Anthraquinone-containing drugs

Alert, D., Ebel, S. unpublished results on analysis of anthraquinone containing drugs... 

Rhein l,7-dihydroxy-3-carboxyanthTaqtrinone, a yellow anthraquinone, m.p. 321 °C, present free or as a glycoside in the roots of many higher plants, particularly rhubarb. R. has a purgative action, and various R.-containing drugs (Radix Rhei, Fblia Sennae) are used therapeutically. 

Anthraquinone glycosides are coloured substances, and are the active components in a number of crude drugs, especially with laxative and purgative properties. Anthraquinone aglycone increases peristaltic action of large intestine. A number of over the counter laxative preparations contain anthraquinone glycosides. The use of anthraquinone drugs, however,... 

The anthracyclines are aminoglycosidic derivatives of tetracyclic compounds that contain an anthraquinone chromophore. Originally, dauno-mycin and adriamycin, its hydroxy analogue, were isolated from cultures of Streptomyces peucetiusd The main target of these drugs appears to be DNA, most likely by formation of an intercalation complex. The drugs also affect topoisomerase II, an enzyme which interacts with the DNA that has been modified by intercalation. ... 

The therapeutic application of some drugs is due to 1,8-dihydroxy-anthraquinones they contain. The single compounds may occur in the quinone, anthranol or anthrone form, or possibly as glucosides or dimers [195,227]. As a rule, mixtures of many compoimds of this class occur in the plants. Since their activities are not identical, the analytical determination of the individual compounds is attempted. 

The drug contains lecithin, several anthraquinones (chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, physicon and chrysophanolanthrone), 2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-0-P-D-glucoside, and is rich in trace elements for example Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Sr [84]. 

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