Canadian Health warning: Tricosanthes kirilowii rx

[Guest guest]

Purified injectable tricosanthes (non oral) is used for abortion in

China. Abstracts regarding Tricosanthes kirilowii radix and pregnancy

below. (Thanks to Roswitha Lloyd.)

 

Orally Trichosanthes is not terribly poisous. Injected it was used as

Compound Q for AIDS in the late 80s. It shared the patent on Compound Q

with Momordica, another Cucurbitaceae, frequently

consumed as a vegetable. But a second injection, of trichosanthin, or

some compound like it, whether for abortion or for AIDs sometimes caused

anaphylactic fatalities. (Thanks to Jim Duke)

 

Karen Vaughan

CreationsGarden

***************************************

Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment.

" The more power man had over nature, the more his knowledge and skill

went to his head, and the deeper became his contempt for the merely

natural. " - Carl Jung

 

 

: Biol Pharm Bull 1996 Jun;19(6):783-90 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

A new method for the detection and quantitative measurement of the

contents

of trichosanthes root component composing Chinese traditional medicines.

Kitagawa T, Bai G, Fujiwara K, Akahori A, Sonoi S, Kondo S

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan.

 

A new method was developed to estimate the content of Trichosanthes root

(TR) component in two Chinese traditional medicines. Characteristic

antigens

of TR were separated from TR extract using rabbit antiserum specific for

TR,

a dried root tuber of Trichosanthes kirilowii. Two selected antibody

enzyme

immunoassay (SAEIA) methods, the SAEIA A for assay of TR extract and the

SAEIA B for assay of karasurin A were used as detection methods for the

separation of TR antigens. Using several column chromatographies, two

kinds

of TR antigens, a protein component and a glycan component, were

separated

from TR extract. A SAEIA C method for assay of TR glycan component was

developed using biotinylated second antibody and peroxidase-labeled

avidin

as the detection method. The SAEIA C was also found applicable for

specific

assay of TR extract as well as for the contents of TR component present

in

two Chinese traditional medicines, prescriptions of which contained TR.

Content of trichosantin, an abortifacient protein component of T.

kirilowii,

in both the medicines were also measured by applying the SAEIA B for

assay

of karasurin A. Little trichosantin was found in either medicine and the

reason for this was determined.

 

PMID: 8799473

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-----------------------------

: Protein Expr Purif 1996 Mar;7(2):143-6 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

A simplified procedure for the purification of trichosanthin (a type 1

ribosome inactivating protein) from Trichosanthes kirilowii root tubers.

Bhatia N, McDonald KA, Jackman AP, Dandekar AM

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of

California at Davis 95616, USA.

 

A one step rapid and simple purification procedure for trichosanthin, a

type

1 ribosome inactivating protein, from root tubers of Trichosanthes

kirilowii

has been developed using cation-exchange perfusion chromatography. The

identity of the protein has been confirmed by its size, immunoreactivity,

and sequence information. Yields of 0.16% of electrophoretically pure

trichosanthin from dried root tuber have been achieved with a single

10-min

chromatographic step giving the ability to purify gram quantities of

trichosanthin in 1 day.

PMID: 8812847

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--

1: Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 1986 Dec;4(2):111-20 Related Articles,

Books,

LinkOut

The immunomodulatory and antitumor activities of trichosanthin-an

abortifacient protein isolated from tian-hua-fen (Trichosanthes

kirilowii).

Leung KN, Yeung HW, Leung SO

 

Trichosanthin, a basic protein purified from the root tuber of

Trichosanthes

kirilowii, has been used effectively in China to induce midterm abortion

in

humans. In this paper, we show that trichosanthin at non-cytotoxic

concentrations markedly inhibited the mitogen-induced lymphoproliferative

response and the generation of a primary alloreactive CTL response in

vitro.

Similarly, the production of IL-2 by Con A activated splenocytes and the

in

vitro effector functions of macrophages were also significantly

suppressed.

In contrast, the cytolytic activity of CTL and NK cells was unimpaired.

Moreover, the in vivo activation of NK cells was not significantly

altered

by a single injection of a non-toxic microgram amount of trichosanthin

into

mice. However, other immune reactivities such as the induction of a DTH

response and the humoral antibody formation to SRBC were markedly

depressed.

Our data suggest that trichosanthin is a potent immunosuppressive protein

that could affect humoral immunity and a variety of cell-mediated

processes.

In addition, our preliminary results show that this abortifacient protein

could also inhibit the growth of a murine malignant tumour (MBL-2), both

in

vivo and in vitro.

PMID: 3492210

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----------------------------

Sci Sin 1976 Nov-Dec;19(6):811-30 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Studies on the mechanisms of abortion induction by Trichosanthin.

Radix trichosanthis, an abortifacient drug of mid-gestation, is extracted

from the root tuber of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, Cucurbitaceae. Its

purified effective principle is a basic protein of molecular weight of

approximately 18,000 and is named trichosanthin. By authorization it has

been proved to be very effective in abortion induction of mid-gestation,

particularly effective in curing ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole,

and

invasive mole, and it has also some therapeutic action on

choriocarcinoma.

>From the analysis of the experimental results on its initial site of

action,

the morphological and functional injury of trophoblast cells of placenta

and

of cultures in vitro and the effect on prostaglandin synthesis, the

following conclusions are drawn concerning the mechanisms of abortion

induction by trichosanthin: (1) Trichosanthin exerts its action directly

on

the placental trophoblasts and possesses a certain degree of specificity;

(2) It selectively causes the necrotic denaturation of the

syncytiotrophoblasts of placental villi, which makes fragments of the

disintegrated cells clumped in the blood sinus, hence the coagulation of

blood and the circulation hindrance, and tissue necrosis over large areas

follows. The necrosis of placental villi is the primary response, and

circulation hindrance secondary; (3) Structural injuries have been

reflected

on the impairment of functional activities; the concentrations of HCG and

steroid hormones fall rapidly below the threshold values of threatened

abortion. Serious structural and functional injuries bring about

destructive

disturbances on the normal endocrine relationship between the mother and

the

fetus and on metabolic exchanges. It is further postulated that through

certain unknown mechanism the synthesis of prostaglandins increases,

uterine

contraction is initiated and abortion ensues. In summary, trichosanthin,

a

plant protein discovered from Chinese medicinal herbs, is a drug

effective

in abortion induction and against trophoblastic neoplasms. Preliminary

elucidation of the mechanisms of abortion induction by trichosanthin has

afforded a basis for the clinical application with better efficacy and

its

possible abortifacient use in early pregnancy and for the discovery of

newer

cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

 

PMID: 193179

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------------

 

Int J Fertil 1993 Mar-Apr;38(2):99-107 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Trichosanthin as an abortifacient for terminating early pregnancy in

mice.

Chan WY, Ng TB, Yeung HW

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong

Kong.

 

OBJECTIVE--To test trichosanthin--a basic protein from Trichosanthes

kirilowii--as abortifacient, and effect on subsequent pregnancy.

METHODS--Female mice, on day 1, 2, or 3 of pregnancy, given 0.10, 0.15,

0.20, or 0.25 mg/25 g body wt., intraperitoneally. Animals killed on day

11

for assessment of abortion, or day 4 for examination of embryos.

Subsequent

pregnancy was tested after 20 days in mice that had aborted completely.

RESULTS--With 0.20-0.25 mg/25 g, 64-80% aborted. At day 4,

pre-implantation

development was disturbed, many still being morulae (in the oviduct).

Subsequent pregnancies and offspring were entirely normal.

CONCLUSIONS--Trichosanthin, long used to effect abortion in humans in

China,

has congruent effects on ICR laboratory mice.

PMID: 8097505

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----

Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 1993;13(2):47-57 Related Articles, Books,

LinkOut

Developmental toxicity and teratogenicity of trichosanthin, a

ribosome-inactivating protein, in mice.

Chan WY, Ng TB, Wu PJ, Yeung HW

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong

Kong.

 

The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of trichosanthin (TCS), a protein

isolated from tubers of Trichosanthes kirilowii (family Cucurbitaceae),

were

studied both in vivo and in vitro. The protein was administered i.p. to

ICR

mice on day 8.0 of pregnancy, and the animals were sacrificed 1 day

before

parturition. The fetuses were fixed and subsequently sectioned. At the

highest TCS dose employed (7.5 mg/kg body weight), the viability of

fetuses

declined to 70.2%, compared with 96.5% in the saline-treated control

group.

The number of resorbed fetuses increased, and the crown-rump length of

the

surviving fetuses was reduced. At the doses of 5.0 and 7.5 mg TCS/kg body

weight, 2.3% and 9.0%, respectively, of the surviving fetuses were found

to

be abnormal. The abnormalities observed included exencephaly, micromelia,

and short tail. When mouse embryos at the early organogenesis stage were

cultured with TCS at a dose of 200 micrograms/ml or above, a

significantly

larger number of embryos were found to be abnormal as compared with the

controls. The abnormalities were observed in the head, trunk, and limb

regions. Hence, TCS produced adverse effects on prenatal development both

in

vivo and in vitro.------

PMID: 8102209

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J Biol Chem 1987 Aug 25;262(24):11628-33 Related Articles, Books, Protein

Purification and characterization of trichosanthin. Homology to the ricin

A

chain and implications as to mechanism of abortifacient activity.

Maraganore JM, Joseph M, Bailey MC

Trichosanthin, a protein from the Chinese medicinal herb Trichosanthes

kirilowii, was purified in two essentially quantitative steps involving

CM-Sephadex chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid

chromatography. The protein was found to have a molecular mass of 25-26

kDa,

to contain no cysteine, and to contain no glycosidic linkages. Pure

trichosanthin was found to have potent abortifacient activity in pregnant

mice. In order to understand the molecular basis of this unique

biological

activity, we have examined the amino acid sequence of the protein. As

purified, trichosanthin was found to contain two amino-terminal sequences

which differed only in the absence or presence of a tyrosine at residue

1.

Sequence analysis of trichosanthin has allowed for determination of the

NH2-terminal 38-amino acid residues. Comparison of this sequence to those

present in a data base revealed homology with the ricin A-chain.

Consistent

with this structural homology, we have found that trichosanthin is a

potent

inhibitor of protein synthesis in a reticulocyte lysate system.

PMID: 3624228

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Constituents:

TRICHOSANTHES KIRILOWII L.

" CHINESE CUCUMBER "

CAMPESTEROL SD CCO

COMPOUND-Q RT ABS

DELTA-7-CAMPESTEROL SD CCO

24-ETHYL-5ALPHA-CHOLESTA-5,25-DIEN-3-BETA-OL PL JSG

24-ETHYLCHOLESTA-7,24(25)-DIEN-3-BETA-OL PL JSG

24-ETHYL-5ALPHA-CHOLESTA-7,25-DIEN-3-BETA-OL SD CCO

24-ETHYL-5ALPHA-CHOLESTA-7,22,25-TRIEN-3-BETA-OL SD JSG

KAROUNIDIOL PL FT65(4):343

LINOLEIC-ACID SD CCO

LINOLENIC-ACID SD CCO

OLEIC-ACID SD CCO

SAPONINS RT CCO

BETA-SITOSTEROL RT CCO

ALPHA-SPINASTEROL SD CCO

ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-6'-(Z,Z)-9,12-OCTADECADIENOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE

RT

CCO

ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-PALMITATE RT CCO

ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-6'-PALMITYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE RT CCO

ALPHA-SPINASTERYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSIDE RT CCO

DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL SD CCO

DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL-6'-PALMITYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE RT CCO

DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL-6'-(Z,Z)-9,12-OCTADECADIENOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE

RT CCO

STIGMASTEROL RT CCO

7-STIGMASTEROL RT JSG

STIGMASTA-7,22-DIEN-3BETA-OL PL JSG

STIGMASTA-TRIEN-3-OL PL FT65(4):343

TAP-29 PL POP:207

TRICHOKIRIN PL FT65(4):343

TRICHOSANOIC-ACID PL FT65(4):343

ALPHA-TRICHOSANTHIN RT EMP2:74

TRICHOSANTHIN RT CCO JBH

Jim Duke

 

 

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