代谢
早期关于从乳草中分离强心苷的研究是在非洲北部的 Poekilocerus bufonius 草蜢上进行的。这种具有警告色的物种在自然环境中可能专门以乳草为食,它有一个毒腺,其中的内容物可以在若虫阶段作为喷雾喷出,或者在成虫阶段作为泡沫状物质喷出。分泌物中含有组胺和一剂对猫致命的强心苷。当用 Calotropis procera 或 Asclepias curassavica 饲养时,草蜢的分泌物中只含有可观的量级的 Calactin 和 Calotropin,这两种物质是植物中存在的七种或更多相关强心苷中的一部分。
EARLY STUDIES ON CARDENOLIDE SEQUESTRATION FROM MILKWEEDS WERE CARRIED OUT WITH THE GRASSHOPPER, POEKILOCERUS BUFONIUS. THIS APOSEMATIC NORTH AFRICAN SPECIES, WHICH PROBABLY FEEDS EXCLUSIVELY UPON MILKWEEDS IN NATURE, HAS A POISON GLAND FROM WHICH THE CONTENTS MAY BE EJECTED AS SPRAY DURING THE IMMATURE HOPPER STAGE, OR AS A FOAMY FROTH IN THE ADULT STAGE. THE SECRETION CONTAINS HISTAMINE AND ONE CAT-LETHAL DOSE OF CARDENOLIDE. WHEN REARED ON CALOTROPIS PROCERA OR ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA, THE GRASSHOPPERS SECRETION CONTAINED ONLY CALACTIN AND CALOTROPIN IN APPRECIABLE QUANTITIES OF THE SEVEN OR SO RELATED CARDENOLIDES PRESENT IN THE PLANT.
来源:Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)