New Taxanes from Taxus chinensis

Two new taxane diterpenes, decinnamoyltaxagifine ( 3) and decinnanioyltaxagifine acetate ( 2), have been isolated from the leaves and stems of TAXUS CHINENSIS. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Their (13)C-NMR chemical shifts were assigned.

[Effects of 3,6-dimethamidodibenzopyriodonium citrate (I-65) on action potentials and contractions in guinea pig papillary muscles]

Synchronous recordings of action potentials and contractile force in isolated guinea pig papillary muscles administered 3,6-dimethamidodibenzopyriodonium citrate (I-65) 30 mumol/L showed excitation-contraction uncoupling, ie, the contractile force was markedly depressed although the Vmax and amplitudes of the action potentials were unaffected. At the same concentration, I-65 shortened the duration of the action potentials at 50% and 90% repolarization. However, I-65 at lower concentrations (1-10 mumol/L) decreased Vmax and the amplitude of the slow action potentials which were elicited by isoprenaline in papillary muscles were rendered partially depolarized by KCl 25 mmol/L Tyrode solution. These effects were partially reversed by elevation of the concentration of Ca2+ from 2.7 to 5.4 mmol/L. I-65 also suppressed the abnormal automaticity elicited by BaCl2 and DAD and triggered activity induced by ouabain. The results suggest that I-65 may be a calcium channel blocker.

[Negative inotropic effect of 3,6-dimethamidodibenzopyriodonium citrate (I-65) on guinea pig papillary muscles]

The effects of 3,6-dimethamidodibenzopyriodonium citrate (I-65) on the contractile response of electrically paced guinea pig papillary muscles in vitro were studied. I-65 (0.1-300 mumol/L) decreased the contractile force and inhibited isoprenaline-induced restoration of the contractile response in papillary muscles rendered inexcitable by KCl 22 mmol/L. Both effects were concentration-dependent, and the IC50 were 36.0 and 7.3 mumol/L, respectively. I-65 antagonized the positive inotropic effects of Iso and CaCl2 in a non-competitive manner. Like verapamil, I-65 had a frequency-dependent negative inotropic effect, and delayed the recovery of post-rest potentiation. It is concluded that the negative inotropic effect of I-65 results not only from the reduction of Ca2+-influx through the sarcolemmal membrane, but also from the inhibition of Ca2+ translocation in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.