Enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities of aerial parts of Paeonia emodi Wall. (Paeoniaceae)

The ethanolic extract derived from aerial parts of an indigenous medicinal plant Paeonia emodi was screened for enzyme inhibition activities against Urease (jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii) and α-Chymotrypsin. The extract was also investigated for its radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. The crude extract was found to possess significant enzyme inhibition activities against jack bean (74%) and Bacillus pasteurii (80%) urease and a moderate activity (54%) against α-Chymotrypsin. The extract also displayed excellent (83%) radical scavenging activity. On the basis of these results, the crude extract was subsequently fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions and tested independently for the aforesaid activities. Significant inhibitory activity against urease enzyme was observed for the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions while the n-hexane and chloroform fractions were devoid of any such activity. In the α-Chymotrypsin enzyme inhibition studies the activity was concentrated into the ethyl acetate fraction. All the fractions displayed potent radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions thereof were also subjected to total phenolic content determination. A correlation between radical scavenging capacities of extracts and total phenolic content was observed in the majority of cases.     

Paeonia (Paeoniaceae) in the Caucasus

The taxonomy of the genus Paeonia in the Caucasus has been controversial, with recognized species varying in number from one to 13. The taxonomic history of Paeonia in this area is reviewed (including an analysis of the characters used by previous authors) based on extensive field observations, population sampling and critical examination of a large number of herbarium specimens. The results show that Paeonia may be divided into three groups. The P. intermedia group is known from only a single population. In the P. tenuifolia group, all the characters used for distinguishing the three previously recognized species were found to be polymorphic. In the P. daurica group, petal colour, shape and size of leaflets, and indumentum of leaflets and carpels were used to distinguish nine species, but these characters were found to be polymorphic or continuous in variation, and thus can only be used for infraspecific classification. Thus, three species are recognized: P. intermedia , P. tenuifolia and P. daurica . The last species is further divided into five subspecies: sspp. coriifolia , wittmanniana , mlokosewitschii , macrophylla and tomentosa stat. nov .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143 , 135–150.     

Paeonia anomala的核型研究

报道了Paeonia anomala L．的核型,澄清了新疆阿尔泰地区分布的该物种的染色体数目。分布于该地区的Paeonia anomala L．的核型组成：2n=2x=10=6m＋2sm＋2st。该类群核型与该属其它类群一致——2A型。在综合比较分析该属染色体参数以及核型不均一性参数,包括最长,最短染色体比（L1/Ln）和染色体不对称系数（CKOA）的基础上,我们发现该属三个组在核型上没有明显分化,仅在木本类群（Sect．Mouton DC．）和草本类群（Sect．Onaepia Lindley和Sect．Paeonia）之间存在微小差异。此外,作为二倍体类群,新疆阿尔泰地区分布的Paeonia anomala L．很可能是二倍体杂种,这将为研究被子植物的父母本同倍化杂交式物种起源提供一个很好的研究材料。     

Paeonia anomala 的核型研究

报道了Paeonia anomala L. 的核型, 澄清了新疆阿尔泰地区分布的该物种的染色体数目。分布于该地区的Paeonia anomala L. 的核型组成: 2n = 2x = 10 = 6m+ 2sm+ 2st。该类群核型与该属其它类群一致———2A 型。在综合比较分析该属染色体参数以及核型不均一性数, 包括最长􊄯最短染色体比(L1/Ln ) 和染色体不对称系数( CKOA) 的基础上, 我们发现该属三个组在核型上没有明显分化, 仅在木本类群(Sect . Moutan DC .) 和草本类群(Sect. Onaepia Lindley 和Sect. Paeonia) 之间存在微小差异。此外, 作为二倍体类群, 新疆阿尔泰地区分布的Paeonia anomala L. 很可能是二倍体杂种, 这将为研究被子植物的父母本同倍化杂交式物种起源提供一个很好的研究材料。     

Phytochemicals from the aerial parts of Ligularia thomsonii and their radical scavenging activity

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Ligularia thomsonii has led to the isolation of three new phenylpropanoid glucosides ligularoside I (1), ligularoside II (2) and ligularoside III (3) along with nine known compounds; cinnamic acid (4), 3-phenylpropanoic acid (5), 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (6), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), p-coumaric acid (8), caffeic acid (9), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10), kaempferol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (11) and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (12), hitherto unreported from L. thomsonii. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformation. All these compounds were tested for antioxidant activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Among them, compounds 9, 10 and 12 showed significant antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals with IC₅₀ of 19.6, 23.3 and 8.9 μm, respectively.     

A revision of the Paeonia suffruticosa complex (Paeoniaceae)

The taxonomical concept of the Paeonia suffruticosa complex i.e. Sect. Moutan Subsect. Vaginatae, has changed greatly since 1990. Six species and four subspecies have been described as new and two subspecies raised to specific level. Five species and two subspecies are recognized in the present revision, viz. P. suffruticosa subsp. suffruticosa and subsp. yinpingmudan, P. jishanensis, P. qiui, P. ostii, P. rockii subsp. rockii and subsp. taibaishanica. P. yananensis, P. ridleyi, P. spontanea, P. moutan subsp. atava, P. suffruticosa subsp. atava, P. rockii subsp. linyanshanii and P. ostii var. lishizhenii are treated as synonyms. P. papaveracea and P. baokangensis are proposed to be interspecific hybrids. A key to the recognized species and subspecies is provided. Biological features of the species are described and their distributions are mapped. The relationships between species are inferred and the origins of commonly cultivated tree peonies ( P. suffruticosa and P. ostii ) are discussed.     

Isozyme Diversity is Low in Paeonia californica (Paeoniaceae)

Abstract The California Peony ( Paeonia californica ), a regional endemic and outcrossing species, is almost completely monomorphic for 23 isozyme loci. The level of genetic diversity in the California Peony is similar to that of narrow endemics and/or self-fertilizing species. This paradoxical result may be explained by either of two hypotheses: 1) low initial polymorphism of the ancestral genome, or 2) population bottle neck.     

Cytogeography and taxonomy of the Paeonia obovata polyploid complex (Paeoniaceae)

 The taxonomy of the Paeonia obovata polyploid complex in E-Asia has been controversial with treatments ranging from one species and two varieties to five species and numerous infraspecific taxa. Extensive observations in the field, analysis of morphological characters based on 32 populations sampled, and the examination of a large amount of herbarium specimens show that all the characters used by previous authors for distinguishing the species are variable between or even within populations: Leaf position, petal colour, stamen number (from 21 to 110 in the red-flowered and from 58 to 239 in the white-flowered form), filament and anther colour, style length as well as follicle number and position. Therefore, all these characters are of no value for species delimitation. However, an extensive chromosome survey and the analysis of morphological characters show that the ploidy level is basically correlated with the geographical distribution and with the indumentum on the lower leaf surface. Thus, the recognition of one species with two subspecies is proposed: Paeonia obovata subsp. obovata, mostly diploid, widely distributed in the north, east and south of the distribution range and glabrous to sparsely pubescent or hirsute on the lower leaf surface, and subsp. willmottiae, tetraploid, limited to the west and with leaves densely hirsute or pubescent below. Received October 30, 1998 Accepted June 21, 2000     

芍药属牡丹组的分类历史和分类处理

芍药属Paeonia木本类群，即牡丹组sect．Moutan DC.，为中国特有；广泛栽培的牡丹也起源于 中国。遗憾的是我国学者对牡丹类群的分类一直未予重视，野生类群的标本也很少。90年代以来对该 类群的分类突然热起来，中外学者连续发表了多个新种、新亚种和新等级，但仍然没有一个全面的修订。 在美国地理学会基金资助下，我们几乎踏遇了该类群分布区的各个角落，拜访了所有模式产地(仅一个 例外)，对64个居群进行了考察和取样。在性状分析的基础上检查了各个分类群的问题，考证了全部模 式，最后对该类群作出分类修订。本文是对分类历史的回顾，并表述了我们的分类处理：牡丹组共有8个种，其中3个种各包含两个亚种，另有两个杂种。     

滇牡丹自然种群数量动态

运用种群静态生命表、存活曲线、生殖力表和Leslie矩阵模型研究了中国西南特有濒危植物滇牡丹(Paeonia delavayi)种群数量动态过程。静态生命表和种群存活曲线表明: 滇牡丹在株龄3-6 a之间经历了较强的环境筛, 其单株生理寿命为15 a左右, 平均周期为8 a, 种群的净增殖率(R₀ = 0.985 7)、内禀增长率(r_m = -0.001 7)和周限增长率(λ = 0.998 3)表明其为衰退型种群; 滇牡丹种群存活表现为台阶型曲线(B1型), 分别在6 a和12 a阶段种群消亡率(K_x)较高。Leslie矩阵模型的模拟结果表明, 在未来30 a内种群数量呈现出下降趋势, 大约下降了50%, 其种群数量靠自身根系的萌蘖和种子繁殖共同维持。野生滇牡丹种群数量下降与其自身繁殖特性有关, 但主要原因是人为采挖和生态环境的破坏。     

川赤芍的化学成分研究

从川赤芍Paeonia anomala subsp. veitchii 根皮的70%丙酮提取物中, 分离鉴定了22 个化合物, 其中包括一个新的24 , 30 位降常春藤皂苷三萜衍生物, 命名为paeonenolide H ( 1) 。化合物2 , 4 , 9 , 10 为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

芍药属牡丹组分类补注

把沈保安2001年发表的6个新组合和新等级处理为异名,这些异名是Paeonia linyanshanii (S. G. Haw &; L. A. Lauener) B. A. Shen (不合法名),P. linyanshanii ssp. taibaishanica (D. Y. Hong) B. A. Shen (不合法名),P. ostii T. Hong &; J. X. Zhang ssp. lishizhenenii (lishizhenii) (B. A. Shen) B. A. Shen (=P. ostii), P. delavayi Franch. ssp. angustiloba (Rehder &; E. H. Wilson) B. A. Shen 和ssp. lutea (Delavay ex Franch.) B. A. Shen (=P. delavayi)以及P. delavayi ssp. ludlowii (Stern &; Taylor) B. A. Shen (=P. ludlowii (Stern &; Taylor) D. Y. Hong)。     

川赤芍的化学成分研究

从川赤芍Paeonia anomala subsp·veitchii根皮的70%丙酮提取物中,分离鉴定了22个化合物,其中包括一个新的24,30位降常春藤皂苷三萜衍生物,命名为paeonenolide H(1)。化合物2,4,9,10为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Taxonomical history and revision of Paeonia sect. Moutan (Paeoniaceae)

The taxonomical history of the woody group(peonies) in the genus Paeonia is reviewed in the present paper. The group is endemic to China, but Paeonia suffruticosa is commonly cultivated throughout the north temperate region and has long been known as “the King of Flowers” in China. However, the taxonomy of the group had been neglected before the 1990' s. Since 1990, a number of new species and subspecies have been published. With the support from the National Geographic Society, the senior author of the present paper and his coworkers have made expeditions to all parts of the distribution area of the group, visited all the type localities and sampled a total of 64 populations. Based on the character analysis and examination of the type specimens or photos, each taxon is reviewed with its name checked nomenclaturally, and finally the taxonomy of the whole group is revised. As a result, eight species, three of which each contains two subspecies, are recognized. They are Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews subsp. suffruticosa and subsp. yinpingmudan D. Y. Hong, K. Y. Pan et Z. W. Xie, P. jishanensis T. Hong et W. Z. Zhao, P. qiui Y. L. Pei et D. Y. Hong, P. ostii T. Hong et J. X. Zhang, P. rockii (S. G. Haw et L. A. Lauener )T. Hong et J. J. Li subsp. rockii and subsp. taibaishanica D. Y. Hong, P. decomposita Hand.-Mazz. Subsp. decomposita and subsp. rotundiloba D. Y. Hong, P. delavayi Franeh. and P. ludlowii (Stern et Taylor)D. Y. Hong. P. baokangensis Z. L. Dai et T. Hong and P. yananensis T. Hong et M. R. Li are considered as hybrids between P. rockii and P. qiui and between P. rockii and P. jishanensis respectively. In addition, the reduction of a number of names recently published to synonyms is explained.     

Structural requirements of flavonoids for inhibition of protein glycation and radical scavenging activities

To clarify the structural requirements of flavonoids for formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), various flavonoids were examined. The results suggested the following structural requirements of flavonoids for the inhibition of AGEs formation: (1) as the hydroxyl groups at the 3′-, 4′-, 5-, and 7-positions increased in number, the inhibitory activities became stronger; (2) the activities of flavones were stronger than those of corresponding flavonols, flavanones, and isoflavones; (3) methylation or glucosylation of the 4′-hydroxyl group of flavones, flavonols, and flavanones reduced activity; (4) methylation or glycosylation of the 3-hydroxyl group of flavonols tended to increase activity; (5) glycosylation of the 7-hydroxyl group of flavones and isoflavones reduced activity. In addition, various flavonoids with strong AGEs formation inhibitory activity tended to exhibit strong scavenging activity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radicals, with several exceptions.     

Microsatellite markers in the tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa (Paeoniaceae)

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed in the tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa, to perform paternity tests as well as assignment to variety in special Austrian collections. ? Methods and Results: Using SSR-enriched libraries and EST-mining, 8 polymorphic primer sets were identified in Austrian collections of Paeonia sect. Moutan DC. The primers amplified di- and trinucleotide repeats with 2-6 alleles per locus. All primers also amplified in P. ostii, P. pontaninii var. trolloides, P. delavayi, and P. lutea, and in the herbaceous species P. peregrina and P. tenuifolia (Paeonia sect. Paeon). ? Conclusions: These results show the usefulness of primers in P. suffruticosa for population genetic studies and their ability to cross amplify in related taxa across the genus.     

Constituents of flowers of Paeoniaceae plants,Paeonia suffruticosa and Paeonia lactiflora

A new monoterpene glycoside, floralalbiflorin I (1), and a new flavonol glycoside, lactifloraoside I (2), were isolated from the flowers of Paeonia suffruticosa and Paeonia lactiflora (Paeoniaceae) together with 28 known compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Among the major constituents of P. suffruticosa and P. lactiflora flowers, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (10) [inhibition: 42.4% at 1 μM] and flavonoids having the catechol moiety showed significant inhibitory effect on Cu²⁺-induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation.