[Pharmacological and toxicological studies on wild sunflower Doronicum hungaricum Rchb]

Studied were the total water extracts (infusions) of wild sunflower (Doronicum hungaricum Rchb), and separately of alcohol and water extracts. It was found that the pharmacologic and toxicologic effects were governed by the water-soluble flactions. At oral administration to albino mice the total water extract corresponding to 10 g of the dried plant per kg b. w. no toxic phenomena were observed. At subcutaneous injection of the water extract of 10 g of the dried plant per kg b. w. and venous injection of 3.5 g of the dried plant per kg b. w. of albino mice as well as venous injection of the water extract corresponding to 2.5 g of the dried plant per kg b. w. of cats with narcosis there was enhancement of breathing followed by depression of this process along with a drop of the systemic blood pressure down do the zero line, and exitus. A negative intropic effect was produced on an isolated frog heart by a water extract corresponding to 1 g of the dried plant/100 cm3-500 cm3, and a moderate spasm--on an isolated rabbit intestine by an extract 1/100 cm3-500 cm3. The venous injection of the extract to cats with narcosis at 0.05 to 1.0 g of the dried plant per kg b. w. caused depression. All these effects were blocked after atropine treatment. In an experiment with 3 cows with the use of 50 g of finely ground dried plant mass inthe daily ration per cow for 10 days a moderate enhancement of milk secretion was produced. It is believed that the phenomena observed are due to M cholinemimetic action.