On the Alkaloidal Content of Ephedras Cultivated at Kasukabe

Kawatani, Toyohiko; Fujita, Sanaenosuke; Ohno, Tadaro; N, Kuboki; Hoshizaki, Kazuko

doi:10.1248/yakushi1947.79.3_392

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Ephedrine alkaloids are absent from most species in the group Fragilis (tribe Scandentes of Stapf [1896]; see Price, 1996) of Eurasian species. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were not detected in E. foemina (syn E. campylopoda) and E. altissima, despite claims to the contrary (Kawatani et al, 1959, other references in O'Dowd et al, 1998. Ephedra foliata in India and Pakistan has no alkaloids (Table 1; also Chaudhri, 1957;O'Dowd et al, 1998).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae)

Caveney

Charlet

Freitag

et al. 2001

American J of Botany

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For several millennia, stem extracts of Ephedra (Ephedraceae, Gnetales) have been used as folk medicines in both the Old and New World. Some species were used in treatments of questionable efficacy for venereal disease in North America during the last century. Many Eurasian species produce phenylethylamine alkaloids, mostly ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, that interact with adrenergic receptors in the mammalian sympathetic nervous system. Asian Ephedra have been used recently in the clandestine manufacture of a street drug, methamphetamine. Although ephedrine alkaloids are not detectable in New World species of Ephedra, together with Asian species they contain other nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites with known neuropharmacological activity. Many mesic and particularly xeric species worldwide accumulate substantial amounts of quinoline-2-carboxylic acids, or kynurenates, in their aerial parts. Many species of Ephedra accumulate cyclopropyl amino acid analogues of glutamate and proline in their stems and roots, and particularly in the seed endosperm. Mesic species synthesize substantial amounts of three L-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine stereomers rarely seen in nature. A cyclopropyl analogue of proline with known antimicrobial activity, cis-3,4-methanoproline, is found in large amounts in the stems and seeds of many Ephedra species. The ability to synthesize cyclopropyl amino acids may be an ancestral feature in the taxon. The natural function in the taxon of these three groups of secondary compounds remains to be established.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae)

Caveney

Charlet

Freitag

et al. 2001

American J of Botany

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Polyploidy in Gymnosperms-A Reappraisal

Ohri

2021

Silvae Genetica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent polyploidy in gymnosperms is unusually scarce being present in only 9.80 % of the 714 taxa studied cytologically. Polyploid forms are represented by sporadic seedlings and individual trees, intraspecific polyploidy in cultivation or in wild and entirely polyploid species and genera. Polyploidy shows a non-random distribution in different genera being mostly prevalent in Ephedra and Juniperus, besides the classic examples of Sequoia and Fitzroya. Remarkably, both Ephedra and Juniperus show adaptive radiation by interspecific hybridization followed by polyploidy while in Ginkgo viable polyploid cytotypes are found in cultivation. Induced polyploidy has not provided any tangible results in the past but recent attempts on certain genera of Cupressaceae hold some promise of producing cultivars for horticulture trade. Lastly, various evidences derived from cytological analysis, fossil pollen, guard cells and comparative genomic studies indicating the occurrence of paleopolyploidy have been discussed.

show abstract

On the Alkaloidal Content of Ephedras Cultivated at Kasukabe

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae)

New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae)

Polyploidy in Gymnosperms-A Reappraisal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About