Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract, EFE, Has No Adverse Effects Such as Excitation, Insomnia, and Arrhythmias
- 1 January 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Pharmaceutical Society of Japan in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
- Vol. 41 (2), 247-253
- https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b17-00803
Abstract
Ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) has been developed to eliminate the adverse effects caused by ephedrine alkaloid-induced sympathetic hyperactivation. Previously, we reported that EFE possesses analgesic, anti-influenza, and cancer metastatic inhibitory effects at comparable levels to that of Ephedra Herb extract (EHE). However, it has not yet been demonstrated that EFE is free from the known side effects of EHE, such as excitation, insomnia, and arrhythmias. In this study, the incidence of these adverse effects was compared between mice administered EHE and those administered EFE. Increased locomotor activity in an open-field test, reduced immobility times in a forced swim test, and reduced sleep times in a pentobarbital-induced sleep test were observed in EHE-treated mice, when compared to the corresponding values in vehicle-treated mice. In contrast, EFE had no obvious effects in these tests. In electrocardiograms, atrial fibrillation (i.e., irregular heart rhythm, absence of P waves, and appearance of f waves) was observed in the EHE-treated mice. It was suggested that this atrial fibrillation was induced by stimulation of adrenaline β1 receptors, but not by hypokalemia. However, EFE did not affect cardiac electrophysiology. These results suggest that the abovementioned side effects are caused by ephedrine alkaloids in EHE, and that EFE is free from these adverse effects, such as excitation, insomnia, and arrhythmias. Thus, EFE is a promising new botanical drug with few adverse effects.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effects of Ephedra Water Decoction and Cough Tablets containing Ephedra and Liquorice on CYP1A2 and the Pharmacokinetics of Theophylline in RatsPhytotherapy Research, 2011
- Arousal Effect of Caffeine Depends on Adenosine A2A Receptors in the Shell of the Nucleus AccumbensJournal of Neuroscience, 2011
- An unusual case of systemic cardiovascular side effects from the application of over-the-counter nasal decongestion dropsBMJ Case Reports, 2011
- Toxicological Risks of Chinese HerbsPlanta Medica, 2010
- Essential Role of Dopamine D2Receptor in the Maintenance of Wakefulness, But Not in Homeostatic Regulation of Sleep, in MiceJournal of Neuroscience, 2010
- Pharmacological Effects of Ephedrine Alkaloids on Human α1- and α2-Adrenergic Receptor SubtypesThe Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2007
- Mecamylamine attenuates ephedrine-induced hyperactivity in ratsPharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 2005
- Drug-induced atrial fibrillationJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004
- Hypokalemic metabolic acidosis attributed to cough mixture abuseAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2001
- Chronotropic Effects of Optical Isomers of Ephedrine and Methylephedrine in the Isolated Rat Right Atria and in Vitro Assessment of Direct and Indirect Actions on .BETA.1-Adrenoceptors.Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1996