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Biotransformation of Sesquiterpenoids, Ionones, Damascones, Adamantanes, and Aromatic Compounds by Green Algae, Fungi, and Mammals
Published in K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Gerhard Buchbauer, Handbook of Essential Oils, 2020
Yoshinori Asakawa, Yoshiaki Noma
Raspberry ketone (566) and zingerone (574) are the major components of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and ginger (Zingiber officinale), and these are used as food additive and spice. Two substrates were incubated with the Phytolacca americana cultured cells for 3 days to produce two secondary alcohols (567, 568) as well as five glucosides (569–572) from 566 and a secondary alcohol (576) and four glycoside products (575, 577–579) from 574. In the case of raspberry ketone, phenolic hydroxyl group was preferably glycosylated after the reduction of carbonyl group of the substrate occurred. It is interesting to note that one more hydroxyl group was introduced into the benzene ring to give 568, which were further glycosylated by one of the phenolic hydroxyl groups, and no glycoside of the secondary alcohol at C2 were obtained (Figure 23.161).
RNA
Published in Paul Pumpens, Single-Stranded RNA Phages, 2020
The MS2 RNA contributed as a substrate to the evaluation of the pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), that was isolated from the leaves of the pokeweed plant Phytolacca americana and characterized initially as a ribosome-inactivating protein (Rajamohan et al. 1999). The PAP acted as the site-specific RNA N-glycosidase and removed catalytically a single adenine base from a highly conserved loop of the large rRNA species in eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomes. In contrast to ricin A chains, the PAP-I, PAP-II, and PAP-III isoforms demonstrated ability to depurinate not only MS2, but also HIV-1 RNA, and appeared as potent anti-HIV agents (Rajamohan et al. 1999).
Integrative hyperthermia treatments for different types of cancer
Published in Clifford L. K. Pang, Kaiman Lee, Hyperthermia in Oncology, 2015
Clifford L. K. Pang, Kaiman Lee
Proven prescription 2: Mash the root of raw Phytolacca americana to make a cake. Place it on the affected area. Conduct moxibustion with three to four moxa cones. Efficacy: resolves phlegm coagulation and treats lymphoma.
Antihypertensive effect and the underlying mechanisms of action of phytolaccagenin in rat models
Published in Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, 2022
Imran Ul Haq, Taseer Ahmad, Taous Khan, Abdul Jabbar Shah
Phytolaccagenin is a triterpenoid saponin aglycone and secondary metabolite of Radix Phytolaccae (dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb and Phytolacca americana L), and it is one of the major bioactive compounds of this plant (1,2). Radix Phytolaccae is commonly used in Japan, China, and Korea for treating various inflammatory diseases (3). It has been reported that systemic exposure to the saponin content of Phytolacca americana L causes hypotension and tachycardia (4); its tea when ingested caused cardiac effects including hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia, and Mobitz type I heart (5,6), and these effects are attributed to the presence of phytolaccagenin and phytolaccatoxin (7). Phytolaccagenin is reported as a relaxant of airway smooth muscle (8) as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal (2,9). It is physiologically and structurally related to oleanic acid and betulinic acid, which have been reported as antihypertensives (10).
Recent developments in vaccines and biological therapies against Japanese encephalitis virus
Published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2018
Several inhibitors acting at a postentry stage of flavivirus infection have been developed. These include a derivate of the protein secondary structure mimetic bispidine conjugated with hydrophobic amino acid residues, which showed antiviral properties against JEV in vitro, probably by inhibition of viral genome replication [157]. Pokeweed, a plant-derived N-glycosidase ribosomal-inactivating protein isolated from Phytolacca americana, is a broad-spectrum antiviral protein that inhibits protein translation by depurination of rRNA. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that pokeweed inhibited JEV replication and nanomolar concentration and conferred partial protection against JEV lethal infection in mice [158]. The antiparasitic drug nitazoxanide was shown to have also antiviral activity against a variety of viruses through different mechanisms. Regarding JEV, nitazoxanide inhibits JEV replication in cell culture and daily intragastric administration of the drug led to 90% reduction of the mortality of mice challenged with a lethal dose of JEV [159].
Plant identification applications do not reliably identify toxic and edible plants in the American Midwest
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2023
Kevan Long, Andrew Townesmith, Alex Overmiller, Wendy Applequist, Anthony Scalzo, Paula Buchanan, Cindy C. Bitter
Otter et al. [31] tested three plant identification apps on 17 species of toxic plants found growing in Southern California using an iOS operating system and found the accuracy varied from 56% (PlantSnap) to 96% (PictureThis). Several species were targeted in their study as well as the current paper – Conium maculatum was identified with 100% accuracy by 1/3 apps in their study and 3/4 in this study, Phytolacca americana was correctly identified by 2/3 apps in their study and 2/4 in our study. They posited the use of the apps by medical personnel when faced with persons who have ingested an unknown plant and suggested that the apps may be used with caution and in consultation with a poison center or botanist if available.