Deoxycalyciphylline B, a hepatotoxic alkaloid from Daphniphyllum calycinum.
Daphniphyllum calycinum (DC), a main component of Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang, is effectively used to cure bowel disease in the clinic. It was recorded that DC possessed slight toxicity, which was caused by the alkaloids existing in its extract. Unfortunately, to date the toxicity level and toxic constituents are still unclear. The present study is designed to illustrate the acute toxicity and induced organ damages of the total alkaloids as well as to determine the toxic constituents. Based on the above studies, not only was the acute toxicity determined but also hepatic toxicity was characterized by increased plasma biomarkers of ALT and AST and liver cell inflammatory infiltrate as well necrosis that was firstly observed. Significantly, deoxycalyciphylline B exhibited exactly the same hepatic toxicity so it was identified as the main toxic constituent in DC. An obvious dose-effect relationship between the toxic compound and induced hepatic injuries was also observed. Moreover, the Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang contained low levels of the toxic compound, compared with the total alkaloids. Therefore, this Chinese patent drug could be regarded to be safe in this point of view.
School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571101, Hainan, China.
Xiaopo
X
Zhang
Junqing
J
Zhang
Yinfeng
Y
Tan
Qibing
Q
Liu
Mingsheng
M
Liu
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D029624:Ferns / Q000737:chemistry*; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D000470:Alkaloids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; C482084:deoxycalyciphylline B; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase