Tithonia

Tithonia is a small genus of fewer than ten species. The Mexican and Central American genus Tithonia has yielded some ornamental plants (e.g., T. rotundifolia), and at least one species, T. diversifolia, is now a pantropically distributed bad weed. It is used to treat malaria (see Heinrich et al 1998). 

Curare is an arrow poison used by the native people of South America. It causes muscular relaxation and is used in anesthesiology. 

Curare (Woorara) is a vegetable extract obtained from various members of the Strychnos family, as well as from Paullinia curare and other plants. In South America, it is known by the names Caroval and Vao. Its active principle is the very poisonous alkaloid curarine, c18h35n. 

Curare was first brought to the attention of Queen Elizabeth of England by Sir Walter Raleigh. The remarkable ability of the drug to induce paralysis of the muscles led to its early use by Claude Bernard, Kolliker, Langley, and subsequent physiologists to study the mechanism of neuromuscular activity. However, the uncertain supplies of the drug, its variability, and the effects of its contaminants prevented its therapeutic application. 

The earliest available preparations, made as infusions and concentrated to a syrup by the native people, were designated as calabash (gourd), tubo- (bamboo), or pot (clay pot) curare depending upon the containers in which the drug was packaged. Curare is obtained from the upper regions of the Amazon river, the Orinoco basin, and the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian plateau. The term curare is derived from the Indian name (woorari, urari) for poison (Grollman, 1962). 

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Borges WdS, Pupo MT, Novel anthraquinone derivatives produced hy Phoma sorghina, an endophyte found in association with the medicinal plant Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae),Chem Soc 17 929-934, 2006. 

Some flavone structures have been revised during the reporting period. The structure of 5,8,2 -triOH-6,7-diOMe flavone (compound 131 in Table 12.1) had been ascribed to a product isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis After synthesis, it needs to be revised to 5,7,2 -triOH-6,8-diOMe flavone (compound 132, Table 12.1). " Pedunculin, earlier isolated from Tithonia species and claimed as 5,8-diOH-6,7,4 -triOMe-flavone (compound 141, Table 12.1), needs to be revised, after synthesis, to 5,7-diOH-6,8,4 -triOMe flavone = nevadensin (compound 142 in Table 12.1). " In the previous review, the compound 5,6,7,4 -tetraOH-3, 5 -diOMe had erroneously been cited as a component of Artemisia assoana. Data have now been included for the correct structure, 5,7,4 -triOH-6,3, 5 -triOMe flavone (compound 251 in Table 12.1). A further flavone reported from Ageratum conyzoides (compound 263 in... 

Sq27 Tithofol inolide Tithonia divers folia DIF [155]... 

Sql05 4a, 10a-Dihydroxy-3-oxo-8P-isobutyryloxyguaia-11(13)-en-12,6a-olide Tithonia diversifolia DIF... 

Gachengo, C.N. Palm, C.A. Jama, B. and C. Othieno (1999) Tithonia and senna green manures and inorganic fertilizers as phosphorus sources for maize in Western Kenya.- Agroforestry systems 44, 21-36. 

B. gaudichaudiana, which is commonly used for diabetes. Elephantopus scaber contains hydroxylated germacranolides, such as molephantin and molephantinin, which cause diuresis, antipiresis, eliminate bladder stones, and have cytotoxic and antitumor properties. From the Tithonia genus, T, diversifolia is widely used in Mexico and often has been identified erroneously as Arnica montana. Because of this confusion it is used as European arnica to treat hematomas and muscular cramps. The genus is rich in sesquiterpene lactones.11... 

Smestad, T.B., Tiessen, H. and Buresh, R.J. (2002) Short fallows of Tithonia divers folia and Crota-laria grahamiana for soil fertility improvement in western Kenya. Agroforestry Systems 55, 181-1 94. 

Nziguheba et al. (2000) Kenya Oxisol TIthonIa diversifolla 2.8 142 Mineralization... 

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