Václav Suchý

Dracophane, a metacyclophane derivative from the resin of Dracaena cinnabari Balf.

Dracophane, a novel structural derivative of metacyclophane, was isolated from the resin of Dracaena cinnabari Balf. The structure of this compound was determined by spectroscopic methods to be 3,12,21-trihydroxy-1,10,19-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,14,23-trimethoxy[3.3.3]metacyclophane.

Differences in essential oil production and leaf structure in pheno-types of damiana(turnera diffusa willd.

Plants of damiana(Turnera diffusa Willd.) are important to industry and traditional medicine in semi-arid climates. Although all populations are wild, no reports have been made previously of their different phenotypes. Here, we investigated various micromorphological characteristics and the levels of essential oils in two phenotypes. Oils were extracted from fresh leaves via hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Morphological analyses were conducted under a stereoscopic microscope and with a scanning electron microscope. In all, 56 compounds were identified, enabling us to distinguish separate phenotypes. DL1 plants mainly contained 1,8-cineole, 10-epi y eudesmol, and guaiol; whereas those of DL2 primarily constituted ß-pinene, ß-caryophyllene oxide, cadinene, and α-cadinol. These two phenotypes also differed in their morphologies, with DL1 leaves showing elevated essential oil concentrations, but lacking trichomes. In contrast, the DL2 plants had lower contents of essential oils but did possess trichomes on their abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces. This documentation of individual damiana phenotypes is the initial process toward validating the quality of essential oils from this species as well as inherent structural variations.

How to treat tremor.

Abstract.This paper presents an example of 18th century medical thinking. The author, Dr Georg Ernst Stahl (1659–1734) was the founder of the phlogiston theory in the field of chemistry, a medical professor, and a court physician in Saxony and Prussia. His description includes a definition of tremor, the internal and external causes of tremor, the types of tremor, the diagnostic and prognostic signs, and the treatment. From a present (contemporary) point of view, some compounds that were then used in treatment may have had a limited therapeutic effect on some kinds of tremor. Protopin has an anticholinergic and GABA-ergic effect, and rhoeadin (tetrahydrobenzazepin) may have had an effect similar to that of neuroleptics. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether the recommended quantity of these compounds was sufficient for a clinical effect. Most of the prescribed drugs could only have had a placebo effect.

Phytochemical Analysis of Podospermum and Scorzonera n-Hexane Extracts and the HPLC Quantitation of Triterpenes

Previously tested n-hexane extracts of the Scorzonera latifolia showed promising bioactivity in vivo. Because triterpenes could account for this activity, n-hexane extracts were analyzed by HPLC to identify and quantify the triterpenes as the most abundant constituents. Other Scorzonera and Podospermum species, potentially containing triterpenic aglycones, were included in the study. An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of triterpene aglycones was therefore developed for analysis of Podospermum and Scorzonera species. n-Hexane extracts of root and aerial parts of S. latifolia, ten other Scorzonera species and two Podospermum species were studied to compare the content of triterpenes. HPLC was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of α-amyrin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, taraxasteryl acetate, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl. Limits of detection and quantification were determined for each compound. HPLC fingerprinting of n-hexane extracts of Podospermum and Scorzonera species revealed relatively large amounts of triterpenes in a majority of investigated taxa. Lupeol, lupeol acetate, and taraxasteryl acetate were found in a majority of the species, except S. acuminata. The presence of α-amyrin, 3β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one-acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one-acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl was detected in varying amounts. The triterpene content could correlate with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Scorzonera, which was previously observed and Scorzonera species that have been determined to contain triterpenes in large amounts and have not yet been tested for their analgesic activity should be tested for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. The presented HPLC method can be used for analysis of triterpene aglycones, for example dedicated to chemosystematic studies of the Scorzonerinae.