On the probable composition of ‘Jamaican stone’ aphrodisiac

Martín-Ramos, P. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Carrión-Prieto, P. ; Silva-Castro, I. ; Ruiz-Potosme, N. ; Hernández-Navarro, S. ; Martín-Gil, J.

Resumen: A dangerous aphrodisiac, commonly known as ‘Jamaican stone’, banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has been studied by vibrational spectroscopy in order to solve the controversy on its composition. The results of the ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the presence of the a-pyrone ring, which is characteristic of bufadienolides from toad venom and bulbs of squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn). This conclusion was reached after a comparative study with the spectra for phytochemicals derived from gambir and cat''s claw, two Uncaria species also preconized as aphrodisiacs and deemed as possible constituents of the ‘stone’. Owing to their physiologic similarities to digoxin, bufadienolides have been shown to produce a toxic profile similar to that of digoxin, although the lack one of the side chains found on digoxin should allow the use of hemodialysis to treat ‘Jamaican stone’ overdose.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2016.11.005

Año: 2017

Publicado en: Phytochemistry Letters 19 (2017), 30-33
ISSN: 1874-3900

Factor impacto JCR: 1.575 (2017)

Categ. JCR: PLANT SCIENCES rank: 95 / 222 = 0.428 (2017) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL rank: 48 / 59 = 0.814 (2017) - Q4 - T3

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.634 - Agronomy and Crop Science (Q1) - Plant Science (Q2) - Biotechnology (Q2) - Biochemistry (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Area Ingeniería Agroforestal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)