UROGENITAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEMS

Question 1

______:
occur in Mexico
produce very large, sapogenin-rich tubers

Answer 1

yams

Question 2

______ (steroidal glycosides): steroid-like terpenoid with a sugar side chain

Answer 2

sapogenin

Question 3

what was derived from the tubers of yams in 1939 by Russel Marker? what was it derived from?

Answer 3

steroidal hormone progesterone

made from the sapogenin diosgenin

Question 4

Syntex Corp. was founded by Russell Marker, who discovered the use of yams to produce progesterone. When he left the company, what other steroidal compound hormones were they able to produce?

Answer 4

cortisone and norethisterone (progesterone mimic)

Question 5

yam tubers were the main source of diosgenin production, what other steroid precursor was produced from soybeans?

Answer 5

stigmasterol

Question 6

what are the main ways we use steroidal compounds across the world? which two major countries still use semi-synthetic production to get them? (NA uses fully synthetic production)

Answer 6

we use progesterone and related compounds for birth control, cortisones treat skin issues, many can be used in hormone therapy

China and India still use semi-synthesis from diosgenins

Question 7

______:
small palm species
native to SE US
fruit = used for bladder/urinary infections
seeds = harvested for food
extracts of fruit yield 90% fatty acids and sterols which can treat prostate enlargement (BPH)

Answer 7

saw palmetto

Question 8

where is saw palmetto predominantly used to treat BPH? 7 million kg imported annually

Answer 8

Europe

Question 9

T/F: studies on saw palmetto have recently shown that its no more effective than a placebo

Answer 9

true!

Question 10

which part of saw palmetto yields the 90% fatty acids and sterols?

Answer 10

the fruit!

Question 11

which two species of Senna are used medicinally? and where?

Answer 11

S. angustifolia- Arabian peninsula, W Africa, Asia
S. alexandrina- NE Africa, cultivated in Sudan/China/India

Question 12

______ & _____: leguminous shrubs
thrive in hot, desert environments
leaflets and mature pods are dried and powdered to be administered as a laxative

Answer 12

senna, S. alexandrina/S. angustifolia

Question 13

12th century Arab physician Serapion the Younger recommended ____ as a purgative/laxative and gave it an Arabic name

Answer 13

Senna

Question 14

when was senna introduced to Europe by Arab traders? where was the entire supply made from before developing plantations?

Answer 14

late 1800’s where they established plantations
wild plants harvested in Africa/Arabia

Question 15

what synthetic drug replaced senna? why was is banned?

Answer 15

phenolphthalein
suspected carcinogen

Question 16

after the banning of synthetic replacements, natural senna became the main ingredient of all _______

Answer 16

over the counter laxatives

Question 17

what are the active principles of senna, found in OTC laxatives?

Answer 17

sennoside A and sennoside B, hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form laxatuve-affecting anthroquinones

Question 18

when synthetic replacements (phenolphthalein) for senna were banned, what was re-established in Africa and Asia?

Answer 18

plantations of senna- high demand since highly purified senna is now in all OTC laxatives

Question 19

______: native to W NA
inner bark used by Indigenous as strong laxative/purgative
small deciduous tree

Answer 19

cascara

Question 20

when was cascara bark first marketed as a laxative?

Answer 20

1877

Question 21

what are the active compounds of cascara bark?

Answer 21

cascaroside A and B, hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form purgative emodin

Question 22

why was cascaroside A and B banned as laxative agents?

Answer 22

potentially carcinogenic, use banned by FDA

Question 23

cascaroside A and B is hydrolyzed by gut bacteria to form what purgative agent?

Answer 23

emodin

Question 24

_______: low shrub in rainforests of Brazilian highlands & Bolivia
Indigenous used bark from fibrous roots to treat intestinal infections
powerful emetic
digestive stimulant in small doses

Answer 24

ipecac

Question 25

which part of the ipecac shrub is used to treat intestinal infections by Indigenous (particularly dysentry)?

Answer 25

bark from fibrous roots

Question 26

when did powdered ipecac root first appear in France?

Answer 26

1672

Question 27

who was granted sole rights to use ipecac by King Louis XIV? and why?

Answer 27

Helvetius, physician who treated the French Royal Family for dysentry (most famously the heir to the throne)

he kept a secret where the powdered root came from, and sold the rights back ti the French government for a large sum

Question 28

what are the active principles in ipecac?

Answer 28

alkaloids emetine and cephaeline

Question 29

______: used as a powerful emetic, in moderate doses used to induce perspiration and as an expectorant when treating bronchitis, small doses can be used as a digestive stimulant

Answer 29

ipecac root

Question 30

ipecac root (and its alkaloids emetine and cephaeline) are great treatment for ameobic dystentry BUT produce intense side effects which limit their use, what safer alternatives are available?

Answer 30

diloxanide- intestinal ameobiasis
metronidazole- hepatic ameobiasis
dehydroemetine- anti-malarial

Question 31

T/F: ipecac has been used in aversion therapy in the past, particularly alcoholism

Answer 31

true! crazy vomiting would probably make someone avoid alcohol lol