Use in traditional Chinese medicine

M.17 Tu-jin-pi is a root bark used in traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of athlete s foot. One of the active ingredients in tu-jin-pi is pseudolaric acid A, which is known to contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. A chemist... 

Ephedrine and pseudoephediine are a vasodilator and decongestant respectively used widely in the treatment of asthma and the symptoms of colds and influenza. These pharmaceuticals were derived originally fi om the plant Ephedra sinica and used in traditional Chinese medicinal preparations. Although some are still produced fi om such sources, the major production is via a fermentation process followed by a chemical catalytic reaction. As shown in Figure 1, the intermediate / -phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is produced by decarboxylation of pyruvate followed by ligation to benzaldehyde. 

The orsellinic acid derivative lasiodiplodin 84 and its de-O-methyl congener are found, i.a., in the roots of Arnebia euchroma, a plant which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. These compounds elicit diverse biological responses as inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis, cyctotoxic agents, and plant growth regulators. 

Ren Y, Houghton PJ, Hider RC, Relevant activities of extracts and onstituents of animals used in traditional Chinese medicine for central nervous system effects associated with Alzheimer s disease, J Pharm Pharmacol 58 989—996, 2006. 

An oxime derivative of indirubin (a natural bis-indole alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia), indirubin-3 -monoxime (37), was found to be a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and of the proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells via inhibition of a tyrosine kinase . The 3D structure of the complex of 37 with CDK revealed that the oxime function is intact, and that it occupies the ATP-ribose site of the CDK-ATP structure. While the specific role of the oxime group in the biological activity of 37 is not clear, it was proposed that its reactivity may be utilized for further drug design... 

The octahydrohydroperoxy-(5//)-cyclopropa[a]-naphthalen-5-one 69 (P2i2i2i, O— O = 1.453) has been extracted from the underground part of the plant Aristolochia debilis. The plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure airway disorders. Hydroperoxide 69 has been prepared independently upon exposure of a suitable deperoxy derivative to air. 

Artemisinin is a natural endoperoxide-containing sesquiterpene, isolated from a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Acetalic artemisinin derivatives (arte-mether, artesunate) are very active against chemo-resistant forms of Plasmodium falciparum, and are clinically used for the treatment. However, they suffer from an unfavourable pharmacological profile. They are quickly metabolised by fast oxidative metabolism, hydrolytic cleavage and glucuronidation. 

A number of endoperoxide derivatives from marine organisms - the nitro derivative of plakoric acid <2006CHJ1190>, a number of 1,2-dioxanes of the plakortin family <2006JME7088>, some 4,5-dihydro-l,2-dioxins of litseaverticillol family <2006T5308> - and from plant extracts, used in traditional Chinese medicine, coronarin E... 

Ou M. Chinese-English Manual of Common Herbs Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hong Kong Guangdong Science and technology Publishing House, Joint Publishing (HK), 1999 357. 

Since a herbal combination has obvious advantages in treatment, the relationships between the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been carefully studied and certain types of relationship are identified. They are called the seven relations between herbs, e.g. mutual accentuation, mutual enhancement, mutual counteraction, mutual suppression, mutual antagonism, mutual incompatibility and single effect. Some of these are very useful in treatment, but some are harmful and therefore must be avoided. 

The ginseng root is among the most important medicines used in traditional Chinese medicine. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, family Araliaceae, has been used in China for more than 2000 years to combat psychophysical tiredness and asthenia. The earliest known mention of ginseng in Europe goes back to 1711 when a Jesuit, Father Jartoux,1 who worked in Chinese missions, sent a letter to the general procurator in Paris, describing this plant, which... 

Tripterygium wilfordii (thundergod vine) is often used in traditional Chinese medicine, for instance to treat arthritis. 

Extracts of a mixture of honiokol 202 and magnolol 203 (the main constituents of the stem bark of Magnolia abovata thumb and Magnolia officinalis rhed, used in traditional Chinese medicine) have been separated by acid-catalyzed transformation of magnolol with dimethoxypropane into 204 (Scheme 57) <2006JME3426>. 

Recently, the pharmacokinetics of resveratrol from Smilax china, a rhizome extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine was evaluated [Huang et al., 2008]. Forty-five female rats were orally administered with 1 g/kg S. china extract equivalent to 180 mg/kg of oxyresveratrol and 80 mg/kg of resveratrol. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed that the two stilbenes were rapidly absorbed into the body fluid from the gastrointestinal tract and could still be detected in the plasma at least 6 h after the administration [Huang et al., 2008], probably due to the high dose administered. 

MOTHER NATURE S AMPHETAMINES Amphetamine does not occur naturally, but some substances found in nature are chemically related to amphetamine and have similar effects on the brain. Ephedrine can be found in Ephedra sinica, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and is known as ma huang. Its effects on the sympathetic nervous system are similar to amphetamine. However, this extract never achieved complete success as a psychoactive stimulant, primarily because it does not cross the blood—brain barrier as effectively as amphetamine. 

An extract of Radix puerariae, a herb long used in traditional Chinese medicine for alcohol addiction and intoxication, suppresses the free-choice ethanol intake of ethanol. The isoflavonoids... 

Tanshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bung), a medicinal plant, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its tranquilizing, sedative, circulation-promoting and bacteriocidal effects. [73], It has proven to be a rich source of abietane o-quinone diterpenoids. Miltirone (197) is a tricyclic diterpenoid quinone which has been isolated from the roots of salvia miltiorrhiza Bung. The isolation of miltirone constitutes a new addition to naturally occurring quinines related to tanshinones [74,75] isolated from the same source. 

Species in the genus Amomum are also used in traditional Indian medicine. Among other species, varieties and cul-tivars, A. villosum is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stomach aches, constipation, dysentery and other digestive problems. 

Naora et al. (1992) evaluated the potential of ginger as a cardiotonic and analgesic. Preparations of the rhizomes are used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antipyretic, cardiotonic, anticonvulsive or... 

Quassin is a bitter-tasting substance that can be extracted from the quassia tree (bitter tree, Picrasma quassioides Benn).156 It is said to be the most bitter substance found in nature. Quassin is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Besides quassin, modified triterpenes, the so-called quassinoid, are the principal component of the bitter taste. 

Ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol), which is found in large quantities in bear bile, and which elicits an intense bitter taste, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine not only as a stomachic but also as a universal drug for the alimentary system.1 8 Currently, the drug is generally derived by chemical synthesis rather than from animals. 

Thus, although traditional herbal medicines are candidates for diabetes prevention, it is very important to give scientific evidence for their antidiabetic effects. Commdina communis (Commelinaceae) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antipyretic for noninfectious fever and to treat ascites, edema, and hordeolum [113], and is now very popular in Korea for the treatment of diabetes [114]. 

Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea corylifolia), a Chinese herb, is more than 60 times richer than soybeans in genistein. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for diarrhea, frequent urination or urinary incontinence, low back pain, and wheezing. 

The unusual triepoxide triptolide (33) was first isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. or the thunder god vine by the late Morris Kupchan as part of his systematic investigation of natural products as potential anticancer agents. T. iDilfordii is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of arthritis and related... 

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