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
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | biblioteca |
Published: |
Hawaii (EUA)
1993
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Subjects: | ERYTHRINA, ANALISIS QUIMICO, ALCALOIDES, ARBOLES MEDICINALES, |
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Summary: | 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 |
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