Summary
Five esters of germine with acetic acid were investigated for their pharmacological activity on the circulation of cats, for their veratrinic effect on the sartorius muscle of the frog, and for their toxicity in mice.
The germine tetra-, isotetra- and pentaacetate resembled the naturally occurring esters of germine and other naturally occurring alkaloids of the group of veratrum ester alkaloids in their effect on the circulation and on frog muscle, although their potency was much lower than that of the natural germine esters.
The mono- and the diacetate of germine showed a different pattern of activity. In frog muscle they caused an increase in twitch height rather than an aftercontraction. In cats they caused not a hypotension, but rather a moderate hypertension. The hypertension is probably due to stimulation of receptors of unknown nature, possibly pain receptors. The effect was attenuated, but not abolished, after destruction of the medullary centers, but did not occur after destruction of the spinal cord.
Sensory stimulation after injection of germine mono- and diacetate was noted in the anesthetized animals and was reported by human volunteers.
Zusammenfassung
Fünf Ester des Veratrum Alkaloids Germin mit Essigsäure wurden auf ihre pharmakologische Wirkung auf den Kreislauf der Katze und auf den Sartorius-Muskel des Frosches geprüft. Außerdem wurde die Toxicität der Alkaloide an der Maus bestimmt.
Die Alkaloide Tetra-, Isotetra- und Pentaacetylgermin waren am Kreislauf der Katze und am Skeletmuskel des Frosches in ihrer Wirkung den natürlich vorkommenden Esteralkaloiden des Germins ähnlich; ihre Wirkungsstärke war jedoch erheblich geringer. Mono- und Diacetylgermin verhielten sich anders. Am Sartorius-Muskel des Frosches verursachten sie, ebenso wie Germin selbst, eine Zunahme der Zuckungshöhe aber keine Nachkontraktion. Am Kreislauf der Katze trat eine mäßige Blutdrucksteigerung auf statt der für die natürlich vorkommenden Esteralkaloide charakteristischen Blutdrucksenkung. Die Blutdrucksteigerung beruht wahrscheinlich auf der Erregung von bisher nicht identifizierten Receptoren, möglicherweise handelt es sich um Schmerzreceptoren. Die Wirkung konnte durch Zerstörung der Medulla oblongata abgeschwächt aber nicht beseitigt werden. Nach der Zerstörung des Rückenmarks trat keine Blutdrucksteigerung mehr auf.
Die Toxicität (LD50, Maus) der Acetylester (mit Ausnahme des Pentaacetats) war vier- bis achtmal so groß als diejenige des Germins und betrug 1/100 bis 1/300 der Toxicität der natürlich vorkommenden Germinester.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arora, R. B.: Studies on varatrum alkaloids XVII. The antiveratrinic action of the cardiac glycosides and of bufotoxin. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 108, 26 (1953).
Benforado, J. M.: Studies on veratrum alkaloids XXVI. Comparison of the cardiac action of various tertiary amine ester alkaloide. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 120, 412 (1957).
Benforado, J. M., W. Flacke, W. Mosimann and C. R. Swaine: Studies on veratrum alkaloids XXIX. The action of some germine esters and of veratridine upon blood pressure, heart rate and femoral blood flow in the dog. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 130, 311 (1960).
Calliauw, L.: On the hypertensive action of protoveratrine A. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 107, 75 (1956).
Krayer, O.: Studies on veratrum alkaloids VIII. Veratramine, an antagonist to the cardioaccelerator action of epinephrine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 96, 422 (1949).
Krayer, O.: Veratrum alkaloids, p. 515–524. In Pharmacology in Medicine, 2d ed., V. A. Drill, Editor, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1958.
Krayer, O., and G. H. Acheson: The pharmacology of the veratrum alkaloids. Physiol. Rev. 26, 383 (1946).
Krayer, O., and H. W. George: Studies on veratrum alkaloids XV. The quinine-like effect of veratramine upon the single twitch and upon the “veratrine response” of the sartorius muscle of the frog. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 103, 249 (1951).
Krayer, O., S. M. Kupchan, S. V. Deliwala u. B. H. Rogers: Untersuchungen über die Veratrumalkaloide XVIII. Die chemischen und pharmakologischen Beziehungen zwischen den Zygadenusalkaloiden und den Veratrumalkaloiden. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 219, 371 (1953).
Krayer, O., R. P. Linstead and D. Todd: Pharmacology and chemistry of substances with cardiac activity II. Effect of l-ascorbic acid and some related compounds and of hydrogen peroxide on the isolated heart of the frog. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 77, 113 (1943).
Krayer, O., G. K. Moe and R. Mendez: Studies on veratrum alkaloids VI. Protoveratrine: its comparative toxicity and its circulatory action. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 82, 167 (1944).
Kupchan, S. M., and C. R. Narayanan: Veratrum alkaloids XXVIII. The structure and configuration of germine. J. Amer. chem. Soc. 81, 1913 (1959).
Lissauer, H.: Untersuchungen über die Wirkungen der Veratrumalkaloide. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 23, 36 (1887).
Litchfield, J. T. Jr.,, and F. Wilcoxon: A simplified method of evaluating dose-effect experiments. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 96, 99 (1949).
Shanes, A. M.: The ultraviolet spectra and neurophysiological effects of “veratrine” alkaloids. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 105, 216 (1952).
Swiss, E. D.: The emetic properties of veratrum derivatives. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 104, 76 (1952).
Tanaka, K.: Studies on veratrum alkaloids XX. Actions of veratrum alkaloids upon the central nervous system of mice. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 113, 89 (1955).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
In honor of Prof. A. Jarisch on his 70th birthday.
With 1 Figure in the Text
Studies on Veratrum Alkaloids XXXI.
This work was supported by grant H-2205 U.S. Public Health Service and by funds from the Eugene Higgins Trust.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Flacke, W. Pharmacological activity of some esters of germine with acetic acid. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch 240, 369–381 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00244931
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00244931