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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids fromSymphytum officinale L. and their percutaneous absorption in rats

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Summary

An analysis of a commercial sample of Symphyti radix originating from Poland with a total alkaloid content of 0.07% revealed the presence of 7 pyrrolizidine alkaloid-N-oxides: 7-acetyl intermedine, 7-acetyl lycopsamine as the main constituents and lycopsamine, intermedine, symphytine and traces of 2 further not yet identified alkaloids. The percutaneous absorption of these alkaloids was investigated in rats, using a crude alcoholic extract of the plant corresponding to a dose of 194 mg alkaloid-N-oxides/kg b.wt. The excretion of N-oxides in the urine during 2 days was in the range of 0.1–0.4% of the dose. The dermally absorbed N-oxides are not or only to a small extent converted to the free alkaloids in the organism. The oral application led to a 20–50 times higher excretion of N-oxides and free alkaloids in the urine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Toxikologie der ETH und Universität Zürich, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland

    J. Brauchli, J. Lüthy, U. Zweifel & Ch. Schlatter

Authors
  1. J. Brauchli
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  2. J. Lüthy
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  3. U. Zweifel
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  4. Ch. Schlatter
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Additional information

We thank Dr C. C.J. Culvenor, Parkville, Australia, for providing authentic samples of 7-acetylintermedine, 7-acetyllycopsamine and echimidine, and B. Karlhuber, Finnigan, Basle, for the GC-MS analysis.

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Brauchli, J., Lüthy, J., Zweifel, U. et al. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids fromSymphytum officinale L. and their percutaneous absorption in rats. Experientia 38, 1085–1087 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955382

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955382

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