Labdane derivatives from hemizonia species

The investigation of three Hemizonia species afforded in addition to known compounds seven new labdane derivatives, all derived from labd-13-en-15-ol. The absolute configuration of these diterpenes was determined by degradation of the triol by periodate cleavage, which afforded a known norditerpene ketone. From H. fitchii two new chromene esters and the cis-isomer of a known coumarate were isolated. H. congesta afforded in addition to labdane derivatives a hydroxycubebol.     

Sesquiterpenes and a dimeric spiroketone from Cineraria fruticulorum

The aerial parts of Cineraria fruticulorum afforded in addition to known compounds three spathulenol derivatives, a hydroxymyrtenol and an oxo-humulene, while the roots gave in addition to known compounds a further humulene derivative, three cinalbicol derivatives, a sesquiterpene with a spirodienone moiety and its dimer. From C. parvifolia only known compounds were isolated which, however, confirmed previous results on this genus. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformations.     

Adaptations to Hydrothermal Vent Life in Kiwa tyleri,a New Species of Yeti Crab from the East Scotia Ridge,Antarctica

Hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean are the physiologically most isolated chemosynthetic environments known. Here, we describe Kiwa tyleri sp. nov., the first species of yeti crab known from the Southern Ocean. Kiwa tyleri belongs to the family Kiwaidae and is the visually dominant macrofauna of two known vent sites situated on the northern and southern segments of the East Scotia Ridge (ESR). The species is known to depend on primary productivity by chemosynthetic bacteria and resides at the warm-eurythermal vent environment for most of its life; its short-range distribution away from vents (few metres) is physiologically constrained by the stable, cold waters of the surrounding Southern Ocean. Kiwa tylerihas been shown to present differential life history adaptations in response to this contrasting thermal environment. Morphological adaptations specific to life in warm-eurythermal waters, as found on – or in close proximity of – vent chimneys, are discussed in comparison with adaptations seen in the other two known members of the family (K. hirsuta, K. puravida), which show a preference for low temperature chemosynthetic environments.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Laserpitium garganicum

Besides known compounds, the roots of Laserpitium garganicum subsp. garganicum afforded a new slovanolide triester. The locations of the ester moieties were assessed by correlation with a compound of known structure.     

An introduction to Iranian Collembola (Hexapoda): an?update to the species list

The Collembola fauna of Iran is little known and no comprehensive examination of this group of Hexapoda is available for this region. The only notable work on Collembola was carried out by Cox (1982). Recently, studies on the Collembola fauna have started in several regions. In this paper, publications by different researchers are documented and the species that have been found in different regions of Iran until January 2013 are listed. At present, 112 species, belonging to 18 families and 57 genera are known from Iran.     

Three oxanthrones from Aloe littoralis

The leaf exudate of Aloe littoralis yielded, in addition to the known 10-hydroxyaloin B, two new C-glucoside oxanthrones namely 10-hydroxy-15-O-(2R,3S-nilyl)(6′-O-acetyl)aloin B (littoraloin) and 10-hydroxy-15-O-(2R,3S- nilyl)aloin B (deacetyllittoraloin). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods as well as by conversion to the known 10-hydroxyaloin B and nilic acid.     

Regulation of Escherichia colil-asparaginase II and l-aspartase by the fnr gene-product

l-asparaginase II and l-aspartase, which are known to be regulated by oxygen in Escherichia coli, are shown, by an examination of known fnr mutants, to be under the control of the fnr gene product. Mutants obtained from a procedure devised to select for asparaginase II-deficiency are fnr⁻.     

Eremophilane-, bisabolane- and shikimic acid-derivatives from Portugese Senecio species

The aerial parts ofSenecio lividus afforded four triesters of shikimic acid, four eremophilanes and two bisabolene epoxides. The roots ofS.pyrenaicus ssp.caespitosus gave a known furoeremophilane while the aerial parts afforded a new one with a rare substitution pattern.S.doronicum contained known furoeremophilanes. The structures were elucidated by various high field NMR techniques.     

Neo-clerodane diterpenoids from teucrium lepicephalum and teucrium buxifolium

Three new neo-clerodane diterpenoids, teulepicin, 19-acetylteulepicin and teulepicephin, have been isolated, together with the previously known flavone cirsiliol from the aerial parts of Teucrium lepicephalum. The structures of the diterpenoids were established by chemical and spectroscopic means and by correlation with known substances. In addition, 19-acetylteulepicin and the already known neo-clerodane diterpenoid 19-acetylgnaphalin have been isolated from the species T. buxifolium.     

Further sesquiterpene lactones from costa rican eupatorieae

The aerial parts of Ayapana elata afforded two new germacranolides. The configuration at C-3 in one of them was the same as that of some bejaranolides, the structures of which therefore have to be revised. Critonia quadrangularis gave in addition to known compounds three elemanolides, a germacranolide, an isodaucane derivative and tremetone derivative. Critonia hebebotrya contained large quantities of known diterpene acids. Koanophyllon pittieri gave two epimeric ent-labdanes. The structures were elucidated by highfield NMR spectroscopy.     

Alkaloids from Haplophyllum buxbaumii

In addition to the known alkaloids kokusaginine, skimmianine, γ-fagarine and a lignan, justicin B, the aerial parts of Haplophyllum buxbaumii afforded three new alkaloids: 4,5,6-trimethoxyfuroquinoline, 4,5,7-trimethoxyfuroquinoline and N-hydroxymethylflindersine. The structures of the known and the new compounds were assigned by spectral methods.     

11β,13-Dihydroguaianolides from Artemisia douglasiana and a thiophene acetylene from A. schmidtiana

The aerial parts of Artemisia douglasiana afforded, in addition to some known sesquiterpene lactones, 22 new closely related guaianolides. A new thiophene acetylene was isolated from the aerial parts of A. schmidtiana together with some known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures were elucidated by high field ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Sound production in Scolytidae: Female sonic stimulus of male pheromone release in two Dendroctonus beetles

The hypothesis that female sonic stimulus may evoke male pheromone release in a behavioural interaction analogous to the known male sonic stimulus of female pheromone release, was confirmed in Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, and also in D. brevicomis. In both species known male-produced substances collected from males stimulated by recorded female stridulation were identified by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In a second test with D. pseudotsugae, male pheromone release during recorded female stridulation was evident in the change of male stridulation from the simple attractant chirp to the interrupted chirp, which is known to result from a medium concentration of 3,2-MCH. Also, the D. pseudotsugae male attractant chirp was synthesised with an electronic pulse generator and used to evoke pheromone release. It is concluded that the antiaggregative pheromone of this species is released by each sex at the sonic stimulus of the other sex.     

Chemical profile of Eriocaulon ligulatum (Vell.) L.B. Smith (Eriocaulaceae)

Two new and six known flavonoids and two known naphthopyranones have been isolated by chromatographic methods and spectrometrically identified in capitulae and scapes of Eriocaulon ligulatum (Vell.) L.B. Smith (Eriocaulaceae). The presence of naphthopyranones suggests approximation between Eriocaulon and Paepalanthus genus.     

Furostanol saponins from Yucca gloriosa L. rhizomes

Two new and one known furostanol saponins were isolated from the rhizomes of Yucca gloriosa. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis (1D-, 2D NMR, ESI-MS, HR-MALDI-MS). The glycosidic profile of Y. gloriosa in comparison to that of Yucca schidigera, the well known commercial source of saponins, is briefly discussed. The similarity between the two species regarding the high steroidal content suggests that it might be possible to use Y. gloriosa for the same applications as Y. schidigera.     

New labdane diterpenoids from Sideritis chamaedryfolia

From the aerial parts of Sideritis chamaedryfolia six previously known ent-kaurene diterpenoids have been isolated. In addition, seven new labdane derivatives have also been obtained from the same source. The structures of these new natural diterpenoids have been established by chemical spectroscopic means and by correlation with known products.     

A neo-clerodane glucoside and neo-clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium flavum subsp. Glaucum

From the aerial part of Teucrium flavum subsp. glaucum a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid, teuflavin, and a new 19-nor-neo-clerodane glucoside, teuflavoside, have been isolated, besides the previously known diterpene teuflin. The structures of teuflavin (19-acetoxy-4α,18:15,16-diepoxy-6β-hydroxy-3-keto-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-diene-20,ξ,12S-hemiacetal) and teuflavoside (18-acetoxy-15,16-epoxy-19-nor-neo-cleroda-4,13(16),14-trien-20,12S-olid-6β-yl-2′-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) were established by chemical and spectroscopic means and by correlation with known compounds. In addition, the previously known flavone salvigenin has also been obtained from the same source.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Liatris acidota, L. Aspera and L. Mucronata

Examination of Liatris mucronata gave the known 15-hydroxylated heliangolides liscundin, liscunditrin, punctaliatrin and two new closely related heliangolides. Liatris acidota furnished six new similar but 15-deoxygenated heliangolides as well as euparin and 3β-acetoxytaraxaster-20-en-30-aldehyde. Liatris aspera gave a known glycosidic germacradienolide and a new germacradienolide as well as several known flavones and a known benzofuran. Structures were established by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations.     

The earliest known Salamanders (Amphibia,Caudata):A record from the Middle Jurassic of England

Marmorerpeton gen. nov. represented by M. kermackisp. nov. and M. freemani sp. nov., is the earliest known genus of fossil salamander from the Upper Bathonian, Middle Jurassic of Kirtlington, Oxfordshire, England. Marmorerpeton is more primitive than any other known salamander in the absence of intravertebral spinal nerve foramina in the atlantal centrum, but in other features it resembles members of the family Scapherpetontidae, neotenous salamanders otherwise known from the Upper Cretaceous and Palaeocene. The Kirtlington herpetofauna is a unique freshwater assemblage of Middle Jurassic small amphibians and reptiles, several of which represent the earliest known occurrences of their respective groups.     

A new species of Neochelys (Chelonii,Podocnemididae) from the Ypresian (Early Eocene) of the South of France

The known European record of the Gondwanan group Podocnemididae begins in the Early Eocene. Neochelys underwent a rapid diversification and was an abundant and diverse representative of this group during the Eocene of Europe from the Early Ypresian to at least the Bartonian. However, several of its species are poorly known, and the phylogenetic relationships among them are poorly understood. A complete shell from the Ypresian of Hérault (southern France) is described here. It is assigned to a new species, Neochelys liriae. The availability of characters of N. liriae is tested by comparison with the other European species, which appear to be well differentiated, and particularly with the neighbouring French taxa N. eocaenica and N. laurenti, of which the latter has been little known to this point.