Nimbidiol,a modified diterpenoid of the root-bark of Azadirachta indica

Nimbidiol, a modified diterpenoid, isolated from the root-bark of Azadirachta indica (Indian ‘neem’), was characterized by spectroscopic method     

Draft Genome Sequence of the Reference Strain of the Korean Medicinal Mushroom Wolfiporia cocos KMCC03342

Wolfiporia cocos is a wood-decay brown rot fungus belonging to the family Polyporaceae. While the fungus grows, the sclerotium body of the strain, dubbed Bokryeong in Korean, is formed around the roots of conifer trees. The dried sclerotium has been widely used as a key component of many medicinal recipes in East Asia. Wolfiporia cocos strain KMCC03342 is the reference strain registered and maintained by the Korea Seed and Variety Service for commercial uses. Here, we present the first draft genome sequence of W. cocos KMCC03342 using a hybrid assembly technique combining both short- and long-read sequences. The genome has a total length of 55.5 Mb comprised of 343 contigs with N50 of 332 kb and 95.8% BUSCO completeness. The GC ratio was 52.2%. We predicted 14,296 protein-coding gene models based on ab initio gene prediction and evidence-based annotation procedure using RNAseq data. The annotated genome was predicted to have 19 terpene biosynthesis gene clusters, which was the same number as the previously sequenced W. cocos strain MD-104 genome but higher than Chinese W. cocos strains. The genome sequence and the predicted gene clusters allow us to study biosynthetic pathways for the active ingredients of W. cocos.     

Tetracyclic triterpenoids from the leaves of Azadirachta indica

Two new tetracyclic triterpenoids zafaral [24,25,26,27-tetranorapotirucalla-(apoeupha)-6alpha-methoxy-7alpha-acetoxy-1,14-dien-3,16-dione-21-al] (1) and meliacinanhydride [24,25,26,27-tetranorapotirucalla-(apoeupha)-6alpha-hydroxy,11alpha-methoxy-7alpha,12alpha-diacetoxy,1,14,20(22)-trien-3-one] (2) have been isolated from the methanolic extract of neem leaves along with two known constituents nimocinol and isomeldenin. Their structures and the relative configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods ((1)H and (13)C NMR, IR, and MS) and 2D NMR experiments.     

Analysis of insecticidal Azadirachta indica A. Juss. fractions

As a result of chemical investigation on the ethanolic extract of fresh fruit coatings of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem), twenty-seven compounds were identified in non-polar to less polar fractions which showed pesticidal activity determined by WHO method against Anopheles stephensi Liston. These identifications were basically made through GC-EIMS and were further supported by other spectroscopic techniques, including 13C NMR, UV and FTIR as well as retention indices. Thus sixteen n-alkanes, 1-16; three aromatics 2,6-bis-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl phenol (17), 2-(phenylmethylene)-octanal (20), 1,2,4-trimethoxy-5-(1Z-propenyl)-benzene (27); three benzopyranoids 3,4-dihydro-4,4,5,8-tetramethylcoumarin (18), 3,4-dihydro-4,4,7,8-tetramethylcoumarin-6-ol (19), 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran (22); one sesquiterpene methyl-3,7,11-trimethyl-2E,6E,10-dodecatrienoate (21); three esters of fatty acids methyl 14-methyl-pentadecanoate (23), ethyl hexadecanoate (24), ethyl 9Z-octadecenoate (25) and one monoterpene 3,7-dimethyl-1-octen-7-ol (26) were identified. Except 6, 8, 24 and 25 all these compounds were identified for the first time from the pericarp and fifteen of these, 1-3, 7, 9, 10, 17-23, 26, 27, are hitherto unreported previously from any part of the tree. Although this tree is a rich source of various natural products, it is the first report of identification of mono- and sesquiterpenes 26 and 21 and a potent antioxidant, 17.     

Identification and Antifeedant Activities of Limonoids from Azadirachta indica

Four new limonoids, azadiraindins A–D ( 1 – 4 , resp.), together with seven known analogs, were isolated from the MeOH extract of Azadirachta indica. The structures of 1 – 4 were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses, and the relative configuration of 1 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The compounds isolated in comparatively large amount were evaluated for their antifeedant activities against Plutella xylostella; the antifeedant rate of 10 was 90.6% and the corrected mortality of 8 was 79.2%.     

4种北极被子植物叶片显微结构和超微结构研究

以采自北极的4种被子植物(高山发草Deschampsia alpina、无茎蝇子草Silene acaulis、仙女木Dryasocto-petala,极柳Salix polaris)为材料,利用光学显微镜和透射电子显微镜,研究了它们叶片显微结构和超微结构.结果显示;(1)高山发草和无茎蝇子草的叶片为等面叶,仙女木和极柳为两面叶,无茎蝇子草和极柳叶肉中含有异细胞;(2)4种植物的细胞超微结构均具有叶绿体紧贴细胞壁分布、叶绿体基质中含有淀粉粒、线粒体紧密地围绕在叶绿体周围的特征,而且高山发草和无茎蝇子草的类囊体出现膨胀,无茎蝇子草和仙女木的细胞基质有大量囊泡,极柳叶绿体内膜附近存在周质网.研究表明,北极植物叶片的结构特点与南极植物和高山植物具有一定的相似之处,北极植物叶片的显微结构和超微结构特征更有利于其适应北极的极端环境.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

Somatic embryos were initiated with mature seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) when cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ). Regeneration occurred via somatic embryogenesis: direct embryo formation and through an intermediary callus phase. TDZ was very effective and induced somatic embryogenesis across a wide range of concentrations (1–50 μm). However, somatic embryogenesis was accompanied by callus formation at concentrations of 20 μm and above. Cell suspension cultures were established with the TDZ-induced callus and groups of large cell clumps were formed within 2–3 weeks. Plants were regenerated from both directly formed somatic embryos and somatic embryos derived from cell suspensions plated on semisolid medium devoid of growth regulators. Regenerated plantlets continued to grow after transfer to a greenhouse environment and were similar phenotypically to zygotic seedlings. This simple regeneration system may be beneficial for mass propagation of selected elite clones of neem. Received: 13 May 1997 / Revision received: 13 November 1997 / Accepted: 2 December 1997     

Draft Genome Sequences of Four Axenic Mycoplasma genitalium Strains Isolated from Denmark,Japan, and Australia

The DNA genome of Mycoplasma genitalium currently represents the smallest of all known human bacterial pathogens. Despite their clinical importance in sexually transmitted infection and relevance as model bacterial pathogens, genomic diversity among M. genitalium strains worldwide is unknown. Herein we present the complete draft genome sequences of four geographically diverse strains of M. genitalium.     

印楝茎段愈伤组织诱导及其植株再生

1 植物名称印楝(Azadirachta indica). 　　2 材料类别实生苗茎段. 　　3 培养条件诱导培养基:(1)MS 6-BA 1.0 mg*L-1(单位下同) NAA 0.01 3%蔗糖.增殖培养基:(2)MS 6-BA 0.5 NAA 0.1 3%蔗糖.生根培养基:(3)1/2MS NAA 0.01 1.5%蔗糖.每种培养基均附加0.7%琼脂,pH 5.8～6.0.培养温度23～27℃,光照时间12 h*d-1,光照度1 500～2 000 lx.……     

Azadirachta indica (neem): a plant of multiple biological and pharmacological activities

Azadirachta indica, commonly called neem or ‘dogonyaro’ in Nigeria, is a plant that has found varied use in ecological, medicinal and agricultural sectors. Biological and pharmacological activities attributed to different parts and extracts of these plants include antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, larvicidal and fungicidal activities. Others include antiulcer, spermicidal, anthelminthic, antidiabetic, anti-implantation, immunomodulating, molluscicidal, nematicidal, immunocontraceptive, insecticidal, antifeedant and insect repellant effects. But toxicological activities such as allergic, genotoxic, cytogenetic and radiosensitizing effects have also been reported in humans and some economic animals, particularly, aquatic organisms, chicks and goats. Bioassay-guided studies and phytochemical analyses utilizing modern state-of-the-art techniques such as HPLC–MS, GC–MS, NMR and Infra Red spectroscopy have revealed that phytocompounds like azadirachtins, nimocinol, isomeldenin, azadirachtol (a tetranortriterpernoid), 2,3′-dehydrosalanol gedunin, nimbin, nimolicinol, odoratone, azadironolide, isoazadironolide, naheedin and mahmoodin are responsible for the varied biological, pharmacological and toxicological properties observed. In this paper, we review how a developing country like Nigeria can harness the numerous opportunities presented by the multi-biological and multi-pharmacological nature of A. indica to solve some of her myriad problems, including those in the agricultural, health and economic sectors.     

A standard procedure for the micropropagation of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Micropropagated shoots were initiated from leaf explants of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Regardless of their origin, shoots were successfully produced by culturing leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium containing benzylaminopurine (1 mg l^–1), kinetin (0.8 mg l^–1) and adenine sulphate (6 mg l^–1) in complete darkness. These shoots were further multiplied on Murashige and Skoog medium containing benzylaminopurine (0.1 mg l^–1), kinetin (0.08 g l^–l) and adenine sulphate (0.6 mg l^–1). Within 32 weeks, 80 shoots could be produced from a single leaf explant (10 mm×10 mm). Fifty-five percent of these shoots rooted on Murashige and Skoog medium containing indolebutyric acid (1 mg l^–1) and all of these grew on transfer to soil. Received: 5 May 1996 / Revision received: 23 August 1996 / Accepted: 5 October 1996     

Studies on the Resin Glands of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae)

The leafy shoots of Azadirachta indica have numerous, yellowresin glands, composed of a short stalk and sub-glandular tissuebeneath an epithelium-like 1-2-layered secretory tissue. Thefoot arises from the epidermis. The resin glands are derivedfrom a single papillate epidermal cell which functions as aresin gland initial. Histochemical localization using fluorescencemicroscopy confirmed the resinous nature of the secretion. Thegeneral structure of the glands shows similarity to extra-floralnectaries. Reports in the literature on the occurrence of extrafloralnectaries in Meliaceae should be confirmed by analysis of thesecretions if they are to be accepted. Azadirachta indica, resin glands, ontogeny, structure, secretion     

Biological investigation and structure-activity relationship studies on azadirone from Azadirachta indica A. Juss

Azadirone 1, a limonoidal constituent of Azadirachta indica is found to possess potent cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines in our in vitro studies. In vitro screening of a number of semi-synthetic analogues of 1 revealed that the alpha,beta-unsaturated enone moiety or its equivalent conjugated system in A-ring, C-7 acetyloxy/chloroacetyloxy or keto group in B-ring and the furan moiety are responsible for the activity of 1 and its analogues. Compound 1 and two of the semi-synthetic analogues 10 and 13 were found to possess good in vivo antitumor activity in modified hollow fiber animal models.     

Draft Genome Sequence of a Nonhemolytic Fish-Pathogenic Streptococcus agalactiae Strain

Streptococcus agalactiae is a significant Gram-positive bacterial pathogen of terrestrial and aquatic animals. A subpopulation of nonhemolytic strains which appear to be pathogenic only for poikilotherms exists. We report here the first draft genome sequence of a nonhemolytic S. agalactiae isolate recovered from a diseased fish.     

Genome Announcement: The Draft Genome of the Carrot Cyst Nematode Heterodera Carotae

Heterodera carotae, the carrot cyst nematode, is a significant pest affecting carrot globally. Here we present the draft genome of H. carotae, which was generated from short read libraries from Illumina HiSeq technology, and the corresponding genome annotation.     

元江印楝植物内生真菌及其抗菌活性筛选的研究

通过抗菌活性初步筛选,从采自云南元江县的印楝(Azadirachta indica A.Juss)植物茎和果实中已分离到的372株内生真菌中筛选出80株作为复筛菌株,经显微形态特征观察鉴定为5目、6科、29个属。选择16种病原微生物作为指示菌检测复筛菌株发酵产物的抗菌活性,结果表明,其中29株内生真菌对细菌、植物病原真菌和皮肤致病真菌中的一种或多种病原微生物有抑制生长作用,活性菌株比例占复筛菌株的36.25%,并显示种群多样性,其中7株内生真菌显示较强的广谱抗菌作用,活性较好的菌株主要分布在曲霉属和交链孢属。     

元谋栽培印楝枝叶化学成分研究

从元谋栽培印楝Azadirachta indica的枝叶中分离得到15个化合物,结构类型有三萜、倍半萜、甾体等。经波谱解析鉴定为nimbin（1）,6-deacetylnimbin（2）,6-deacetylnimbinene（3）,nimbinene（4）,azadiradi-one（5）,7-acetoxy-elema-1,3-dien-8-ol（6）,1-naphthalenone（7）,acarusnol（8）,colvane-2β,9α-diol（9）,乌苏酸（10）,马斯里酸（11）,2α-羟基乌苏酸（12）,猕猴桃酸B（13）,2α,3α,4β-trihydroxypregnan-16-one（14）,2β,3β,4β-trihydroxypregnan-16-one（15）。化合物6～15为首次从该植物中分离得到。