Cassia grandis Linn. f. seed galactomannan: structural and crystallographical studies

Cassia grandis is a small or medium sized tree, found in abundance throughout India. The seeds contain about 50% endosperm gum and possess the characteristics of becoming a potential source of seed gum. The purified polysaccharide has been characterized as a pure galactomannan having a mannose-galactose ratio of 3.15; molecular weight (Mw) 80,200; polydispersity (Mw/Mn), 1.35 and intrinsic viscosity [eta], 848 mL/g. Methylation, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and 13C NMR studies confirm that the polysaccharide has the basic structure of legume galactomannans consisting of a beta-(1-->4)-linked main mannan backbone to which galactose units are attached at O-6. The orthorhombic lattice constants of the hydrated gum are as follows: a=9.00, b=24.81, c=10.30 A. The crystallographic data establish that the probable space group symmetry of the unit cell is P2(1)2(1)2. The results are in contradiction to earlier reports (Indian J. Chem. 16B (1978) 966; J. Indian Chem. Soc. 55 (1978) 1216) in which a non-galactomannan polysaccharide structure has been assigned having a main chain of (1-->4)-linked galactose and mannose units in the molar ratio 6:3, where 50% of the galactose units branched with two galactose and one mannose through 1-->3 linkage.     

Preventive effects of Cassia auriculata L. flowers on brain lipid peroxidation in rats treated with streptozotocin

The effect of aqueous extract of the flowers of Cassia auriculata were examined on antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in the brain of streptozotocin diabetic rats. Significant increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione were observed in brain on treatment with Cassia auriculata flower extract (CFEt) and glibenclamide. Both the treated groups showed significant decrease in thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxide formation in brain, suggesting its role in protection against lipid peroxidation induced membrane damage. Since the study of induction of the antioxidant enzymes is considered to be a reliable marker for evaluating the antiperoxidative efficacy of medicinal plant, these findings are suggestions of possible antiperoxidative role played by Cassia auriculata flower extract.     

Antigenotoxic properties of Cassia tea (Cassia tora L.): mechanism of action and the influence of roasting process

Antigenotoxic properties and the possible mechanisms of water extracts from Cassia tora L. (WECT) treated with different degrees of roasting (unroasted and roasted at 150 and 250 degrees C) were evaluated by the Ames Salmonella/microsome test and the Comet assay. Results indicated that WECT, especially unroasted C. tora (WEUCT), markedly suppressed the mutagenicity of 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido(1,2-a:3':2'-d)imidazole (Glu-P-1) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido(4,3-b)indole (Trp-P-1). In the Comet assay performed on human lymphocytes, WECT exhibited significant protective effect on Trp-P-1-mediated DNA damage followed the order of unroasted (55%) > roasted at 150 degrees C (42% ) > roasted at 250 degrees C (29%). Pre-treatment of the lymphocytes with WEUCT resulted in 30% repression of DNA damage. However, no significant effect on excision-repair system was found during DNA damage expression time in post-treatment scheme (p>0.05). WEUCT showed 84% scavenging effect on oxygen free radicals generated in the activation process of mutagen detected by electron paramagentic resonance system. Two possible mechanisms were considered: (1) neutralization the reactive intermediate of Trp-P-1; and (2) protecting cells directly as an antioxidant that scavenge the oxygen radicals from the activation process of mutagen. The individual anthraquinone content in extracts of C. tora was measured by HPLC. Three anthraquinones, chrysophanol, emodin and rhein, have been detected under experimental conditions. The anthraquinone content decreased with increased roasting temperature. Each of these anthraquinones demonstrated significant antigenotoxicity against Trp-P-1 in the Comet assay. In conclusion, our data suggest that the decrease in antigenotoxic potency of roasted C. tora was related to the reduction in their anthraquinones.     

Self pollination and resource availability affect ovule abortion inCassia fasciculata (Caesalpiniaceae)

We examined the effects of pollen source and resource availability on ovule abortion in the annual legumeCassia fasciculata. Pollen source was controlled by hand-pollinating flowers with cross- or self-pollen. Resource availability to developing fruits was controlled by adjusting fruit loads (heavy versus light) on each plant and exposing plants to different photoperiod cycles (16 vs 12 h of light; short days favor fruit growth at the expense of vegetative growth). In mature fruits the proportion of ovules expanding (showing some development over virgin ovules) ranged from 89–95% and did not increase with resource availability, suggesting that unexpanded ovules were either unfertilized or obligately aborted shortly after fertilization. The proportion of expanded ovules maturing in mature fruits was near 97% for both self- and crosspollinations in the treatment with highest resource availability (light load, short days) and lower in the remaining treatments, where self-pollination resulted in up to 9% lower seed maturation than cross-pollination. In the latter three treatments a pollen source effect was dependent upon the maternal plant; in some plants selfing increased abortion and in others it did not. Collectively, the results suggest that (1) both pollen source and resource availability affect ovule abortion, (2) at least some abortion is facultative, and (3) when resources are limited, self-pollination increases abortion in some but not all maternal plants.     

Effect of Cassia auriculata Linn. Root extract on cisplatin and gentamicin-induced renal injury

The ethanol extract of the roots of Cassia auriculata was studied for its nephroprotective activity in cisplatin- and gentamicin-induced renal injury in male albino rats. In the cisplatin model, the extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg body wt. reduced elevated blood urea and serum creatinine and normalized the histopathological changes in the curative regimen. In the gentamicin model, the ethanol extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg body wt. reduced blood urea and serum creatinine effectively in both the curative and the preventive regimen. The extract had a marked nitric oxide free-radical-scavenging effect. The findings suggest that the probable mechanism of nephroprotection by C. auriculata against cisplatin- and gentamicin-induced renal injury could be due to its antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging property.     

Growth and Metabolism of Senna as Affected by Salt Stress

Pot culture experiments were conducted using different NaCl concentrations to assess their impact on the growth and metabolic changes in senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). Five treatments (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 mM NaCl) were given to the plants at three phenological stages, i.e. at pre-flowering, (45 days after sowing, DAS); flowering (75 DAS) and post-flowering (90 DAS) stages. A significant reduction in the biomass and length of the roots and shoots, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, the total chlorophyll content, protein content, nitrate reductase activity, and reduced nitrogen content of the leaves was observed at each phenological stage with each salt concentration applied. Contrary to this, proline and nitrate contents of the leaves increased markedly. The post-flowering stage was most sensitive to NaCl treatment.     

稳定碳同位素测定水分利用效率——以决明子为例

通过称重法和稳定碳同位素方法对盆栽决明子生长不同时期不同部位(根、茎、叶)的碳同位素组成(δ13C)、碳同位素分辨率(Δ)和水分利用效率(WUE)进行了研究,并分析了它们之间的相关关系,结果表明:决明子不同部位δ13C值表现为根茎叶,Δ为根茎叶,不同时期方差分析显示只有根部差异显著,茎叶的δ13C值、碳同位素分辨率分别与水分利用效率呈显著的正相关和负相关关系。称重法得出的WUE和不同部位(根、茎、叶)碳同位素测定的水分利用效率(WUER、WUES、WUEL)有显著正线性相关,其中与WUEL相关系数最大为0.86,与WUES、WUER的相关系数分别为0.80和0.82。说明利用稳定碳同位素方法测定决明子水分利用效率具有可行性,尤其是利用叶片测定的水分利用效率得到更为可靠的结果。     

铁甲草化学成分的初步研究

采用硅胶柱色谱分离方法,研究了铁甲草(Cassia mimosoides Linn.)乙醇提取物中的化学成分.从铁甲草中分离得到8个化合物:大黄素(1)、木犀草素(2)、间苯二酚(3)、齐墩果酸(4)、(R)-鹰爪三醇(5)、α-L-鼠李糖(6)、β-谷甾醇(7)和胡萝卜苷(8).除化合物1以外,其余均是首次从铁甲草中分离得到,其中化合物5为首次在该科植物中发现.     

决明查尔酮合成酶基因的克隆及序列分析

以决明(Cassia tora)为实验材料,利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从决明嫩叶中克隆出查尔酮合成酶(Chal-one synthase,CHS)基因,其cDNA全长为1 459 bp,编码一个由390个氨基酸残基组成的多肽.氨基酸序列分析表明,决明CHS基因的氨基酸序列中含有44.61%的中性疏水氨基酸,29.74%的中性亲水氨基酸,12.56%的酸性氨基酸和13.O8%的碱性氨基酸.决明CHS基因的氨基酸序列中具有CHS家族酶系的氨基酸保守残基,包括结合底物CoA的结合残基及催化聚酮合成的催化残基,表明其可能参与聚酮化合物的合成.决明与其它植物CHS的氨基酸序列的进化分析表明,其与同为豆科决明属的翼叶决明(Cassia alata)的同源性较近,并且CHS家族可以分为CHS亚家族与非CHS亚家族.将得到的序列提交GenBank,登录号为EU430077.     

剔除林下灌草和添加翅荚决明对尾叶桉林土壤温室气体排放的影响

森林土壤是CO₂、CH₄和N₂O等温室气体的重要排放源。采用静态箱/色谱分析技术对中国科学院鹤山丘陵综合开放试验站的尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)林土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量进行了原位测定, 研究剔除林下灌草和添加翅荚决明(Cassia alata)对尾叶桉林土壤温室气体排放的影响。结果表明: 尾叶桉林土壤CO₂排放通量在湿季维持在较高水平, 在旱季则明显降低。CH₄和N₂O在湿季波动幅度较大, 在旱季则相对稳定。土壤CO₂和CH₄通量峰值均出现在湿季, 但N₂O峰值出现在旱季的12月。尾叶桉林土壤在不同处理下可能是CH₄的源, 也可能是CH₄的汇, 而对于CO₂和N₂O则主要是源。尾叶桉林下剔除灌草及添加翅荚决明能显著增大土壤CO₂和N₂O的排放, 但林下灌草剔除后有利于CH₄的吸收, 添加翅荚决明有利于CH₄的排放。表层土壤温度和湿度是影响土壤温室气体排放的首要因子。呼吸底物(氮源)和土壤微生物量也是影响土壤温室气体排放的重要因子。