Sympathomimetic agents have a poor history of long-term success in the treatment of obesity. From earlier experiences with amphetamine and its analogs, to more recent drugs with direct effects on adrenergic receptors or indirect effects from release of catecholamines or inhibition of reuptake, cardiovascular toxicity (strokes and cardiac arrhythmias) has been the major concern. These concerns a...

Ephedra species were erect, branching shrubs found in desert or arid regions worldwide as the source of ephedrine alkaloids. In this study, complete chloroplast genome przewalskii and E. monosperma on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau sequenced, assembled, annotated. Compared with other four published species, genomes highly conservative, a quadripartite structure. The length was 109,569 bp 36.6% GC 109,60...

Ephedra sinica polysaccharides have been reported to possess important activities, so quality evaluation of polysaccharides from the genus Ephedra is urgent. In this study, enzymatic digestions were performed to establish multiple saccharide fingerprints by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS/MS...

The use of weight loss dietary supplements is prevalent in the United States, and over the past decade, there has been tremendous growth of the use of these products. It is well documented that ephedra-based products are associated with various cardiovascular adverse effects. With new restrictions placed on such products, companies are now manufacturing caffeine-based ephedra-free herbal supple...

(2804) Ephedra major Host, Fl. Austriac. 2: 671. 1831 [Gymnosp.: Ephedr.], nom. utique rej. prop. Typus: non designatus. The name Host (Fl. 1831) is currently applied by several authors to a mostly Mediterranean taxon (e.g., Widder in Phyton (Horn) 1: 71–75. 1948; Maire, Afrique N. 10–11. 1952; Coode & Cullen Davis, Turkey 85. 1965; Blečić Horvatić, Analitička Jugoslavije: 178–179. 1967; Riedl ...

Cigarette smokers have an increased risk for coronary artery disease. Nicotine present in cigarettes can adversely affect the cardiovascular system via stimulation of both sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons. Caffeine, another cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, is commonly found in Ephedra and Ephedra-free dietary supplements. These caffeine-containing supplements al...

Investigations were carried out to determine antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and total phenol content of three wild species of Ephedra compared with their respective callus cultures. Callus induction was performed in a standard Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with the following hormonal ranges (mg/L) for every species NAA:1.5, Kin:1 for Ephedra strobiliacea, NAA:2, Kin:1 for Ephedra pr...

Background and objectives: The genus Ephedra (Ephedraceae) consists of about 40 species of mostly shrubs and rarely small trees around the world. In the present study, the essential oil (EO) diversity and genetic relationships were investigated in six Ephedra species from Iran using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Methods: The plants were collected from two different provinces;...