Protective effects of yangambin on cardiovascular hyporeactivity to catecholamines in rats with endotoxin-induced shock.

The protective effects of a new, selective, plant-derived platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, yangambin, on the cardiovascular alterations and mortality due to endotoxic shock were investigated in anaesthetized rats. We also studied the involvement of PAF in the induction of the vascular and cardiac hyporesponsiveness to adrenergic stimulation observed during endotoxaemia. The animals were sensitized to the lethal effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with D(+)-galactosamine (50 mg/kg, i.

Anticonvulsant properties of N-salicyloyltryptamine in mice.

A new tryptamine analogue, N-salicyloyltryptamine (STP), a potential central nervous system (CNS) depressant, was tested in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) models of epilepsy in mice. When administered concurrently, STP (100 mg/kg ip) significantly reduced the number of animals that exhibited PTZ-induced seizures and eliminated the extensor reflex of maximal electric-induced seizures test in 50% of the experimental animals. In addition, it showed protection in the PTZ test by diminishing the death rate.

CNS pharmacological effects of the total alkaloidal fraction from Albizia inopinata leaves.

The total alkaloidal fraction of Albizia inopinata leaves (FLA) was investigated for its central nervous system (CNS) effects. FLA (10 mg/kg, i.p.

Neuronal vacuolation of the trigeminal nuclei in goats caused by ingestion of Prosopis juliflora pods (mesquite beans).

Three groups of 6 goats each were fed a ration containing 30, 60, or 90%, on a dry matter base, of Prosopis juliflora pods. A control group of 4 goats ingested only the basic ration. Two hundred and ten days after the start of the experiment 3 goats that ingested 60% pods in and 4 that ingested 90% had mandibular tremors, mainly during chewing.

Yangambin, a lignan obtained from Ocotea duckei, differentiates putative PAF receptor subtypes in the gastrointestinal tract of rats.

We investigated the presence of PAF receptor subtypes in the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, airways, blood vessels and in murine macrophages. For this purpose we have used a competitive PAF receptor antagonist, yangambin (YAN), extracted from the Brazilian plant "louro de cheiro" (Ocotea duckei Vattimo). Rat duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, stomach fundus, trachea and bronchia were removed and 1.

Tetrahydroprotoberberine and aporphine alkaloids from rollinia leptopetala.

Tetrahydrojatrorrhizine, discretamine, anonaine and roemerine were isolated from the roots of Rollinia leptopetala R. E. Fries.

Tracheal relaxant activity of cissaglaberrimine and trilobinine, two aporphinic alkaloids from Cissampelos glaberrima.

In the present work we studied the relaxant effect of two aporphinic alkaloids isolated from the roots barks of Cissampelos glaberrima St. Hil. (Menispermaceae), (+)-cissaglaberrimine (CGE; a tertiary alkaloid) and (+)-trilobinine (TBE; a quaternary alkaloid).

Eletefine, a stephaoxocane alkaloid from cissampelos glaberrima.

A novel isoquinoline alkaloid bearing an oxocane ring (stephaoxocane type (Kashiwaba, N.; Morooka, S.; Kimura, M.

Central depressant effects of reticuline extracted from Ocotea duckei in rats and mice.

Neuropharmacological studies were carried out with reticuline, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, isolated from Ocotea duckei Vattimo. It was found that reticuline (50-100 mg/kg i.p.

Pharmacological evidence for the putative existence of two different subtypes of PAF receptors on platelets and leukocytes; studies with yangambin.

Yangambin, a new naturally-occurring platelet activating receptor (PAF) receptor antagonist competitively displaced [3H]-PAF from its high affinity binding sites on washed human platelets with a Ki value of 1.1 +/- 0.3 microM (n = 3).

Anti-allergic properties of the natural PAF antagonist yangambin.

In this study we examined the ability of the furofuran lignan yangambin to influence the local and systemic responses induced by antigen or PAF in actively sensitized or normal rats. Given intraperitoneally 1 h before stimulation, yangambin inhibited the pleural neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration evoked by the i.pl.

Protective effects of Yangambin - a naturally occurring platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist - on anaphylactic shock in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of yangambin to inhibit cardiovascular collapse and to reduce the mortality due to systemic anaphylaxis induced by antigen challenge in actively sensitized rats. The i.v.

[Effects of age, sex and coronary heart disease on the autonomic modulation of the heart].

Purpose: To establish the influence of age, sex and the presence of coronary heart disease on heart rate variability.

Methods: The heart rate variability was studied in the time and frequency domain in 77 normal (group I) and 30 coronary heart disease patients (group II). The ECG was recorded during 300 seconds with the patients breathing at their spontaneous rate and at a rate between 10 and 15/ minutes (0.

Modification of Ca2+ metabolism in the rabbit aorta as a mechanism of spasmolytic action of warifteine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae).

The regulation of intracellular Ca2+ as a mechanism of spasmolytic activity of a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, warifteine, isolated from the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis, Eichl (Menispermaceae) was studied in the rabbit aorta. Warifteine (pD2' 4.12 +/- 0.

Antagonistic effect of yangambin on platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced cardiovascular collapse.

The cardiovascular protective effects of yangambin, a novel and specific naturally-occurring platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist, were investigated in the pentobarbital anesthetized and artificially ventilated rat. Yangambin (3-30 mg kg(-1)) as well as the reference PAF antagonist WEB 2086 (0.1-1.

Yangambin: a new naturally-occurring platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist: in vivo pharmacological studies.

The pharmacological profile of a novel specific platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist-yangambin-isolated from the Brazilian plant Ocotea duckei Vattimo (Lauraceae), was investigated in the pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rabbit. The i.v.

Yangambin: a new naturally-occurring platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist: binding and in vitro functional studies.

The effects of the furofuran lignan yangambin on rabbit platelet aggregation and binding of [3H]-PAF to rabbit platelet plasma membranes were studied. Log concentration-response curves to PAF were obtained in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of yangambin. This lignan dose-dependently inhibited PAF-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and shifted PAF curves to the right without decreasing the maximal response.

Studies on the mechanism of spasmolytic activity of (O-methyl-)-N-(2,6-dihydroxybenzoyl)tyramine, a constituent of Aniba riparia (Nees) Mez. (Lauraceae), in rat uterus, rabbit aorta and guinea-pig alveolar leucocytes.

The mechanism of action of a nonspecific smooth muscle relaxant, (O-methyl-)-N-(2,6-dihydroxybenzoyl)tyramine (riparin), a constituent of Aniba riparia (Nees) Mez. (Lauraceae) was studied in relation to Ca2+ metabolism in smooth muscle tissues and in guinea-pig alveolar leucocytes. In rat depolarized uterus, riparin inhibited in a reversible and noncompetitive manner CaCl2-induced contraction, a response mediated through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

Pharmacological studies on Aristolochia papillaris Mast. (Aristolochiaceae).

The non-specific and reversible smooth muscle relaxant activities of the ethanolic extract (EE) of Aristolochia papillaris Mast., a fraction of EE containing tertiary alkaloids (TAF) and of 3 compounds isolated from TAF are reported. In the non-pregnant rat uterus, EE and TAF inhibited both the oxytocin-induced contractions and the amplitude of rhythmic spontaneous contractions.

[Lutembacher's syndrome].

A 48-years-old woman with Lutembacher syndrome with a clinical and laboratory finding of atrial septal defect, of the "ostium secundum" type and without pulmonary hypertension was reported. We observed, from diagnostic viewpoint, that the electrocardiographic finding of left atrial overload and the echocardiographic pattern of mitral stenosis where the most important diagnostic sign the mitral valve involvement. The patient underwent surgery and the atrial septal defect was closed with a patch.

[Long-term results of mitral valve prosthesis in patients with severe anatomo-functional involvement of the left ventricle].

The purpose of this paper was to study the long term results (3.6 +/- 1.4 years) of 74 patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR), with cardiomegaly and functional class (FC) III and IV, who underwent mitral valve replacement with biologic and mechanical prostheses.

[Amiodarone in cardiac failure].

Purpose: To analyse the effects of amiodarone on the treatment of cardiac failure.

Methods: The effects of 200 mg/day of amiodarone were assessed in 18 patients with a history of cardiac failure. Functional class, heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart size, treadmill exercise tolerance and electrocardiogram were assessed before and eight weeks after the use of amiodarone, and the side effects were monitored.

[Amiodarone in heart insufficiency].

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of amiodarone on the treatment of cardiac failure. The effects of 200 mg/day of amiodarone were assessed in 18 patients with a history of cardiac failure. Functional class, heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart size, treadmill exercise tolerance and electrocardiogram were assessed before and eight weeks after the use of amiodarone, and the side effects were monitored.

Antimicrobial activity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Annona salzmanii D.C.

Bark of Annona salzmanii D.C. (Annonaceae), used in Brazilian folk medicine, was found to contain four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, namely reticuline, anonaine, laurelliptine and isoboldine.