title: Measurement of effects of the Chinese herbal medicine higenamine on left ventricular function using a cardiac probe.
abstract: The effects of the Chinese herbal medicine higenamine on left ventricular function were studied by means of an external radiation detector in 15 patients with heart disease. Higenamine, administered intravenously, markedly increased the ejection fraction of LV, as well as the ejection rate. The LVEF increased from 46% +/- 9% to 60% +/- 15% and 61% +/- 12% (P less than 0.005) after a 30- and 60-min infusion of higenamine, respectively. The percentage increase in LVEF paralleled the increase in the heart rate. The effects of higenamine on LV function were similar to the response obtained with isoproterenol. These results document the pharmacologic effect of the Chinese herbal medicine, higenamine, on heart function.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D007545:Isoproterenol; C012348:higenamine