Heart and Circulatory System Flashcards
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Identifying information for Indian Snakeroot
of the periwinkle family, native to India and Asia
tapered and bitter tasting root used in Ayurvedic medicine
What was snakeroot first known for?
Calming effects; treating mental disorders, agitation, soothing fretful babies
Holy men chewed the root while meditating
What is the active compound in snakeroot?
the indole alkaloid reserpine
What did clinical trials of snakeroot demonstrate?
hypotensive activity (reduction in blood pressure) and powerful sedative effects (relaxation without drowsiness)
What does reserpine treat?
moderate to severe hypertension, and acute or chronic psychoses (schizophrenia)
Also marketed as a tranquilizer for treating general anxiety
What neurotransmitters does reserpine deplete?
serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine
Symptoms and treatment timeline of hypertension?
Symptoms of hypertension: fatigue, nervousness, heart palpitations
Treatment is generally completed within 3 to 6 weeks
What is the cardiotonic activity in foxglove attributable to?
The cardiac glycosides digoxin and digitoxin
What is dropsy caused by?
Weak heart, low blood pressure, compromised kidney
Can lead to heart failure
Symptoms of dropsy
Accumulation of bodily fluids in the body cavity and limbs that results in swelling
Who found the effectiveness of foxglove?
William Withering, wrote “Botanical Arrangements of all the Vegetables Naturally Growing in Great Britain”
What are digoxin and digitoxin used for?
Used to treat congestive heart failure from hypertension and arteriosclerosis, and to restore normal heart rhythm
Increase strength of heart muscle, heart beat and heart action
What are some side effects of digitalis drugs (digoxin)?
nausea, excessive salivation, headaches and fatigue
Facts about digoxin
Most widely prescribed cardiotonic drug in North America and Europe
Research indicates that whole leaf extracts may be more effective than single isolated cardiac glycosides
Digitalis drug dosage varies among patients and must be carefully administered
Drugs provide temporary relief and must be taken regularly over the lifetime
Where is quinine native to?
Andean highlands of South America and Central America
What was quinine used for by Peruvian herbalists?
A fever remedy
Who was quinine popularized by and what was it known by?
the Jesuit Cardinal John De Lugo
Became known as “Jesuit’s Powder” or “Lugo’s Powder”
Why was quinine use limited in Europe?
There were anti-Catholic feelings, even though there was lots of malaria
Who treated King Charles II for malaria with a secret recipe?
Robert Talbor
Who unsuccessfully attempted to start quinine plantations and what happened?
The Dutch; barely any plants survived the journey and the yields of quinine were low
_____ befriended a native Bolivian ______, who knew where high yielding quinine trees were
Charles Ledger
Manuel Incra Mamai
What happened to Manuel Incra Mamai?
After selling 14 pounds of quinine seed to Charles Ledger, he died in jail for breaking the law of selling cinchona seed for export (quinine)
Who had a monopoly on quinine production?
The Dutch until 1940, they had bought Ledger’s plants and grafted them onto the low yielding trees from before
What caused the quinine Dutch monopoly to break up?
Introduction of DDT (reduced malaria), development of synthetic anti-malarial drugs, and independence of the Dutch colony of Java
What is malaria caused by?
parasitic protozoans of the genus Plasmodium
How is malaria transmitted?
to the blood by female Anopheles mosquitos
What are symptoms of malaria?
fevers, chills, sweating, and liver and spleen become tender
What does “mal aria” mean?
bad air (Italian), reflects the mistaken belief that it was caused by marsh gases
Who died from malaria?
Alexander the Great and Oliver Cromwell
What is quinidine used for?
To treat irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
What is chloroquine?
A semi-synthetic anti-malarial which shows higher activity and lower toxicity than quinine
What is hydroxchloroquine used for?
used to treat lupus (auto-immune disease)
What quinolines were developed to treat chloroquine-resistant plasmodium?
lumefantrine and mefloquine
Where is artemisinin/qinghao/sweet wormwood native to?
Asia and Europe, a member of the Aster family
What is the active compound in sweet wormwood?
artemisinin, a sesquiterpenoid lactone
Where has sweet wormwood been used for 2000 years as an anti-malarial agent?
China
What is the commercial goal for artemisinin production?
$0.50 per dose
How does artemisinin/qinghao/sweet wormwood compare to chloroquine cost?
$2.50 per treatment versus a few cents
