Comparative Sensitivity of the Toad and the Frog to Cymarin and Coumingine

Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the erythrophleum alkaloids. The Erythrophleum alkaloids represent a clearly defined class, both as regards their chemical structure and pharmacological properties. They are alkamine esters of monocarboxylic acids of the diterpene series and possess remarkable cardiac activity of the digitalis type coupled with very intense local anesthetic action. The genus Erythrophleum Afzel belongs to the tribe Dimorphandreae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae, of the family Leguminosae. The erythrophlamic acid contains one methoxyl and a double bond in conjugation with the carboxyl. The alkaloids also induce intense and long-lasting local anesthesia accompanied in most cases by irritation of the tissues concerned. The alkaloids caused an increase of the blood pressure and stimulated the isolated rabbit intestine and guinea pig uterus.

Chapter 36 The Erythrophleum Alkaloids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cardioactive alkaloids. A very large number of alkaloids possess the pharmacological property of altering some function of the heart. This chapter considers only those alkaloids whose actions are, primarily, on the various functions of the heart itself. There are several factors responsible for the lack of advance of cardiac therapeutics. The objective of all therapy for heart disease is to restore to normal function an abnormal heart. Clinical cardiac disease, from the viewpoint of therapy, may be classified into three major categories: Arrhythmias, Congestive failure, and Coronary insufficiency. Arrhythmias contain further two categories: auricular and ventricular. In the auricular arrhythmias the auricles contract in chaotic, incomplete fashion and there is inefficient transfer of blood to the ventricles. The ventricular arrhythmias are more rarely encountered but often fatal. Ventricular arrhythmias so interfere with the pumping action of the heart that the blood pressure precipitously falls and death occurs in shock.

Comparative Sensitivity of the Toad and the Frog to Cymarin and Coumingine

Citations

Pharmacology and toxicology of toad venom

Chapter 36 The Erythrophleum Alkaloids

Chapter 39 Cardioactive Alkaloids

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