Preliminary Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on Anisotes trisulcus

Abstract

Preliminary phytochemical screening of Anisotes trisulcus L. revealed that alkaloids are a major constituent. A mixture of the total alkaloids produces an apparent increase in respiration, piloerection, tremors, convulsions and death, at intraperitoneal doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg in mice. In contrast, oral administration of doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg produces weak tremors without convulsions. Furthermore, the alkaloidal mixture was shown to possess a local anesthetic effect similar to that of procaine hydrochloride. The total alkaloid mixture (20 ug/ml) was also found to reduce the contraction induced by acetylcholine, histamine and barium chloride in isolated guinea pig ileum.