Chemical constituents of Erythrina: historial perspectives and future prospects

Erythrina is a genus of great chemical versatility. It has been used in folk medicine for treatment of insomnia, malaria, fever, venereal disease, asthma and toothaches. South American Indians used Erythrina as a fish poison. In addition, there are reports of its use as a narcotic and anthelmintic. The first compounds isolated from Erythrina were alkaloids. An Erythrina alkaloid, B-erythroidine, was used for a brief time as a muscle relaxant in surgery and in the treatment of schizophrenia in the United States. Subsequently, homoerythrina alkaloids were investigated for their anti-cancer activity. Recentrly research involving Erythrina has focused on other chemical classes, primarily antimicrobial flavonoids and phytalexins. Additional investigations include molecular recognition of Erythrina lectins and the enzymology of protease inhibitors isolated from Erythrina. Interest in the chemical constituents of Erythrina continues to be considerable

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	106621 Powell, M.H. eds., 103839 Payne, L.D., 131136 Westley, S.B., 15141 Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Hawaii (EUA), 35729 International Conference on Erythrina in the New and Old Worlds Turrialba (Costa Rica) 19-23 Oct 1992
Format:	biblioteca
Published:	Hawaii (EUA) 1993
Subjects:	ERYTHRINA, ANALISIS QUIMICO, ALCALOIDES, ARBOLES MEDICINALES,
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