Action of Bufotenines

Abstract

Handovsky 1 isolated an “alkaloid” from B. vulgaris, and named it bufotenine. In our investigation of Ch'an Su, we 2 obtained cinobu-fotenine, and found it to have a marked pressor action. It appears now that the secretions of most toads contain bufotenines—a name also used generically. The bufotenines are organic bases having an indole ring, and form organic salts such as the flavianates, which have been used in this investigation. Three bufotenine flavianates, prepared from Ch'an Su and the secretions of B. fozvleri and B. bufo gargarizans, respectively, have a marked pressor action in pithed cats (Table I); those separated from the secretions of B. formosus, B. bufo bufo, and B. viridis viridis are slightly less active; and the remaining bufotenines have little blood pressure raising property. All of them have an oxytocic action, and with one exception, a stimulating action on isolated intestines.