Bufadienolide

Bufadienolides are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds in different Eukaryotenarten and a subgroup of steroids. For Real Toads (Bufo sp.), Representatives of this group of substances found in the skin glands, of which the name derives bufadienolides. In the plant families Scilloideae (also Hyacinthaceae, about White Squill Urginea maritima ) and the buttercup family ( Ranunculaceae, such as Christmas Rose Helleborus niger) come bufadienolides ago as secondary metabolites.

Chemically bufadienolides steroids with a δ -lactone residue at position 17, and thus derivatives of bufotalin. They are homologous to the cardenolides that bind a γ - lactone in place of the δ - lactone. Bufadienolides inhibit the Na / K -ATPase, preferably the alpha1 isoform. Just as the cardenolides bufadienolides slow the beat frequency of the myocardium and the conduction of myocardial cells and act therefore toxic. At the heart active endogenous steroids ( cardiotonic steroids) in addition to the endogenous ouabain still include ( a cardenolide ) the bufadienolides Bufalin, Marinobufagenin ( MBG ) and Telocinobufagin.

Various bufadienolides be used for diagnosis and therapy of preeclampsia. Marinobufagenin is used to forecast and Resibufogenin is used for prevention. Various bufadienolides have anti-tumor effects.