THE ANTIPHLOGISTIC AND ANTI-ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK ACTIONS OF TETRANDRINE AND DEMETHYL-TETRANDRINE

Tetrandrine and demethyl-tetrandrine are alkaloids isolated from the Chinese drug Han Fang Chi (汉防已), the root of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore. Han Fang Chi is used in the Chinese medicine as an antirheumatic and analgesic. According to another experiment conducted in our department with the Grewal's method, the two alkaloids seem to have only slight analgesic action. Presumably, the drug might be only antiphlogistic, and the analgesia a secondary effect. In the present - paper, we are reporting experiments undertaken to determine whether the two alkaloids be antiphlogistic and possess anti-anaphlactic and anti-histamine shock actions, as many antipyretics do. At the same time, the vitamin C content in the adrenal gland of the experimental animals is also estimated. The results of our experiments are summarized as follows:- 1. Tetrandrine and demethyl-tetrandrine possess definite antiphlogistic action on the formaldehyde-arthritis of the rats. 2. Tetrandrine shows a slight protective action against anaphylactic shock induced by injecting egg albumen to rabbits, but no action against histamine shock in guinea pigs. 3. A significant reduction in vitamin C content of the rat's adrenal glands was observed after tetrandrine (1.5 mg./100 gms., intraperitoneally), indicating a stimulating action on the pituitary-adrenal system, causing hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex, similar to some antipyretics. 4. It seems, therefore, that the two alkaloids studied belong to the so called antipyretic analgetics.