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At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Alkaloid binding and activation of D2 dopamine receptors in cell culture.

Ergot and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, either extracted from endophyte-infected tall fescue, synthesized, or purchased commercially, were evaluated in cultured cells to estimate their binding to the D2 dopamine receptor and subsequent effects on cyclic AMP production in GH4ZR7 cells, transfected with a rat D2 dopamine receptor. Ergopeptide alkaloid (alpha-ergocryptine, bromocryptine, ergotamine tartrate, and ergovaline) inhibition of the binding of the D2-specific radioligand, [3H]YM-09151-2, exhibited inhibition constants (K(I)) in the nanomolar range, whereas dopamine was less potent (micromolar). The lysergic acid amides (ergine and ergonovine) were 1/100th as potent as the ergopeptide alkaloids. Ergovaline and ergotamine tartrate were equally effective in inhibiting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated cyclic AMP production, with consistent nanomolar effective concentration (EC50) values. The remaining ergopeptide alkaloids (alpha-ergocryptine and bromocryptine), lysergic acid amides (ergonovine and ergine), and dopamine were 1/100th as potent. Two representative pyrrolizidines, N-formylloline and N-acetylloline, exhibited no binding activity at the D2 dopamine receptor or effects on the cyclic AMP system within the concentration ranges of nanomolar to millimolar. Our results indicate that the commercially available ergot alkaloids ergotamine tartrate and ergonovine may be used interchangeably in the D2 dopamine receptor system to simulate the effects of extracted ergovaline and ergine and to examine responses in receptor binding and the inhibition of cyclic AMP.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of some amino acids on the growth and biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids and quinocitrinins in the fungus Penicillium citrinum Thom 1910].

The effect of some amino acids, added to the medium either during inoculation or in the stationary growth phase, on the growth and biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids and quinocitrinins in the fungus Penicillium citrinum VKM FW-800 has been studied. Exogenously added amino acids were mostly utilized in primary metabolism. When added during inoculation, tryptophan and leucine virtually did not influence fungal growth and synthesis of the alkaloids, whereas the addition of isoleucine enhanced the biomass accumulation. When added in the stationary growth phase, tryptophan stimulated the synthesis of both ergot alkaloids and quinocitrinins. Leucine added in the stationary growth phase did not influence the synthesis of ergot alkaloids but inhibited the synthesis of quinocitrinins. Isoleucine inhibited the synthesis of both ergot alkaloids and quinocitrinins irrespective of the time of its addition to the medium.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1998

FT-Raman investigation of alkaloids in the liana Ancistrocladus heyneanus.

The applicability of the micro-FT-Raman technique for studying alkaloids in vitro and for observing alkaloids in plant cells is demonstrated. This technique is examined using fresh plant material of Ancistrocladus heyneanus, a tropical liana known to produce pharmacologically interesting naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids as secondary metabolites. It will be shown that it is possible to localize and identify some of these alkaloids in different parts of the plant by means of Raman microspectroscopic studies. Data on the in situ structure and the spatial distribution can be obtained, which could provide information about the biosynthesis of the alkaloids in the plant.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2006

Determination of quinolizidine alkaloids in Sophora flavescens and its preparation using capillary electrophoresis.

A simple and accurate capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the determination of four quinolizidine alkaloids in Sophora flavescens and Kuhuang injection. Optimum separation of the analytes was obtained on a 65 cm x 75 microm i.d. uncoated fused-silica capillary using a aqueous buffer system of 60 mmol L(-1) sodium borate at pH 8.5, with applied voltage and capillary temperature of 12 kV and 25 degrees C, respectively. Detection wavelength was set at 204 nm and jatrorrhizine was used as the internal standard. Good linear relationships between peak-area ratios and concentrations of the analytes were observed over the concentration range 0.044-0.792 mg mL(-1) for matrine, 0.142-1.926 mg mL(-1) for oxymatrine, 0.0377-0.3393 mg mL(-1) for sophocarpine and 0.0664-1.062 mg mL(-1) for sophoridine. The recoveries of four alkaloids ranged between 93.08 and 101.4% with relative standard deviations from 0.7 to 9.2% (n = 6) as determined by standard addition. The limits of detection for four alkaloids were determined to be over the range 8.8-48.0 microg mL(-1). Contents of four alkaloids in Sophora flavescens and three alkaloids in Kuhuang injection were successfully determined under the optimum conditions.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1998

Application of high-performance capillary electrophoresis to the quantitative analysis of nicotine and profiling of other alkaloids in ATF-regulated tobacco products.

Tobacco products regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), are classified at different excise tax rates according to the Code of Federal Regulations. These include the smoking (cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco and roll-your-own) and smokeless (chewing tobacco and snuff) tobacco products. The active principal components in all tobacco products belong to a class of compounds known as alkaloids. Nicotine is the major tobacco alkaloid, comprising about 98% of the total alkaloids. It is also the primary determinant of what constitutes a tobacco product from a regulatory standpoint. Nornicotine, anabasine and anatabine constitute the minor tobacco alkaloids of importance and interest to ATF. We have previously shown capillary electrophoresis (CE) to be a powerful analytical tool for monitoring nicotine in ATF-regulated products. Here we have extended those CE studies to (i) quantitate nicotine in ATF-regulated tobacco products and (ii) to characterize these different tobacco products according to their alkaloid profiles. Results from these studies will be presented.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2002

Liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of biologically active alkaloids in extracts of Peschiera fuschiaefolia.

Four alkaloids were isolated from an alcoholic extract of the bark from the stem of Peschiera fuschiaefolia. Two of these compounds, voacamine and voacamidine, are dimeric alkaloids which are thought to be responsible for the antimalarial activity of these extracts. The mass spectra and the response factors of these four compounds were obtained by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in the electrospray positive ionization mode. The concentrations of these alkaloids were measured in two different P. fuschiaefolia extracts. The ion chromatograms of the two extracts were compared on the basis of their [M + H](+) and [M + 2H](+2) ions characteristic of various alkaloids previously isolated from P. fuschiaefolia bark. The two extracts were found to differ mostly in the relative concentrations of the dimeric alkaloids.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2004

Structural elucidation and identification of alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Simple, convenient, sensitive and accurate analytical methods are needed for the structural characterization and identification of alkaloid components in Rhizoma Coptidis in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has important bioactivity. In this work, the identification of alkaloid compounds in Rhizoma Coptidis was investigated by obtaining molecular mass information using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Multi-stage tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS(n)) data for the alkaloid compounds were used for detailed structural characterization, then structure information was obtained by comparison of the fragmentation mechanisms of both alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis and standard samples of berberine, palmatine, coptisine and jatrorrhizine by MS. Based on the results obtained, the structure of a novel compound was elucidated. The results of the experiments demonstrate that ESI-MS(n) is a sensitive, selective and effective tool for the rapid determination of alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis.

Berberine↗
PubMed1983

Interaction of catecholamine-derived alkaloids with central neurotransmitter receptors.

Catecholamine-derived alkaloids of the simple tetrahydroisoquinoline, 1-benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline and tetrahydroprotoberberine classes have been tested for their ability to inhibit the binding of seven different radioligands to neurotransmitter receptors of brain synaptic membranes. Alkaloids of all three classes were active in inhibiting 3H-clonidine binding to alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Stereoselectivity of tetrahydropapaveroline in binding to alpha 2-adrenergic receptors was evidenced by the marked activity of the S-(--) isomer (IC50 = 0.65 microM) in comparison to the R-(+) enantiomer (IC50 = 50 microM). The simple tetrahydroisoquinolines (3,4-dihydroxytetrahydroisoquinoline and salsolinol), the four isomeric mono-O-methyl derivatives of 2,3,10,11-tetrahydroxyberbine and tetrahydropapaveroline were the most potent inhibitors of 3H-apomorphine binding to dopaminergic receptor agonist sites. The tetrahydroprotoberberines, as a class, were the most potent inhibitors of 3H-spiroperidol binding to dopaminergic receptor antagonist sites and of 3H-WB-4101 binding to alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. The 1-benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines exhibited varying degrees of interaction with beta 1-adrenergic receptors. Tetrahydropapaveroline (IC50 = 0.3 microM) was the most active of the 24 alkaloids tested in inhibiting binding of 3H-dihydroalprenolol to beta 1-adrenergic receptors. None of the alkaloids significantly affected 3H-QNB binding to muscarinic-cholinergic receptors, and selected alkaloids from each class interacted only moderately with serotonergic receptors.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1975

Two antimicrobial alkaloids from heartwood of Liriodendron tulipifera L.

Alcoholic extracts of the heartwood of Liriodendron tulipifera have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The antimicrobial activity was associated only with the alkaloidal fraction. Separation of the active alkaloidal fraction by chromatography led to the isolation and identification of dehydroglaucine and liriodenine as the active components. Several other alkaloidal derivatives were prepared and tested. In addition to the active alkaloids, michelabine was also identified in the tertiary nonphenolic base fraction along with the lignan, lirioresinol-B-dimethyl ether, and two N-acetylnoraporphine alkaloids from the nonbasic fraction.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1983

Enzyme inhibition VI: Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity by protoberberine alkaloids and structure-activity relationships.

Protoberberine alkaloids such as palmatine (I), 13-methylpalmatine iodide (II), 2,3-methylenedioxy-10,11-dimethoxy-13-methylprotoberberine iodide (III), 2,3-methylenedioxy-9,10-dimethoxy-13-methylprotoberberine chloride (IV), and berberine (V) showed inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of RNA tumor viruses in the presence of polyriboadenylic acid-oligodeoxythymidylic acid (VI), polydeoxyadenylic acid-oligodeoxythymidylic acid (VII), activated calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (IX), and 70S ribonucleic acid (X), but not in the presence of polyribocytidylic acid-oligodeoxyguanylic acid (VIII). These results indicated that the alkaloids caused inhibition of the enzyme activity by interacting with the template primer, particularly of the adenine-thymine base pair. Furthermore, the alkaloids competed with the template primer-binding site of the enzyme. The time course inhibition indicated that the alkaloids stopped the DNA synthesis instantly when added after the initiation of polymerization processes. Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity was correlated with the structure and antileukemic activity of the protoberberine alkaloids.

Avian Myeloblastosis Virus↗
PubMed1976

Suppression of stimulating cell activity by microtubule-disrupting alkaloids.

Microtubule-disrupting alkaloids and protein fixatives were used to investigate the nature of an active process that must occur within stimulator cells in order for them to initiate a unidirectional mixed lymphocyte response (MLR). Brief treatment of the stimulator cells (SC) with glutaraldehyde (0.15%), formalin (0.6%), or lanthanum chloride (10-3 M) abolished their capacity to activate responder cells (RC). Pretreatment of SC with microtubule-disrupting alkaloids, colchicine (c) (10-4 to 10-6 M) or colchicine + vincristine (c+v) (10-4 to 10-6 M) also abrogated their stimulating capacity. This capacity was not restored by the addition of supernates from untreated cultures, thereby excluding the possibility that the alkaloids acted by decreasing the release of soluble stimulatory factors from SC. The introduction of alkaloid-inactivated, mitomycin-treated RC as drug carriers did not affect the mitogenic response of untreated RC to concanavalin A. This excluded a significant leakage of alkaloids from the treated SC and uptake by RC during culture. Lumicolchicine produced no decrease in the stimulating capacity of SC. This suggested that the suppression induced by low concentrations of colchicine resulted from its specific disruption of microtubules. None of the above treatments quantitatively reduced the antigenicity of SC, as evaluated by humoral and cell-mediated lysis of the treated cells. Also, these treatments produced no significant changes in the specific binding of concanavalin A by SC. These results indicate there is a functional interaction of microtubular structures with cell surface antigens that appears to regulate either the capacity of SC to associate with RC, or the ability of SC to form and stabilize stimulatory antigenic configurations on the cell surface.

Alkaloids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of the alkaloids of Galipea officinalis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Galipea officinalis Hancock, a Venezuelan shrubby tree which is acclaimed in folk medicine for its many healing properties, is the only species of the genus to contain tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids. A GC-MS method has been developed in order to analyse the essential oil, hexane and chloroform extracts of the trunk bark of this plant, without prior derivatisation of the alkaloidal components. A study of the MS fragmentation patterns of the components permitted the identification of five new minor quinoline alkaloids together with the known alkaloids. In addition, the method could also be used for the characterisation of alkaloids within the genus Galipea.

Alkaloids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of colchicine and related alkaloids from seeds of Colchicum autumnale L.

A method for the extraction of the alkaloids colchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine and colchicoside from seeds of Colchicum autumnale by supercritical carbon dioxide has been established. Several parameters such as pressure, temperature, percentage of modifier and extraction time have been examined. Two extraction steps with constant carbon dioxide density (0.90 g/mL) and flux (1.5 mL/min) were required to extract the alkaloids in 110 min using 3% methanol as modifier. The quantitative determination of the alkaloids was performed by HPLC; the percentages of recovery were higher than 98% for the three alkaloids. This extraction procedure was compared with a conventional method involving maceration and sonication, and the same levels of alkaloids were obtained in each case. The supercritical carbon dioxide method is, however, very efficient, more rapid and more environmentally friendly than conventional methods.

Alkaloids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Solid-phase extraction and HPLC-MS profiling of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides: a case study of Echium plantagineum.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides can be extracted from the dried methanolic extracts of plant material using dilute aqueous acid. The subsequent integration of solid-phase extraction (with a strong cation exchanger) of the alkaloids and N-oxides from the aqueous acid solution, together with analysis using HPLC-ESI/MS, provides a method for the simultaneous profiling of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides in plant samples and the collection of useful structural data as an aid in their identification. The N-oxide character of the analytes may be confirmed by treating analytical samples with a redox resin and observing the formation of the corresponding parent pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The present case study of Echium plantagineum highlighted a higher ratio of N-oxides to the parent tertiary bases than has been previously reported. Furthermore, a higher proportion of acetylated pyrrolizidine-N-oxides was observed in the flower heads relative to the leaves. Six pyrrolizidine alkaloids or pyrrolizidine-N-oxides, not previously reported from E. plantagineum, were tentatively identified on the basis of MS and biogenetic considerations. Three of these, 3'-O-acetylintermedine/lycopsamine, leptanthine-N-oxide and 9-O-angelylretronecine-N-oxide, have been reported elsewhere, whilst three others, 3'-O-acetylechiumine-N-oxide, echimiplatine-N-oxide and echiuplatine-N-oxide, appear unreported from any other source.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2006

Differentiation of three pairs of aconite alkaloid isomers from Aconitum nagarum var. lasiandrum by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Three pairs of isomers of aconite alkaloids from Aconitum nagarum var. lasiandrum have been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) employing ion-trap and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometers in positive mode. Based on the differences of their fragmentation pathways and special fragment ions, three pairs of isomers of aconite alkaloids were differentiated. In addition, fragmentation laws of some veatchines and the discrepancy of fragmentation mechanisms between veatchine-type and aconitine-type alkaloid were also concluded. In the case of veatchines, a radical would be formed by homolysis of C18--C4 or C18--H bonds, followed by elimination of a series of C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4). Moreover, the retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) reaction occurred in the E-ring and double-electron transfer triggered by the positive charge on C1 led to the formation of diagnostic ions at m/z 216. With regard to aconitine-type alkaloids, the N-substituent is not eliminated easily. Although there is no carbonyl group on some aconitine-type alkaloids, with hydroxyl and methoxyl on C15 and C16 respectively, CO was readily eliminated through tautomerization.

Aconitum↗
PubMed2007

Characterization and online detection of aromatic alkaloids in the ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium by liquid chromatography/UV detection mass spectrometry.

A detection method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet diode-array detection and electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-ESI-MS/MS) was developed to investigate the total alkaloids prepared from the ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium. The aromatic alkaloids possessing polysulfide structures are the major bioactive constituents isolated from ascidians of the genera Lissoclinum, Eudistoma, and Polycitor. These compounds presented various important biological activities. The ESI-MS fragmentation behavior of this kind of alkaloids was studied, and the fragmentation was characterized by elimination of the NH(CH(3))(2) moiety. The use of reversed-phase HPLC/UV-ESI-MS allowed the online separation and detection of 25 aromatic alkaloids. This approach provided data that can be used for detection of biologically active aromatic alkaloids from marine organisms.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1996

Bacterial alkaloids mitigate seizure-induced hippocampal damage and spatial memory deficits.

Studies of human patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and animal models of epilepsy have established relationships between seizures, excitotoxic hippocampal damage, and memory impairment. We report that bacterial alkaloids, recently shown to mimic actions of neurotrophic factors in cell culture, attenuate seizure-induced damage to hippocampal neurons and memory impairment in adult rats when administered subcutaneously. Intrahippocampal administration of convulsant doses of kainic acid (KA) to adult rats resulted in degeneration of neurons in CA3, CA1, and hilus. Rats administered KA exhibited (24 h later) deficits in performance on both goal latency and probe trial tasks in Morris water maze (MWM) tests of visuospatial memory. Seizure-induced damage to hippocampal neurons was significantly reduced, to varying extents, in rats administered the bacterial alkaloids K252a, K252b, or staurosporine (daily injections of 4 micrograms/kg body weight) prior to KA administration. The KA-induced deficits in MWM goal latency performance were abrogated in rats administered K252a or K252b, and K252a and staurosporine completely prevented seizure-induced impairment on the MWM probe trial. The alkaloids did not suppress electroencephalographic seizure activity, suggesting a dissociation between synchronization of activity and synaptically mediated excitotoxic injury to hippocampal neurons. Each alkaloid caused an increase in levels of protein tyrosine phosphorylation as determined by Western blot analysis of hippocampal tissue. Our data indicate that these bacterial alkaloids have potent antiexcitotoxic activities which may have clinical utility in epilepsy and other disorders that involve excitotoxic damage.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1993

Alterations in alveolar type II cell metabolism induced by tetrandrine and other alkaloids.

Tetrandrine (TT) and other bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids have been used in China as a treatment for fibrotic lung diseases. Because of their potential use as pulmonary therapeutic agents, we studied the effects of some of these compounds on energy metabolism in isolated rat alveolar type II cells, i.e., cells which play a critical role in maintaining normal lung function. Incubation of type II cells with most of the alkaloids produces a reduction in cellular ATP content. However, there is no effect of the alkaloids on cellular oxygen consumption. All of the alkaloids which produce reductions in cell ATP levels cause increases in internal calcium levels of type II cells. Incubation of the cells with the calcium ionophore, 4-bromo A-23187, leads to increased amounts of intracellular calcium and reductions in ATP levels, but has no effect on oxygen consumption. Exposure of isolated lung mitochondria to calcium produces a concentration-dependent reduction in ATP synthesis with no effect on mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Direct exposure of mitochondria to TT has no effect on ATP synthesis. These results are consistent with the notion that the alkaloids produce an increase in type II cell internal calcium levels which, in turn, leads to reduced rates of mitochondrial ATP synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗