Thevetia peruviana???

[Hammilton]

Does anyone know what the active constituent of this plant is?

Effect of Chronic Administration of an Extract of Thevetia Peruviana Seed on a Model of Experimental Obesity
Author(s): Carlos Alberto González Chávez*, Maria Elena Martínez Enríquez and Alfonso Efraín Campos Sepúlveda

Gonzalez-Chavez CA, Martinez-Enriquez ME, Campos-Sepulveda AE

Abstract: Obesity is a world-wide public health problem that is particularly dramatic in the United States. In recent years in Mexico, the Thevetia peruviana (Tp) seed has been used to reduce body weight; the intake of this seed has however caused toxicity and death. Animal studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Tp seed in reducing body weight, but with a high lethality. Of the dry extracts of Tp seed obtained with ethyl acetate or methanol and water, the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) didn’t cause toxicity. Here we assessed the effects of EAE in a model of experimental obesity in the mouse. Both male and female obese and nonobese animals were used; EAE with (200 mg/kg, diluted in oil corn) or without dilution was administered orally for 30 days to female and male mice respectively. Body weight and intake of and food and water were registered daily. EAE administration significantly reduced (p<0.05) body weight in both male and female obese mice. Significant differences in the first week of treatment were seen in non-obese male mice only. Also we observed a significant diminution (p<0.05) in the intake of water and food in the obese animal groups compared to non-obese animals. We conclude that EAE reduces body weight without causing lethality. However, the animals displayed excessive CNS stimulation.

Journal Title: Proceedings of the Western Pharmacological Society

Source: Volume 49 Issue 1, Pages 58-59


downloadable here:
http://wiki.blacklight.in/index.php...ern_Pharmacological_Society_Volume_49_Issue_1

 

[negrogesic]

Thevenine, which is probably similar to oleandrin. Nasty stuff.

 

[MurphyClox]

As far as I known the main ingredient is an steroidal glycoside, called Thevetin. Check this page for a structure.

P.S. Yeah, it's indeed very similar with Oleandrin. Except for pos. 17 the aglyka look indentical...

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

This plant is one of two known under the indigenous name of...errr...its just gone outa my head, thats what I get for taking 20ml of GBL up the keester, but the other plant known under the same name is a species of strychnos.


oooohh, now he gets it...camalonga.


Active ingredient is thevetin, along with a couple of others, cardiac glycosides, the plant is used as an emetic in shamanic practise in peru.

And a means of suicide in sri lanka.

This plant is HIGHLY dangerous, do not ingest under any circumstances, poisoning can be treated with digoxin-specific antibodies, like upas or oleander poisoning is.

 

[MurphyClox]

In recent years in Mexico, the Thevetia peruviana (Tp) seed has been used to reduce body weight; the intake of this seed has however caused toxicity and death. Animal studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Tp seed in reducing body weight, but with a high lethality.

LOL! No big surprise...

 

[Hammilton]

So the locomotor stimulant is something similar to digitalis?

I was thinking that it might be something that could be seperated from the cardiotoxic stuff.

 

[MurphyClox]

Similarity to digitalis-glykosides is not far-fetched... They all will cause cardiac arrest at too high dosages.

 

[Hammilton]

But are they the cause of the locomotor stimulation?

 

[MurphyClox]

Except for pos. 17 the aglyka look indentical...[/I]

Nope! Corrected: Pos. 16.

And about the locomotor activity: I think these compounds act on more than just the Na/K-ATPase. See for example:

Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1977, 55(2), p.170
"Antagonism of biogenic amine-induced depression of cerebral cortical neurones by Na+, K+-ATPase in inhibitors."

Abstract

The effects of iontophoretically applied Na+-, K+-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) (EC 3.6.1.3) inhibitors (ouabain, digitoxin, digitoxigenin, strophanthin K, strophanthidin, thevetin A and B, ethacrynate, and harmaline) on the depression of rat cerebral cortical neurones by noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and histamine have been studied. The inhibitors antagonized depressions of spontaneously active neurones evoked by these amines, but not those evoked by gamma-aminobutyric acid, adenosine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, or calcium. The antagonistic potencies of the various inhibitors appeared to be proportional to their known potencies as inhibitors of Na+, K+-ATPase. The data therefore support the hypothesis that amines depress central neurones by activating an electrogenic sodium pump.

Could any of the abovementioned activities explain that?

Peace! Murphy

 

[LuxEtVeritas]

Looking at the study they cite that the EAE does not cause toxicity, but they do not cite a reference or do anything in the study itself to support this...so where did they get that 'fact' from which is all important to the study's main objective of a non-toxic fractions effect on obesity...???!!!???