Ephedra huang plant

In the United States, ephedrine alkaloids are derived from the Ephedra sinica, or ma huang plant. Most ephedra supplements contain a standard extract of 6-8% ephedrine alkaloids. Other herbs and ingredients, including caffeine, may also be added to ephedra supplements. 

Since there are two possible configurations for an asymmetrically substituted carbon atom, a structure containing n such centres will, in theory, possess 2 stereoisomers. The actual number of stereoisomers that exist may be less than this due to steric effects. Compounds that have the same stereochemistry at one chiral centre but different stereochemistry at the others are known as diastereoisomers (diastereomers) a good example is given by the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine (the (1R, 2S) diastereoisomer) is a natural product isolated from Ephedra (the Ma Huang plant) and known to Chinese medicine for over 3000 years. It was used in the last century for the treatment of asthma. Pseudoephedrine (the (IS, 2S) diastereoisomer) is a decongestant and a constituent of several over-the-counter cold and flu remedies (Figure 4.12). 

The Chinese herbal drug Mao (Japanese name Chinese name is Ma-huang) is prepared from the above-ground parts of Ephedra sp. plants, such as Ephedra equisetina. Ephedra distachya, and Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae) which are native to China. Mao is used in Chinese traditional medicine prescriptions, and as a material for the preparation of ephedrine hydrochloride used for the treatment of cough. 

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... 

Ephedrine is found in the ephedra plant (Ephedra sinica— the Chinese herb Ma Huang). It is used as a nasal decongestant... 

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... 

Ephedra An extract of the eastern Asian plant ma huang, containing ephedrine... 

The oriental crude drug Ma Huang or Mao, prepared from certain species of the genus Ephedra, contains ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and homologous compounds (2). Although alkaloids of the ephedrine type occur in several Ephedra species, only a few other plant sources are known (Table IV and V). 

Shen Nung also observed the stimulant properties of another Chinese plant. Ma Huang, now known as Ephedra sinica [9]. The chief active ingredient, ephedrine, is a sympathomimetic amine, and therefore it is clear in this case also that the use of Ma Huang as a stimulant had a rational basis. The ephedrine molecule is simple and contains two chiral centers the compound from ephedra is unichiral and has the 1R,2S configuration 2. Ephedrine was first isolated from Ma Huang in 1887... 

Herbal substitutes for dru [s of abuse A variety of herbal mixtures are offered for sale in magazines, on the internet and in so-called smart , eco or head shops. Many are marketed as herbal Ecstasy and the plants included in the formulations include Yohimbe bark, Kava-Kava (Piper methysticum),Y-3 e.emi, Hops, Jaborandi and Alisma. One product contains Kava-Kava, Guarana, Uva Ursi and Cascara bark. Many of the products sold as herbal Ecstasy contain either Ephedra sinica (Ma huang) or the Indian plant Sida cordifolia which both contain the alkaloid ephedrine (see R03c, Chapter VI). Other alkaloids may also occur, such as pseudoephedrine, norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine. The side-effects of ephedrine include tachycardia, anxiety, insomnia and arrythmias and a hypotensive crisis may develop if monamine oxidase inhibitors are also taken. Many adverse reactions and more than 20 deaths have been attributed to ephedrine and Ephedra consumption. Research conducted in the US shows that the daily intake of some Ephedra products would give ephedrine levels well above the recommended therapeutic doses. 

Efhedrine (Jl) is an alkaloid of the Chinese medicinal herb Ma Huang which has been identified as Ephedra sinica Stapf (14), and it also occurs in the leaves of the yew, Taxus baccata L. (15). The natural base is the Z-isomer. The Chinese plant contains small amounts of several closely related alkaloids d-pseudoephedrine, d-norpsevdoephedrine (III), l-methyl-ephedrine (IV), and d-methylpseudoephedrine. d-Pseudoephedrine is a diastereoisomer but not an enantiomorph of Z-ephedrine. 

Nature Ma-huang is one of many names given to extracts from various plants of the genus Ephedra, the major chemical constituents of which are ephedrine and pseu-doephedrine. Ephedrine is a prescription drug in the USA pseudoephedrine is available in over-the-counter decongestants. 

D) Ma-huang is one name for extracts from plants of the genus Ephedra... 

The herb called Ma Huang has been used in China for some five thousand years in the treatment of a variety of afflictions. A Chinese dispensatory, written in A.D. 1596, states that the plant is useful as a circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, antipyretic, and sedative in cough, all of which has been confirmed by modern observations (1). Ephedras have been employed as remedies in many other parts of the world. 

In specially collected ephedra plants total alkaloid yields as high as 3.4% have been observed (142). A good grade of Ma Huang should yield 2% of total alkaloids (111) but the commercial product usually contains about 1 %. 

A major source of Ephedra is near to the seacoast in southern China and this local formerly supplies most of the American market [12]. These popular herbs, also known as ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine, can be found in subtropical zones in Asia, Europe, and America [8, 13]. The name ma huang has Chinese origins, in which ma means astringent and huang means yellow, probably referring to the taste and color of the plant or tops of Ephedra sinica Stapf [12]. 

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