New insights in the mode of action of (+)-erythravine and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine alkaloids.

Erythrinian alkaloids ((+)-erythravine and (+)-11-α-hydroxy-erythravine) have been pointed as the main responsible agents for the anticonvulsant and anxiolytic properties of Erythrina mulungu Mart ex Benth. The present work provides a new set of information about the mode of action of these alkaloids by the use of a complementary approach of neurochemical and electrophysiological assays. We propose here that the antiepileptic and anxiolytic properties exhibited by both alkaloids appear not to be related to the inhibition of glutamate binding or GABA uptake, or even to the increase of glutamate uptake or GABA binding, as investigated here by the use of rat cortical synaptosomes.

Nematocidal effects of natural phytoregulators jasmonic acid and methyl-jasmonate against Pratylenchus zeae and Helicotylenchus spp.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nematocidal effects of natural phytoregulators jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl-jasmonate (MJ) against plant parasitic nematodes Pratylenchus zeae (Graham) (Pratylenchidae) and Helicotylenchus spp. (Hoplolaimidae). Both JA and MJ promoted elevated percentages of mortality in P.

Erysothrine, an alkaloid extracted from flowers of Erythrina mulungu Mart. ex Benth: evaluating its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic potential.

In this study, we isolated the alkaloid erysothrine from the hydroalcoholic extract of flowers from E. mulungu and screened for its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic actions based on neuroethological and neurochemical experiments. Our results showed that the administration of erysothrine inhibited seizures evoked by bicuculline, PTZ, NMDA and most remarkably, kainic acid.

Anticonvulsant profile of the alkaloids (+)-erythravine and (+)-11-α-hydroxy-erythravine isolated from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu Mart ex Benth (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae).

Neural mechanisms underlying the onset and maintenance of epileptic seizures involve alterations in inhibitory and/or excitatory neurotransmitter pathways. Thus, the prospecting of novel molecules from natural products that target both inhibition and excitation systems has deserved interest in the rational design of new anticonvulsants. We isolated the alkaloids (+)-erythravine and (+)-11-α-hydroxy-erythravine from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu and evaluated the action of these compounds against chemically induced seizures in rats.