above 96 percent were reached in seeds pre-soaked in water during 48 h and substrate moistened with water or KNO3.

A quina (Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil) é espécie medicinal do Cerrado Brasileiro. As sementes apresentam dormência e, por isso, foram submetidas aos tratamentos pré-resfriamento a 5ºC durante 7 dias, pré-aquecimento a 40ºC durante 7 dias, pré-embebição em ácido sulfúrico P.A. durante 5 e 15 minutos, pré-embebição em água fervente durante 5 e 15 minutos, pré-embebição em ácido giberélico a 100 e 200 ppm, durante 48 horas, pré-embebição em água destilada durante 24 e 48 horas e escarificação mecânica, visando à superação da dormência. Foram realizadas contagens diárias entre o 2º dia após a implantação do experimento até a estabilização da germinação, que ocorreu no 65º dia. Foram avaliados o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e a porcentagem de germinação. Taxas de germinação acima de 96 por cento foram atingidas em sementes pré-embebidas em água durante 48 horas e substrato umedecido com água ou KNO3.

Determination and comparison of plasma protein binding rate of alkaloids from seed of Strychnou nux-vomica / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the plasma protein binding rates of brucine and strychnine in total alkaloids from the seed of Strychnou nux-vomica, and make comparison with the single components at the same concentration.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Ultrafiltration was employed to determine the rat the plasma protein binding rate of the alkaloids from the seed of S. nux-vomica. The plasma concentrations were measured by RP-HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The protein binding rates of brucine were (65.60 3.01)%, (68.20 +/- 7.80)%, (59.58 +/- 3.78)% when the plasma concentrations was 0.520, 1.300, 2.600 mg x L(-1), respectively. The protein binding rates of strychnine was (66.17 +/- 6.36)%, (67.10 +/- 2.52)%, (57.21 +/- 0.79)% when the plasma concentrations were 0.936, 2.340, 4.680 mg x L(-1) respectively. As to the total alkaloids from the seed of S. nux-vomica, The protein binding rate of brucine was (62.19 +/- 2.45)%, (69.55 +/- 5.84)%, (61.76 +/- 3.68)% when the plasma concentrations were 0.519, 1.288, 2.607 mg x L(-1), respectively. And the protein binding rates of strychnine were (54.79 +/- 3.55)%, (57.13 +/- 4.49)%, (59.31 +/- 3.65)% when the plasma concentrations were 0.940, 2.338, 4.674 mg x L(-1), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Brucine and strychnine have medium capacity in binding to plasma protein. In comparison with the single component of the same concentration, the protein binding rate of brucine in total alkaloids shows little difference, while there seems to be an obvious decrease for strychnine.</p>

Evaluation of hypoglicemic activity and healing of extract from amongst bark of "Quina do Cerrado" (Strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL) / Avaliação da atividade hipoglicemiante e cicatrizante de extrato da entrecasca da Quina do Cerrado (Strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL)

PURPOSE: Evaluation the hypoglycemic and healing effects of the Strychnos pseudoquina. METHODS: 33 Wistar rats were divided in the following groups, group 1 not sensitized with alloxan and untreated by aqueous extracts; group 2 sensitized with aloxana and untreated by aqueous extracts of Quina; group 3 sensitized by aloxana ad treated with the aqueous extract of quina. Diabetes was induced by alloxan diabetogenic drugs at a dose of 42 mg/kg of weight. The glycemias was evaluated by glycemic measuring Accu-check®. To verify the healing, was made a longitudinal cut of 1 cm in the back of the mouse. The group 3 was treated with a microemulsion containing Strychnos pseudoquina. Wounds were macroscopically evaluated during pre-determined days after the cut (1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 14th). RESULTS: The glycemia levels in the group treated with Strychnos pseudoquina were lower than the group sensitized by alloxan and not treated with Strychnos pseudoquina. There was no difference between the healing of the wounds treated with quina and another groups. CONCLUSIONS: Strychnos pseudoquina presents hypoglycemic effect. Meanwhile the topical use of the microemulsion of Strychnos pseudoquina presents no macroscopically significant effect on the healing of wounds in diabetic rats.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito hipoglicemiante e cicatrizante de Strychnos pseudoquina. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se 33 ratos Wistar, divididos nos seguintes grupos: grupo 1 não sensibilizado pela aloxana e não tratado pelo extrato aquoso; grupo 2 sensibilizado com aloxana e não tratado pelo extrato aquoso de Quina; grupo 3 sensibilizado pela aloxana, tratado com o extrato aquoso de Quina. O diabetes foi induzido pela aloxana, droga diabetôgenica, na dose de 42mg/Kg de peso de rato. As glicemias foram avaliadas pelo medidor de glicemia Accu-check®. Para verificar a cicatrização, foi realizado um corte de 1 cm longitudinal na região dorsal do rato, sob anestesia inalatória. O grupo 3 foi tratado com uma microemulsão contendo "Quina do Cerrado". As feridas foram avaliadas macroscopicamente nos períodos pré-determinados (1º, 3°, 7°, 9º e 14° dias após o corte). RESULTADOS: Os níveis glicêmicos do grupo com "Quina do Cerrado" foram menores que os do grupo sensibilizado pela aloxana e não tratados. Não houve diferença entre a cicatrização das feridas tratadas com Quina comparada à dos outros grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Strychnos pseudoquina apresenta efeito hipoglicemiante. Entretanto o seu uso tópico em microemulsão não apresenta efeito significativo na cicatrização de feridas em ratos diabéticos.

Strychnos alkaloids inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of strychnos alkaloids on the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Strychnos alkaloids free of strychnine and brucine were extracted from Strychnos nux vomica, and the effects of Strychnos alkaloids on the survival of HEK293 and PC12 cells were evaluated using MTT assay. In vitro cultured adult rat neuroprogenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus were treated with different concentrations of Strychnos alkaloids for 2 days, and the cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the concentration above 0.5 mg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced toxic effect against HEK293 cells (P<0.0001), while for PC12 cells, Strychnos alkaloids inhibited the cell survival at the concentration as low as 5 microg/ml (P<0.0001). After 2 days of exposure to 50 microg/ml Strychnos alkaloids, the neuroprogenitor cells showed significantly decreased number of BrdU-positive cells (P<0.01), but the total cell number remained stable when compared with that of the control cells (P>0.05), whereas at the concentration of 100 microg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced obvious cytotoxicity against the neuroprogenitor cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Strychnos alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloids as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.</p>

Study of toxicology of strychnos / 法医学杂志

Because of its officinal value, strychnos is widely used by clinic and individual. Since toxic dose and therapeutic dose are very close, strychnos poisoning cases are frequently reported. In this paper the chemical component, toxic dose, mechanisms of toxicity, poisoning symptom and pathological changes after strychnos poisoning are reviewed.

Atividade antimicrobiana de fungos endofíticos isolados de plantas tóxicas da amazônia: Palicourea longiflora (aubl. ) rich e Strychnos cogens bentham / Antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from amazonian toxic plants: Palicourea longiflora (aubl. ) rich and Strychnos cogens bentham

Das plantas tóxicas da Amazônia Palicourea longiflora e Strychnos cogens foram isolados 571 fungos endofíticos e 74 bactérias endofíticas. Palicourea longiflora (Rubiaceae) e outras espécies desse gênero estão relacionadas a 90 por cento das mortes de gado na região Amazônica. Strychnos cogens (Loganiaceae) e outras espécies de Strychnos são utilizadas pelos indígenas na confecção de "curares". Entre os endófitos isolados de P. longiflora foram identificados os fungos: Colletotrichum sp. e seu telemorfo Glomerella sp., Guignardia sp., Aspergillus niger, Phomopsis sp. e Xylaria sp., além da bactéria Burkholderia gladioli, pertencente a um grupo de fixadoras de nitrogênio. Dos isolados de S. cogens foram identificados os fungos: Colletotrichum sp., Guignardia sp., Aspergillus niger e Trichoderma sp. Uma amostra de 79 isolados fúngicos teve seus metabólitos extracelulares bioensaiados contra microrganismos patogênicos e fitopatogênicos: 19 isolados inibiram um ou mais microrganismos-teste. Dos oito isolados com melhores resultados de inibição, as móleculas bioativas eram menores que 12.000 daltons, fato verificado pela diálise dos metabólitos.

Contribution a l'etude d'une plante utilisee traditionnellement comme poison d'epreuve au Gabon : le Strychnos icaja (Mbundu); Loganiacee

Le Strychnos icaja Baillon (Loganiacee) est une plante tropicale frequente dans les forets d'Afrique Centrale (Congo; Cameroun; Gabon.). Cette espece de Strychnos est aussi utilisee par les populations locales comme poison d'epreuve ou de fleches ou pour traiter les hemorroides mais elle est egalement utilisee par les tribus pygmees du Cameroun pour traiter le paludisme persistant. Elle est aussi employee pour ses proprietes magico-medicales. Les feuilles; les tiges et les racines renferment de nombreux alcaloides dont la Strychnine. Elle renferme en plus des tanins galliques dans les tiges et racines et des tanins catechiques dans les feuilles. On note egalement la presence de flavonoides; de sterols; de triterpenes et de saponosides dans toutes les parties etudiees