Chemo- and karyotaxonomic studies on some rhizomatous species of the genusSymphytum (Boraginaceae)

InS. tuberosum subspp.tuberosum andnodosum, S. grandiflorum andS. ibericum the presence of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine, echimidine and symphytine could be demonstrated. The taxonS. tuberosum contains an unknown compound that seems to be specific for this taxon. This compound is not the pyrrolizidine alkaloid anadoline which has previously been reported for this species. It is possibly represented by a peak on GC/MS with a molecular ion peak at m/z 623 (as TMS derivative) and can be used as a chemotaxonomic marker for the speciesS. tuberosum. The pyrrolizidine alkaloid pattern of the two subspecies ofS. tuberosum reinforces the close relationship. Fresh material ofS. tuberosum contained the triterpene isobauerenol, but in herbarium material isobauerenol was lacking. InS. grandiflorum, neither fresh nor dried material contains isobauerenol. In herbarium material ofS. ibericum also no isobauerenol could be found. More extensive chemotaxonomical research is necessary to support the view thatS. abchasicum is more closely related toS. ibericum than toS. grandiflorum.     

Dereplication of Palicourea sessilis ethanol extracts by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS discloses the presence of hydroxycinnamic acid amides and the absence of monoterpene indole alkaloids

Secondary metabolites characterization of ethanol extracts of Palicourea sessilis leaves and stems by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS led to putative identification of hydrolysable tannins in leaf extract (ESI negative mode) while hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCA) such as N-p-coumaroylputrescine and N-feruloylagmatine were detected in both leaf and stems extracts in the ESI positive mode. Secondary metabolites quantification data showed a higher content of total phenolic in the leaf extract while the total alkaloids contents are statistically equivalent in both of the extracts. Furthermore, monoterpene indole alkaloids were not detected in both extracts. The presence of HCA is here firstly reported for a Palicourea species. This finding increases the classes of secondary metabolites occurring in this genus.     

Sesquiterpenoids and steroids from gorgonian Echinogorgia sassapo reticulate

Three guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids (1−3) and five steroids with 3β-hydroxy-5-en-7-one moiety (4−8) were obtained from gorgonian Echinogorgia sassapo reticulata collected from the South China Sea. Among them, new compound 1 was identified as (1S,5S,8S)-8-methoxy-menelloide B by spectroscopic methods including IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD spectra. All compounds except for 3 were obtained for the first time from the genus Echinogorgia. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Chemical constituents of the roots of Scorzonera divaricata and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical study of the roots of Scorzonera divaricata Turcz led to the isolation of 27 compounds, including eight sterols (1–8), one lignan (9), two cumarins (10, 11), five phenylpropanoids (12–16), six benzene derivatives (17–22), methyl-β-D-fructofuranoside (23), monolinolein (24), and three aliphatic acids (25–27). The structures of isolated compounds were identified using NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic methods and comparing them with those previously reported. Except for β-daucosterol (8), scopoletin (10) and caffeic acid (16) from S. divaricata, this is the first report of the other 24 compounds from S. divaricata. Among them, eleven compounds (2–6, 11, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25) were reported from genus Scorzonera for first time, suggesting that they could be used to distinguish S. divaricata from the other species of Scorzonera. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds from S. divaricata has also been discussed.     

Phytoconstituents from the leaves of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen

Five flavonoids, four feruloyl amide derivatives, pinoresinol, lanost-9-en-3β-ol and three steroids from the leaves of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen. Of these, compound 4 was identified as a new homoisoflavanone. This publication is the first reported purification of compounds 3, 4, 6–12 from D. cochinchinensis. We also indicate the chemotaxonomic importance of these metabolites.     

Flavones and anthocyanins from the leaves and flowers of Japanese Ajuga species (Lamiaceae)

Flavones and anthocyanins were isolated from the leaves and flowers of 14 Ajuga taxa (Lamiaceae), which are all native or naturalized in Japan. Of 13 flavones obtained from the leaves, 11 were characterized as apigenin, luteolin, 6-hydroxyluteolin and acacetin glycosides. Ten flavones were isolated from the flowers. Ten anthocyanins were isolated from the flowers. Six of these anthocyanins were identified as acylated delphinidin glycosides and four were shown to be acylated cyanidin glycosides. Japanese Ajuga taxa were chemotaxonomically discussed by their distribution patterns, especially foliar flavonoids.     

Cortinarius sarcoflammeus sp. nov, a new species of subgenus Dermocybe (Agaricales) growing in Sphagnum bogs

 Cortinarius sarcoflammeus is proposed as a new species belonging to subgenus Dermocybe, on the basis of its morphological, chemical and ecological characters. The strong red-orange colour of the context and stipe base, large spores, sphagnicolous habitat and high dermorubin content are characteristic for the new species. Holotypes of C. huronensis and C. huronensis var. olivaceus have been examined for comparison, and their differences discussed. Photographs and line drawings of C. sarcoflammeus are added. Received February 13, 2001 Accepted March 23, 2001