Download Veratrum californicum

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AKA:
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Corn lily
False hellebore
Skunk cabbage
Family Liliaceae
Native to mountain
meadows in the Sierra
Nevadas and the
Rockies
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Perennial monocot
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Grows 1-2 meters tall
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Stem/leaves resemble
cornstalk
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Used by native Americans to treat wounds
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Contraceptive
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Root is an analgesic and disinfectant
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Also used to treat VD
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Sheep herds were
plagued by
unexplained birth
defects
Intensive study by the
USDA isolated
cyclopamine as the
causative agent
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Required for tissue
maintenance and
regeneration
T-cell activation
Can act as a mitogen
Tissue dependent
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GPCRs (G Protein Coupled Receptor) are
responsible for a multitude of signal cascades :
Adenylate cyclase/cAMP pathway
1.
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Phospholipase C pathway
2.
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5.
Secretion and translocation of proteins from the ER
IP3 pathway:
3.
4.
Activates PKA, which activates ion channels
Releases Ca+ from ER activating
Ca+/Calmodulin pathway
Glycogen pathway (via Adenylate cyclase)
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Phase I clinical trials underway of a derivate
GDC-0449 (Genentech in collaboration with
Curis)
Preliminary results were promising
Side effects: loss of hair, weight loss, otherwise
mild toxicity reported
Already being billed as “hav[ing] the potential
to become a blockbuster drug…for treating
cancers.” (Wong, 2009)
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Glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumor)
2-3 cases per 100K
Most often terminal
Median survival = 15 months (conventional
chemotherapy)
Without treatment = 4.5 months
(World Heath Organization)
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Synthetic drug marketed
as a sedative
Prescribed to pregnant
women to help with
morning sickness
Drug testing conducted on
rats
Rats metabolized
thalidomide
Late 1950’s children born
with Pharcomelia
Later tests on monkeys
produced same birth
defects as seen in humans
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Berry, L. (n.d.). Sierra Wild Flowers. Retrieved Oct 23, 2009, from
Sierrawildflowers.org:
http://www.sierrawildflowers.org/veratrum_californicum.htm
Binns, W. L. (1968). Effects of Teratogenic Agents in Range Plants.
Cancer Research , 28, 2323-2326.
Keeley. (2002). Biology News. Retrieved Oct 23, 2009, from BioMedicine: http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-2/Plantcompound-kills-brain-tumor-cells-6856-1/
Lingham, A. (2000, June). The First Appearance of Thalidomide.
Retrieved Oct 23, 2009, from Thalidomide Isomerism and Optical
Isomerism:
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/thalidomide/first.html
Wong, J. F. (2009). Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
Retrieved Oct 23, 2009, from GEN:
http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2518&c
hid=4