Biological Activity of Tylophora Alkaloids

The pharmacology of tylophorine was studied by Chopra et al. 10). Tylophorine is toxic to Paramecium caudatum in a dilution of 1 50,000. 

It is lethal to frogs at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg but toxicity to mice and guinea pigs is very small. It has a paralyzing action on the heart muscles but a stimulating action on the muscles of the blood vessels. The initial drop in blood pressure and subsequent rise to a level above normal on administration of tylophorine is thus explained. 

Tylocrebrine shows high activity against lymphoid leukemia LI210 in mice, the best results being obtained at a dose level of 10 mg/kg. (23). 

The powerful vesicant action of these alkaloids has been commented upon by all the investigators (9, 12, 20). 

Gellert, Raymond-Hamet, and E. Schlittler, Helv. Chim. Acta 34, 642 (1951). 

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