| MECHANISM OF ACTION |
In a study that could lead to the mechanism of action of toxic compds found in some traditional herbal teas & medicines, an international team from Canada & China has described for the first time the molecular forms these compds adopt in soln. OTPA (see Abbrev.) - naturally occurring hepatotoxic compds found in a wide variety of plants, including some used to make herbal prodts - are soluble in both organic & aq. media. Their water soly., may lead to their rel. high levels in herbal prepn such as comfrey tea. & their lipid soly. may enhance their absorption in the body after ingestion. The authors have now shown using NMR spectroscopy, that 2 representa
tive OTPAs - clivorine & ligularine - exist in a nonionized form in organic soln but adopt an ionized state in water
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