Structure elucidation and properties of a non-ionic galactomannan derived from the Cassia pleurocarpa seeds

A non-ionic water soluble galactomannan made up of d-galactose and d-mannose was isolated from the seed endosperm of Cassia pleurocarpa. Acid catalyzed fragmentation, periodate oxidation, methylation and selective enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that the repeating unit of the heteropolysaccharide had a backbone of beta(1-->4) linked d-mannopyranosyl units to which D-galactopyranosyl units are linked as side chains through alpha(1-->6) linkages. The properties such as viscosity, water/saline retention, gelling behavior, and shelf life of the galactomannan indicated that the material may be exploited in biomedical applications for example drug delivery and tissue engineering fields.     

Flavonoid glycosides from Cassia alata.

Two new glycosides, chrysoeriol-7-O-(2"-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-allopyranos ide and rhamnetin-3-O-(2"-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-allopyranosid e, were isolated from the seeds of Cassia alata. The structures were established on the basis of chemical evidence and spectroscopic methods, especially NMR.     

Cassia grandis Linn. f. seed galactomannan: structural and crystallographical studies

Cassia grandis is a small or medium sized tree, found in abundance throughout India. The seeds contain about 50% endosperm gum and possess the characteristics of becoming a potential source of seed gum. The purified polysaccharide has been characterized as a pure galactomannan having a mannose-galactose ratio of 3.15; molecular weight (Mw) 80,200; polydispersity (Mw/Mn), 1.35 and intrinsic viscosity [eta], 848 mL/g. Methylation, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and 13C NMR studies confirm that the polysaccharide has the basic structure of legume galactomannans consisting of a beta-(1-->4)-linked main mannan backbone to which galactose units are attached at O-6. The orthorhombic lattice constants of the hydrated gum are as follows: a=9.00, b=24.81, c=10.30 A. The crystallographic data establish that the probable space group symmetry of the unit cell is P2(1)2(1)2. The results are in contradiction to earlier reports (Indian J. Chem. 16B (1978) 966; J. Indian Chem. Soc. 55 (1978) 1216) in which a non-galactomannan polysaccharide structure has been assigned having a main chain of (1-->4)-linked galactose and mannose units in the molar ratio 6:3, where 50% of the galactose units branched with two galactose and one mannose through 1-->3 linkage.     

Rheological properties of mixtures of kappa-carrageenan from Hypnea musciformis and galactomannan from Cassia javanica

Mixed gels of κ-carrageenan (κ-car) from Hypnea musciformis and galactomannans (Gal) from Cassia javanica (CJ) and locust bean gum (LBG) were compared using dynamic viscoelastic measurements and compression tests. Mixed gels at 5 g/l of total polymer concentration in 0.1 M KCl showed a synergistic maximum in viscoelastic measurements for κ-car/CJ and κ-car/LBG at 2:1 and 4:1 ratios, respectively. The synergistic maximum obtained from compression tests carried out for mixed gels at 10 g/l of total polymer concentration in 0.25 M KCl was the same for both κ-car/CJ and κ-car/LBG gels. An enhancement in the storage modulus (G′) and the loss modulus (G″) was observed in the mechanical spectra for the mixtures in relation to κ-car. The proportionally higher increase in G″ compared with G′, as indicated by the values of the loss tangent (tan δ), suggests that the Gal adhere non-specifically to the κ-car network.     

Rheological characterization of the galactomannan from Leucaena leucocephala seed

A water soluble galactomannan isolated from Leucaena leucocephala seeds gave an intrinsic viscosity of 3.5dl/g and viscosity average molecular mass, M(v), of 6.98×10(5)g/mol. This was in reasonably good agreement with the value of the weight average molecular mass, M(w), of 5.44±0.20×10(5)g/mol determined by GPC-MALLS coupled to RI. The onset of polymer coil overlap occurred at c*[η] of 2.1, with slope of 3.0 above and 1.3 below the point of polymer coil overlap. The shear viscosity of the polysaccharide was temperature dependent and decreased with increasing temperature. The activation energy for viscous flow of 3.0% polysaccharide concentration obtained by Arrhenius plot of zero shear viscosity as a function of temperature was 26.4kJ/mol. Both the storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G″) showed strong dependence on frequency indicating the presence of entangled coils. The Cox-Merz plot gave close superimposition of the complex and shear viscosities.     

Acaricidal activity of Cassia alata against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus

Using adult immersion test, the acaricidal activity of ethanolic extracts of leaves of Cassia alata L. was studied against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. The efficacy was assessed by measuring per cent adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity and hatching rate. The ethanolic extract of C. alata produced a concentration dependant increase in the adult tick mortality. The highest mortality (45.8%) and inhibition of fecundity (10.9%) were observed at the highest concentration tested (100 mg/ml). The plant extract did not affect egg hatchability.     

Structure of a new galactomannan from the ascocarps of Cordyceps cicadae shing

A water-soluble galactomannan (C-3), [α]_D²⁰ +30°, isolated from the rod-like ascocarps of Cordyceps cicadae, was determined to be homogeneous, and the molecular weight was estimated by gel filtration to be 27,000. The polysaccharide is composed of d-mannose and d-galactose in the molar ratio of 4:3. The results of methylation analysis, Smith degradation, stepwise hydrolysis with acid, and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated that the polysaccharide is of highly branched structure, and composed of α-d-(1→2)-linked and α-d-(1→6)-linked mannopyranosyl residues in the core; some of these residues are substituted at O-6 and O-2 with terminal β-d-galactofuranosyl and α-d-mannopyranosyl groups, and with short chains of β-d-(1→2)-linked d-galactofuranosyl units.     

Composition and structure of galactomannan from the seed of Gleditsia ferox Desf

Galactomannan, a heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 1660 kDa, was isolated form the seed of Gleditsia ferox Desf., introduced in Russia, with a yield of 18.9%. Its aqueous solutions were optically active ([alpha]D = +30.5 degrees) and highly viscous ([eta] = 1430 ml/g). Analysis of the heteropolysaccharide using chemical, enzymatic, and chromatographic procedures showed that it consists of D-mannopyranose and D-galactopyranose residues (molar ratio, 2.54:1). The main chain of this galactomannan consists of 1,4-beta-D-mannopyranose residues, 39.2% of which are substituted at C6 with single residues of alpha-D-galactopyranose. The probability of occurrence of mannobiose units differentially substituted with galactose was determined by 13C-NMR data and equaled, respectively, 0.37, 0.47, and 0.16 for non-substituted Man-Man units, monosubstituted Gal(Man-Man) and (Man-Man)Gal units taken together, and for the disubstituted Gal(Man-Man)Gal units.     

Structure of a galactomannan isolated from the cell wall of the fungus Lineolata rhizophorae

The structure of an alkali-extracted water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from the cell wall of the marine fungus Lineolata rhizophorae has been elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic means. The idealized repeating unit of this novel structure is being m ≈ 41, n ≈ 2, and p ≈ 5.     

剔除灌草和添加翅荚决明对厚荚相思林土壤温室气体排放的影响

森林土壤是CO₂、CH₄和N₂O等温室气体的主要排放源.本研究采用静态箱/色谱分析技术,对中国科学院鹤山丘陵综合开放试验站内厚荚相思林土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量进行原位测定,研究剔除林下灌草和添加翅荚决明对土壤温室气体排放的影响.结果表明：厚荚相思林土壤CO₂通量在湿季维持较高水平,在旱季则明显降低.CH₄和N₂O在9-11月波动幅度较大,峰值出现在10月.在不同处理下,厚荚相思林土壤可能是CH₄的源也可能是CH₄的汇,而于CO₂和N₂O则是源.林下剔除灌草能显著增大土壤CO₂排放(P<0.05),而添加翅荚决明能加快土壤CH₄的排放(P<0.05).林下剔除灌草及添加翅荚决明两种处理都能够加大N₂O的排放通量.表层土壤温度、湿度、NO₃^--N和微生物生物量碳都是影响土壤温室气体排放的重要因子.     

Depolymerization of legume seed galactomannan by Celloviridin G20x

The depolymerization of legume galactomannans by the commercial preparation Celloviridin G20x was studied with the aim of obtaining macromolecular fragments of a constant composition. Four galactomannans, representative of the entire range of monomer ratios characteristic of this class of phytopolysaccharides, were hydrolyzed. The galactomannans were isolated from oriental goat’s rue (Galega orientalis Lam., Man: Gal 1.1), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L., Man: Gal 1.6), honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis L., Man: Gal 2.4), and sophora (Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott., Man: Gal 5.1). Fragments with a monomer ratio close to that in the original polysaccharides were obtained with a high yield (75–80%). The degree of substitution of the 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose chain at position C-6 with α-galactose residues influenced the molecular weight of the final reaction product.     

Phyto-assisted synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Cassia alata and its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli

Zinc oxide, an established inorganic metal oxide in nanoparticles form exhibits tremendous anti-bacterial activity. The present study focuses on determining the anti-bacterial activity of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Results clearly validate the effective synthesis of spherical shaped nanoparticles with average size range of 60–80 nm. SEM and EDAX data buttresses the results obtained by XRD pattern in terms of size and purity. ZnO NPs exhibited dose-dependent anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the IC₅₀ value was calculated to be around 20 μg/mL. Growth kinetics study was conducted in the presence of nanoparticles which demonstrated the bacteriostatic effect of ZnO NPs. The study recommends the potential use of ZnO NPs in industries like food, pharmaceutical, agriculture, cosmetic industries for its anti-bacterial activity.     

Structure of a putative ancestral protein encoded by a single sequence repeat from a multidomain proteinase inhibitor gene from Nicotiana alata.

BACKGROUND: The ornamental tobacco Nicotiana alata produces a series of proteinase inhibitors (PIs) that are derived from a 43 kDa precursor protein, NaProPI. NaProPI contains six highly homologous repeats that fold to generate six separate structural domains, each corresponding to one of the native PIs. An unusual feature of NaProPI is that the structural domains lie across adjacent repeats and that the sixth PI domain is generated from fragments of the first and sixth repeats. Although the homology of the repeats suggests that they may have arisen from gene duplication, the observed folding does not appear to support this. This study of the solution structure of a single NaProPI repeat (aPI1) forms a basis for unravelling the mechanism by which this protein may have evolved. RESULTS: The three-dimensional structure of aPI1 closely resembles the triple-stranded antiparallel beta sheet observed in each of the native PIs. The five-residue sequence Glu-Glu-Lys-Lys-Asn, which forms the linker between the six structural domains in NaProPI, exists as a disordered loop in aPI1. The presence of this loop in aPI1 results in a loss of the characteristically flat and disc-like topography of the native inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: A single repeat from NaProPI is capable of folding into a compact globular domain that displays native-like PI activity. Consequently, it is possible that a similar single-domain inhibitor represents the ancestral protein from which NaProPI evolved.     

Purification and Identification of a Rhabdovirus from Thunbergia alata

A subgroup 2 rhabdovirus was isolated in south-east Queensland from black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) with symptoms of vein yellowing, vein clearing and leaf distortion. Bacilliform particles accumulated in the perinuclear space of infected plants and measured 69 ± 7 × 161 ± 8 nm in unfixed preparations. The virus was not transmitted mechanically. Purified preparations of the Thunbergia alata rhabdovirus (TaRV) contained four major proteins with molecular weights of 80 kD, 48 kD, 40 kD and 35 kD, similar to those of datura yellow vein virus (DYW), a newly described rhabdovirus from Australia. The 80 kD protein was identified as the viral glycoprotein. In immunoblots, the two largest proteins of TaRV reacted strongly with antiserum to DYW, but were serologically distinct from sonchus yellow net, cereal chlorotic mottle, potato yellow dwarf and lettuce necrotic yellows viruses. TaRV is considered to be a strain of DYW.     

正交试验法研究决明子提取工艺

采用正交试验法优选出了决明子中蒽醌衍生物的最佳提取工艺条件为：50％乙醇水为浸提剂;固液比1：5,提取温度70℃,提取时间2h。总蒽醌衍生物的产率为0．83％。如果采用醋酸酸化预处理工艺,可使蒽醌衍生物(抗癌、抗菌有效部位)的产率增加0．19％。通过溶剂萃取和沉淀分离得到两大有效部位：脂溶性部位(蒽醌衍性物)和水溶性部位(蒽醌甙类)。     

Structure of a secoisolariciresinol diester from Salvia plebeia seed

The structure of a unique lignan diester from Salvia plebeia seed has been determined. Hydrolysis of the diester yields ferulic acid, (+)-l2 l-methyltetradecanoic acid and secoisolariciresinol.