• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2003

Higenamine [1-(4-hydroxy-6, 7-dihydroxy-l, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is a cardiotonic constituent of Aconiti tuber, one of the most widely prescribed oriental medicines. S-(-)higenamine was reported to have a stronger cardiotonic activity than R-(+)-higenamine and known as a central intermediate in the biosynthesis of various benzyl isoquionoline alkaloids in plants. The separation of higenamine enantiomers has been accomplished with capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors. Good resolution of this enantiomers was obtained using a 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer containing hydroxypropyl $\beta$-CDs using 27 cm fused silica capillary (50${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ i.d., 20 cm to detector) at 25 $^{\circ}C$. With the electric field of 340 V/cm, the separation time of higenamine enantiomers was less than 6 min. Under this optimum conditions, the relative standard deviations of migration time and peak area were less than 1.6% and 3.2%. A 512-channel diode array detector was confirmed for the higenamine. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of these enantiomers are $1.5mutextrm{m}$/mL. We confirmed the chiral form of higenamine in medicinal plants.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2000

The enantiomers of higenamine were directly separated by high performance liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase and detected by UV. The R- and S-isomers of higenamine were eluted at the retention time of 22 min and 27 min, respectively. Higenamine was determined to be present as R-(+)-enantiomer not only in the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera, from which the separation of R-(+)-higenamine was reported, but also in various Aconite roots, from which higenamine was separated as optically inert racemic mixtures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.3-10
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• 2004

Oxidative stress is a constant threat to all living organisms and an immense repertoire of cellular defense systems is being employed by most pro- and eukaryotic systems to eliminate or to attenuate oxidative stress. Ischemia and reperfusion is characterized by both a significant oxidative stress and characteristic changes in the antioxidant defense. Heme oxigenase-l (HO-l) is up-regulated by various stimuli including oxidative stress so that it is thought to participate in general cellular defense mechanisms against ischemic injury in mammalian cells. Higenamine, an active ingredient of Aconite tuber, has been shown to have antioxidant activity along with inhibitory action of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in various cells. In the present study, we investigated whether higenamine and related analogs protect cells from oxidative cellular injuries by modulating antioxidant enzymes, such as HO-l, MnSOD etc. R-form of YS-51 was the most potent inducer of HO-l in bovine endothelial cells, which inhibited apoptotic cell death by H$_2$O$_2$. HO-1 induction by YS 51 was mediated by PI3 kinase activation in which PKA- as well as PKG pathway is considered as important regulators. YS-51 also induced Mn-SOD mRNA expression by activating c-jun N-terminal kinase in endothelial cells and Hela cells. In ROS 17/2.1 cells, higenamine and enetiomers of related compounds inhibited iNOS expression by cytokine mixtures. Taken together, higenamine and related compounds can be developed as possible protective agents from oxidative cell injury or death.