Characterization of progeny of Coleus blumei following an in vitro selection for salt tolerance

An in vitro selection method was developed for Coleus blumei to enhance salt tolerance of this amenity species. Leaf disc explants were incubated on a Murashige & Skoog medium containing benzylaminopurine, 2 mg l^-1, and napthalene acetic acid, 1 mg l^-1, which initiated both callus and plantlets from the explants. A large number of explants were incubated on this differentiating medium containing 90 mM NaCl, which inhibited over 90% of plantlet formation. Surviving plantlets. were grown to maturity, when apical cuttings were taken and propagated. Plants were also allowed to flower and set seed. Cuttings from the selected regenerated plants showed consistently better growth in the presence of NaCl than unselected cuttings. Seed progeny of selected plants also showed more vigorous growth in the presence and absence of NaCl than progeny from unselected plants. The in vitro selection was compared with the results of an earlier in vivo selection to assess the contribution from tissue culture derived somaclonal variation. Progeny from the in vitro selection showed a higher level of tolerance than progeny from the in vivo selection.     

Effect of Coleus Size and Variegation on Attack Rates, Searching Strategy, and Selected Life History Characteristics of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Twenty-four-hour attack rates and the search strategy of third instar Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) attacking 1 to 16 third instar Planococcus citri Risso (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) were measured on green and yellow-variegated Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd (= Coleus blumei (Bentham)) (Labiatae) plants of different sizes. Selected life history characteristics of C. montrouzieri fed different amounts of P. citri as prey from third instar to adults were also examined. On average, predators attacked 1 to 4 mealybugs, depending on the number of mealybugs and plant size. There was no effect of plant color on attack rates. Attack rates were positively related to prey density, whereas the estimated area searched by predators was inversely related to prey density. Analyses suggest that leaf area was the plant characteristic that most affected attack rates. Predators fed few prey had a decrease in body weight and survival. The implications for the use of C. montrouzieri in biological control are discussed.     

毛喉鞘蕊花提取物对大鼠哮喘模型炎症介质的影响及机制研究

为探讨毛喉鞘蕊花提取物(Coleus Forskohlii extract,CFE)对哮喘的治疗作用及机制,采用卵清蛋白(ovalbumin,OVA)结合佐剂氢氧化铝建立大鼠哮喘模型,SPF级SD雄性大鼠60只,随机分为5组,即空白组、模型组、地塞米松组、CFE高剂量组(12.8g/kg)和CFE低剂量组(6.4g/kg),分别用生理盐水、地塞米松及CFE每天灌胃1次,连续14天,灌胃容积为1mL/100g。通过HE染色观察肺组织病理学形态学变化;ELISA法测定大鼠血清(serum)及肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17A含量变化;Western blot检测MAPK通路相关蛋白的表达变化。HE结果显示,与模型组相比,CFE高、低剂量组能显著减轻OVA刺激后大鼠肺组织病理性损伤,气道轮廓清晰,上皮细胞脱落明显减少;ELISA结果显示,与模型组相比,CFE高、低剂量组大鼠血清及BALF中IL-4、IL-17A的含量明显下降,IFN-γ的含量明显上升(P<0.05或P<0.01);WB结果显示,CFE高剂量组可显著降低大鼠肺组织p-ERK、p-JNK及p-p38蛋白表达(P<0.05或P<0.01)。综上,毛喉鞘蕊花提取物可有效缓解OVA诱导的大鼠哮喘气道炎症反应,其机制与调节MAPK信号传导通路有关。     

黄鞘蕊花中两个新的醌式二萜

从黄鞘蕊花中得到２个新的醌式二萜（二聚体）,黄鞘蕊花乙素,黄鞘蕊花丙素和２个已知化合物蒲公英萜醇,齐墩果酸。     

Production of monoclonal antibodies and enzyme immunoassay for typical adenylate cyclase activator,Forskolin

The ratio of hapten to bovine serum albumin in an antigen conjugate was exactly determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. A hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibodies against forskolin was produced by fusing splenocytes immunized with a forskolin-bovine serum albumin conjugate with HAT-sensitive mouse myeloma cells. The cross-reaction of anti-forskolin antibodies with 7-deacetyl forskolin was 5.57%. A very small cross-reaction appeared with 1-deoxy, 9-deoxy and 1,9-dideoxy forskolin derivatives. The full measuring range of the assay extends from 6 ng to 200 ng of forskolin. The competitive ELISA assay used for this analysis was found to be more sensitive than TLC (10 g), GLC (30 ng) and HPLC (1 g) methods.     

Hormone transport and action in the green shoot:long-term studies of a clonal stock of Coleus blumei(Labiatae)

A decades-long study of hormone production, transport, developmentalactions, and hormonal interactions in the green shoots of mature plantshas exploited a clone of Coleus blumei. To obtain data bothquantitative and reproducible, we greatly increased sample size over theclassical anatomical models, initiated round-the-clock collections, andcountered that increased workload by clearing and staining organs ratherthan by embedding and serially sectioning them. Major developmentalevents occurred at night. The control of the normal differentiation andregeneration of tracheary cells and sieve-tube members byindole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins and of fibers by IAA andgibberellic acid have been major findings from this approach. IAA fromthe leaf blade controls the timing of leaf abscission. As the leafages, the ability of the petiole to transport IAA from the blade to theabscission zone declines, with abscisic acid (ABA) decreasing IAAtransport down the petiole and concomitantly increasing the conjugationof IAA with aspartic acid. Evidence for transport barriers was found atnodes and abscission zones.     

Enhanced release of rosmarinic acid from Coleus blumei permeabilized by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) while preserving cell viability and growth

Continuous permeabilization of preconditioned Coleus blumei cells with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is shown to be an effective strategy for the enhanced release of rosmarinic acid (RA) while preserving cell viability. When nonpreconditioned cells were permeabilized with DMSO, they lost their viability at DMSO concentrations higher than a critical value located between 0.1% and 0.5% DMSO. Product release was low [0.49 g RA/100 g dry cell weight (DCW)] at 0.1% DMSO. Preconditioning cells at 0.1% DMSO ensured high viability at DMSO concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%. Product release reached a maximum of 2.85 g RA/100 g DCW at 0.5% DMSO, which was 66.4% of the total rosmarinic acid produced. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Use of lignite slurry as inoculating medium for vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza in chinese potato (Coleus parviflorus)

Tubers of Coleus parviflorus were inoculated with spores of the vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus microcarpum. The spores had been suspended in a lignite slurry and stored in a refrigerator for 1–6 months periods. Inoculation took place by soaking the tubers in the slurry for 3 h followed by drying in the shade, subsequent planting of such tubers gave rise to nearly 100% infection even after 6 months of storage.     

我国毛喉鞘蕊花的发掘与研究进展

本文介绍了哮喘病新药毛喉鞘蕊花的发掘过程,栽培条件下的形态特征和化学成分与印度毛喉鞘蕊花的区别,结果显示,二者并非同种植物,特将云南种定名为小江鞘蕊花。     

Biological control of root-rot of Coleus forskohlii Briq. using microbial inoculants

The root-rot or wilt of Coleus forskohlii is a very serious soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium chlamydosporum. A field study was undertaken to study the possibility of controlling the disease using three biocontrol agents viz., Glomus mosseae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride, singly and in combination. Planting of coleus cutting was done in wilt sick soil. Inoculation with Trichoderma viride + Glomus mosseae gave the best result in controlling the disease. The same treatment also resulted in maximum growth, yield and root forskolin concentration of coleus. Plants treated with T. viride + G. mosseae showed a disease severity index of 33.28% compared to uninoculated control plants, which had a maximum disease severity index of 85.5%. The fungicide Emisan (0.2%) was not as effective as the biocontrol agents in controlling the pathogen.