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Cardiotonic glycosides from the latex of naucleopsis mello-barretoi, a dart-poison plant from North-West Brazil

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Abstract

Poison scraped from blowpipe darts made by the Makti Indians of the Upper Rio Uneiuxi, Rio Negro basin, and prepared from the latex of Naucleopsis mello-barretoi (Standl.) C. C. Berg, contained ca. 4.4% cardiotonic glycosides; one of the major glycosides present wasα-antiarin.

Latex fromN. mello-barretoi yielded ca. 1.3% of a complex mixture of cardiotonic glycosides; the major component was β-antiarin and it was accompanied by small amounts of α-antiarin, probably antioside, and unidentified glycosides.

The bark of the plant had only traces of cardiotonic glycosides; some components appeared to be the same as those in the latex, but the antiarins and antioside were absent.

Cardiotonic glycosides were not detected in the leaves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacy, Chelsea College, University of London, Manresa Road, SW3 6LX, London, England

    Norman G. Bisset & Peter J. Hylands

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  1. Norman G. Bisset
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  2. Peter J. Hylands
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Bisset, N.G., Hylands, P.J. Cardiotonic glycosides from the latex of naucleopsis mello-barretoi, a dart-poison plant from North-West Brazil. Econ Bot 31, 307–311 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866881

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866881

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