From Plant to Patient: Thapsigargin, a Tool for Understanding …
101
luck is not a characteristic feature of a good scientist. The characteristic feature of a
good scientist is recognition of the importance of the discovery and relevant actions.
A compound with similar inhibitory effects on the SERCA pump, trilobolide (17),
was isolated a few years before 1. In this case, the discoverers did not initiate intensive
chemical and biological studies but just shelved the compound. In the case of 1, such
studies were initiated, leading to fruitful and important new scientific knowledge.
The story of 1 raises the question as to whether other natural products with valuable
biological properties are being left forgotten in the storerooms of natural product
chemists?
References
1. Koerper H, Kolls AL (1999) The silphium motif adorning ancient Libyan coinage: marketing
a medicinal plant. Econ Bot 53:133
2. Jackson JR (1869) On the Thapsia garganica and silphium of the ancient. In: The student and
intellectual observer of science literature and the art, vol 2. Groombridge and Sons, London
3. Söderling-Brydolf C (1970) Blomman i Cyrene. PA Norstedt & Söners Förlag, Stockholm
4. Parejko K (2003) Pliny the Elder’s Silphium: first recorded species extinction. Cons Biol
17:925
5. Mohammedi D, Mohammed S, Keck G (2014) Principales intoxications végétales chez les
ruminants en zone méditerranéenne. Rev d’Élevage Méd Vét Pays Trop 67:163
6. Pujadas A, Rossello JA (2003) In: Nielto Feliner G, Jury SL, Herrerro A (eds) Flora Iberica,
vol 10. Real Jardin Botanica. CSIC, Madrid, p 401
7. Gerard J, Dodoens R, Priest R, Norton J (1597) The herball, or, generall historie of plantes.
London
8. Hort A (1916) Of certain plants not yet mentioned, which possess special properties. In:
Theophrastus, enquiry into plants and minor works into odours and weather signs, vol 2.
William Heinemann, London, p 316
9. Andersen TB, Quiñonero C, López TM, Martinez K, Simonsen HT (2015) Thapsigargin—
from Thapsia L. to mipsagargin. Molecules 20:6113
10. Davies GS (1892) Thapsia garganica, Linn. In: The pharmacology of the newer materia
medica, Detroit, Michigan, USA
11. Hammiche V, Merad R, Azzouz M (2013) Thapsia. In: Hammiche V, Merad R, Azzouz M
(eds) Plantes toxiques à usage médicinal du pourtour méditerranéen. Springer, Paris, p 285
12. Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1905) Thapsia. In: Felter HW, Lloyd JU (eds) King’s American
dispensatory, vol 2, 19th edn. Ohio Valley Company, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA
13. Perrot E (1943) Matière Première usuelle du Règne Végétale. In: Masson, Paris, p 1630
14. Rasmussen U, Christensen B, Sandberg F (1978) Thapsigargin and thapsigargicin, two new
histamine liberating liberators from Thapsia garganica. Acta Pharm Suec 15:133
15. Christensen SB, Kjoeller Larsen I, Rasmussen U, Christophersen C (1982) Thapsigargin
and thapsigargicin, two histamine liberating sesquiterpene lactones from Thapsia garganica.
X-ray analysis of the 7,11-epoxide of thapsigargin. J Org Chem 47:649
16. Christensen SB, Schaumburg K (1983) Stereochemistry and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic
resonance of the histamine liberating sesquiterpene lactone thapsigargin. A modification of
Horeau’s method. J Org Chem 48:396
17. Christensen SB (1988) Interpretation of the NMR and circular dichroic data of the
sesquiterpene lactone thapsigargin. Acta Chem Scand B 42:623
18. Skytte DM, Moeller JV, Liu H, Nielsen HØ, Svenningsen LE, Jensen CM, Olsen CE, Christensen SB (2010) Elucidation of the topography of the thapsigargin binding site in the
sarco-endoplasmic calcium ATPase. Bioorg Med Chem 18:5634
101
luck is not a characteristic feature of a good scientist. The characteristic feature of a
good scientist is recognition of the importance of the discovery and relevant actions.
A compound with similar inhibitory effects on the SERCA pump, trilobolide (17),
was isolated a few years before 1. In this case, the discoverers did not initiate intensive
chemical and biological studies but just shelved the compound. In the case of 1, such
studies were initiated, leading to fruitful and important new scientific knowledge.
The story of 1 raises the question as to whether other natural products with valuable
biological properties are being left forgotten in the storerooms of natural product
chemists?
References
1. Koerper H, Kolls AL (1999) The silphium motif adorning ancient Libyan coinage: marketing
a medicinal plant. Econ Bot 53:133
2. Jackson JR (1869) On the Thapsia garganica and silphium of the ancient. In: The student and
intellectual observer of science literature and the art, vol 2. Groombridge and Sons, London
3. Söderling-Brydolf C (1970) Blomman i Cyrene. PA Norstedt & Söners Förlag, Stockholm
4. Parejko K (2003) Pliny the Elder’s Silphium: first recorded species extinction. Cons Biol
17:925
5. Mohammedi D, Mohammed S, Keck G (2014) Principales intoxications végétales chez les
ruminants en zone méditerranéenne. Rev d’Élevage Méd Vét Pays Trop 67:163
6. Pujadas A, Rossello JA (2003) In: Nielto Feliner G, Jury SL, Herrerro A (eds) Flora Iberica,
vol 10. Real Jardin Botanica. CSIC, Madrid, p 401
7. Gerard J, Dodoens R, Priest R, Norton J (1597) The herball, or, generall historie of plantes.
London
8. Hort A (1916) Of certain plants not yet mentioned, which possess special properties. In:
Theophrastus, enquiry into plants and minor works into odours and weather signs, vol 2.
William Heinemann, London, p 316
9. Andersen TB, Quiñonero C, López TM, Martinez K, Simonsen HT (2015) Thapsigargin—
from Thapsia L. to mipsagargin. Molecules 20:6113
10. Davies GS (1892) Thapsia garganica, Linn. In: The pharmacology of the newer materia
medica, Detroit, Michigan, USA
11. Hammiche V, Merad R, Azzouz M (2013) Thapsia. In: Hammiche V, Merad R, Azzouz M
(eds) Plantes toxiques à usage médicinal du pourtour méditerranéen. Springer, Paris, p 285
12. Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1905) Thapsia. In: Felter HW, Lloyd JU (eds) King’s American
dispensatory, vol 2, 19th edn. Ohio Valley Company, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA
13. Perrot E (1943) Matière Première usuelle du Règne Végétale. In: Masson, Paris, p 1630
14. Rasmussen U, Christensen B, Sandberg F (1978) Thapsigargin and thapsigargicin, two new
histamine liberating liberators from Thapsia garganica. Acta Pharm Suec 15:133
15. Christensen SB, Kjoeller Larsen I, Rasmussen U, Christophersen C (1982) Thapsigargin
and thapsigargicin, two histamine liberating sesquiterpene lactones from Thapsia garganica.
X-ray analysis of the 7,11-epoxide of thapsigargin. J Org Chem 47:649
16. Christensen SB, Schaumburg K (1983) Stereochemistry and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic
resonance of the histamine liberating sesquiterpene lactone thapsigargin. A modification of
Horeau’s method. J Org Chem 48:396
17. Christensen SB (1988) Interpretation of the NMR and circular dichroic data of the
sesquiterpene lactone thapsigargin. Acta Chem Scand B 42:623
18. Skytte DM, Moeller JV, Liu H, Nielsen HØ, Svenningsen LE, Jensen CM, Olsen CE, Christensen SB (2010) Elucidation of the topography of the thapsigargin binding site in the
sarco-endoplasmic calcium ATPase. Bioorg Med Chem 18:5634