Planta Med 1983; 49(11): 188-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-969846
Research Articles

© Hippokrates Verlag Stuttgart

Hypotensive Principles of Uncaria Hooks[1]

Katsuya Endo, Yoshiteru Oshima, Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Yumi Koshihara, Hiroshi Hikino
  • Pharmaceutical Institute, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1982

1983

Publication Date:
26 March 2007 (online)

Abstract

A methanol extract of the Oriental crude drug “chōtōkō”, Uncaria hooks, elicited a strong and long-lasting hypotension on injection into rats. The activity differed considerably from the effects expected for the known constituents, rhynchophylline and its analogues, which elicit only weak transient hypotensive effects. Fractionation of the extract, along with the pharmacological assays, resulted in isolation of three indole alkaloid glucosides, cadambine (1), 3α-dihydrocadambine (2) and 3β-isodihydrocadambine (3). The former (1) was found inactive but the latter two (2 and 3) exhibited strong and long-lasting hypotensive actions similar to the extract. 3β-Dihydrocadambine (4), which was not detected in the extract, also showed a strong hypotensive activity.

1 Part 50 in the series on the validity of the Oriental medicines.

1 Part 50 in the series on the validity of the Oriental medicines.