title: Anti-implantation activity of S(-)- and R(+)-camphor-yuehchukene in rats.
abstract: (+/-)-Yuehchukene is a dimeric indole alkaloid with potent anti-implantation activity in rats. Since (+/-)-yuehchukene occurs in nature as a racemate, it would be desirable to find out which enantiometer is the bio-active form. To this end, S(-)-camphor-yuehchukene and R(+)-camphor-yuehchukene were synthesised and tested in three bioassay models. It was found that the R(+) enantiomer was the active form. It was equipotent with (+/-)-yuehchukene in both anti-implantation and estrogenic activity tests. It seems fair to conclude that both activities reside in the same molecule.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002164:Camphor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D002164:Camphor; C047409:yuehchukene