SCREENING FOR CARDIAC-GLYCOSIDES IN SCHIZOBASIS-INTRICATA

Traditional herbalists in Natal use Schizobasis intricata (Bak.) Bak. as a substitute for Bowiea volubilis Harv, ex Hook. This may be due to morphological confusion of the two species or they may elicit a simil ar biological response. Bowiea bulbs are known to contain cardiac glyc osides. A phytochemical screening of S. intricata for cardiac glycosid es was carried out. S. intricata contains 2-deoxy sugars, common compo nents in the sugar moieties of cardiac glycosides. Comparative chromat ographic screening showed that S. intricata bulbs do not contain carde nolides nor any Bowiea-type bufadienolides. Other unknown bufadienolid es may, however, be present in this plant.