A simple, sensitive, and specific thin-layer chromatography densitometric method has been developed for the simultaneous quantitation of strychnine and brucine. These two marker compounds are quantitated in the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, Strychnos ignatii, and its formulations. The method involves densitometric evaluation of strychnine and brucine after resolving it by high-performance TLC ...

The antidiabetic effect of seeds of Strychnos potatorum Linn. was evaluated in a model of diabetes mellitus using streptozotocin (40 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). Changes in fasting blood sugar were estimated periodically for 12 weeks along with weekly measurement of body weight, food and water intake for 4 weeks. The antidiabetic effects were compared with glipizide as the reference hypoglycemic drug. St...

UNLABELLED Strychnos nux-vomica Linn. (SNV; Loganiaceae), a medicinal plant has been used as folk medicine for alleviating inflammation, joint pains and allergic symptoms. In the present study, we examined its possible immunomodulatory effect on induction of ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE antibody response in a murine model, as evaluated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). The OVA-specific Ig...

In an attempt to dissect the mechanism of Strychnos nux-vomica, a commonly used Chinese folk medicine in the therapy of liver cancer, the cytotoxic effects of four alkaloids in Strychnos nux-vomica, brucine, brucine N-oxide, strychnine, and isostrychnine, on human hepatoma cells (HepG2) were screened by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrasolium bromide (MTT) assay. Brucine, among th...

Herbs used in traditional medicine have provided a nidus for the discovery of various new molecules having therapeutic viability. With the advent of various diseases, the science has also armed itself to combat the everevolving family of diseases with the help of these new molecules. Cancer is one such area which has limited scope for management through conventional therapy. Recent research adv...

An enantioselective total synthesis of the Strychnos alkaloid (+)-minfiensine has been accomplished. Prominent features of this synthesis include (i) a new enantioselective organocatalytic Diels-Alder/amine cyclization sequence to build the central tetracyclic pyrroloindoline framework in four steps from commercial materials and (ii) a 6-exo-dig radical cyclization to forge the final piperidiny...