title: Cardenolides from the methanolic extract of Nerium oleander leaves possessing central nervous system depressant activity in mice.
abstract: Two new cardenolides, 3 beta-O-(D-2-O-methyldigitalosyl)-14 beta-hydroxy-5 beta-carda-16,20(22)-dienolide (1) and 3 beta-hydroxy-8,14-epoxy-5 beta-carda-16,20(22)-dienolide (2), and two known cardenolides, 3 beta-O-(D-digitalosyl)-14 beta-hydroxy-16 beta-acetoxy-5 beta-card-20(22)-enolide (3) and 3 beta-O-(D-digitalosyl)-14 beta-hydroxy-5 beta-card-20(22)-enolide (4), have been isolated from the leaves of Nerium oleander following a bioactivity-directed isolation of the MeOH extract, which showed central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity in mice at a dosage of 50 mg/kg i.p. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral data. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 were found to exhibit sedation in mice at a dosage of 25 mg/kg, although 2 had no effect on the CNS of mice at a dosage of up to 50 mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan. hej@biruni.erum.com.pk
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002298:Cardenolides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D002298:Cardenolides; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010936:Plant Extracts