Qiong Li1, Yun-Li Zhao2, Cheng-Bo Long3, Pei-Feng Zhu1, Ya-Ping Liu1, Xiao-Dong Luo4. 1. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China. 2. Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China. 3. Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China. 4. Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China. Electronic address: xdluo@mail.kib.ac.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Veratrum taliense is traditionally used TCMs in Yunnan province of China for pain and inflammation. Previous research and clinical applications have shown that V. taliense had significant analgesic activity. Jevine-type alkaloids were shown to be one of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents from V. taliense. However, other types of compounds from V. taliense related to its traditional use remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify veratramine-type steroidal alkaloids with analgesic effects from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Compounds were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense by chromatographic separation. Their structures were elucidated based on UV, IR, NMR and MS spectra data. Analgesic activity was assessed with acetic acid-induced writhing in mice model. RESULTS: Seven new veratramine-type alkaloids were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. They all exhibited significant analgesic activity, of which alkaloids 1 and 4 were more potent antalgic than the well-known analgesic drug, pethidine. CONCLUSIONS: The veratramine-type alkaloids from V. taliense may serve as new leads for the discovery of analgesic drugs.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Veratrum taliense is traditionally used TCMs in Yunnan province of China for pain and inflammation. Previous research and clinical applications have shown that V. taliense had significant analgesic activity. Jevine-type alkaloids were shown to be one of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents from V. taliense. However, other types of compounds from V. taliense related to its traditional use remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify veratramine-type steroidal alkaloids with analgesic effects from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Compounds were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense by chromatographic separation. Their structures were elucidated based on UV, IR, NMR and MS spectra data. Analgesic activity was assessed with acetic acid-induced writhing in mice model. RESULTS: Seven new veratramine-type alkaloids were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. They all exhibited significant analgesic activity, of which alkaloids 1 and 4 were more potent antalgic than the well-known analgesic drug, pethidine. CONCLUSIONS: The veratramine-type alkaloids from V. taliense may serve as new leads for the discovery of analgesic drugs.