Anisodamine induces the hexagonal phase in phospholipid liposomes

The effects of anisodamine on the polymorphic phase behaviour of cardiolipin and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes have been investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Anisodamine induces the formation of lipidic particles in cardiolipin liposomes at pH 7.0 and hexagonal HII tubes at pH 8.8. When the molar ratio of anisodamine and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine is 4 to 1, lipidic particles can be observed in the fracture faces.

Adrenoceptor blocking properties of atropine-like agents anisodamine and anisodine on brain and cardiovascular tissues of rats

The cholinoceptor antagonists anisodamine and anisodine are widely used in the People's Republic of China for the management of acute circulatory shock but the mechanism of their beneficial effects is not fully known; we therefore investigated if these agents possessed adrenoceptor blocking properties. The antagonistic effect of anisodamine and anisodine against the specific binding of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor ligand [3H]-WB-4101 to cardiac and brain tissue membrane preparations and against the effects of phenylephrine on isolated aortic strips and left atria of rats were compared with classical muscarinic receptor and adrenoceptor blocking agents. Both anisodamine and anisodine possessed alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking properties; the order of potency of various agents in displacing the binding of [3H]-WB-4101 to receptors and in antagonizing the effects of phenylephrine on aortic strips and left atria was: prazosin greater than atropine greater than anisodamine greater than scopolamine greater than anisodine. It is concluded that both anisodamine and to a lesser extent anisodine possess alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking properties; this antagonistic activity of anisodamine may contribute to its salutary effects on the microcirculation. However, it is unlikely that anisodine produces a significant adrenoceptor blockade in the clinically used dose-range.

The inactivation of herpes simplex virus by some Solanaceae glycoalkaloids

The infectivity of herpes simplex virus Type I in tissue culture was inhibited by prior incubation with aqueous suspensions of glycoalkaloids in order of activity alpha-chaconine greater than alpha-tomatine greater than alpha-solasonine but not by the corresponding aglycones, solanidine, tomatidine and solasodine. However, inhibition was not only dependent on the presence of a sugar moiety since the glycone alpha-solanine was inactive under the conditions used. The glycones, but not the aglycones, showed cytopathic effects on cellular membranes of Vero cells and erythrocytes; therefore, it is suggested that inactivation of virus results from insertion of the glycones into the viral envelope.

Effect of alkaloids of Solanum melongena on the central nervous system

Crude alkaloidal fraction isolated from the leaves of Solanum melongena was screened for its effects on the central nervous system. It exhibited significant analgesic effect and some CNS depression but no anticonvulsant action. The analgesic effects were of non-narcotic type. LD50 was estimated to be higher than 1 g/kg i.p. in mice.

Beneficial effect of anisodamine in hemorrhagic shock

Anisodamine , an alkaloid extracted from Anisodus tanguticus , is widely used in China in the treatment of septic shock, but its mechanism of action is unknown. We studied its antishock action in cats in a well controlled model of hemorrhagic shock. A bolus dose of 1 mg/kg was given intravenously 20 min after MABP was stabilized at 40-45 mm Hg, followed by i.v. infusion of 2 mg/kg/h during the oligemic period. Two hours post-reinfusion, MABP was significantly higher (106 +/- 10 mm Hg) in the drug-treated group than in shock cats receiving only vehicle (53 +/- 6 mm Hg, P less than 0.001). Anisodamine treated shock cats exhibited significantly lower cathepsin D activity (P less than 0.02) and amino-nitrogen concentration (P less than 0.001) than untreated shock animals. Plasma myocardial depressant factor (MDF) activity was significantly increased in the untreated shock cats (61 +/- 6 Units/ml), but the plasma accumulation of MDF was significantly blunted by anisodamine (32 +/- 5 Units/ml, P less than 0.01). Anisodamine did not increase superior mesenteric artery flow ( SMAF ) in this model of hemorrhagic shock as there was no significant difference in SMAF between the two shocked groups. Thus, the beneficial effect of anisodamine probably is not due to vasodilation of the splanchnic vasculature. In vitro analysis indicates that the drug has a direct anti-proteolytic action in cat pancreatic homogenates. This may partly explain the mechanism of its action, which appears to be complex.