Urogenital and Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What are sapogenins?
Steroidal glycosides (made up of steroid like terpenoids with a sugar side chain)
What can progesterone be converted into?
Testosterone, oestrogen, and other steroidal hormones
What do yams contain?
the sapogenin diosgenin, which yields progesterone
What companies did Russel Marker found?
Syntex Corporation, and Botanica-Mex
What did Syntex do?
developed an efficient method for producing cortisone and norethindrone, which aided in creating the first birth control pill
What was produced from soybeans?
Stigmasterol
What does progesterone do?
Prevents ovulation and is used in birth control
What are cortisones used for?
Treating skin rashes, contact dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and asthma
Where is saw palmetto native to?
South US, especially Florida
What was saw palmetto fruit used for by indigenous?
Treating bladder and urinary infections, and edible seeds harvested as food
What did saw palmetto treaT?
Prostate enlargement, less side effects than synthetic drugs
What did saw palmetto treatment consist of?
A fat soluble extract of the fruit containing 90% fatty acids and sterols
What are symptoms of prostate enlargement?
Obstruction of the bladder neck and urethra, which results in excessive urination and general discomfort
What did a recent clinical trial conclude about saw palmetto?
It’s no more effective than a placebo in treating prostate enlargement
What are the two types of senna?
S. angusifolia: native to Arabian peninsula, west Africa and Asia
S. alexandrina: native to northeastern Africa
What did Serapion the Younger recommend?
senna as an effective purgative and laxative
How is the senna laxative made?
Leaflets and mature pods are dried and powdered
How was senna introduced?
To Europe by Arab traders because demand exceeded supply coming from Africa and Arabia
What are the active principles in senna?
sennoside A and B, which are enzymatically hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form laxative-affecting anthroquinones
What dominated as a laxative before the FDA banned it as a potential carcinogen?
Phenolphthalein
Where is cascara native to?
North America, deciduous tree
How was cascara used by indigenous?
Inner bark was used as a strong laxative-purgative
What are the active compounds in cascara?
cascaroside A and B, enzamatically hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form the purgative emodin
What does ipecac mean?
Roadside sick-making plant
Where is ipecac native to?
South America
How was ipecac used by indigenous?
Bark of roots to treat intestinal infections (dysentery)
Who cured the heir to the throne of dysentery and what was his reward?
Helvetius; granted sole rights to use ipecac by King Louis and sold rights to French government later for lots of money
What did Thomas Dover do?
Developed “Dover’s Powder” which was a mixture of ipecac, opium, and other substances which treated fever, gout, and dysentery
What was ipecac used for?
Inducing vomiting and was commonly given to children as a purgative
What were moderate doses of ipecac used for?
To induce perspiration and treat bronchitis
What were small doses of ipecac used for?
A digestive stimulant
What are the active principles in ipecac?
alkaloids emetine and cephaeline
What do emetine and cephaeline do?
may cause inflammation of peripheral nerves, irregular heartbeat, lowering of blood pressure, and sometimes death
What has been used in aversion therapy, especially for chronic alcoholism?
ipecac
