Stephania-species as potent sedative and pain relief

[mindperformer]

Stephania- species are distributed in Asia and used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). The tubers of this genus, especially rotundifolia can grow very big, even as big as a child!

The tubers contain a great diversity of alkaloids.

For example Stephania intermedia (and others like S. yunnanensis) contain the tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloid l-Stepholidine, which acts as a extremely potent dopamine D1/D2-antagonist and vasorelaxant.

The l-THP (Tetrahydropalmatine), wich is also distributet in the Corydalis- genus, is also contained in many Stephania- species. It works as a dopamine-antagonist too (but not as strong as l-Stepholidine) with sedative, strong analgetic and antipsychotic actions.

Corydalis also works against opiate-withdrawal and the action of Corydalis and Stephania are often described as opiate-like (without working on the opioid-receptors).

Tetrandrine (in Stephania tetrandra, S. cepharantha and others) enhances the beta-Endorphine-levels.

Stephania japonica was tested against opiate-withdrawal. The promising compound was Hasubanonine, which worked also against multi-drug resistance. The plant was found in Japan but also in Australia.

Stephania tetrandra is most widely used, after all in Chinese medicine. It contains Cyclanoline, Fangchinoline, Berbamine, Isotetrandine, Atherospermoline, Fenfangjine E, Tetrandrine and many others.

Tetrandrine is a nACh-R.- Antagonist and inhibits the opening of the NMDA-R. -Ionchannel. It has immunomodulatory effects and works against rheumatoid arthritis.

Stephania tetrandra- roots:

Stephania cepharantha, a species from Taiwan, is also used in TCM and as very potent analgesic, sedative, anti-rheumatic and antidepressant and has a very low toxicity. Yet there were found over 91 constituents and 18 substance-classes in it, so it is more diverse in constituents than Acacia rigidula! Also the rare Glaziovine (sold as tranquilizer for it's diazepam-like action) was found in it.

Allegedly even Morphine and Codeine were found in this plant.

The compound-classes in Stephania cepharantha (some with examples):

Beta-Phenethylamines (trans-N-Feruloyltyramine)

Isoquinolines (Stephaoxocan- alkaloids)

Dihydroisoquinolines

Benzylisoquinolines

Bisbenzylisoquinolines

Diisoquinolines

Berberine and Tetrahydroberberine

Aporphines

Morphine-group- alkaloids (Aknadicine, Aknadinine, Aknadilactam, Cephakacine, Cephamuline, Cepharamine, Cephasamine, Cephatonine, Sinoacutine, Sinomenine, 14-Episinomenine, Stephodeline, Tannagine, FK 3000, Sinococuline, Cephakicine, Cephasugine, Morphine, Codeine, Aromoline)

Noraporphines

Dioxoaporphines

Quinoline-Methanols

Tetrahydroisoquinolines

Dehydroaporphines

Proaporphines

Strigolactones

Dibenzoquinolizidines

unclassified:

Stecepharine, Tetradehydroreticuline, 2'-N-Methylisotetrandrine

Stephania cepharantha- 10:1-extract:

And my Stephania rotundifolia- plant which grows for years in my flat:

and its big tuber:

Edited September 8, 2012 by mindperformer

[Yeti101]

I think there are Stephania sp native to Australia that are worth a look at as well:

Stephania bancroftii Tuber contains −)-tetrahydropalmatine and (−)-stephanine, whereas these are minor components in the leaves, from which a C-7 hydroxylated aporphine has been identified.

Stephania aculeata Tuber contains (+)-laudanidine, and the morphinoid, (−)-amurine

(From "Characterisation of alkaloids from some Australian Stephania (Menispermaceae) species", Phytochemistry, 2003)

[mindperformer]

Very interesting! Stephania aculeata would be promising to investigate. the amurine has a strange morphinandienone-structure with a methylenedioxy- group... unusual

[tarenna]

Stephania aculeata has had a name change to Echinostephia aculeata

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Echinostephia~aculeata

[Yeti101]

Thanks tarenna!