Cantharis

Animal products constitute 20% of homeopathic remedies and are collected from whole animals or their parts. Apis mellifica is prepared from the whole honey bee, Cantharis from the dried powder of the beetle, Cantharis vasicata, Sepia officinalis from the ink gland of the cuttle fish, Lachesis from the venom of the bush master snake and Tarantula hispanica from the poisonous Spanish spider (Cook, 1988). Lac caninum is prepared from dog s milk and Calcarea carbonica from oyster shell. 

Cantharidin (24) [31] represents the simplest known inhibitor of the ser-ine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, and can be isolated from dried beetles (Cantharis vesycatoria). The simplest synthesis of 24 from furan and dimethylmaleic anhydride met with failure, even at pressures as high as 6.0 GPa either at rt or at temperatures of up to 350 °C, presumably due to the thermodynamic instability of the adduct at normal pressure, e.g., when pressure is released [32], However, if this reaction could be carried out in the presence of Pd/C and H2,24 might be obtained in one step. Nevertheless, high-pressure cycloaddition turned out to be very useful for the synthesis of cantharidin and its derivatives [31-33]. For instance, ( )-palasonin was synthesized from furan and citraconic anhydride (21) at 0.8 GPa for 138 h, followed by hydrogenation over Pd/C. Neither high temperatures nor... 

Cantharidin is obtained from cantharides, the dried beetle Cantharis vesicatoria ( = Lytta vesicatoria) (Meloidae) or other spp., containing not less than 0.6%, or from mylabris, the dried beetles Mylabris sidae = M. phalerata), M. cichorii and M. pustulata (Meloidae), containing not less than 1%,... 

Later, while resting in my hotel room, I realized I was quite ill. Fortunately, a friend came by to check on me who had an emergency homeopathic treatment kit and surmised that what I needed was Cantharis, or Spanish fly It helped tremendously and immediately alleviated my symptoms. 

Cantharides vittatje. Cantharis vittata. Oliv. V. 279. Potato flies. Lytta vittata. Fabricius. 

Li YM, Mackintosh C, Casida JE (1993) Protein phosphatase 2A and its [3H]canthari-din/[3H]endothaU thioanhydride binding site. Inhibitor specificity of cantharidin and... 

Spanish fly Cantharis vesicatoria. Allegedly aphrodisiac. Active component - cantharadin. Encountered also as the powdered insect. Effects blistering of skin and corrosive effect on mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood passed in vomit and urine. Early increase in WBC. Severe illness recovery likely but deaths recorded. Lethal dose 60 mg cantharadin, 162 mg Spanish fly. 

The powdered bodies of Mylabris mongolica, when extracted under alkali (not NH3) conditions afforded cantharidinimide (120), and the same substance was also isolated from cantharis (Lytta vesicatoria) (112). The IR spectrum showed bands at 1760, 1710, and 1698 cm 1, the mass spectrum displayed an M+ at m/z 195, and the H NMR spectrum indicated the high symmetry of the isolate, showing a six-proton singlet at 1.25 ppm and a two-proton multiplet at 4.65 ppm for the oxymethine protons. 

Strong Blistering, or Canthari-des Plaster. Mix at a heat below 212 Fahr., 4 ounces Venico turpentine, 3 ounces each of burgundy pilch and cantharides, 1 ounce bces -wax, -J ounce finely powdered verdigris, and 2 drachms each of powdered mustard and black pepper. 

Cantharides. Spanish fly blistering fly hlistering beetle Cantharis vesicatoria. Habit. Southern and Central Europe, mainly upon Oleaceae and Caprifotiaceae. Constit. 0.6-1% cantharidin, 10-15% fat resinous substances, acetic and uric acids. Powerful irritant, vesicant, rubefacient. Review Ude, Heeger, Pharm. Zentrulhatle 82, 193 (1941). 

Cantharidin 7 is the poison of the cantharis beetles, among them the Spanish fly, native to Southern Europe. Cantharidin is a skin irritant and vesicant. 

Synonyms.—Cantharis Yesicatoria Lytta Yesicatoria Blistering Fly Spanish Fly. 

Amic Radix. Assafoctida. Cantharis. Capsici Fructus. 

Cantharidin is a powerfiil vesicant that can be isolated from dried beetles Cantharis vesicatoria, or Spanish fly ). Outlined here is the stereospecific synthesis of cantharidin reported by Gilbert Stork (Columbia University). Supply the missing reagents (a)-(n). 

Q 15. Explain why the following [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction does not occur to produce cantharidin isolated from dried beetles Cantharis vesicatoria). 

Cantharidin a toxic agent, M, 196.21, m.p. 218°C, produced by the beetle Cantharis vesicatoria (Spanish fly, blistering beetle), native to southern and central Europe. C. is biosynthesized from mevalonic acid. Its use as an aphrodisiac has caused fatalities. 

This compound, an oxygen heterocycle, is the active principle in cantharis (also known as Spanish fly), a material isolated from certain dried beetles of the species Cantharis vesi-catoria and incorrectly thought by some to increase sexual desire. 

Clark, B.R., Engene, N., Teasdale, M.E., Rowley, D.C., Matainaho, T., Valeriote, F.A., and Gerwick, W.H. (2008) Natural products chemistry and taxonomy of the marine cyanobacterium Blermothrix canthari-dosmum.J. Nat. Prod., 71,1530-1537. 

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