title: Constituents of Croton menthodorus and their effects on electrically induced contractions of the guinea-pig isolated ileum.
abstract: The present study examines the effects of the extracts [petroleum ether, CHCl(3), CHCl(3)MeOH (9:1) and MeOH], partially purified fractions and pure compounds from Croton menthodorus on the electrically induced contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum (ECI). The results of the experiments indicate that CHCl(3)/MeOH (9:1) and MeOH extracts, tested at concentrations of 100, 50 and 25 microg/mL, dose-dependently reduced the guinea-pig ileum contractions, whereas petroleum ether and CHCl(3) extracts did not affect it. Furthermore, the partially purified fractions III-VI from the CHCl(3)/MeOH extract, each tested at concentrations of 100, 50 and 25 microg/mL also inhibited ECI. Finally, pure compound 1 (6 x 10(-6), 3 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-6) M) isolated and purified from the most active fraction III significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the electrical contractions of the ileum. Compound 1 was identified by NMR and EI-MS data as the morphinandien-7-one, O-methylflavinantine.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9, (84084) Penta di Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piacente
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Tommasi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragucci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019665:Euphorbiaceae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009019:Morphinans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009019:Morphinans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024736:2-methylflavinantine