PLANT STIMULANTS- AMPHETAMINES AND CONVULSANTS

Question 1

______: two species of perennial low shrubs
native to Eastern Asia
Ma Huang- ancient Chinese name
known to ancient Greeks and Romans
active secondary product: ephedrine (amphetamine-like compound)
powerful CNS stimulant
anti-histaminic
synthetic amphetamines replaced the natural product- Pseudoephedrine the new active compound (stereoisomer of ephedrine)
became popular “herbal remedy” and “supplement”

amphetamine/benzedrine, methamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine, esketamine, methylphenidate, fenfluramine-phentermine all come from _____

Answer 1

ephedra

Question 2

T/F: there are other members of Ephedra genus in Asia and NA but they are not used medicinally

Answer 2

true!

Question 3

T/F: all Ephedra species have wiry stiff twigs and highly reduced leaves, because they grow in dry, desert-like conditions

Answer 3

true

Question 4

records of Ephedra use in China date back how many years?

Answer 4

4000 years! used in tonics and teas to improve circulation, increase blood pressure, raise heart rate, promote perspiration, reduce fever, also as an antihistamine! natural decongestant and cough remedy as well

Question 5

what is the active secondary product of ephedra?

Answer 5

ephedrine

amphetamine-like compound, first isolated by Japanese scientist

Question 6

_______ is a powerful CNS stimulant, increases blood pressure and raises heart rate
also anti-histaminic

Answer 6

ephedrine

Question 7

when the west “discovered” the uses of ephedra (increases blood pressure and raises heart rate,
also anti-histaminic) their demand from China greatly increased, by 1940 over ___ million pounds of Ephedra twigs were being imported into the US from China

Answer 7

one million

Question 8

_____ was used in western medicine to dilate the pupil, increase blood pressure, treat asthma/hay fever, counteract overdoses of depressant drugs (alcohol/morphine/etc.)

Answer 8

ephedra

Question 9

by the ____, semi-synthetic analogues (synthetic amphetamines) had replaced natural Ephedra

Answer 9

1950s

Question 10

_____ are stimulants that reduce fatigue by temporarily increasing overall mental and physical activity, speech, concentration
they mimic neurotransmitters (mostly dopamine, but also serotonin) and therefore stimulate the CNS

Answer 10

amphetamines

Question 12

_______: stereoisomer of ephedrine, is a common ingredient in OTC medicines

Answer 12

pseudoephedrine

Ephedra contains pseudoephedrine, but todays synthetic is obtained by yeast fermentation of dextrose in the presence of enzymes and benzaldehyde

Question 13

why is pseudoephedrine used in the illicit drug trade?

Answer 13

its easily reduced to methamphetamine and oxidized to methcathinone

Question 14

why did Ephedra become a “herbal remedy” and weight loss supplement in the 90s?

Answer 14

it increases body metabolism and temp
it was also sold as something to improve athletic performance

Question 14

adverse effects of Ephedra include…

Answer 14

hypertension, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, strokes and seizures

sometimes acute psychosis, when combined with other things

Question 14

when was Ephedra use banned? both commercially and tested in athletes?

Answer 14

2004

however, Canada had been calling for its ban since 2002

Question 15

_____/____: “pep pills”
ephedrine-based semi-synthetic
introduced commercially in 1932
used widely by German troops in WWII and later Allied soldiers, Japanese factory workers
caused the first recorded stimulant abuse epidemic, after it was dumped on the open market after the war

lasted until 1958, when governments made it illegal, still widely used after as a decongestant in the 60s but was banned again

continues to be used in oral decongestants, diet pills, and bodybuilding aids

Answer 15

amphetamine, benzedrine

Question 16

______: “speed”
semi-synthetic amphetamine
produced in 1929 through simple reduction of ephedrine… but MUCH more potent and addictive

Answer 16

methamphetamine

Question 17

________: “ectasy”
derivative of methamphetamine
high doses cause depression, memory loss, insomnia
overdose results in impaired breathing, heart attack, kidney failure
was promoted as a psychotherapeutic drug, but by the 80s became a street drug
might be useful in treating severe cases of PTSD in small doses (in stage III clinical trials!)

Answer 17

MDMA

Question 18

______: amphetamine derivative
general anaesthetic
dissociative drug, trance-like state with sedative/analgesic effects
NMDA receptor antagonist, results in rapid increase in glutamate, also increase dopamine activity in the brain
small doses can treat severe, treatment-resistant depression

Answer 18

ketamine

Question 19

____: stereoisomer of ketamine
in a nose spray that was recently approved to treat clinical depression

Answer 19

esketamine

Question 20

________: (Ritalin)
synthetic ephedrine
calms hyperactive children

Answer 20

methylphenidate

Question 21

_____: used in 90s to promote weight loss
banned in 1997 following research showing it causes major heart valve problems
also addictive, and can cause psychoses

Answer 21

fenfluramine-phentermine (fen-phen)

Question 22

______: small deciduous tree
native to SE Asia and Northern Australia
close relative to SA Curare
powerful muscle convulsant
active principle: strychnine (alkaloid), highest concentration in seeds/bark/whole fruit
highly poisonous (homicide/arrow poison)
cause initial agitation then uncontrolled muscle spasms and convulsions
high doses cause collapse of vital organ systems
effective nervous system stimulant at low doses!
recommended to cure fevers/snakebites, stimulate GI tract, improve blood circulation and treat nervous conditions… rarely used today because much safer alternatives are available

Answer 22

strychnine, nux-vomica

Question 23

although closely related, what is the difference between strychnine (Asia/Australia) and curare (South America)?

Answer 23

strychnine is a powerful muscle convulsant
curare are potent muscle relaxers

Question 24

what is the alkaloid present in strychnine trees? where does it occur?

Answer 24

strychnine
in all parts of the tree, highest concentrations in the bark, seeds, whole fruit

Question 25

in mice, small doses of ____ facilitate both short-term and long-term memory, and significantly increase learning ability

also important in scientific research, shows high specificity in labelling the glycine receptor

nux-vomica is a powerful analgesic
___-like alkaloids are from African species are potent anti-malarials

Answer 25

strychnine