Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “RAUWOLFIA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Variability of ribosomal RNA genes in Rauwolfia species: parallelism between tissue culture-induced rearrangements and interspecies polymorphism.

An analysis of 18S-25S and 5S rRNA genes in intact plants and cultured tissues of some Rauwolfia species was performed to compare these sequences variability occurred as a result of the species evolution in nature and that induced by tissue culture. The restriction fragment length polymorphism of 18S-25S and 5S rDNA was found both in intact plants of various Rauwolfia species and in long-term Rauwolfia serpentina tissue cultures. In addition, changes in the amount of 18S-25S rRNA genes were observed in long-term R. serpentina tissue cultures. The results demonstrate that rDNA variability observed in intact plants as well as in long-term cultures is attributed to differences in the same regions of ribosomal RNA genes.

DNA, Ribosomal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of reserpine and rescinnamine in Rauwolfia serpentina preparations by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A method is presented for the determination of reserpine and rescinnamine in Rauwolfia serpentina powder or tablets by liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. The sample is dispersed in CH3OH, 0.5N H2SO4 is added, and the mixture is extracted with five 30 mL portions of CHCl3. The extracts are separated from interfering materials on a Celite-0.1N NaOH column, and the eluates are collected in 50 mL CH3OH. After complete removal of the CHCl3, reserpine and rescinnamine are determined by liquid chromatography on a normal phase column with CH3OH as the mobile phase. Because reserpine and rescinnamine produce a single peak, chromatograms are obtained at different wavelengths. Reserpine is determined at an excitation wavelength of 280 nm and an emission wavelength of 360 nm. Rescinnamine is determined at an excitation wavelength of 330 nm and an emission wavelength of 435 nm. Recovery studies were conducted at 2 different levels to simulate 100 and 50 mg Rauwolfia serpentina tablets. Samples of Rauwolfia serpentina powders and tablets were also examined, and the results were compared with those obtained by the current AOAC official method. The proposed method is applicable to the analysis of ground composites and individual tablets.

Chromatography, Liquid↗
PubMed1975

Rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer. A case/control study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

In response to three reports of an association between rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer, a case/control study was undertaken in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Comparison of a cohort of women with breast cancer to an age-match cohort of women with cholelithiasis failed to show any meaningful differences in the two groups except with respect to a history of hypertension. The rates of use of rauwolfia derivatives by hypertensive cases and controls were identical--which, along with other considerations, leads to the conclusion that an association between the use of rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer is unlikely.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Collaborative study of a spectrofluorometric assay for Rauwolfia serpentina tablets and powdered root.

Reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids are extracted from Rauwolfia serpentina preparations into a dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-methanol mixture and diluted with 0.5N H2SO4. The chloroform extract of this solution is passed through a 0.1N NaOH-Celite column and then through a silica gel column. The weakly basic alkaloids trapped on the latter column are eluted with a methanol mixture; a portion of the eluate is treated with nitrous acid and the reserpine-rescinnamine content is determined by measuring the intensity of fluorescence of the oxidation product. The following means and standard deviations (11 collaborators) were obtained for the determination of reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids in 4 samples of Rauwolfia serpentina (NF reference powder, 100 mg and 50 mg commercial tablets, and a 45 mg synthetic tablet formulation) : 0.174% +/- 0.0112, 0.131% +/- 0.0047, 0.160% +/- 0.0100, and 0.153% +/- 0.0083, respectively.

Indicators and Reagents↗
PubMed1984

Risk of breast cancer in relation to the use of rauwolfia alkaloids.

In a case-control study of 1881 women with breast cancer and 1523 controls with benign conditions, 65 cases (3.5%) and 64 controls (4.2%) reported having used a drug that contained rauwolfia, giving a rate ratio estimate of 0.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.5-1.1). Use that ended more than a year previously was negatively associated with breast cancer (rate ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9). The risk of breast cancer did not vary significantly according to duration of use. Nor did it vary within strata of varying base-line risk, such as age at first pregnancy. The data suggest that rauwolfia alkaloids do not increase the risk of breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer in hypertensive women.

Three groups of women were selected from a sample of death certificates that had been coded by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for all conditions mentioned on them: (1) all women with reference to both breast cancer and hypertension; (2) all women with reference to hypertension and other cancers; (3) a group of women with reference to hypertension without cancer, selected to match the breast-cancer patients with respect to five features. When the women with breast cancer were compared with both the women with other cancers and the women without cancer, there was a positive association between breast cancer and the use of rauwolfia derivatives, although neither the differences in the frequency nor duration observed were statistically significant. The association appeared to be strongest for use near the time of diagnosis of the cancer. This agrees with nearly all other data and would be expected if rauwolfia derivatives promoted the development of breast cancer from previously initiated cells.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Investigation of the Alkaloid Content of Rauwolfia serpentina Roots from Regenerated Plants.

The indole alkaloid content of RAUWOLFIA SERPENTINA roots from regenerated plants (from stem-and root-callus) was compared with the parental stock. Although the total alkaloid content seems to be slightly higher in the roots from regenerated plants, HPLC-analysis of individual alkaloids indicated that the contents of the alkaloids ajmaline ( 1), serpentine ( 2), and reserpine ( 3) are lower than in the roots of the parental stock. The glucoalkaloid raucaffricine ( 4) was identified as a constituent of all samples, thus providing the first evidence for its occurrence in roots of RAUWOLFIA SERPENTINA.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Plasma prolactin levels in women at postmenopausal age with a family history of breast cancer or a prescription for antihypertensive Rauwolfia treatment.

An investigation was made of daytime plasma prolactin levels in three groups of women aged 50 to 64 years: (1) 139 women with a family history of breast cancer; (2) 50 women on Rauwolfia treatment for hypertension, and (3) 90 women of a control group. A significant difference in prolactin levels was found between groups 2 and 3 but not between 1 and 3. These findings are considered in relation to the results of a breast cancer screening programme in which the women took part. Here, it was the women with a family history of breast cancer who showed an increased breast cancer risk, whereas the risk in women on Rauwolfia was not significantly higher than expected on the basis of the experience among controls. It is concluded that the role of prolactin in the etiology of breast cancer is still not clear.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

Spectrophotometric determination of Rauwolfia alkaloids: estimation of reserpine in pharmaceuticals.

A simple, sensitive and economically viable spectrophotometric method for the determination of some Rauwolfia alkaloids (ajmaline, ajmalicine, reserpine and yohimbine-HCl) has been developed. The method involves the oxidation of Rauwolfia alkaloids by iron(III) and subsequent complexation of iron(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline, forming a red-colored complex having the maximum absorbance at 510 nm. The method is applied to the determination of reserpine in tablets of pharmaceutical formulations. The common excipients do not interfere with the proposed method. A statistical comparison of these results with those of a reported method shows good agreement and indicates no significant difference in the precision.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Collaborative study of a spectrofluorometric assay for Rauwolfia serpentina tablets and powdered root, using a vanadium pentoxide-phosphoric acid determinative step.

Reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids are extracted from Rauwolfia serpentina preparations into dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-methanol and diluted with 0.5N H2SO4. The chloroform extract of this solution is passed through a 0.1N NaOH-Celite column and then through a silica gel column. The weakly basic alkaloids trapped on the latter column are eluted with chloroform-methanol; a portion of the eluate is treated with a vanadium pentoxide-phosphoric acid solution, and the reserpine-rescinnamine content is determined by measuring the intensity of the resulting fluorescence. The following means and standard deviations (11 collaborators) were obtained for the determination of reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids in 4 samples of Rauwolfia serpentina (NF reference powder, 100 and 50 mg commercial tablets, and 45 mg synthetic tablet formation): 0.173%, 0.0050; 0.128%, 0.0030; 0.150%, 0.0069; and 0.142%, 0.0032; respectively. The method has been adopted as official first action.

Indicators and Reagents↗
PubMed1954

Rauwolfia serpentina; prolonged use in elderly hypertensive patients.

In a group of older, arteriosclerotic hypertensive patients treated with an extract of Rauwolfia over a long period, a mild hypotensive effect was noted after weeks, or occasionally months, of therapy. No dramatic responses were seen, but the so-called "tranquilizing" effect was readily apparent and was appreciated by the patients. Side effects were usually relatively minor, were transient and rarely necessitated stopping the drug.

Hypertension↗
PubMed1981

The alkaloids of Rauwolfia volkensii.

The roots of Rauwolfia volkensii yielded 26 alkaloids comprising five main groups--sarpagan, akuammicine, heteroyohimbine with derived oxindole and anhydronium bases, yohimbine with 18-hydroxy-yohimbine and its derived esters, and dihydroindole alkaloids. The principal alkaloids were ajmaline (0.08 per cent) and reserpiline (0.15 per cent), and the reserpine yield (0.0007 per cent) was very low.

Plants, Medicinal↗
PubMed2006

Tissue lipid lowering-effect of a traditional Nigerian anti-diabetic infusion of Rauwolfia vomitoria foilage and Citrus aurantium fruit.

The toxicity and anti-diabetic properties of an aqueous plant extract made by boiling Rauwolfia vomitoria foilage and Citrus aurantium fruits were evaluated in mice. A single dosage corresponding to 70x the human-daily-dose was non-toxic when administered to 6-week-old NMRI lean mice or 6- or 11-week-old C57BL/6J lean mice. Daily treatment of 11-week-old C57BL/KsBom-db (db/db) genetic diabetic mice with a dose corresponding to 10x human-daily-dose for 6 weeks facilitated a significant weight loss as compared to the untreated controls. During treatment, the db/db mice were maintained on the carbohydrate-deficient Altromin C1009 diet. Although the food intake in the treated mice was not statistically significant from that in the controls, the treated animals had significantly higher serum triglyceride contents, suggesting that the treatment induced lipid mobilization from internal stores. Moreover, the fatty acid profile of the eyes from the treated animals showed a significant reduction in total fatty acid content accompanied by a 33% reduction in estimated Stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity (p = 0.039) as compared with controls. The fatty acid mobilization and a protection of the brittle C57BL/KsBom-db pancreas were observed 5 weeks after cessation of treatment when the treated animals were maintained on the poorer Altromin C1009 diet.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Purification, partial amino acid sequence and structure of the product of raucaffricine-O-beta-D-glucosidase from plant cell cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina.

Plant cell suspension cultures of Rauwolfia produce within 1 week approximately 250 nkat/l of raucaffricine-O-beta-D-glucosidase. A five step procedure using anion exchange chromatography, chromatography on hydroxylapatite, gel filtration and FPLC-chromatography on Mono Q and Mono P delivered in a yield of 0.9% approximately 1200-fold enriched glucosidase. A short protocol employing DEAE sepharose, TSK 55 S gel chromatography and purification on Mono Q gave a 5% recovery of glucosidase which was 340-fold enriched. SDS-PAGE showed a Mr for the enzyme of 61 kDa. The enzyme is not glycosylated. Structural investigation of the enzyme product, vomilenine, demonstrated that the alkaloid exists in aqueous solutions in an equilibrium of 21(R)- and 21(S)-vomilenine in a ratio of 3.4:1. Proteolysis of the pure enzyme with endoproteinase Lys C revealed six peptide fragments with 6-24 amino acids which were sequenced. The two largest fragments showed sequences, of which the motif Val-Thr-Glu-Asn-Gly is typical for beta-glucosidases. Sequence alignment of these fragments demonstrated high homologies to linamarase from Manihot esculenta (81% identity) or to beta-glucosidase from Prunus avium (79% identity). Raucaffricine-O-beta-D-glucosidase seems to be a new member of the family 1 of glycosyl hydrolases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Indole alkaloids and other constituents of Rauwolfia serpentina.

From the dried roots of Rauwolfia serpentina were isolated five new indole alkaloids, N(b)-methylajmaline (1), N(b)-methylisoajmaline (2), 3-hydroxysarpagine (3), yohimbinic acid (4), isorauhimbinic acid (5), a new iridoid glucoside, 7-epiloganin (6), and a new sucrose derivative, 6'-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)glomeratose A (7), together with 20 known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical means. The inhibitory activities of the selected alkaloids on topoisomerase I and II and their cytotoxicity against the human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell lines were assessed.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of 2 beta (R)-17-O-acetylajmalan: acetylesterase--a specific enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the Rauwolfia alkaloid ajmaline.

A novel enzyme was isolated, partially purified (217-fold) and characterized from cell suspension cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth. The enzyme catalyzes one of the late biochemical reactions in the biosynthesis of ajmaline by hydrolysis of 17-O-acetylated alkaloids of the ajmalan group forming the appropriate deacetylated compounds. This esterase exhibits an unusually high substrate selectivity and exclusively accepts acetylated ajmaline derivatives with the naturally occurring 2 beta (R)-configuration. The properties of the enzyme were determined showing an optimum pH at 7.5, an isoelectric point of pH 4.9 and a relative molecular weight of 33 +/- 2 kDa. Inhibition studies of enzyme activity point to the necessity of SH-groups. The esterase seems not to be inhibited by ajmaline, the end product of the pathway. The highest enzyme activities were observed in leaves and cell suspension tissues of the tribe Rauwolfieae which are known to synthesize ajmaline and its congeners. The specific function of the esterase in the biosynthesis of the later alkaloids was established.

Ajmaline↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of named binders in Rauwolfia vomitoria root tablets.

Some physical properties of Rauwolfia vomitoria root tablets were studied. Tablet characteristics studied were: weight uniformity, tensile strength, friability, disintegration time and content uniformity. Tablet property varied depending on the type and concentration of the binder. The tablets had type and concentration of the binder. The tablets had acceptable hardness and friability profiles. Although tablets containing 150 mg R. vomitoria root had lower tensile strength values. All the tablets passed the B.P. disintegration time test of 15 min. Moreover tablets containing 150 mg R. vomitoria root disintegrated under 1 min. at 4% w/w binder concentration.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Spatial integration of partners and heteromorphism of cyanobacterium Nostoc muscoum CALU 304 in mixed culture with Rauwolfia].

A comparative morphological study was conducted of Nostoc muscorum CALU 304 grown either as a pure culture on standard media or as a mixed culture with Rauwolfia callus tissue on a medium for plant tissue cultivation. The interaction of the cyanobacterial and plant partners results in their spatial integration into aggregates of specific anatomy, which arise periodically during the mixed culture growth. The morphology of the cyanobacterial cells varies depending on their localization in the combined aggregate. The degree of cyanobacterial heteromorphism increases with time of growth of the association. Evidence of the plant origin of the factors inducing heteromorphic changes in N. muscorum was obtained, as well as evidence indicating that these factors can rapidly diffuse in agarized medium. A conclusion is inferred that the heteromorphic cells correspond to bacterial forms that appear during unbalanced growth as an adaptation to altered environmental conditions.

Cyanobacteria↗