Antihypertensive Effect of Heimia Salicifolia
In order to evaluate the effects produced by the alkaloids of leaves from H. salicifolia on the blood pressure of rats, four alkaloids from H. salicifolia were isolated by column and thin layer chromatography. The alkaloids’ antihypertensive effects on angiotensin II-caused acute hypertension as well as their hypotensive effects on normotensive rats were studied. The alkaloid 3, the most abundant isolated alkaloid, turned out to be the most effective, while the other alkaloids showed a slight, non-significant vascular activity. Their mixture showed an additive effect, though slightly different from the alkaloid 3.
Binding of quinolizidine alkaloids to nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
Fourteen quinolizidine alkaloids, isolated from Lupinus albus, L. mutabilis, and Anagyris foetida, were analyzed for their affinity for nicotinic and/or muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Of the compounds tested, the alpha-pyridones, N-methylcytisine and cytisine, showed the highest affinities at the nicotinic receptor, while several quinolizidine alkaloid types were especially active at the muscarinic receptor.
UV-B radiometry and dosimetry for solar measurements.
Biologically effective irradiance or dose of solar UV radiation was determined using a spectroradiometer, two broadband radiometers and two types of passive UV-dosimeters. The absolute erythema irradiance and the actinic irradiance were calculated from the solar spectrum measured with the spectroradiometer. It was demonstrated that the erythema irradiance is proportional to the actinic irradiance of solar radiation. The erythema irradiance was also determined using the two broadband radiometers which utilize a filter transmitting erythema spectra. Personal UV-dosimeters such as polysulphone and CR-39 were used to determine the erythema dose for a selected period of time. These results were used to estimate the accuracy of the broadband radiometers and UV-dosimeters. It was found that the results obtained from the broadband radiometers deviate from the absolute erythema irradiance by less than 20% during clear days between the hours of 11:00 and 13:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST) in Australia. The assessment of the erythema dose using passive dosimeters such as polysulphone and CR-39 could introduce an error as high as 40% if the calibration was not performed before undertaking experimental measurements.