Ordinary Echinops – Echinops ritro L.

Herbaceous perennial plant height of 50-70 cm, families slozhnotsvetnыh (Combined). It grows in the steppe regions of the European part of the USSR, in Central Asia and Siberia. For medical purposes, harvest fruit plants.

The chemical composition of ordinary Echinops

Fruits Echinops contain large amounts of various fatty oils and other organic compounds. Echinopsine alkaloid content in the fruit reaches 1.5-2%.

The pharmacological properties of ordinary Echinops

In the study of herbal form of ordinary Echinops revealed obschevozbuzhdayuschee effect on the CNS. With increasing doses of drugs, opposite, there is oppression of animals, followed by the appearance of seizures klonikotonicheskih, similar in characteristic convulsive states, arising after the administration of strychnine. Herb plants, Besides, causes vasodilation of isolated organs, It marked a pronounced effect of the drug on the activity of the cardiovascular system (increases the amplitude of heart and quickens their rhythm).

The biological activity of the plant was the basis of the pharmacological study of individual alkaloid - echinopsine, isolated from plants. Studies have shown nitrate echinopsine, that even in small doses, it causes some excitement animals, which is accompanied by increased motor activity, increase muscle tone and increased response to painful stimuli. With increasing doses anxiety and excitement gives way to depression animals, pain stimulation causes tonic convulsions.

Introduction echinopsine leads to increased repair processes in the sciatic nerve on the background of mechanical alterations. Established, that its effect on the nervous tissue increases the excitability of nerve like alkali metal salts. Echinopsine reinforces the bioelectric activity of the isolated sciatic nerve. Consequently, it has been suggested, that increased excitability and conduction processes under the influence of echinopsine is due to increased energy production, resulting in the splitting of ATP. Besides, preparation promotes enhanced loosening membranes, increasing their permeability, It increases the potential for action and, Consequently, increases the excitability and conduction processes.

When administered into the stomach of animals alkaloid lowers BP, increases the amplitude of heart contractions, within a short period of marked increase in the amplitude and frequency of breathing, heart rate did not significantly are unchanged.

Echinopsine relatively low toxicity, It has a broad spectrum of therapeutic action.

Application of ordinary Echinops medicine

Эhinopsina nitrate (Echinopsine nitrate) used in the practice of the treatment of various neurological diseases, and therapeutic (peripheral paralysis, muscular atrophy, hypotension, optic nerve atrophy, etc.. d.), Currently, however, it is excluded from the range of medicines, but the development of products from raw materials continues.