Topic 11: Human Gastrointestinal & Phytomedicines

Question 1

Plantango afra (psyllium)

Answer 1

Common Name: psyllium
Ethnomedical use:seed and seed husks used as laxative to treat constipation
Active Compounds: psyllium whole seed preparation

Question 2

Psyllium Mechanism of Action

Answer 2

bulk-froming laxative softens stools in 1 to 3 days.

Question 3

Senna Alexandria

Answer 3

Common Name: Senna, Egyptian senna, tinnevelly senna
Ethnomedical Use: seed/seed husks used to treat constipation
Active Molecules: sennosides A and B
Mech of Action: stimulant laxative

Question 4

Senna chemical derivatives

Answer 4

danthron

Question 5

Rhamnus

Answer 5

Rhamnus purshianus- cascara sagrada bark
Rhamnus frangula- frangula bark
Active Compounds- anthrquinone derivatives
-stimulant laxative
-used to treat constipation, softens stool in 6-8 hours

Question 6

Ricinus communis

Answer 6

Common Name: castor oil
Geography: East Africa
Ethnomedical Use: low dose- laxative, high dose- cathartic (diarrhea)
Active Molecules: seed oil (not seed coat)
Mech of action: Osmotic laxative

Question 7

Mentha Piperita

Answer 7

Common Name:peppermint
Geography: Eurasia
Ethnomedical Use: digestive problems with diarrhea and constipation, intestinal spasms, irritable bowel syndrome
Active Molecules:peppermint oil

Question 8

peppermint modern medical uses

Answer 8

• intestinal spasms and intestinal fullness

- irritable bowel syndrome

Question 9

Plants that treat nausea

Answer 9

• ginger
• cannabidiol
• cinnamon

Question 10

Zingiber Officinalis (ginger)

Answer 10

from Asia
underground stem (rhizome) taken orally to treat nausea

Question 11

Substances that enhance digestion

Answer 11

angelica
cardamon
ginger
fennel
anise
peppermint
spearmint
betel nut
chili peppers

Question 12

Angelica sinensis

Answer 12

from Asia
root
enhances digestion

Question 13

Elettaria cardamomum

Answer 13

cardamon from Asia and India

Question 14

Foeniculum vulgare

Answer 14

fennel

from the Mediterranean

Question 15

Pimpinella anisum

Answer 15

Anise

S.W. Asia & Mediterranean

Question 16

Mentha piperita

Answer 16

peppermint

Europe

Question 17

Mentha Spicata

Answer 17

spearmind

Europe

Question 18

Treatment of colic in infants

Answer 18

Zingiber officinale-ginger
Foeniculum vulgare- fennel
Pimpinella anisum- anise

Question 19

Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA)

Answer 19

used for primary biliary cirrhosis and to breakdown gallstones.
originally from bear gall bladder
marketed as a pharmaceutical called ursodiol or ursosan

Question 20

Cyanrar cardunculus car. scolymus (artichoke)

Answer 20

Common Name: artichoke
Geography: Southern Europe
Ethnomedical Use: vegetable, digestive, enhance bile flow
Active Molecules: cynarin

used as a gall bladder stimulant to enhance bile flow

Question 21

Coffea arabica

Answer 21

Geography: N.E. Africa

drinking coffee may reduce the development of liver cirrhosis

Question 22

Silybum marianum

Answer 22

Common Name: milk thistle
Geography: Europe, mediterranean
Ethnomedical Use: hard fruits used for liver and gall bladder disorders & hepatitis
Active Molecules: silibinin

Question 23

milk thistle mechanism of action

Answer 23

inhibition of toxins-mediated TNF-alpha in liver cells

Question 24

Silibinin (from milk thistle) Therapeutic uses

Answer 24

• antihepatotoxic by protecting the liver against toxins
• treats chronic liver disease e.g. cirrhosis & hepatitis B &C
• antedote in amanita hepatic poisoning

Question 25

Grapefruit

Answer 25

hybrid between pomelo (citrus maxima) is a citrus fruit native to SE Asia and citrus x sinesis from East Asia developed in the Caribbean in the 18th century

Question 26

Grapefruit Drug interactions

Answer 26

active molecules- polyphenolic compounds, flavanone naringin

Question 27

Grapefruit Mechanism of action

Answer 27

naringin is particularly potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 in small intestine and liver. it is via the inhibition of this enzyme that grapefruit increases the effects of a variety of drugs by increasing their bioavailability which increases risk for overdose. grapefruit is also known to interfere with statins

Question 28

Diarrhea

Answer 28

-cause by exotoxins

Question 29

Three benefits of herbs and spices used in cooking

Answer 29

- inhibit the development of bacterial induced food poisoning - increase the production of digestive enzymes and enhance digestion of food - enhance the flavor of food

Question 30

papaver sominferum (opium)

Answer 30

Common Name: opium Geography: SE Europe Ethnomedical Use: analgesic, inebriante/hypotonic, cough, diarrhea

Question 31

Opium active components

Answer 31

morphine, tincture, paregoric (camphor anise oil, benzoic acid)

Question 32

Opium mechanism of action

Answer 32

- decrease propulsive contractions in the small intestine - decrease gastric, pancreatic, biliary, and intestinal secretions - decrease propulsive perstalic waves in large intestine

Question 33

Treatment of diarrhea

Answer 33

paregoric of opium ( opium with camphor oil, anise oil, benzoic acid) tincture opium synthetic opiates

Question 34

Synthetic opiates

Answer 34

loperamide (Imodium) | diphenoxylate in lomotil

Question 35

Atropa Belladonna

Answer 35

Common Name:belladonna Ethnomedical Use: intestinal antispasmodic, analgesic, enebriant, mydriatic Active Molecules: atropine, scopolamine

Question 36

Atropa Belladonna Mechanism

Answer 36

atropine: anticholinergic at muscarinic type cholinergic receptors

Question 37

Atropa Belladonna Therapeutic uses

Answer 37

atropine: diarrhea & antispasmatic | belladonna tincture: antispasmodic, analgesic

Question 38

Croton lechleri

Answer 38

treats - diarrhea without blood - cholera - diarrhea with blood - gastric & duodenal ulcers - gastritis

Question 39

Vibrio cholera effect on the intestine

Answer 39

colonizes small intestine and produces enterotoxin which binds to intestinal enterocyte which stimulates a G protein which activates the adenylate cyclase which increases cAMP which increases cholride ion channel secreation into intestinal lumen and increases water secretion into intestinal lumen

Question 40

Crofelemer (SP 303)

Answer 40

derived from bark latex of croton lechleri MW = 2100 daltons Oligomeric proanthycyanidin

Question 41

Crofelmer/SP 303 Mechanism of Action

Answer 41

Plant-derived inhibator of cAMP-mediated Fluid and chloride secretion SP 303 demonstrated inhibition of: - in vivo (mouse) Cholera toxin induced fluid secretions - ex- vivo cAMP-mediated Cl ion secretion in ussing Chamber

Question 42

Croton Lechleri

Answer 42

anti-diarrheal amazon SB-300 exracted from bark latex, inhibits CFTR-mediated Cl secretion in human colonic epithelial cells.