Detecting Potential Teratogenic Alkaloids from Blue Cohosh Rhizomes Using an in Vitro Rat Embryo Culture

Abstract

The novel alkaloid thalictroidine (1), as well as the known alkaloids taspine (2), magnoflorine (3), anagyrine (4), baptifoline (5), 5,6-dehydro-alpha-isolupanine (6), alpha-isolupanine (7), lupanine (8), N-methylcytisine (9), and sparteine (10), were identified from an extract of Caulophyllum thalictroides rhizomes. N-Methylcytisine exhibited teratogenic activity in the rat embryo culture (REC), an in vitro method to detect potential teratogens. The structure of 1 was elucidated using various spectroscopic methods, primarily by NMR techniques. Thalictroidine, anagyrine, and alpha-isolupanine were not teratogenic in the REC at tested concentrations. Taspine (2) showed high embryotoxicity, but no teratogenic activity, in the REC.

Croton lechleri sap and isolated alkaloid taspine exhibit inhibition against human melanoma SK23 and colon cancer HT29 cell lines

“…Further, the alkaloid (5 mg/mL) showed high embryotoxicity, but no teratogenic activity, in the cultured rat embryos (Kennelly et al, 1999). The present IC 50 values are also in agreement with literature data obtained in HUVEC cells (Zhang et al, 2008).…”

Genus Caulophyllum: An Overview of Chemistry and Bioactivity

“…Magnoflorine ( 1 ), a quaternary ammonium base, is isolated and detected with the biggest amounts among all the alkaloids isolated from genus Caulophyllum . 1 was also isolated from the n -butanol fraction of blue cohosh due to its strong water-solubility, but it was not active in the rat embryo culture [25]. The molecular structure of 2 is characterized by high symmetry.…”

“…13 was not teratogenic in the rat embryo culture at tested concentrations [25]. After nine years, 13 was isolated again from C. thalictroides , together with 14 – 16 [20].…”

Alternative models in developmental toxicology

“…This approach was used by Andrews et al [2004] to study water disinfection by-products; a similar approach was used by Kennelly et al [1999] to examine extracts of blue cohosh. Species differences can be due to inherent differences in the response to a compound or to pharmacokinetic differences between the species.…”