Plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family have been shown to be a good source of biologically active alkaloids. The effect of 20 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids on the blood pressure of normotensive rats was assessed. The compounds evaluated belong to the lycorine, homolycorine, galanthamine, crinane, tazettine and miscellaneous skeletal types. At 1.5 mgkg−1, eight of the alkaloids assayed showed a significant effect on the arterial pressure of normotensive rats. Seven elicited a hypotensive response > 20%, with a lasting time ranging from 2.0 to 36.0 min while crinamine showed a hypertensive effect. These findings support the potential of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids as hypotensive drugs.

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Thirty-five plant samples belonging to 30 Mapuche medicinal plants were assayed for xanthine oxidase and p-glucuronidase inhibitory activity as well as for brine shrimp toxicity and hypotensive effect in normotensive rats. A high number of extracts displayed significant inhibition towards the enzyme p-glucuronidase or elicited a hypotensive response. The biological activity of the assayed extracts shows some correlation with their use as digestives for treating hepatic troubles by the Mapuche Amerindians. From the ten plants displaying a hypotensive effect 2 20%, eight have some ethnobotanical indication suggesting that activity.

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The hypoglycaemic activity of 'Core-core' (Geranium core-core, Geraniaceae), 'Culle' (Oxalis rosea, Oxalidaceae) and 'Llanthn' (P lantago major, Plantaginaceae) crude extracts was assessed in normoglycaemic rats. Furthermore, the hypoglycaemic activity of Core-core extract was evaluated in alloxan-diabetic rats. A single oral dose of 500 mg/kg Core-core extract significantly reduced glycaemia in normal rats under glucose tolerance test conditions (p