Transesterification of farnesol mediated by a lipase from Andrographis tissue cultures

A cell-free system from Andrographis paniculata tissue cultures catalysed the transesterification of administered cis, trans-farnesol-[1-³H₂] with (glyceryl) oleate and palmitate present in the coconut water that forms part of the culture medium.     

Roseadione,a diterpene ketone from Hypoestes rosea

A tricyclic diterpene ketone, roseadione, has been isolated from Hypoestes rosea and its structure established as a dicyclopenta[a, d]cyclo     

Blepharis saudensis (Acanthaceae), a new species from Saudi Arabia

Blepharis saudensis, from small islands in the Red Sea of Jazan Provence, Saudi Arabia, is described as a new species and illustrated. This species differs from other known species in this genus by having a combination of long stems, oblong-lanceolate to linear leaves with entire margins and pubescence.     

DNA barcoding and haplotyping in different species of Andrographis

The genus Andrographis, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, contains several species of medicinal importance. Species, such as Andrographis alata, Andrographis echioides, Andrographis glandulosa, Andrographis lineata, Andrographis nallamalayana and Andrographis paniculata, with several bio-active compounds are being extensively used in folk medicine. However, difference of opinion exists with regard to inclusion of the species echioides into the genus Andrographis. The present study, using rbcL and matK sequences, for the first time established DNA barcodes for these six species. The nucleotide sequence of rbcL provided species-specific haplotypes for A. alata, A. lineata, and A. paniculata. Despite the differences with regard to nucleotide sequence, all the six species showed conserved amino acid sequence. However, all the six species showed distinct haplotypes in nucleotide sequence of matK and facilitated the identification and discrimination of these species. The phylogenetic tree generated with combined sequence of rbcL and matK revealed grouping of all the six species into a single clade confirming the positioning of the species echioides into the genus Andrographis.     

New furofurano lignans from Justicia simplex

A new 3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,O]octane lignan, named justisolin, and a new lignan O-glucoside, named simplexoside, were isolated from the whole plant of Justicia simplex D. Don. (Acanthaceae), collected at fruiting. The structure of the free lignan was established as 2e-(3,4-methylenedioxy-6-hydroxy)-phenyl-6e- Piperonyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane (1) and that of the glucoside as 2e-(3-methoxy-4-O-β-d- glucopyranosyl)-phenyl-6e-piperonyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane (2) on the basis of chemical transformation and spectral evidence. The biological functions of these and related lignans are appraised.     

中国爵床科—新记录种——毛萼爵床

报道中国爵床-(Acanthaceae)爵床属—新记录种——毛萼爵床(Justicia poilanei Benoist).该种分布于云南南部石灰岩地区,在标本馆长期被鉴定为野靛棵(Justicia patentiflora Hemsl.),但与后者的区别在于它的花冠长约2 cm,花萼裂片三角状卵形和花药基部不具芒状附...     

New species of Justicia (Acanthaceae) from the Guianas

Four new species,Justicia oldemanii, J. mcdowellii, J. wilhelminensis, andJ. prevostiae are described, illustrated, and compared with their closest relatives. A key to species ofJusticia from the Guianas is also provided.     

Glycosides from Dicliptera riparia

The dimeric monoterpenoid glycoside, dicliripariside A, and two flavonoid glycosides, dicliriparisides B and C, together with six known compounds, beta-sitosterol, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, vanillic acid, daucosterol, lugrandoside and poliumonside, were isolated from the aqueous ethanol extract of the whole plants of Dicliptera riparia Nees. Their structures were determined based on analyses of spectroscopic data.     

A flavone and an unusual 23-carbon terpenoid from Andrographis paniculata

Phytochemical investigation of the roots and aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata Nees yielded a new flavone, 5-hydroxy-7,2',6'-trimethoxyflavone and an unusual 23-carbon terpenoid, 14-deoxy-15-isopropylidene-11,12-didehydroandrographolide together with five known flavonoids and four known diterpenoids. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectral and chemical studies.