Abstract
IN 1936 Bacq1 demonstrated that, in addition to sensitizing certain smooth muscles of the cat to stimulation of sympathetic nerves and to injected adrenaline, some poly-hydroxylic phenols also possessed convulsant activity. The sensitization was originally attributed to the anti-oxidant properties of the phenolic compounds. More recent studies, however, have indicated that polyphenols augment the peripheral actions of adrenaline by competitive inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) (refs. 2–4). It has also been suggested that the central effects of polyphenols may be caused by a similar mechanism5. Our study was undertaken to investigate the possible role of adrenergic mechanisms in the central effects of these compounds.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bacq, Z. M., Arch. Intern. Physiol., 42, 340 (1936).
Bacq, Z. M., Grosselin, L., Dresse, A., and Renson, J., Science, 130, 452 (1959).
Axelrod, J., and Laroche, M. J., Science, 130, 800 (1959).
Udenfriend, S., Greveling, C. R., Osaki, M., and Witkop, B., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 84, 249 (1959).
Bacq, Z. M., Schlag, J., Faiherbe, J., and Chaillet, G., CR Acad. Sci., 249, 2839 (1959).
Ross, S. B., and Haljasmaa, O., Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol., 21, 205 (1964).
Abbs, E. T., Broadly, K. J., and Roberts, D. J., Biochem. Pharmacol., 16, 279 (1967).
Ross, S. B., and Haljasmaa, O., Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol., 21, 215 (1964).
Weil, Carol S., Biometrics, 4, 249 (1952).
Axelrod, J., and Tomchick, R., J. Biol. Chem., 233, 702 (1958).
Crout, J. R., Crevelin, G., and Udenfriend, S., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 132, 269 (1961).
Masami, M., Hirosh, Y., and Reiji, I., Biochem. Pharmacol., 11, 1109 (1962).
Shore, P. A., Pharmacol. Rev., 14, 531 (1962).
Brodie, B. B., Spector, S., and Shore, P. A., Pharmacol. Rev., 11, 548 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ANGEL, A., ROGERS, K. Convulsant Action of Polyphenols. Nature 217, 84–85 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/217084a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/217084a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.