Cinchonicine-derived alkaloids from the bark of the Peruvian Ladenbergia oblongifolia.

The isolation of cinchonicine-derived alkaloids epicinchonicinol (1), cinchonidicinol (2) and a mixture of dihydrocinchonicinol and dihydrocinchonidicinol (3) from the dried bark of Ladenbergia oblongifolia, is reported along with (1)H and (13)C-NMR data.

Should we be concerned about herbal remedies.

During the latter part of this century the practice of herbalism has become mainstream throughout the world. This is due in part to the recognition of the value of traditional medical systems, particularly of Asian origin, and the identification of medicinal plants from indigenous pharmacopeias that have been shown to have significant healing power, either in their natural state or as the source of new pharmaceuticals. Generally these formulations are considered moderate in efficacy and thus less toxic than most pharmaceutical agents. In the Western world, in particular, the developing concept that 'natural' is better than 'chemical' or 'synthetic' has led to the evolution of Neo-Western herbalism that is the basis of an ever expanding industry. In the US, often guised as food, or food supplements, known as nutriceuticals, these formulations are readily available for those that wish to self-medicate. Within this system, in particular, are plants that lack ethnomedical verification of efficacy or safety. Unfortunately there is no universal regulatory system in place that insures that any of these plant remedies are what they say they are, do what is claimed, or most importantly are safe. Data will be presented in this context, outlining how adulteration, inappropriate formulation, or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimes life-threatening or lethal.

Basic, quantitative and experimental research phases of future ethnobotany with reference to the medicinal plants of South America.

Ethnobotany of the future will encompass what we perceive as three interrelated research phases. Basic ethnobotany includes the compilation and organization of information about biota obtained from indigenous and other peoples, such as obtaining data about useful plants and animals, understanding how peoples manage their environments and learning about their lexicons and classifications. This is what we try to do in the best possible way, directly in the field from original sources. These results can then be organized in many ways once species determinations are completed. They may also be organized using other types of information, the most obvious being chemical, medical and linguistic. Quantitative ethnobotany develops methods to allow quantitative description and to evaluate and analyse primary data sets. Original field research must be sufficiently structured and consistent, for example in relation to forest habitat and composition or to oral exchanges between informant and listener, so that statistical techniques may be used to test proposed hypotheses rigorously. This aspect of ethnobotany is in its infancy, yet it can be broadly utilized to comprehend more meaningfully and usefully ethnobotanically valued plants, particularly in the exceedingly diversified environments of tropical regions where because of community isolation practitioners are still most knowledgeable. Experimental ethnobotany involves the use of biota in search of products for industrial, medical and other purposes. Plant ethnomedicinal findings may set the stage for targeting materials which can be meaningfully analysed for chemical activity using appropriate biodirected assays. This approach in search of new pharmaceuticals is woefully underutilized today to the detriment of human health and a number of new strategies should be considered for future advancements in drug discovery. These aspects of ethnobotany will be evaluated largely in relation to current and future research in South America.

Triterpenoid saponins from Gouania lupuloides.

The stems of Jamaican chawstick, Gouania lupuloides, have yielded two novel 16,17-seco-dammaranoid saponins, designated gouanoside A [4] and gouanoside B [5]. Structural assignments are based on spectroscopic data including 2D nmr experiments on the corresponding aglycones, gouanogenin A [1] and gouanogenin B [3].

Ritualistic use of the holly Ilex guayusa by Amazonian Jívaro Indians.

In Amazonian Peru and Ecuador leaf decoctions of the rainforest holly Ilex guayusa with high caffeine concentrations are used as a morning stimulant. After daily ingestion, ritualistic vomiting by male Achuar Indians, better known as Jívaros, reduces excessive caffeine intake, so that blood levels of caffeine and biotransformed dimethylxanthines do not cause undesirable CNS and other effects. Emesis is learned and apparently not due to emetic compounds.

Caries prevalences among geochemical regions of Missouri.

Our objectives were to determine how the prevalences of caries in elementary school children vary between geochemically defined regions of the state of Missouri and to compare this variation with that found for prehistoric Missouri inhabitants (Hildebolt et al.: Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 75:1-14, 1988). Caries data on 6,584 school children were used in the study of second and sixth graders drinking optimally and suboptimally fluoridated water. Geochemical regions were based on maps recently published by the United States Geological Survey. Differences in mean caries scores and proportions of children with caries were tested by analysis of covariance, analysis of variance, Student t, and chi-squared tests. We found that caries prevalences do vary between the geochemical regions of the state. In the total sample, however, there were no significant differences between those children drinking optimally fluoridated water and those drinking suboptimally fluoridated water. We conclude that there is variation in caries rates among geochemically defined regions of the state and that geochemical factors associated with young parent materials may be antagonizing the action of fluoride.

Documentation of an AIDS virus infection in the United States in 1968.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was first recognized as a clinical entity in the United States in the early 1980s; however, the issue of when human immunodeficiency virus, the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, was introduced into at-risk populations in the United States is unresolved. Previously, we reported the case study of a 15-year-old black male who was admitted to St Louis City Hospital in 1968 for extensive lymphedema of the genitalia and lower extremities. Chlamydial organisms were widely disseminated and isolated from numerous body fluids and organs. Over a 16-month clinical course his condition progressively deteriorated, and at autopsy there was widespread Kaposi's sarcoma of the aggressive, disseminated type. Recently performed Western blot and antigen capture assays on serum and autopsy tissue specimens frozen since 1969 have disclosed that this sexually active teenager was infected with a virus closely related or identical to human immunodeficiency virus type 1. The clinical and immunologic findings together suggest that an immunosuppressive retrovirus existed in the United States before the late 1970s.

The effect of geochemical factors on prevalences of dental diseases for prehistoric inhabitants of the state of Missouri.

In previous epidemiological studies, it has been suggested that geochemical factors besides fluoride may affect the prevalences of dental diseases. Our objective in this study was to determine whether the prevalences of periodontal diseases, coronal caries, and root caries for prehistoric inhabitants vary between geochemical regions of the state of Missouri. Burial sites were located on unique maps that depict geochemical variation among regions of the state. Data on dental caries and alveolar bone loss were gathered from 179 of the best preserved skeletal remains of the Late Woodland (A.D. 400-900) and Mississippian (A.D. 900-1700) periods. Mean caries scores and proportions of individuals with caries were calculated for these geochemical regions. Average alveolar bone loss was regressed on age for the individuals of these regions. Significant differences in caries and bone loss were found between several regions. These differences cannot be adequately explained by fluoride concentrations or by diet. It is suggested that geochemical factors, in addition to fluoride, may have affected the prevalences of dental diseases.

Control of a rubella outbreak in a dental school population.

This study traces the development of a rubella outbreak; 16 clinical and one sub-clinical case were detected. Overall, the incidence of infection was higher for males than females. Susceptibility rates determined by the absence of primarily IgG antibodies indicated that class association, social contact, and preexisting susceptibility patterns influenced the differences in attack rates seen among the classes. In spite of a higher susceptibility caused in part by the number of foreign students enrolled, no infections occurred in the graduate student population. Concern for the spread of rubella to susceptible students and personnel within the dental school, among adjunct dental assistant and hygiene programs and others at the adjacent medical school and hospitals, led to a comprehensive immunization policy. All dental and medical personnel, regardless of clinical contact, must present proof of immunity or be immunized.

Anticariogenic effects of tea in rats.

Teas varying in fluoride and tannin concentration were evaluated in rats for anticariogenic activity. There was a direct correlation between fluoride in tea and the inhibition of sulcal caries in rats, whereas no relationship was observed between tannin and this type of lesion. Teas also had a significant effect on caries progression and imparted a black stain to the teeth.