The chemotaxonomic and medicinal significance of phenolic acids in Arctopus and Alepidea (Apiaceae subfamily Saniculoideae)

The occurrence of (R)-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylrosmarinic acid, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid in two important South African medicinal plants is reported for the first time. (R)-3′-O-β-d-Glucopyranosylrosmarinic acid and rosmarinic acid were isolated and identified in several samples from three species of the genus Arctopus L. (sieketroos) and three species of the genus Alepidea F. Delaroche (ikhathazo), both recently shown to be members of the subfamily Saniculoideae of the family Apiaceae. The compounds occur in high concentrations (up to 15.3 mg of (R)-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylrosmarinic acid per g dry wt) in roots of Arctopus. Our results provide a rationale for the traditional uses of these plants, as the identified compounds are all known for their antioxidant activity, with rosmarinic acid further contributing to a wide range of biological activities. Furthermore, we confirm the idea that (R)-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylrosmarinic acid is a useful chemotaxonomic marker for the subfamily Saniculoideae.     

Another arborescent umbellifer: a new species of Steganotaenia from north-east tropical Africa

THULIN, M., 1991. Another arborescent umbellifer: a new species of Steganotaenia from north-east tropica] Africa. The new species Steganotaenia commiphoroides is described from central and southern Somalia, and south-eastern Ethiopia. It differs from the likewise arborescent S. araliacea , widespread in tropical Africa, in, for example, its 3-foliolate or occasionally simple leaves, leaf teeth with shorter aristae, shorter petioles and pedicels, and fruits with a pair of distinctly winged dorsal ridges.     

中国伞形科5个引种栽培的模式种果实比较解剖学研究

对中国伞形科中长期引种栽培的旱芹（Apium graveolens L．）、茴香（Foeniculum vulgare Miller）、欧当归（Levisticum of ficinale Koch）、欧防风（Pastinaca sativa L．）和莳萝（Anethum graveolens L．）5个模式种的果实进行了比较解剖学研究,详细描述了各种类分生果的解剖结构及主要特征,并从分生果横切面的轮廓形状、果棱、维管束、油管和合生面等解剖学性状系统分析了各种类的异同,提出果体腹面及合生面的长度及其比值、果棱间距离及其比值、果体侧面与腹面间的角度、侧棱与腹面间的角度、果体长宽比等新的数量化的伞形科解剖性状特征,并按果体压扁程度将5个种类分成几不压扁（旱芹）、轻度压扁（茴香）、中度压扁（莳萝和欧当归）和高度压扁（欧防风）4大类,同时探讨了果实解剖特征与它们的演化程度的关系。     

Nesting habits of two spider wasps: Anoplius infuscatus and Episyron sp. (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), with a review of the literature

Many behavioural aspects of Anoplius infuscatus (Vander Linden) and Episyron sp. Schioedte were examined in detail, both on a qualitative and, when possible, on a quantitative level, during a long-term field study in Northern Italy. Both wasps dig unicellular nests on bare soil, which are filled with a single spider to feed the brood. The main differences regard the way to hunt their prey, that of burrowing, that of transporting and introducing the spider into the nest, the habit of amputating spider legs and the abdominal movements during nest closing. On the whole, starting from prey capture to nest closure, A. infuscatus is significantly slower than Episyron. The observed ethological differences are well fitted to the exploitation of the different preys consisting in wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and orb weaving spiders (Araneidae), respectively. Some flexibility in the observed behaviour is described. A critical re-examination of the literature shows that, even if most results agree with those of previous authors, two controversial points remain open regarding Episyron species: the position of the egg (on the prey or on the cell wall) and the way to grasp the spider during tranport and introdution into the nest.     

Triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’

Phytochemical investigation on the root of Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’ resulted in the isolation and identification of two new polyhydroxyoleanene saponins, named eryngioside M and eryngioside N, together with 15 known triterpenoid saponins eryngiosides A-L, 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol, saniculasaponin III, and saniculasaponin II. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Eryngioside M and saniculasaponin II showed week cytotoxicity against human non-small cell lung tumor cells (A549) with GI₅₀ values of 37.5 ± 1.59 μM and 35.5 ± 1.11 μM, respectively.     

Variation of Chemical Constituents and Antiradical Capacity of Nine Ferulago angulata Populations from Iran

The present study was designed to assess the influence of geographical factors on essential oil (EO) composition, along with antiradical potential and phytochemical contents of Ferulago angulata (Schltdl .) Boiss (Apiaceae) extracts for the first time. The aerial parts were hydrodistilled by Clevenger apparatus and subjected to gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The EO yields were significantly different from populations ‘Mongar’ (south‐slope, 3000 m) with 1.34±0.06 % and ‘Male‐Amiri’ (north slope, 2600 m) with 0.18±0.05 % of total oil. Thirty‐nine compounds were identified from the EOs of nine populations. α‐Pinene was the predominant component ranging from 20.84 to 49.06 % in ‘Gandomkar’ (north‐slope, 2500 m) and ‘Mongar’ (3000 m), respectively. The methanolic extract of ‘Mongar’ (north‐slope at 2500 m) possessed the highest total phenolic contents. Also, this population logically exhibited potent antiradical activity using both 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays with EC₅₀ of 42.07±4.12 μg/mL and 8.34±0.21 mmol Trolox® equivalents/g, respectively. Due to its moderate free‐radical scavenging potential and high α‐pinene content, the population ‘Mongar’ might be considered as a perspective raw material in food and phytopharmaceutical industries.     

A systematic study of North American Angelica species (Apiaceae) based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA sequences and fruit morphology

Angelica is a taxonomically complex genus widespread throughout the North Temperate Zone. Previous phylogenetic studies of the genus have focused primarily on its East Asian species. The relationships among its North American members, the monophyly of these species, and the value of fruit morphology in circumscribing its taxa have yet to be examined. This study represents the most comprehensive sampling of Angelica to date (100 species) and includes all 26 species in North America. Relationships are inferred using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses of ITS sequences and, for multiple accessions of each North American species, cpDNA ndhF-rpl32, rpl32-trnL, and psbM-psbD sequences. The fruit morphological characters examined were those considered phylogenetically important in East Asian Angelica. The results revealed that the North American species fell into three major clades: North American Angelica clade, Archangelica clade, and the Eurasian Angelica clade. Angelica dawsonii has affinities with Lomatium brandegeei. Fourteen species within the North American Angelica clade were strongly supported as monophyletic. Two paraphyletic species resulted in new combinations in A. lineariloba and A. venenosa. Conflict between the ITS-derived and cpDNA-derived phylogenies and the lack of resolution in portions of the trees may be due to chloroplast capture and rapid species radiation. Fruit morphology supported some interspecific relationships based on molecular data, and relationships revealed by ITS and cpDNA data were roughly in accordance with fruit classification type and geographic distribution region, respectively. A diagnostic key based on fruit morphology is provided for the identification of the North American Angelica taxa.     

川明参果实发育过程中解剖结构的变化

对伞形科(Apiaceae)中国特有单型属种类川明参（Chuanminshen violaceum Sheh et Shan）幼果发育阶段（包含幼果期Ⅰ、幼果期Ⅱ和幼果期Ⅲ）、中果发育阶段（包含中果期Ⅰ、中果期Ⅱ和中果期Ⅲ）和熟果发育阶段（包含熟果期Ⅰ、熟果期Ⅱ和熟果期Ⅲ）果实横切面的解剖结构进行了比较观察。观察结果表明,川明参果实在果壁细胞层数和形态、果棱和维管束、油管、胚乳以及分生果横切面大小和形状等特征均有明显的变化。川明参分生果果壁由厚变薄且外果壁、中果壁细胞形态发生变化,内果壁细胞消失;果实中油管分布在果实的背面、侧面和合生面,油管不断向外扩大,在成熟果实中油管往往皱缩。川明参果实中胚乳逐渐增大,从近球形变化为桃形、肾形直至月牙形,背部呈山丘状隆起;分生果横切面的形状由近五边状圆形变化至梭形,背腹极度压扁。通过对果实发育形态解剖观察发现,果实发育前期,果形的变化主要依靠维管束的发育,从而造成果棱的改变,来改变果实外部结构。到了熟果期,胚乳显现,形体变大,它的形状变化开始改变分生果的外部形态,并且影响较为显著。     

伞形科棱子芹属部分种类果实结构的比较解剖学研究

采用石蜡切片法对伞形科(Apiaceae)棱子芹属(PleurospermumHoffm.)的宝兴棱子芹〔P.benthamii(Wall.ex DC.)Clarke〕和松潘棱子芹(P.franchetianumHemsl.)、西藏棱子芹(P.hookeriClarke var.thomsoniiClarke)和太白棱子芹(P.giraldiiDiels)、康定棱子芹(P.prattiiWolff)和瘤果棱子芹(P.wrightianumde Boiss.)的果实横切面的解剖结构特征进行了详细观察和比较分析。结果表明:6种植物虽然在外部形态上两两相似,但彼此间的果实解剖结构特征却存在一定的差异。共同特征是果棱均比较发达,且外果皮与中果皮分离,常形成空腔,每个果棱有1个明显的维管束,中果皮高度退化,果壁均很薄,棱槽和合生面均有油管,其中合生面油管数为棱槽油管数的2倍;差异主要表现在果实横切面外形、果体的压扁程度、果棱的发达程度、外果皮拱起程度及角质层的有无和厚度、维管束大小和着生位置、棱槽油管数以及合生面与侧棱的关系等方面。根据观察结果认为康定棱子芹与瘤果棱子芹不宜合并,建议将西藏棱子芹与太白棱子芹予以合并。