不同CO2浓度升高和氮肥水平对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响

为研究不同CO₂浓度升高和氮肥水平对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响,利用由开顶式气室（OTC）组成的CO₂浓度自动调控平台开展田间试验。以粳稻9108为试验材料,CO₂浓度设置CK（对照,环境大气CO₂浓度）、C₁（CO₂浓度比CK增加160 μmol/mol）和C₂（CO₂浓度比CK增加200 μmol/mol）3个水平;氮肥设置低氮（N₁：10 g/m²）、中氮（N₂：20 g/m²）和高氮（N₃：30 g/m²）3个水平。结果表明,在低氮条件下,与CK相比,C₁处理使拔节期的F_o上升4.8%（P=0.031）;C₂处理使拔节期的F_o上升6.3%（P=0.015）,F_v/F_m下降4.8%（P=0.003）,使孕穗期的F_o上升12.7%（P=0.039）,F_v/F_o下降18.2%（P=0.039）。在高氮条件下,与CK相比,C₂处理使灌浆期的F_m、F_v和F_v/F_m分别下降3.6%（P=0.039）、4.9%（P=0.013）和1.3%（P=0.039）。在中氮条件下,与CK相比,C₁和C₂处理的影响不明显。在整个生育期内,CO₂浓度升高与施氮处理交互作用对水稻叶绿素荧光特性的影响未到达显著水平。研究表明,大气CO₂浓度升高使水稻叶片光系统Ⅱ受损,抑制其电子传递能力、电子受体Q_A氧化还原情况、最大光化学效率和潜在活性,通过适量施氮可以有效地缓解其负面效应。     

盐胁迫对朴树和速生白榆幼苗光合特性及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以1年生的朴树和速生白榆幼苗为试材,采用山东省林业科学研究院东营分院34.6‰的地下天然盐水配制所需盐水浓度,定期定量浇灌,使土壤分别达0（CK）、2‰、2.5‰、3.5‰和5‰的含盐量,各处理胁迫45 d后测定其生长量（地径、苗高）、叶绿素含量、光合参数以及叶绿素荧光特性的变化,研究不同盐胁迫处理对朴树和速生白榆生长及光合作用的影响,探究其耐盐能力。结果显示: （1）整个盐胁迫过程中速生白榆的生长量较朴树高,但随着盐胁迫强度的增加朴树幼苗叶绿素含量呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,速生白榆幼苗则低于CK呈下降趋势。（2）朴树和速生白榆初始荧光（F_o）、最大荧光（F_m）和PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)均表现出下降趋势,与朴树相比速生白榆的F_o、F_m和F_v/F_m下降不明显,但在＞2.5‰盐胁迫下速生白榆的非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）较朴树增加更明显。研究表明,朴树叶绿素含量在每个盐胁迫浓度下均显著高于速生白榆,但在大于2.5‰浓度胁迫下速生白榆的荧光参数变化较朴树占优势;在非环境胁迫及较低盐胁迫条件下（≤2.5‰）,朴树较速生白榆具有更好的光化学性能,但在较高盐胁迫条件下（＞2.5‰）,速生白榆光合参数及荧光参数较朴树变化稳定,能更好的适应盐胁迫环境。     

兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛光合性能及pepc基因表达的影响

为了阐明兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛光合作用的影响及机制,采用盆栽方式研究了兰科菌根真菌对铁皮石斛幼苗生长的影响,并分析了叶片中叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数以及pepc基因表达的变化。结果表明：（1）兰科菌根真菌促进了铁皮石斛幼苗生长,接种兰科菌根真菌的铁皮石斛的株高、根重、茎叶重和总生物量分别是未接种对照组的1.21、1.54、1.71和1.68倍;而且可显著提高叶片中叶绿素含量、叶片净光合速率（P_n）、蒸腾速率（G_s）和气孔导度（T_r）。（2）接种兰科菌根真菌的铁皮石斛叶片潜在光化学效率（F_v/F₀）、最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、光化学猝灭系数（q_P）、非光化学猝灭系数（q_N）、实际光化学反应量子效率（Yield）和表观光合电子传递速率（ETR）均高于未接种对照组。（3）菌根真菌能促进pepc基因的表达,增强PEPC活性,提高铁皮石斛叶片的光合碳同化能力。研究表明,菌根的形成可以提高铁皮石斛叶片光合性能和pepc基因的表达水平,促进铁皮石斛幼苗的生长。     

红芽芋驯化苗对盐胁迫的光合及生理响应

为探讨江西铅山红芽芋的耐盐机制,以其组培移栽驯化苗为材料,研究了盐胁迫对其生物量积累、光合特性、荧光特性等抗逆生理特性的影响。结果表明:（1）红芽芋幼苗生物量和根冠比在低盐胁迫下（50 mmol·L^-1）得到显著促进,而在高盐胁迫下（100～250 mmol·L^-1）受到显著抑制。（2）低盐胁迫幼苗的净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、气孔限制值（L_s）、水分利用效率（WUE）和瞬时羧化效率（CUE）比对照（0 mmol·L^-1）显著增加,细胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）比对照显著下降,蒸腾速率（T_r）与对照无显著差异;高盐胁迫幼苗的P_n、L_s、WUE、CUE和G_s较对照显著下降,C_i比对照显著增加。（3）低盐胁迫幼苗的最大荧光（F_m）、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率（F_v/F₀）和光化学猝灭系数（q_P）比对照显著增加,初始荧光（F₀）较对照显著下降,PSⅡ最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、PSⅡ实际光化学效率（Φ_PSⅡ）、开放的PSⅡ反应中心捕获激发能效率（F_v′/F_m′）和非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）与对照无显著差异;而高盐胁迫幼苗的F₀、F_m、F_v/F_m、F_v/F₀、Φ_PSⅡ、F_v′/F_m′和q_P均较对照显著下降,NPQ比对照显著增加。（4）各盐胁迫幼苗叶片的可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性与对照相比先升后降,并以低盐下最高;可溶性总糖和脯氨酸含量均比对照显著增加;丙二醛含量和质膜透性相对值在低盐胁迫下无显著变化,而在高盐下显著增加;叶绿素含量和根系活力在低盐胁迫下无显著变化,而在高盐胁迫后开始显著下降。研究发现,江西铅山红芽芋移栽驯化苗的耐盐阈值为 50 mmol·L^-1,其能够诱导提高叶片可溶性蛋白含量和主要保护酶活性,稳定质膜透性、叶绿素含量和根系活力,增加PSⅡ潜在光化学效率,提高PSⅡ的电子传递活性,维持PSⅡ实际光化学效率,有效启动非辐射热能量耗散机制来保护了光合机构,最终提高净光合速率,增加生物量。     

逆境胁迫对菜豆黄化苗转绿过程中交替呼吸途径与叶绿素荧光特征的影响

以菜豆黄化幼苗作为试验材料,探讨了铅(Pb)或PEG(聚乙二醇)胁迫下交替呼吸途径在植物转绿过程中对叶绿素含量以及叶绿素荧光特性的影响,以阐明逆境胁迫下植物交替呼吸途径的生理学作用。结果显示：(1)与菜豆黄化幼苗正常转绿过程(对照)相比,Pb或PEG胁迫导致菜豆黄化幼苗的叶绿素含量积累延迟,使叶片PSⅡ潜在最大光化学量子效率(F_v/F_m)、光适应下最大光化学效率(F_v′/F_m′)、PSⅡ光适应下实际光化学效率(Y(Ⅱ))和光化学荧光猝灭系数(qP)显著下降,而非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)则显著增加。(2)在菜豆黄化幼苗转绿过程中,Pb或PEG胁迫导致其交替呼吸途径容量较对照均显著上升。(3)Pb或PEG胁迫下,交替呼吸途径抑制剂［水杨基氧肟酸(SHAM,1 mmol/L)］使菜豆黄化幼苗转绿过程中叶绿素含量、F_v/F_m、F_v′/F_m′、Y(Ⅱ)和qP进一步下降, NPQ却进一步增加,说明抑制交替呼吸途径会加剧Pb或PEG胁迫对PSⅡ反应中心活性的进一步抑制,使还原力积累加剧,造成热耗散进一步增加。研究表明,Pb或PEG胁迫均显著降低了菜豆黄化幼苗PSⅡ对光能的利用率,进而阻碍了菜豆黄化幼苗转绿进程;交替呼吸途径有助于在胁迫条件下缓解PSⅡ的过度还原,可能在一定程度上缓解了Pb或PEG胁迫对其转绿进程的阻碍作用。     

根深决定不同个体大小梭梭对夏季干旱生理响应的差异

理解干旱与树木个体发育阶段或大小之间的相互作用关系是一个重要的优先研究方向,因为依赖于个体大小的特定死亡率分布格局对生态系统的结构和功能将产生重要的影响。以广泛分布于古尔班通古特沙漠南缘的主要建群种梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron）为研究对象,通过测定越夏生长期间不同个体大小梭梭黎明前同化枝水势（Ψ_pd）、压力-容积（P-V）曲线、最大气孔导度（G_s）、叶绿素荧光（F_v/F_m）,调查不同个体大小梭梭根系分布特征和根深,将越夏生长期间土壤水分状况、植物生理性状与根深相结合,分析不同大小梭梭对干旱胁迫的响应差异。结果表明：（1）夏季干旱胁迫显著降低了梭梭幼苗生理性状的特征值：同成年植株相比,梭梭幼苗黎明前同化枝水势（Ψ_pd）、PSⅡ反应中心最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、饱和膨压渗透势（π₁₀₀）、膨压消失点渗透势（Ψ_TLP）显著降低;（2）梭梭生理性状与根深之间存在线性关系,根深决定不同大小梭梭的水分状况（Ψ_pd）进而主导了越夏生长期间的其他生理性状表达（F_v/F_m、π₁₀₀、Ψ_TLP）;（3）不同大小的梭梭对干旱胁迫的响应差异是植物根系分布特征和生境相互作用的结果,根深在梭梭应对夏季干旱胁迫中起重要作用。总之,梭梭幼苗根系发育不完全（浅根系）,只能利用降水带来的有限的浅层土壤水,对干旱胁迫响应敏感;而成年梭梭植株能最大限度的利用深层土壤水分,减少表层土壤干旱对其产生的不利影响。     

外源硅对自毒作用下黄瓜幼苗生长及光合特性的影响

以‘绿博6号’黄瓜幼苗为试材,采用营养液培法研究不同浓度外源硅(0、0.5、1.0、1.5和2.0 mmol/L)对肉桂酸(cinnamic acid,CA)模拟自毒胁迫(3.0 mmol/L CA)下黄瓜幼苗生长、光合参数和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明：(1)自毒胁迫显著抑制了黄瓜幼苗的生长、根系形态建成和生物量的积累,显著降低了净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)和叶绿素(Chl a、Chl b和Chl t)含量,并显著降低了叶片中PSⅡ的电子传递速率(ETR)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率［Y_(Ⅱ)］和光化学淬灭系数(qP)。(2)添加适宜浓度外源硅可有效缓解自毒胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长的影响,并提高其P_n、G_s、T_r和叶绿素含量,在一定程度上维持叶片光合系统的稳定。(3)添加适宜浓度外源硅能使自毒胁迫下黄瓜叶片的F_v/F_m、ETR、Y_(Ⅱ)和qP显著升高,而非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)则显著下降。研究发现,添加适宜浓度外源硅能提高自毒胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的叶绿素含量、F_v/F_m、ETR、Y_(Ⅱ)和qP,使光合机构趋于稳定,抑制P_n的下降,缓解自毒胁迫对光合系统的损伤,从而增强黄瓜幼苗对自毒胁迫的抗性,并以1.0 mmol/L外源硅处理的效果最佳。     

干旱胁迫下喷施黄腐酸对燕麦光合及其抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了揭示黄腐酸对干旱胁迫下燕麦光合及其抗氧化酶活性的影响机理,该研究选用燕麦品种‘燕科2号’为材料,采用盆栽试验,以正常供水(田间持水量的75%)为对照(CK),设干旱胁迫处理(田间持水量的45%,D0)、D0 + 喷施不同浓度黄腐酸(0、200、400、600、800、1 000 mg/L)处理(D1~D5),测定各处理燕麦干鲜重、光合性能及其抗氧化酶活性。结果表明:(1)与CK相比,干旱胁迫下燕麦幼苗地上部鲜重和干重、叶片光合色素含量、净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)均显著降低,并导致叶片F_v/F_m、qP、ETR和Φ_PSⅡ显著下降,使叶片抗氧化酶 SOD、POD、CAT活性分别显著提高25.68%、19.98%和7.29%。(2)与D0相比,D0 +喷施600 mg/L黄腐酸后,燕麦幼苗地上部鲜重和干重分别显著提高了28.59%和39.13%,叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素a+b、类胡萝卜素和P_n、G_s、T_r及F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ、ETR分别显著增加了25.17%、21.03%、47.37%和74.38%、26.47%、43.34%及6.49%、69.57%、70.71%,C_i和F_o、NPQ分别显著降低了19.52%和13.32%、43.75%。(3)干旱胁迫下喷施不同浓度的黄腐酸均使幼苗叶片中SOD、POD、CAT活性较D0处理显著增加,其中喷施600 mg/L黄腐酸的叶片SOD、POD、CAT活性最高,分别较D0处理显著增加了12.19%、76.57%和55.26%。研究认为,叶面喷施适宜浓度黄腐酸能够显著提高干旱胁迫下燕麦幼苗的光合作用及其抗氧化能力,缓解干旱对燕麦幼苗的伤害,进而促进燕麦幼苗的生长,且以叶面喷施600 mg/L黄腐酸效果最佳。     

信号分子水杨酸减缓干旱胁迫对紫御谷光合和膜脂过氧化的副效应

为研究信号分子水杨酸(SA)对干旱胁迫下紫御谷光合和膜脂过氧化的影响,为SA应用于紫御谷抗旱育苗提供理论依据,测定分析了SA处理对干旱胁迫下紫御谷幼苗叶片光合和膜脂过氧化相关指标的变化。结果表明:(1)干旱胁迫破坏了紫御谷叶绿体的膜结构,使基粒数量明显减少,垛叠不明显,排列比较松散,而SA处理能在一定程度上保护叶绿体的膜结构。(2)干旱胁迫降低了紫御谷幼苗叶片的叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量,而SA处理能提高干旱胁迫下紫御谷幼苗叶片的叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素和胡萝卜素含量。(3)干旱胁迫降低了叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、光饱和点和暗呼吸速率,增加了叶片的光补偿点、CO₂饱和点、CO₂补偿点和光呼吸速率,而SA处理则增加了紫御谷幼苗叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、光饱和点和暗呼吸速率,降低了紫御谷幼苗叶片的光补偿点、CO₂饱和点、CO₂补偿点和光呼吸速率。(4)干旱胁迫降低了紫御谷幼苗叶片的F_v/F_m和Φ_PSⅡ,显著增加了叶片的相对电导率和丙二醛含量,而SA处理则增加了幼苗叶片的F_v/F_m和Φ_PSⅡ,降低了叶片的相对电导率和丙二醛含量。表明:信号分子水杨酸能够有效减缓干旱胁迫对紫御谷光合和膜脂过氧化的影响。     

外源一氧化氮对铅胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

利用室内水培实验,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对Pb²⁺处理下小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）种子萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标变化的影响。结果表明,Pb²⁺处理使小麦种子发芽势、发芽率、幼苗根长和茎长均显著降低,诱导叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量减少及叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值减小,25 μmol·L^-1 SNP明显缓解Pb²⁺胁迫对种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,提高Pb²⁺胁迫下叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量及F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值,而100 μmol·L^-1SNP无明显缓解作用。此外,25和100 μmol·L^-1SNP诱导Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增强和可溶性蛋白含量增多,但100 μmol·L^-1SNP处理降低了过氧化物酶（POD）活性。结果说明,外源NO促进Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生长,提高叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量,诱导CAT活性升高,从而增强小麦对Pb²⁺胁迫的适应性。     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Analysis of twin of eyeless regulation during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

The Drosophila Pax6 homolog twin of eyeless (toy) is so far the first zygotically expressed gene involved in eye morphogenesis in Drosophila. The study of its expression during embryogenesis is therefore informative of the initial events of eye development in Drosophila. We have analyzed how the initial expression domain of toy at cellular blastoderm is regulated. We show that the three maternal patterning systems active in the cephalic region (the anterior, terminal and dorsal-ventral systems) cooperate with zygotically activated gap genes to shape the initial expression domain of toy. Whereas Bicoid, Dorsal and Torso signaling synergistically act as activators, Hunchback, Knirps and Decapentaplegic act as repressors.     

The effect of cyanobacteria and azolla on the performance of rice under different levels of fertilizer nitrogen

Cyanobacteria and/or azolla were inoculated, with urea at 0, 72 or 144 kg N/ha, in plots in which azolla-free Indica rice var. IR 28 was grown. Productive tillers, yield and nitrogen contents of grain and straw positively responded to inoculation with cyanobacteria or azolla, even with fertilizer-N up to 144 kg N/ha. Inoculation improved colonization by cyanobacteria. Azolla were superior to the asymbiotic cyanobacteria in enhancing rice performance. Urea at a rate of 72 kg N/ha was found to support the best colonizations when applied with cyanobacteria or azolla or, to give maximum rice yields, both inoculants.     

Apoptotic Regulation of Caspase Activity

Intracellular cysteine aspartate-specific proteases (caspases) play both signaling and effector roles in realizing the program of cell death. Caspases function as proteolytic cascades unique for each cell type and signal triggering apoptosis. All parts of the proteolytic cascades are duplicated and controlled by feedback signals. Amplification cycles between pairs of caspases (the third and the sixth, the ninth and the third, the twelfth and the sixth, and others) help multiply the initial apoptotic signal. The presence of physiological inhibitors of apoptosis that directly interact with caspases creates a multilevel regulatory network of apoptosis in cell. The caspase proteolytic cascades are also regulated by sphingolipid secondary messengers, among them ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphates. Moreover, an association of the caspase signaling with ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis is shown in cells. In particular, the use of extracellular activators and inhibitors of caspases allows irreversible activation of apoptosis in tumor cells or the prevention of apoptosis in cortical neurons under neurodegenerative diseases.     

广西青藓科分类学修订

通过对采自广西24个县(市)的1 147份青藓科植物标本的逐一鉴定及相关文献的查阅,确认有广西青藓科植物11属、44种,其中包括广西青藓科植物新记录属1属,即拟异叶藓属(Pseudokindbergia),新记录种7种,分别为匐枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)、阔叶尖喙藓(Oxyrrhynchium latifolium)、泛生尖喙藓(O. vagans)、拟异叶藓(Pseudokindbergia dumosa)、华东细喙藓(Rhynchostegiella sinensis)、长肋拟青藓(Sciurohypnum populeum)和弯叶拟青藓(S. reflexum)。该文提供了修订后的广西青藓科植物名录,并对其中的新记录属、种的主要形态学识别特征、生境和地理分布等进行了详细描述。     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Anti-fungal effects of phenolic amides isolated from the root bark of Lycium chinense

Four phenolic amides, dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyloctopamine (2), trans-N -caffeoyltyramine (3), and cis-N-caffeoyltyramine (4), were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the root bark of Lycium chinense Miller. All had an anti-fungal effect; compounds 1-3 were potent at 5-10 microg ml(-1) and were without hemolytic activity against human erythrocyte cells. Compound 4 was active at 40 microg ml(-1). All four compounds impeded the dimorphic transition of pathogen, Candida albicans.     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).