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Planta Med 1991; 57(6): 531-535
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960200
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Activity on the CNS of Crude Extracts and of Some Diterpenoids Isolated from Euphorbia calyptrata Suspended Cultures

Ester Speroni1 , Barbara Coletti1 , Anacleto Minghetti2 , Nicoletta Crespi Perellino3 , Augusto Guicciardi3 , Franco Francesco Vincieri4
  • 1Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • 3Farmitalia C. Erba, Biotechnology Department, Milano, Italy
  • 4Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
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Publication History

1990

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Crude methanolic extracts from both root and cell cultures of Euphorbia calyptrata were investigated and found to be active on the CNS. An active fraction was isolated from the methanolic extract of suspension cultures; this possesses significant depressant activity on the CNS. When compared with the crude methanolic root extract, this fraction showed the presence of some common products, four of which were isolated and characterized as helioscopinolides A, C, D, and E. The pure products, administered intraperitoneally to mice, showed different activities on the CNS. Helioscopinolide C showed a clear depressant activity, helioscopinolide E a mild, short depressant effect, while helioscopinolides A and D had an opposite excitatory effect.

Key words

Euphorbia calyptrata - diterpenoids - CNS activity - suspension cultures - helioscopinolides A, C, D, and E