Découvertes récentes dans la chimie des alcaloïdes du Strychnos usambarensis GILG

in Plantes médicinales et phytothérapie (1973), 7(4), 284-292

Six bis-indole alkaloids have been isolated from the rootbark of Strychnos usambarensis.Four alkaloids ( usambarensine and derivatives) are unsymmetrical bis-indole products, biogenetically derived from ... [more ▼]

Six bis-indole alkaloids have been isolated from the rootbark of Strychnos usambarensis.Four alkaloids ( usambarensine and derivatives) are unsymmetrical bis-indole products, biogenetically derived from two tryptaminic and one monoterpene units as some alkaloids of Apocynaceae (Ochrosia) and Rubiaceae ( Uncaria), two families very close to Loganiaceae from a chemotaxonomy point of view. Two other alkaloids (C-dihydrotoxiferine and C_Curarine) are symmetrical bis-indole quaternary products. These potent compounds were previously isolated from calabash-curare and some American Strychnos. Furthermore, we have isolated loganic acid and discussed the part that it could take in the biogenesis of various alkaloids. [less ▲]

Alcaloïdes des Loganiacées: sur l'isolement de l'harmane à partir du Strychnos usambarensis

in Plantes Médicinales et Phytothérapie (1973), 7(1), 33-36

Harman has been isolated for the first time from a species of the Family of Loganiaceae. MS data are provided as well as the list of plants where this product has een previously detected.

De l'existence en Afrique Centrale d'un poison de flèche curarisant, issu du Strychnos usambarensis GILG

in Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises (1971), 29(5-6), 353-364

During a collecting trip of some medicinal and poisonous plants in Eastern Rwanda, the author observed the use of a hunting poison prepared from Strychnos usambarensis by Banyambo (small tribe living ... [more ▼]

During a collecting trip of some medicinal and poisonous plants in Eastern Rwanda, the author observed the use of a hunting poison prepared from Strychnos usambarensis by Banyambo (small tribe living along Akagera river on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania). He could get the raw poison and arrows from these people. The author has shown the presence of curarizing properties caused by quaternary alkaloids located in barks of Strychnos usambarensis roots. This is an entirely new fact which allows us to assure the existence of a curare in Africa. Indeed BISSET and LEEUWENBERG ( Lloydia, 1968,31, p208-222) reviewed Strychnos sp. used in central Africa as ordeal and arrow poisons and they did not report the use by the natives of a curarizing arrow-poison. [less ▲]

Essais phytochimiques préliminaires sur quelques plantes médicinales du Rwanda oriental

in Plantes médicinales et phytothérapie (1970), 4(4), 263-278

This paper gives results of phytochemical screening on some thirty medicinal and toxic plants mainly collected in Eastern Rwanda ( national ParK of Akagera). these plants belong to variuos genera ( Acacia ... [more ▼]

This paper gives results of phytochemical screening on some thirty medicinal and toxic plants mainly collected in Eastern Rwanda ( national ParK of Akagera). these plants belong to variuos genera ( Acacia, Albizia, Anthocleista, Apodytes, Cassia, Cissampelos, Clematis, Dichrostachys, Fagara, Harrinsonia, Impatiens, Ipomoea, Kniphofia, Olea, Osyris, Parinari, Rhamnus, Rytigynia, Sesbania, Solanum, Strychnos, Thonningia, Tylophora, Ximenia). Previuosly no plant of this country had been chemically studied. [less ▲]

Etude spectrophotométrique et chromatographique des dérivés flavoniques et coumariniques de Solanum schimperianum ( Hochst ex A.Rich

in Plantes médicinales et phytothérapie (1969), 3(4), 243-254

Solanum schimperianum has been found on the pharmaceutical market as a falsification of Atropa belladonna. We have identified the main flavonoids ( astragalin, isoquercitrin, rutin, kaempferol-diglucoside ... [more ▼]

Solanum schimperianum has been found on the pharmaceutical market as a falsification of Atropa belladonna. We have identified the main flavonoids ( astragalin, isoquercitrin, rutin, kaempferol-diglucoside) and coumarin (aesculetin) derivatives and compared them with the content of other Solanacea used in pharmacy ( atropa, hyoscyamus and datura). [less ▲]