RNA
Paul Pumpens in 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
Clifford L. K. Pang, Kaiman Lee in Hyperthermia in Oncology, 2015
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].
Veratrum parviflorum poisoning: identification of steroidal alkaloids in patient blood and breast milk
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2022
Jared T. Seale, Joseph E. Carpenter, Matthew D. Eisenstat, Emily A. Kiernan, Brent W. Morgan, Daniel P. Nogee, Xinzhu Pu, Colin A. Therriault, Michael Yeh, Owen M. McDougal
Despite recognition as an ingredient in potent traditional medicines, the history of Veratrum spp. is rife with accidental poisoning. Veratrum intoxication is most often due to inadvertent consumption as a result of misidentification during foraging [11–19]. Cases of V. viride poisoning are reported to have occurred due to mistaking the plant for Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage), Phytolacca americana (pokeweed), Allium ampeloprasum (wild onion), and Allium tricoccum (ramps) [12,13,15]. Likewise, V. album, a species most prominently found in northern Eurasia and localized regions of Alaska, is reported to have been misidentified as Allium ursinum (wild onion) and Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian) [16,19]. Most cases of poisoning manifest with symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and a Bezold-Jarisch reflex (bradycardia, hypopnea, and hypotension). Patients with mild symptoms typically respond well to symptomatic and supportive treatments with intravenous fluids and antiemetics, but those with symptomatic bradycardia or hypotension may require treatment with atropine or vasopressors [11–19].
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