Effects of Microdesmis keayana alkaloids on vascular parameters of erectile dysfunction.

Microdesmis keayana (Pandaceae) is an African tropical plant whose roots are used in traditional medicine for erection impairment but the compounds responsible for its action are unknown. Two major alkaloids recently isolated from the roots of M. keayana, keayanidine B and keayanine, were tested for vasorelaxing properties using isolated rat aortic rings precontracted by phenylephrine to confirm its traditional use.

Letter: characterisation and identification of spermine and spermidine derivatives in Microdesmis keayana and Microdesmis puberula roots by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry.

Three new N(1),N(5),N(14)-tris(4- hydroxycinnamoyl)spermines were identified in hydromethanolic root extracts of Microdesmis keayana J. Léonard and Microdesmis puberula Hook f. The electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) technique with specific nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of hydrolysed products made it possible to identify N(1),N(5),N(14)-tris(p-coumaroyl)spermine, N(1)-feruloyl,N(5),N(14)-di(p-coumaroyl)spermine and N(1),N(5),N(14)-tris(feruloyl)spermine, named keayanines B, C and D, respectively.

Vasoactivity, antioxidant and aphrodisiac properties of Caesalpinia benthamiana roots.

Aims Of The Study: Caesalpinia benthamiana (=Mezoneuron benthamianum) (Fabaceae) is an African tropical plant whose roots are used in traditional medicine as an aqueous decoction for many purposes, especially for erection impairment but its action mechanism is unknown. The action of Caesalpinia benthamiana on sexual behaviour and some assays on potential modes of action were performed.

Materials And Methods: The aqueous extract of Caesalpinia benthamiana (AECB) was tested for vasorelaxing properties using isolated rat aortic rings precontracted by phenylephrine.

Effects of Microdesmis keayana roots on sexual behavior of male rats.

In the present study, the aphrodisiac properties of Microdesmis keayana J. Léonard root extract and major isolated alkaloids were evaluated by observing the sexual behavior of male rats. Aqueous extract (150mg/kg body weight) and pure alkaloids (3mg/kg body weight) were administered orally by gavage to male rats.

Two new quinoline and tris(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)spermine derivatives from Microdesmis keayana roots.

Purification of a Microdesmis keayana hydromethanolic root extract led to the isolation of two new natural compounds, xanthoquininamide (6-hydroxyquinoline-4-carboxamide) and tris(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)spermine (N(5)-(p-coumaroyl)-N(1),N(14)-diferuloylspermine) which was named keayanine. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analyses (ESI-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR).