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Showing papers in "Planta Medica in 1980"










Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The production of dermatitis by contact is a highly effective defence mechanism exhibited by many plants, and poses a clinical problem both for the physician and the veterinary surgeon.
Abstract: Introduction A detailed review of mechanical irri.tams, stinging nettles, phototoxic compounds and contact allergens causing dermatitis in men is presented. The producing ~ l a n t s and their dermatitis causing constituents are listed. The chemical structures and the botanical sources of I primary irritants are also discussed. The production of dermatitis by contact is a highly effective defence mechanism exhibited by many plants, and poses a clinical problem both for the physician and the veterinary surgeon. Dermatitis can result from contact with living, damaged, o r processed plant materials, and may manifest itself in the patient at T hi s do cu m en t w as d ow nl oa de d fo r pe rs on al u se o nl y. U na ut ho riz ed d is tr ib ut io n is s tr ic tly p ro hi bi te d. once, a few hours after contact, o r may not occur until the second o r subsequent exposure as in the case of the allergens. Recent chemical and pharmacological investigations into natural product induced dermatitis have enabled the various plants and plant products to be classified into five major groups. Recognition of the type of agent involved is important from a clinical point of view. These groups comprise the mechanical irritants, the stinging nettles, the phototoxic compounds, the allergens, and the primary irritants. An understanding of the mechanisms of action of these substances may eventually lead to a greater understanding of the biochemistry of inflammation states and also pain production in mammalian skin. Mechanical irritants Several plant species are able to elicit characteristic dermatoses by means of small, easily detachable rough hairs o r bristles [I] , o r by means of acicular calcium oxalate crystals [I , 21. Many of the Boraginaceae, including Borago, Echium, Lycopsis, Pentaglottis, Pulmonaria, and Symphytum species are covered with course, stiff trichomes. These hairs are able to penetrate the skin and induce dermatitis [I]. Cornus sanguinea L. (Cornaceae), known as the dogwood, bears unusual T-shaped trichomes which produce erythema and urticaria when the leaf'is rubbed on the skin [I]. Malpighia urens (Malpighiaceae) also bears hairs that can induce skin irritation. This plant was once thought to be a stinging nettle, but is now known to belong to the, class of mechanical irritants [3]. Evans, Schmidt The awns of barley and other cereal grasses are also known for their irritant properties. The effect is produced mechanically, and the dermatitis resembles that produced by various tropical palms that bear hook-like hairs ['I]. An occupational dermatitis in pickers of the fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica L. (Mill.) and Opuntia cochinillifera (Cactaceae), known as prickly pears, has been termed sabra dermatitis [4]. This condition is caused by the penetration of the skin by glochidia, the small barbed bristles present in the areoles of the cacti [4,5]. Minute needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals are present in the tissues of many plants [6 , 71, where they are thought to be waste products of cellular metabolism. Their presence in the dry outer scales of daffodil (Narcissus species) and hyacinth (Hyacinthus species) bulbs is responsible in part for the condition known as l i ly rash, and hyacinth itsch [2]. An allergic sensitivity may co-occur, especially to Narcissus species [2]. The nature of the allergen is at present unknown.

81 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An enzyme which takes part in the reduction of sennosides and sennidins was originally isolated from Peptostreptococcus intermedius catalyzed the electron transfer from NADH to FAD, FMN or benzyl viologen, which reduced nonenzymatically sennodins to 8-glucosyl-rhe in anthrone and rhein anthrone, respectively.
Abstract: During the course of studies on the metabolism of sennosides by human intestinal bacteria, an enzyme which takes part in the reduction of sennosides and sennidins was originally isolated from Peptostreptococcus intermedius. This enzyme catalyzed the electron transfer from NADH to FAD, FMN or benzyl viologen, which reduced nonenzymatically sennosides and sennidins to 8-glucosyl-rhein anthrone and rhein anthrone, respectively.








Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that thymol and carvacrol act as non-competitive antagonists and are not significantly different from each other.
Abstract: In addition to the spasmolytic activity of ORIGANUM COMPACTUM, the antagonistic effect of the main components thymol and carvacrol is investigated on the isolated guinea-pig ileum, induced by carbachol, histamine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide and BaCl 2 . The l-noradrenaline contractions on the rat vas deferens are also reduced by both of phenols and the Origanum macerate. pD′ 2 values and relative potency to papaverine illustrate the affinity of the isomers. It is concluded that thymol and carvacrol act as non-competitive antagonists and are not significantly different from each other.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A rapid, specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for the determination of the steroidal alkaloid solasodine is described, which allows the detection of as little as 0.5 mg of a herbarium sample is more than sufficient for quantitative analysis.
Abstract: A rapid, specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for the determination of the steroidal alkaloid solasodine is described. The assay allows the detection of as little as 0.7 ng of solasodine glycosides (sola-sonine, solamargine) in crude plant extracts. The detailed distribution of solasodine in vegetative and generative parts of plants of Solanum laciniatum was investigated, and several thousand S. laciniatum plants were screened for individuals with high solasodine content. Plants which contained as much as 3.1 % of solasodine in the leaves were selected for further breeding. A taxonomic survey of the occurrence of solasodine in ca. 250 different species of the genus Solanum using herbarium material is given. 0.5 mg of a herbarium sample is more than sufficient for quantitative analysis.