Clinical References on Sangre de Grado(Croton lechleri)
Phillipson JD. A matter of some sensitivity. Phytochemistry, 1995 Apr
(Abstract Available)
Chen ZP, et al. Studies on the anti-tumour, anti-bacterial, and wound-healing properties of dragon's blood. Planta Med, 1994 Dec
(Abstract Available)
Pieters L, et al. Isolation of a dihydrobenzofuran lignan from South American dragon's blood (Croton spp.) as an inhibitor of cell proliferation. J Nat Prod, 1993 Jun
(Abstract Available)
Vaisberg AJ, et al. Taspine is the cicatrizant principle in Sangre de Grado extracted from Croton lechleri. Planta Med, 1989 Apr
(Abstract Available)
Perdue GP, et al. South American plants II: taspine isolation and anti-inflammatory activity. J Pharm Sci, 1979 Jan
(Abstract Available)
South American plants II: taspine isolation and anti-inflammatory activity.
Perdue GP; Blomster RN; Blake DA; Farnsworth NR
J Pharm Sci, 68: 1, 1979 Jan, 124-6
Abstract
Croton lechleri L. (Euphorbiaceae), a plant from the Upper Amazon Valley of Peru, yielded the alkaloid taspine. The anti-inflammatory activity of taspine hydrochloride was studied using the carrageenan-induced pedal edema method, the cotton pellet-induced granuloma method, and the adjuvant polyarthritis model.
Taspine is the cicatrizant principle in Sangre de Grado extracted from Croton lechleri.
Vaisberg AJ; Milla M; Planas MC; Cordova JL; de Agusti ER; Ferreyra R; Mustiga MC; Carlin L; Hammond GB
Planta Med, 55: 2, 1989 Apr, 140-3
Abstract
Sangre de Grado extract used by Peruvian natives as a cicatrizant agent, was collected from trees of the species Croton lechleri growing in the Peruvian jungle. The Sangre de Grado was found to contain one alkaloid identified as taspine and which was shown to be the active cicatrizant principle by an in vivo test in mice. This alkaloid exhibited a dose-related cicatrizant effect and an ED50 of 0.375 mg/kg. Experiments with taspine hydrochloride in order to study its mechanism of action in cell culture systems showed that the alkaloid was non-toxic to human foreskin fibroblasts at concentrations below 150 ng/ml and that it had no effect on cell proliferation. On the other hand, taspine hydrochloride was found to increase the migration of human foreskin fibroblasts. This effect on the migration of fibroblasts is probably the mechanism by which Sangre de Grado and taspine hydrochloride accelerate the wound healing process. Using the two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis system, we have been able to show that neither Sangre de Grado nor taspine hydrochloride had carcinogenic or tumour promoter activity after 17 months of treatment.
Isolation of a dihydrobenzofuran lignan from South American dragon's blood (Croton spp.) as an inhibitor of cell proliferation.
Pieters L; de Bruyne T; Claeys M; Vlietinck A; Calomme M; vanden Berghe D
University of Antwerp, Belgium.
J Nat Prod, 56: 6, 1993 Jun, 899-906
Abstract
Dragon's blood is a red viscous latex extracted from the cortex of various Croton spp. (Euphorbiaceae), most commonly Croton lechleri, Croton draconoides (or Croton palanostigma), and Croton erythrochilus. It is used in South American popular medicine for several purposes, including wound healing. Bioassay-guided fractionation of dragon's blood, using an in vitro test system for the stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, has resulted in the isolation of a dihydrobenzofuran lignan, 3',4-O-dimethylcedrusin or 4-O-methyldihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol [2-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-7-methoxybenzo furan-5- propan-1-ol] [1] as the biologically active principle. A related compound, 4-O-methylcedrusin [2-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxybenzo furan-5- propan-1-ol] [2], and the alkaloid taspine [3], also isolated from dragon's blood, were not active in the same assay. A cell proliferation assay, measuring the incorporation of tritiated thymidine in endothelial cells, showed that compound 1 did not stimulate cell proliferation, but rather inhibited thymidine incorporation, while protecting cells against degradation in a starvation medium.
Studies on the anti-tumour, anti-bacterial, and wound-healing properties of dragon's blood.
Chen ZP; Cai Y; Phillipson JD
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, U.K.
Planta Med, 60: 6, 1994 Dec, 541-5
Abstract
Three in-vitro assays have been adopted to examine the cytotoxicity and anti-bacterial activity of the blood-red sap of Croton lechleri from Ecuador, and to examine its effect upon the proliferation of endothelial cells. The sap was found not to be cytotoxic. Several simple phenolic compounds and diterpenes showed a potent anti-bacterial activity. The sap has little effect upon the proliferation of endothelial cells, and no single active ingredient was identified. A mechanism for the wound-healing property of the sap has been proposed.
A matter of some sensitivity.
Phillipson JD
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, U.K.
Phytochemistry, 38: 6, 1995 Apr, 1319-43
Abstract
The development of sensitive chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques for the isolation and structure determination of natural products has greatly facilitated phytochemical investigations. Chemical investigations of herbarium material have resulted in the isolation of indole, quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids from a wide number of plants. Examples of novel natural products from higher plants are given and include alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics and quinones. Some plants investigated have not yielded the types of constituents which would have been predicted from them. Plant tissue cultures provide alternative sources of biologically active compounds and examples investigated include Cinchona, Ailanthus, Brucea and Artemisia for antiprotozoal compounds and Datura for tropane alkaloids. Biological tests are useful for bioassay-guided fractionation of plant extracts and examples of the isolation of a series of natural products with antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activities are given. Chemical and biological investigations into the traditional medicine Dragon's blood (Croton lechleri) from S. America and a Chinese prescription for the treatment of atopic eczema are described. The use of radio-ligand binding assays for the detection of a wide range of biological activities is discussed. Sensitivity of chemical and biological techniques has greatly improved prospects for finding new drug entities from plants and for investigating traditional medicines. Basic phytochemical investigations should continue to be encouraged especially in view of the rapid loss of plant species.
Clinical References on Sarsaparilla (Smilax sp.)
Giachetti D, et al. Effects of Smilax macrophylla Vers. in normal or hyperuricemic and hyperuricosuric rats. Pharmacol Res Commun, 1988 Dec
(Abstract Available)
Caceres A, et al. Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. 1. Screening of 84 plants against enterobacteria. J Ethnopharmacol, 1990 Aug
(Abstract Available)
Caceres A, et al. Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytic infections. 1. Screening for antimycotic activity of 44 plant extracts. J Ethnopharmacol, 1991 Mar
(Abstract Available)
Ju Y, et al. Steroidal saponins from Smilax menispermoidea and S. lebrunii. Phytochemistry, 1994 Nov
Kubo S, et al. Steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Smilax sieboldii. Phytochemistry, 1992 Jul
Sashida Y, et al. Steroidal saponins from Smilax riparia and S. china. Phytochemistry, 1992 Jul
Ju Y, et al. Minor steroidal glycosides from the roots of Smilax lebrunii. Phytochemistry, 1993 Jul
Jia ZHJ, et al. Steroidal saponins from Smilax lebrunii. Phytochemistry, 1992 Sep
Ju Y, et al. Steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Smilax menispermoidea. Phytochemistry, 1992 Apr
Ju Y, et al. [Studies on chemical constituents of Smilax menispermoidea D.C.] (Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih, 1993 Oct
Xu JH, et al. [Studies on numerical taxonomy of Smilacaceae plants in Zhejiang Province by pyrolysis-high resolution gas chromatography] Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih, 1993 Apr
Ageel AM, et al. Experimental studies on antirheumatic crude drugs used in Saudi traditional medicine. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989
Wang WH. [Antagonistic effect of Smilax sp. on gossypol toxicity (author's transl)] Chung Yao Tung Pao, 1982 Jan
Effects of Smilax macrophylla Vers. in normal or hyperuricemic and hyperuricosuric rats.
Giachetti D; Taddei I; Taddei E
Istituto Policattedra di Scienze Farmacologiche, Universita di Siena.
Pharmacol Res Commun, 20 Suppl 5:1988 Dec, 59-62
Abstract
Smilax macrophylla Vers., administered per os at the doses of 1 or 2 g/kg in normal rats or in rats made hyperuricemic and hyperuricosuric by potassium oxonate (250 mg/Kg p.o.) or fructose (4 g/Kg p.o.) does not modify diuresis, but increases the excretion of uric acid and allantoin in normal rats and in those pretreated with fructose, whereas it is inactive in oxonate pretreated rats. Allantoinemia is not modified by fructose or oxonate, whereas uricemia is modified.
Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. 1. Screening of 84 plants against enterobacteria.
Caceres A; Cano O; Samayoa B; Aguilar L
Center for Mesoamerican Studies on Appropriate Technology, Guatemala.
J Ethnopharmacol, 30: 1, 1990 Aug, 55-73
Abstract
Gastrointestinal disorders are important causes of morbidity in developing countries. Natural healing is the traditional way of treating these diseases in Guatemala. Ethnobotanical surveys and literature reviews showed that 385 plants from 95 families are used in Guatemala for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The activity of 84 of the most commonly used plants was screened in vitro against five enterobacteria pathogenic to man (enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella flexneri). Results indicate that 34 (40.48%) plants inhibit one or more of the enterobacteria tested. The most commonly inhibited bacterium was S. typhi (33.73%) and the most resistant was E. coli (7.35%). The plants of American origin which exhibited the best antibacterialactivity were: Byrsonima crassifolia, Diphysa robinioides, Gnaphalium stramineum, Guazuma ulmifolia, Psidium guajava, Sambucus mexicana, Simarouba glauca, Smilax lundelii, Spondias
purpurea and Tagetes lucida. These results indicate a scientific basis for use of these medicinal plants for attacking enterobacterial infections in man.
Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytic infections. 1. Screening for antimycotic activity of 44 plant extracts.
Caceres A; Lopez BR; Giron MA; Logemann H
Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos Ciudad Universitaria, Guatemala.
J Ethnopharmacol, 31: 3, 1991 Mar, 263-76
Abstract
Skin infections are common diseases in developing countries, of which dermatophytoses are of particular concern in the tropics, especially in infants. Through ethnobotanical surveys and literature review 100 plants were detected as being used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatophytoses. Of these, 44 plants were screened for in vitro activity against the most common dermatophytes (Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum). Results showed that aqueous extracts from 22 of the plants tested inhibit one or more of the dermatophytes. The most commonly inhibited dermatophytes were E. floccosum (43.2%), T. rubrum (36.0%), and T. mentagrophytes (31.8%); the less inhibited were M. canis (22.7%) and M. gypseum (24.0%). Plants of American origin which exhibited anti-dermatophyte activity were: Byrsonima crassifolia, Cassia grandis, Cassia occidentalis, Diphysa carthagenensis, Gliricidia sepium, Piscidia piscipula, Sambucus mexicana, Smilax regelii, Solanum americanum and Solanum nigrescens. Fungicidal and fungistatic activities as well as the minimal inhibitory concentration were demonstrated. These results provide a scientific basis for the use of these plants for the treatment of dermatophyte infections in man.
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