K 259-2

Objective: To study the material basis of the tonifying effect of Radix Changii by observing its contents of nutrient elements. Methods: The contents of vitamins in Radix Changii and inorganic elements in the water extracts of it were tested by high performance liquid chromatography, fluorescence spectrophotography and scanning electron microanalysis. Results: Radix Changii contains fat-soluble vitamins E and K 259.2 and 64.1 microg/kg respectively, and water-soluble vitamins C, B1 and B2 78.5, 0.6 and 0.7 mg/kg respectively. Its decoction contains abundant potassium and calcium ions. Conclusion: Radix Changii is rich in elements necessary for human body. It has the material basis for tonification.

K-259-2 and KS-619-1, novel anionic anthraquinone metabolites isolated from culture broth of microorganisms, inhibited activation of bovine brain phosphodiesterase induced by calmodulin (CaM), sodium oleate, or limited proteolysis with almost equal potency. The inhibition of calmodulin-activated phosphodiesterase (CaM-PDE) by K-259-2 or KS-619-1 was overcome by a higher concentration of CaM. Direct interaction of K-259-2 and KS-619-1 with CaM was confirmed through use of hydrophobic fluorescent probes. Kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibition of the trypsin-activated phosphodiesterase was competitively inhibited by K-259-2 or KS-619-1 with respect to cAMP. Addition of a lower amount of either phosphatidylserine or sodium oleate to the reaction mixture was efficacious in attenuating the inhibition of the CaM-PDE by W-7, chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, compound 48/80, or R-24571 but, in contrast, had little or no effect on the inhibition by K-259-2 or KS-619-1. In conclusion, K-259-2 and KS-619-1, unlike so-called CaM antagonists, do not interact with phosphatidylserine or sodium oleate and it appears that these novel anthraquinone compounds inhibit the enzyme not only via CaM antagonism but possibly also by interacting directly with the enzyme.

The structure of K-259-2, a potent inhibitor of Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, was determined to be 3-(2Z-2-ethyl-2-butenyl)-1,6,8-trihydroxy-anthraquinone-2-carboxyl ic acid by chemical conversion and spectral studies.