Ephedra also

Ephedra, also known as Ma-Huang, is a central nervous system stimulant that is similar to amphetamine. Ephedra alkaloids (a material found in plants) with the active ingredient ephedrine have been used for medicinal purposes in China for... 

Owing to the disturbed state of China in recent years, supplies of Ephedra from that quarter have diminished and for some time were replaced by a drug of Spanish origin and later, as Spain also became involved in civil war, by supplies from India, where attentidn has been given to the five indigenous species E. intermedia Schrenk and Mayer, E. gerardiana Wall, E. nebrodensis Tineo, E. pachyclada Boiss. and E. foliata Boiss., of which the first three are of commercial importance. ... 

For commercial Ephedra the British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1934, specifies a total alkaloidal content of not less than 1-25 per cent, when assayed by the method therein prescribed. The proportion of Z-ephedrine is generally about 70 per cent. Methods of assay for total alkaloids are described by Feng and Read and by Krishna and Chose, who discuss the various difficulties involved and comments on these and other methods have been made by various workers. Conditions affecting the results of such assays have also been discussed by T ang and Wang, and Brownlee has shown that chloroform is not a suitable medium for the assay since it converts ephedrine quickly and 0-ephedrine slowly to the hydrochloride. 

Ephedrine is the principal active ingredient in the herb ephedra, or ma huang. It is similar in form to the appetite-control drug phenylpropanolamine (banned in the United States), which is also known as norephedrine, meaning ephedrine whose methyl group has been replaced by a hydrogen. 

Ephedra is used in diet products as an appetite depressant and stimulant, and in sports drinks to mask fatigue. It is also used as a bronchial stimulator, and to relieve symptoms of the common cold. 

Ephedra is also known by the Chinese name ma huang, which translates as "yellow astringent." It has been used medicinally by the Chinese for more than five thousand years. A related species. Ephedra nevadensis, grows in North America and is sometimes referred to as Mormon tea (Rudgley... 

Ephedrine is the main alkaloid produced in the roots of Ephedra sinica, preparations of which have found medical application in China for at least 5000 years. It was first purified from its natural source in 1887, and its chemical synthesis was achieved in 1927. It was initially used in cardiovascular medicine, but subsequently found wider application in the treatment of mild hayfever and asthma. It is also used as a nasal decongestant and cough suppressant. 

C. The FDA now recommends that for safety reasons, ephedra should be limited to 8 mg or less per single dose and that a total daily dose of 24 mg not be exceeded. These are much lower than past dosage recommendations. The new recommendations also suggest a 1-week (not 1 month) limitation of treatment. Stroke is certainly a possible compUcation. 

A number of new listings concern the families of Scrophulariaceae and Solanaceae. In both cases the number of reports concerning external accumulation is also increased. Thus, further research will probably reveal that this phenomenon is more widespread in these families as is obvious from the present data. In Fabaceae, most reports concern accumulation in heartwood, with a few exceptions such as leaves of Millettia racemosa. However, no indication to possible external accumulation is made. Similar to flavone accumulation data, pollen of Myrtaceae were also found to accumulate flavonols. Very few reports exist on Gynmosperms such as Cryptomeria (Taxodiaceae) or Ephedra,without indication of external accumulation. So far, no new reports on flavones are known for these taxa. 

Ephedrine is an alkaloid obtained from Ephedra vulgaris plant. It act indirectly and directly on a and P receptors. It increases blood pressure both by peripheral vasoconstriction and by increasing the cardiac output. Ephedrine also relaxes the bronchial smooth muscles. 

This section gives information about some of the more commonly known herbs that have been used in drinks. This list generally excludes herbs and spices that are associated primarily with culinary or flavour use, although many of these will also have some health benefits. Some of the herbs listed below are of European or American origin and are listed in the Blue Book . The names of listed herbs are followed by their category. Several herbs that have been used in the past, such as St John s Wori, Ma huang (Ephedra) and Kava-kava, have been omitted as they are currently withdrawn from the European market due to health concerns by the regulators. 

The thought that transmethylation of noradrenaline may be an initial step in its deactivation in the body makes one wonder whether further transmethylation of adrenaline is also not a common biological process. As a result of studies of the various alkaloids of plants of the Ephedra species, it was noted that not only Z-ephedrine and its stereoisomer d-pseudoephedrine are present but also that -norephedrine, d-norpseudoephedrine, l-methylephedrine, and d-methylpseudoephedrine (8) are present. The quaternary tri-methylammonium compounds corresponding to these were not reported but very... 

Many CAMs are derived from natural sources such as herbs and other plants. Therefore, some consumers assume that a natural product is inherently safer than a synthetic or manufactured chemical.57 These individuals may likewise believe that they can take an unlimited amount of a CAM that is, they may exceed dose limits with the idea that the product can do no harm. These misconceptions can lead to tragic consequences, as was the case with ephedra. Ephedra, derived from an evergreen shrub, also contains epinephrine (adrenaline). As discussed in Chapter 20, epinephrine is a powerful agonist (stimulant) of alpha and beta receptors on various tissues throughout the body. People took... 

Various species of Ephedra grow in different parts of the world. It is believed that the Chinese species contain the official levorotatory ephedrine, whereas the same species and other varieties from Europe yield only dextrorotatory pseudoephedrine. East Indian species range from rich to none. Ephedrine exists in the seed of another, totally unrelated Indian plant, Sida cordifolia, which was also used in folk medicine. Ma huang also contains another alkaloid, ephedine, which lowers blood pressure and has other complex actions. 

This alkaloid was first isolated from Ephedra equisetina, a plant (ma huang) that has been used as medicine by the Chinese since antiquity. Most of the present supply is probably synthetic. Its chemical structure is closely related to epinephrine and tyramine, and differs from epinephrine chiefly by the absence of the two phenolic hydroxyls. Its effects on the circulation, intestines, bronchi, iris, etc., are superficially similar to those of epinephrine. It requires that larger doses be given but they are more lasting, due probably to ephedrine s much greater stability and resistance to oxidation. The effects can be produced by oral administration. Unlike epinephrine, it is not sensitized by cocaine or by denervation. From this, it has been argued that its point of attack is not sympathomimetic but muscular. It also stimulates the CNS. A number of isomers with similar actions are known. Ephedrine is used therapeutically in hay fever and asthma, in which it is less... 

See also Amphetamines Ecstasy Ephedra Herbal drugs Methamphetamines... 

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