It is well known that small dose of belladonna alkaloid(atropine, scopolarnine) has the effect of decreasing the heart rate in normal conscious subjects, but the mechanism involved in it remains still unanswered. Based on various lines of evidence, the most likely mechanism seems to be the blockade of sympathetic ganglion caused by the alkaloids and it is possible that the effect on the slower heart rate may differ in the depressed state of the sympathetic ganglion when under halothane anesthesia. The present study was undertaken, therefore, on comatose patients and halothane anesthetized patients with and without atropine premedication about 1 hour before anesthesia to observe the effect of a small dose of scopolamine(0.1 mg) which affects the heart rate more significantly than atropine in conscious subjects. The results were as follows: 1) In the comatose patients, scopolamine(0.1 mg) produced a significant decrease in heart rate. 2) During halothane anesthesia without atropine premedication, scopolamine produced a slight decrease in heart rate. 3) During halothane anesthesia with atropine premedication, scopolamine produced a significant increase in the heart rate. These results indicate that scopolamine can further affect the sympathetic ganglion already depressed by halothane, and it is suggested that scopolamine is more effective in blocking the sympathetic ganglion than halothane.
Alkaloids ; Anesthesia ; Atropa belladonna ; Atropine ; Coma ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Halothane* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Premedication ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide*

Atropa belladonna is a medicinal plant and main commercial source of tropane alkaloids (TAs) including scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are anticholine drugs widely used clinically. Based on the high throughput transcriptome sequencing results, the digital expression patterns of UniGenes representing 9 structural genes (ODC, ADC, AIH, CPA, SPDS, PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) involved in TAs biosynthesis were constructed, and simultaneously expression analysis of 4 released genes in NCBI (PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) for verification was performed using qPCR, as well as the TAs contents detection in 8 different tissues. Digital expression patterns results suggested that the 4 genes including ODC, ADC, AIH and CPA involved in the upstream pathway of TAs, and the 2 branch pathway genes including SPDS and TRII were found to be expressed in all the detected tissues with high expression level in secondary root. While the 3 TAs-pathway-specific genes including PMT, CYP80F1, H6H were only expressed in secondary roots and primary roots, mainly in secondary roots. The qPCR detection results of PMT, CYP80F1 and H6H were consistent with the digital expression patterns, but their expression levels in primary root were too low to be detected. The highest content of hyoscyamine was found in tender stems (3.364 mg x g(-1)), followed by tender leaves (1.526 mg x g(-1)), roots (1.598 mg x g(-1)), young fruits (1.271 mg x g(-1)) and fruit sepals (1.413 mg x g(-1)). The highest content of scopolamine was detected in fruit sepals (1.003 mg x g(-1)), then followed by tender stems (0.600 mg x g(-1)) and tender leaves (0.601 mg x g(-1)). Both old stems and old leaves had the lowest content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The gene expression profile and TAs accumulation indicated that TAs in Atropa belladonna were mainly biosynthesized in secondary root, and then transported and deposited in tender aerial parts. Screening Atropa belladonna secondary root transcriptome database will facilitate unveiling the unknown enzymatic reactions and the mechanisms of transcriptional control.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Atropa belladonna ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; genetics ; Hyoscyamine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; metabolism ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; metabolism ; Tropanes ; metabolism

It has been generally understood that belladonna alkaloids in small doses produce bradycardia. However, it is also known that these agents increase heart rate during general anesthesia. In this study, a comparison of atropine and propantheline on human heart rate during ether anesthesia was made and the following results were obtained. 1) Atropine and propantheline increased heart rate. 2) Effect of propantheline on the heart rate was more marked than that of atropine.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Atropine* ; Belladonna Alkaloids ; Bradycardia ; Ether* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans* ; Propantheline*

The effects of oral premedication with diazepam and atropine were evaluated. We made three kinds of syrup which were composed of diazepam 0.3mg/0.5cc, diazepam 0.3 mg mixed with atropine 0.001 mg in 0.5cc and diazepam 0.3mg mixed with atropine 0.03mg in 0.5cc, respectively. The 1st was administered to Group l (n=21), the second to group ll (n=21) and the last to group lll (n= 24) one and half to two hours before induction of anesthesia. Each child received 0.5 cc/kg. On arrival at pediatric operating room, anxiety levels, vital signs, antisalivatory effect and side effects were checked. The attitude of children was evaluated just before induction of anesthesia. In group land lll, slight elevation of diastolic blood pressure was noticed. The satisfaotory levels, checked by anxiety level O, were 86% in group l, 90% in group ll and 79% in group lll. The altitudes in the operating rooms just before induction of anesthesia were satisfactory and cooperative in 77 %, 81%, and 87% of patients in group l, ll and lll, respectively. Antisalivatory effect was not good in group l, but satisfactory in 82% and 75% of cases in group ll and lll. But side effect was present in 25% of cases in group ll and lll, in spite of 10% in group l. So we can conclude that preoperative oral diazepam in a dose of 0.3mg/0.5cc/kg is very good for the reduction of anxiety and the additiopn of atropine may increase the incidence of side effects. Threefore we recommend parentreral belladonna alkaloids just before induction instead of preoperative oral medication.
Altitude ; Anesthesia ; Anxiety ; Atropine ; Belladonna Alkaloids ; Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Diazepam ; Humans ; Incidence ; Operating Rooms ; Premedication* ; Vital Signs

1) Atropine and scopolamine in doses of 0. 05, 0. 1, 0, 15, 0. 2 and 0. 25 mg produced bradycardia in humans. 2) The bradycardia induced by 0. 05 and 0, 1 mg of atropine was restored to normal rhythm by 0. 2 and 0. 15 mg of atropine, respectively. 3) The bradycardia induced by 0. 05 and 0. 1 mg of scopolamine was reversed to tachycardia by 0. 2 and 0. 15 mg of scopolamine, respectively. 4) The scopolamine(0.05mg) induced bradycardia was restored to normal rhythm by atropine 0.15 mg and reversed to tachycardia by atropine 0.2mg 5) The atropine(0.1 mg) induced bradycardia was partially restored by scopolamine 0.15 and 0. 2 mg. 6) It was argued that these results were not explainable by a central vagal effect of a direct effect of atropine and scopolamine on the heart but explainable by the blocking effect of these drugs to the sympathetic ganglia.
Atropine* ; Bradycardia* ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Heart ; Humans ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide* ; Tachycardia

Jimson weed, also known as Datura stramonium, is a member of the Solanaceae family. Jimson weed was used by American Indians for medicinal and religious purposes. All parts of the Jimson weed plant are poisons, containing the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. So, it is caused by these components to make a anticholinergic toxicity within 6h after ingestion. Initial manifestations include dry mucus membrane, blurred, vision, thirst, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and photophobia, and may be followed by hyperthermia, confusion, agitation, combative behavior, hallucination, urinary retention, seizure and coma. We experienced two patients who developed combative behavior and agitation with pupil dilation caused by Jimson weed. They discharged with improvement after supportive for 2days.
Alkaloids ; Animals ; Atropine ; Coma ; Comb and Wattles ; Datura stramonium* ; Deglutition ; Dihydroergotamine ; Eating* ; Fever ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Hyoscyamine ; Indians, North American ; Membranes ; Mucus ; Photophobia ; Plants ; Poisons ; Pupil ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Seizures ; Solanaceae ; Thirst ; Urinary Retention

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC method for determining the contents of scopolamine hydrobromide, atropine sulfate, ephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in Zhichuanling oral liquid.

METHODAgela Durashell RP-C18 (4. 6 mm x250 mm, 5 microm) was adopted, with acetonitrile-sodium phosphate buffer solution (0. 07 mol L-1 sodium phosphate solution with 17.5 mmol L-1 sodium dodecylsulfate adjusted to pH 6.0 with phosphoric acid solution) (30:70) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0. 9 mL min -1, the detection wavelength was 207 nm, and the column temperature was 25 degree C.

RESULTScopolamine hydrobromide, atropine sulfate, ephedrine hlvdrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride showed good linear relations with peak areas within the concentration range of 0. 021 21-1. 060 5 pg (r =0. 999 3) , 0. 011 14-0. 557 microg (r = 0. 999 6) , 0. 200 56-10. 028 microg (r =0. 999 7) and 0.070 33-3. 516 5 gg (r =0. 999 6), respectively, with the average recoveries of 101.9% , 99. 80%, 100. 3%, 100. 2% (n=6).

CONCLUSIONThe method was so quick, simple, highly reproducible and specific that it could be used as one of quality control methods of Zhichuanling oral liquid.

Atropine ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ephedrine ; analysis ; Pseudoephedrine ; analysis ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; analysis

Acute Disease ; Atropine ; therapeutic use ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of 3 commonly used protocols for management of acute exacerbation of asthma in children.

METHODSTotally 113 asthmatic children were randomized into 3 groups. In group A (53 cases), the children were treated with inhalation of nebulized budesonide suspension plus salbutamol and ipratropium bromide twice daily for 5 days; in group B (41 cases), budesonide plus salbutamol and ipratropium aerosol was administered, and in group C (29 cases), dexathmisone plus aminophylline injection was given once daily for 5 days. All the children received basic treatment with fluid infusion, antibiotics or/and anti-virus medications.

RESULTSThe children in both groups A and C showed effectively controlled asthma attack, with significant differences in the therapeutic effects (P>0.05). In contrast, only a few children showed improvement in group B, suggesting the ineffectiveness of the treatment.

CONCLUSIONNebulized medicine is one of the best means for management of acute asthma exacerbation in children, and inhalation of budesonide suspension plus salbutamol and ipratropium bromide can effectively relieve the asthmatic symptoms in these children with good compliance and convenient administration.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Aerosols ; Albuterol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Ipratropium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Suppression of gastrointestinal (GI) peristalsis during GI endoscopy commonly requires antispasmodic agents such as hyoscine butylbromide, atropine, glucagon, and cimetropium bromide. This study examined the efficacy of oral phloroglucin for the suppression of peristalsis, its impact on patient compliance, and any associated complications, and compared it with intravenous or intramuscular cimetropium bromide administration. METHODS: This was a randomized, investigator-blind, prospective comparative study. A total of 172 patients were randomized into two groups according to the following medications administered prior to upper endoscopy: oral phloroglucin (group A, n=86), and cimetropium bromide (group B, n=86). The numbers and the degrees of peristalsis events at the antrum and second duodenal portion were assessed for 30 seconds. RESULTS: A significantly higher number of gastric peristalsis events was observed in group A (0.49 vs. 0.08, p<0.001), but the difference was not clinically significant. No significant difference between both groups was found in the occurrence of duodenal peristalsis events (1.79 vs. 1.63, p=0.569). The incidence of dry mouth was significantly higher with cimetropium bromide than with phloroglucin (50% vs. 15.1%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Oral phloroglucin can be used as an antispasmodic agent during upper endoscopy, and shows antispasmodic efficacy and adverse effects similar to those of cimetropium bromide.
Atropine ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System* ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mouth ; Parasympatholytics ; Patient Compliance ; Peristalsis ; Premedication* ; Prospective Studies ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide