From cis-Lobeline to trans-Lobeline: Study on the Pharmacodynamics and Isomerization Factors.

Lobeline is an alkaloid derived from the leaves of an Indian tobacco plant (Lobelia inflata), which has been prepared by chemical synthesis. It is classified as a partial nicotinic agonist and has a long history of therapeutic usage ranging from emetic and respiratory stimulant to tobacco smoking cessation agent. The presence of both cis and trans isomers in lobeline is well known, and many studies on the relationship between the structure and pharmacological activity of lobeline and its analogs have been reported. However, it is a remarkable fact that no studies have reported the differences in pharmacological activities between the two isomers. In this article, we found that different degrees of isomerization of lobeline injection have significant differences in respiratory excitatory effects in pentobarbital sodium anesthetized rats. Compared with cis-lobeline injections, the respiratory excitatory effect was significantly reduced by 50.2% after administration of injections which contained 36.9% trans-lobeline. The study on the influencing factors of isomerization between two isomers shown that this isomerization was a one-way isomerism and only converted from cis to trans, where temperature was the catalytic factor and pH was the key factor. This study reports a new discovery. Despite the widespread use of ventilators, first-aid medicines such as nikethamide and lobeline has retired to second line, but as a nonselective antagonist with high affinity for a4b2 and a3b2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In recent years, lobeline has shown great promise as a therapeutic drug for mental addiction and nervous system disorders, such as depression, Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. Therefore, we suggest that the differences between two isomers should be concerned in subsequent research papers and applications.

[Quality standard of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba].

In light of related methods in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), this study established the quality standard for Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The TLC identification method was established with silica gel GF_(254) thin layer plate, diosmin standard, linarin standard, and the reference material of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and ethanol-soluble extracts of 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples were determined according to the general principles in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Then, HPLC was adopted in the establishment of characteristic chromatogram and content determination. The results showed that the established method can achieve good separation for diosmin, linarin, and lobetyolin. Based on the results of detection for 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples, the draft quality standard was established, which was expected to provide reference for the revision of this medicinal herb in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Quality standard of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba / 中国中药杂志

In light of related methods in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), this study established the quality standard for Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The TLC identification method was established with silica gel GF_(254) thin layer plate, diosmin standard, linarin standard, and the reference material of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and ethanol-soluble extracts of 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples were determined according to the general principles in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Then, HPLC was adopted in the establishment of characteristic chromatogram and content determination. The results showed that the established method can achieve good separation for diosmin, linarin, and lobetyolin. Based on the results of detection for 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples, the draft quality standard was established, which was expected to provide reference for the revision of this medicinal herb in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Lobelia trigona Roxb-based nanomedicine with enhanced biological applications: in vitro and in vivo approach.

This is the first study to report the green synthesis of Lobelia trigona Roxb-mediated silver nanoparticles (LTAgNPs). The optical and structural properties of the synthesised LTAgNPs were analysed using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering and energy dispersive X-ray. LTAgNps were evaluated for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties against 18 pathogens and exhibited significant inhibition against all the strains tested. LTAgNPs had potential scavenging effects on the DPPH, •OH, O2•- free radical scavenging assays and reducing power assay. LTAgNps possess strong anti-cancer activity against five human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HeLa and KB) in a dose-dependent manner. The antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and genotoxicity effects of LTAgNPs were further confirmed by the lactate dehydrogenase release assay, nitric oxide inhibitory assay and comet assay. Furthermore, the incision, excision and burn wound-healing activity of formulated LTAgNPs ointment was assessed in rats. All the wounds had significant healing in groups treated with LTAgNPs ointment compared to the groups treated with the commonly prescribed ointment (SilverexTM). This study shows and suggests that the previously unreported LTAgNPs could be used as a nanomedicine with significant biological applications.

Chemical structure elucidation of an inulin-type fructan isolated from Lobelia chinensis lour with anti-obesity activity on diet-induced mice.

A neutral polysaccharide (LCPS) was obtained from Lobelia chinensis via hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation. After separation and purification, the homogeneous polysaccharide was obtained with a molecular weight of 2.6 × 103 Da. The chemical composition of the extracted polysaccharide contains fructose and glucose with protein-free identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method. Chemical structure of LCPS was indicated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Data indicated that LCPS was an inulin-type fructan with α-D-Glcp-(1→[1)-ß-D-Fruf-(2]15 linkage. LCPS intake reduced at significant level high fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain, liver weight, total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum and hepatic tissue, respectively. The lipid droplet accumulation in hepatic tissue was similar between lean and LCPS groups lower than in HFD-induced mice from tissue section staining results. Together, polysaccharides from Lobelia chinensis could be a new source of natural anti-obesity agent against obesity with potential value in the manufacturing supplements and drugs.

Microfluidic capillary zone electrophoresis mass spectrometry analysis of alkaloids in Lobelia cardinalis transgenic and mutant plant cell cultures.

Application of a microfluidic CE* device for CZE-MS allows for fast, rapid, and in-depth analysis of large sample sets. This microfluidic CZE-MS device, the 908 Devices ZipChip, involves minimal sample preparation and is ideal for small cation analytes, such as alkaloids. Here, we evaluated the microfluidic device for the analysis of alkaloids from Lobelia cardinalis hairy root cultures. Extracts from wild-type, transgenic, and selected mutant plant cultures were analyzed and data batch processed using the mass spectral processing software MZmine2 and the statistical software Prism 8. In total 139 features were detected as baseline resolved peaks via the MZmine2 software optimized for the electrophoretic separations. Statistically significant differences in the relative abundance of the primary alkaloid lobinaline (C27 H34 N2 ), along with several putative "lobinaline-like" molecules were observed utilizing this approach. Additionally, a method for performing both targeted and untargeted MS/MS experiments using the microfluidic device was developed and evaluated. Coupling data-processing software with CZE-MS data acquisition has enabled comprehensive metabolomic profiles from plant cell cultures to be constructed within a single working day.

Isolation and bioactive evaluation of flavonoid glycosides from Lobelia chinensis Lour using two-dimensional liquid chromatography combined with label-free cell phenotypic assays.

Flavonoid glycosides are widespread in herbs and often used as medicines and nutraceuticals because of good bioactivities and low toxicities. However, due to their structural complexity and diversity, isolation of flavonoid glycosides and evaluation of their bioactivities are still highly challenging. To solve this problem, a new method for separation and preparation of novel flavonoid glycosides from Lobelia chinensis Lour (L. chinensis) was developed. To avoid the interference of non-flavonoids, a solid phase extraction method was used to selectively enrich the flavonoids from the total extract. Based on hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the flavonoid chemical structure consisting of sugar residue and diphenylpropane (C6C3C6) skeleton, a structure-guided method development strategy was employed to design a 2D-HILIC × RPLC system in the first time. After optimization of chromatographic conditions, high selectivity and symmetric peaks of flavonoids were obtained on a zwitterionic Click XIon column and a polar-modified Atlantis T3 column. Based on these two columns, a 2 D-HILIC × RPLC system was constructed and successfully enlarged from the analytical level to the preparative level. In the first dimension, 20 fractions were obtained with good peak shapes at high sample loading. In the second-dimensional preparation, nine compounds were isolated and identified. Seven of them were novel flavonoid glycosides, lobelitin A-G, and two other known compounds were linatin and diosmin, respectively. Their target activities were evaluated via label-free cell phenotypic assays. Four novel flavonoid glycosides lobelitin A-D were found to have agonistic activities at G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35). These results demonstrated that this method was effective to orthogonally separate flavonoids at the preparative level, especially for novel active flavonoid glycosides. The discovery of flavonoid glycosides with novel agonistic activity on GPR35 also sheds light on the mechanisms of action of L. chinensis relevant to its clinical application.

Chemical Profiling of Lobelia chinensis with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF MS) Reveals Absence of Lobeline in the Herb.

Lobelia chinensis is a kind of herbal medicine widely distributed and used in Asia. The chemical components of this herb, however, have not been well studied until now. Lobeline, as an essential and famous bioactive compound in Lobelia genus, has been assumed to be present in L. chinensis. In order to ascertain its presence and, more importantly, proper use of this herb, chemical profiling this herb with highly sensitive and high-resolution analytical mass spectrometry was applied. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF MS) method was employed to systematically profile the chemical constituents of L. chinensis for the first time. Comparative chemical profiling study of L. chinensis and Lobelia inflata was also conducted to provide evidence whether lobeline is present or not. Piperidine alkaloids except for lobeline, alkaloid-lignan hybrids, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, nonanedioic acid, and some new phytochemicals were successfully identified in L. chinensis simultaneously. Comparing to the chemical profiles of L. inflata, lobeline was found to be absent in L. chinensis. All of the secondary metabolites in L. chinensis were determined with the HPLC/Q-TOF MS method. The absence of lobeline in L. chinensis was confirmed after this extensive study.

Evaluating the cytotoxic effects of the water extracts of four anticancer herbs against human malignant melanoma cells.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, killing more than 1,100 people each year in Canada. Prognosis for late stage and recurrent MM is extremely poor due to insensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, and thus many patients seek complementary and alternative medicines. In this study, we examined four commonly used anticancer herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, Hedyotis diffusa, Scutellaria barbata, Lobelia chinensis, and Solanum nigrum, for their in vitro antitumor effects toward human MM cell line A-375. The crude water extract of S. nigrum (1 g of dry herb in 100 mL water) and its 2-fold dilution caused 52.8%±13.0% and 17.3%±2.7% cytotoxicity in A-375 cells, respectively (P<0.01). The crude water extract of H. diffusa caused 11.1%±12.4% cytotoxicity in A-375 cells with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Higher concentrated formulation might be needed for H. diffusa to exert its cytotoxic effect against A-375 cells. No cytotoxicity was observed in A-375 cells treated with crude water extract of S. barbata and L. chinensis. Further high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy analysis of the herbal extracts implicated that S. nigrum and H. diffusa might have adopted the same bioactive components for their cytotoxic effects in spite of belonging to two different plant families. We also showed that the crude water extract of S. nigrum reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species generation in A-375 cells, which may lead to a cytostatic effect. Furthermore, synergistic effect was achieved when crude water extract of S. nigrum was coadministered with temozolomide, a chemotherapy drug for skin cancer.

Chemical Structure and Immunomodulating Activities of an α-Glucan Purified from Lobelia chinensis Lour.

A neutral α-glucan, named BP1, with a molecular mass of approximately 9.45 kDa, was isolated from Lobelia chinensis by hot-water extraction, a Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column and Superdex-75 column chromatography. Its chemical structure was characterized by monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis and analysis of its FT-IR, high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and 1D/2D-NMR spectra data. The backbone of BP1 consists of →6α-d-Glcp¹â†’6,3α-d-Glcp¹â†’(6α-d-Glcp¹)x-6,3α-d-Glcp¹-(6α-d-Glcp¹)y→. The side chains were terminal α-d-Glcp¹â†’ and α-d-Glcp¹â†’ (6α-d-Glcp¹)z→4α-d-Glcp¹â†’3α-d-Glcp¹â†’4α-d-Glcp¹â†’ (x + y + z = 5), which are attached to the backbone at O-3 of 3,6α-d-Glcp¹. The results of the effect of BP1 on mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 indicate that BP1 enhances the cell proliferation, phagocytosis, nitric oxide production and cytokine secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Because the inhibitor of Toll-like receptor 4 blocks the BP1-induced secretion of TNF-α and IL-6, we hypothesize that α-glucan BP1 activates TLR4, which mediates the above-mentioned immunomodulating effects.

Novel multifunctional pharmacology of lobinaline, the major alkaloid from Lobelia cardinalis.

In screening a library of plant extracts from ~1000 species native to the Southeastern United States, Lobelia cardinalis was identified as containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nicAchR) binding activity which was relatively non-selective for the α4ß2- and α7-nicAchR subtypes. This nicAchR binding profile is atypical for plant-derived nicAchR ligands, the majority of which are highly selective for α4ß2-nicAchRs. Its potential therapeutic relevance is noteworthy since agonism of α4ß2- and α7-nicAchRs is associated with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Bioassay-guided fractionation of L. cardinalis extracts led to the identification of lobinaline, a complex binitrogenous alkaloid, as the main source of the unique nicAchR binding profile. Purified lobinaline was a potent free radical scavenger, displayed similar binding affinity at α4ß2- and α7-nicAchRs, exhibited agonist activity at nicAchRs in SH-SY5Y cells, and inhibited [(3)H]-dopamine (DA) uptake in rat striatal synaptosomes. Lobinaline significantly increased fractional [(3)H] release from superfused rat striatal slices preloaded with [(3)H]-DA, an effect that was inhibited by the non-selective nicAchR antagonist mecamylamine. In vivo electrochemical studies in urethane-anesthetized rats demonstrated that lobinaline locally applied in the striatum significantly prolonged clearance of exogenous DA by the dopamine transporter (DAT). In contrast, lobeline, the most thoroughly investigated Lobelia alkaloid, is an α4ß2-nicAchR antagonist, a poor free radical scavenger, and is a less potent DAT inhibitor. These previously unreported multifunctional effects of lobinaline make it of interest as a lead to develop therapeutics for neuropathological disorders that involve free radical generation, cholinergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission. These include neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, and drug abuse.

Rapid Identification and Assignation of the Active Ingredients in Fufang Banbianlian Injection Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-TOF-MS.

Fufang Banbianlian Injection (FBI) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of three herbal medicines. However, the systematic investigation on its chemical components has not been reported yet. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detector, and coupled to an electrospray ionization with ion-trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-TOF-MS) method, was established for the identification of chemical profile in FBI. Sixty-six major constituents (14 phenolic acids, 14 iridoids, 20 flavonoids, 2 benzylideneacetone compounds, 3 phenylethanoid glycosides, 1 coumarin, 1 lignan, 3 nucleosides, 1 amino acids, 1 monosaccharides, 2 oligosaccharides, 3 alduronic acids and citric acid) were identified or tentatively characterized by comparing their retention times and MS spectra with those of standards or literature data. Finally, all constituents were further assigned in the individual herbs (InHs), although some of them were from multiple InHs. As a result, 11 compounds were from Lobelia chinensis Lour, 33 compounds were from Scutellaria barbata D. Don and 38 compounds were from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. In conclusion, the developed HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-TOF-MS method is a rapid and efficient technique for analysis of FBI sample, and could be a valuable method for the further study on the quality control of the FBI.

Invitro acaricidal activity of ethnoveterinary plants and green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

The present study was designed to investigate the invitro acaricidal effects of seven ethnoveterinary plants, zinc acetate and green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles against the Southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The selected ethnoveterinary plants were extracted using ethanol and aqueous (water) solvents at 0.02mg/ml and 0.04mg/ml concentrations. Of these seven plants, Lobelia leschenaultiana showed the highest percentage of tick mortality. The ethanol extracts of L. leschenaultiana showed 93.33% mortality at 0.04mg/ml and its LC50 was 0.05mg/ml. However, zinc acetate exhibited 70% mortality at 0.04mg/ml (LC50: 0.0192mg/ml). Further, we synthesized ZnO nanoparticle using the leaf extracts of L. leschenaultiana and zinc acetate as the precursor material to control R. (B.) microplus. The structural characterization of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (Ll-ZnO NPs) was performed by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microsopy (TEM). UV-vis spectra showed the absorption band at 383nm. XRD analysis clearly showed the crystalline nature of Ll-ZnO NPs with various Bragg's reflection peaks at 100, 002, 101, 102, 110, 103, 200, 201 and 202 planes. FTIR analysis showed the possible functional groups of Ll-ZnO NPs with strong band at 3420.63 and 2922.48cm(-1). SEM and TEM analysis revealed that the Ll-ZnO NPs were spherical and hexagonal in shape with particle size ranging between 20 and 65nm. The mortality of R. (B.) microplus after treatment with Ll-ZnO NPs was 35, 57.5 and 82.5% at 0.001, 0.002 and 0.004mg/ml. On the otherhand, 100% mortality of R. (B.) microplus was observed at 0.008mg/ml (LC50: 0.0017mg/ml). The results indicated that the Ll-ZnO NPs have good acaricidal properties compared to L. leschenaultiana leaf extract and zinc acetate.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN VITRO AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS IN VIVO OF COMPOUND LOBELIA.

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine has its own uniqueness, advantageous in the treatment of hepatic diseases, and they were widely used in the oxidation. At the same time, oxidation is one of the mechanism of protect liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the antioxidant activity in vitro of different extracts from Compound Lobelia were estimated respectively by the methods of measuring the [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid] diamonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The protective effects on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in mice which was investigated by analyzing the result of biochemical parameters such as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in serum, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue homogenate. RESULT: the result showed that ABTS free radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract (IC50=29.26±0.49 µg/mL) was stronger than that of water extract (IC50=42.09±2.44 µg/mL), but they were lower than that of BHT as positive control (IC50=2.47±0.09 µg/mL). The ferric reducing antioxidant power of ethanol extract (FRAP=329.03±46.30 µmol/g) was higher than that of water extract (FRAP=206.03±54.30 µmol/g); they were lower than that of BHT (FRAP=1541.87±9.70 µmol/g). Water extract and ethanol extract could significantly reduce GOT activity (P<0.001) and GPT activity (P<0.001) in serum, reduce significantly the content of MDA (P<0.001) and significantly increase SOD activity (P<0.001) in the mice liver tissue homogenate. CONCLUSION: Compound lobelia had a certain antioxidant and satisfied hepatoprotective effects. Moreover, the liver-protective effect was concerned with antioxidant activity and enhances the body immunity. Compound lobelia is expected to be a new medicine for protecting liver.

(-)-Pentylsedinine, a New Alkaloid from the Leaves of Lobelia tupa with Agonist Activity at Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor.

Lobelia tupa, also called devil's tobacco, is a native plant from the center-south of Chile which has been used by the native people of Chile as a hallucinogenic and anesthetic plant. A new piperidine alkaloid, called pentylsedinine, which comprises five carbons in the side chain, was isolated from the aerial part of L. tupa, along with lobeline and lobelanidine. The structure was established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. While lobeline is a neutral antagonist at α3ß2/α3ß4 nAChR and α7 nAChR, both lobelanidine and pentylsedinine act as partial agonists at nAChR.

HPLC-ESI-MS/MS of brain neurotransmitter modulator lobeline and related piperidine alkaloids in Lobelia inflata L.

There is a renewed interest in lobelia alkaloids because of their activity on the central nervous system. Lobeline, the most active of them, a nicotinic receptor ligand and neurotransmitter transporter inhibitor, is a candidate pharmacotherapy for metamphetamine abuse. In the present work, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode was used for investigating the alkaloid profile in Lobelia inflata L. Chromatographic separations were achieved on a Gemini C6-phenyl reversed-phase column providing good peak shape and improved selectivity. Being mostly 2,6-disubstituted piperidines, lobelia alkaloids presented abundant [M + H](+) ions with typical fragmentation. Identification was possible from a few specific ions, especially those resulting from excision of one of the substituents. Based on fragmentation pattern of lobeline as reference compound, 52 alkaloids were identified in the aqueous methanolic extract of L. inflata in contrast to the previously known some 20. Structural variability of these alkaloids identified arises basically from their substituents which can be phenyl-2-ketoethyl- or phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl units as well as their methyl-, ethyl- or propyl- homologues attached in different combinations. Several propyl homologue lobelia alkaloids and five hydroxypiperidine derivatives were found in the plant at the first time. In addition to 8-O-esters of 2-monosubstituted piperidine alkaloids previously reported by us in L. inflata, a 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid ester of hydroxyallosedamine ring-substituted was also identified as a new natural product. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry can be successfully applied to Lobeliacae plant samples in the routine screening for new and known bioactive constituents, quality control of the crude drug, lobelia herba, alkaloid production studies, breeding and chemotaxonomy.

Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Lobelia chinensis in vitro and in vivo.

Lobelia chinensis Lour (LcL) is a popular herb that has been widely used as folk medicine in China for the treatment of fever, lung cancer, and inflammation for hundreds of years. Recently, several studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties were correlated with the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from the NF-κB pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of L. chinensis. Both suppressive activities on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro and the acute rat lung injury model in vivo were studied. The results showed that the methanol extract of LcL and its fractions within the range of 62.5-250 µg/mL did not induce cytotoxicity (p < 0.001). The ethyl acetate fraction of LcL showed better NO inhibition activity than other fractions. On the other hand, the Lc-EA (62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg) pretreated rats showed a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-ß, IL-6) and inhibited iNOS, COX-2 expression through the NF-κB pathway. These results suggested that L. chinensis exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect through the NF-κB pathways.

Lobelia chinensis: chemical constituents and anticancer activity perspective.

Research has demonstrated that many chemical constituents dominated by piperidine alkaloids and flavonoids, such as lobelanidine, lobeline, and lobelanine, have been obtained from Lobelia chinensis Lour. Experimental studies and clinical applications have also indicated that L. chinensis possesses a number of pharmacological activities (e.g., diuretic, choleretic, breathing excitement, anti-venom, anti-bacterial, and anticancer). This paper focuses on the properties, chemical constituents, and anticancer activity of L. chinensis to clarify the connection among them, and identify the active anticancer compounds. This work serves as the foundation for further research and development of L. chinensis.

Piperidine alkaloids from Lobelia polyphylla Hook. & Arn. (Campanulaceae) / Alcaloides piperidínicos de Lobelia polyphylla Hook. & Arn. (Campanulaceae)

The piperidine alkaloid composition from young stems of Lobelia polyphylla Hook & Arn. was determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The tentative structures, without the stereochemistry, were obtained by the analysis of the fragmentation patterns of the mass spectra of each compound. The stems contained a mixture of lobeline (1), norlobelanidine (2), 1-(1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-1-methylpiperidin) butane-2-ol (3), 8-propyl-10-phenyl lobelionol (4), 1-(6-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-1-methylpiperidin) butane-2-one (5), 1-(6-(2-hidroxypentyl)-1-ethylpiperidin) butane-2-one (6) and 1-methyl-2-piperidinemethanol (7). The role of these alkaloids in the toxic, narcotic and hallucinogenic effects, produced after smoking the aerial parts of this species is discussed.

La composición de alcaloides piperidínicos de tallos jóvenes de Lobelia polyphylla Hook & Arn. se determinó por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). Las estructuras tentativas sin incluir la estereoquímica, se obtuvieron mediante el análisis de los patrones de fragmentación de los espectros de masas de cada compuesto. Los tallos contienen una mezcla de lobelina (1), norlobelanidina (2), 1-(1-(2-hidroxi-2-feniletil)-1-metilpiperidin) butano-2-ol (3), 8-propil-10-fenil lobelionol (4), 1-(6-(2-hidroxi-2-feniletil)-1-metilpiperidin) butano-2-ona (5), 1-(6-(2-hidroxypentyl)-1-etilpiperidin) butano-2-ona (6) y 1-metil-2-piperidinmetanol (7). Se discute el posible papel de estos alcaloides en los efectos tóxicos, estupefacientes y alucinógenos, producidos después de haber fumado la parte aérea de esta especie.