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TH3 PHAPJ/J.COLOGY OF AlIAMSHS 
ITie pharmacology of ana^asine ras first studied "by Haag (40), v7ho 
reported his findings in 1933. "he lethal dose of ana"basine for gaifea 
pigs (suh cutaneous) is 22 milligraas per kilogram, compared with 26 
milligrams per kilogram for nitotine. Toxic Sjonptoms from the two 
allcaloids are similar, anahasine "being somewhat less exciting and more 
depressing. Anabasine is readily absorhed from the skin and is detoxified 
in the liver. It appears more toxic than nicotine to guinea pigs and 
ra-hbits, but nicotine is someT7hat the more active on frogs and earthworms. 
Gersdorff (34) in 1933 compared the toxicity of nicotine and 
anabasine to goldfish. 
As compared with rotenone, solutions of nicotine and anabasine be- 
come toxic at relatively high concentrations. 'The theoretical thresholds 
of toxicity for the three compounds against fishes from the same group, 
are 0.013, 8.0, and 9.5 milligrams per liter, respectively. The relatively 
low toxicities of the t^^o alkaloids are also reflected in a comparison of 
the rates of increase of the theoretical velocity of fatality with in- 
crease in concentration. These rates, in the same order, are 90, 5.6, 
and 5.2 cc. per milligram per minute. Thus rotenone is 15 to 20 times 
as toxic as the two alka,loids. However, if the survival time alone is 
considered in comparison at the regions of constant velocity of toxicity, 
where the time periods are in the same order, about 130, 20, and 22 
ninutes, the two allcaloids have a toxicity 6 to 7 times as great as . 
rotenone. Anabasine is slightly less toxic than nicotine throughout the 
range of concentrations used. 
Sarguine (121) in 1933 and again (122) in 1934 also published on the 
pharmacology of anabasine. This alkaloid is very similar to micotine in 
its -action on animals. It changes the blood pressure and affects the 
intestines and uterus the same waj'; as nicotine, and its general effects 
show that it can hardly be used in therapy. 
The other alkaloids of Anavbasis aphylla , aphylli^lne and aphylline , 
proved to be of negligible pharmacological activity. :'eth:,'-l anabasine 
proved to be much less active than anabasine. 
Anich!:ov (4) in 1935 reported tha.t anabasine is vaso-constrictor 
on the rabbit's ear, the effect being two-thirds as strong as that of 
nicotine. 
Earuishnikov (9) in 1936 reported that the action of anabasine sul- 
fate on the animal orgajnism is similar to that of nicotine. 
Pilosofov (24) in 1936 published a study of the effect of alkaloids 
on yeast. 2xx>erinents with nicotine and anabasine sulfate showed that 
large quantities of these substances slow up fermentation, while small 
quantities have a stimi^ln.ti.nv--; effect find produce normal yeast. 
