Antioxidants from Lespedeza homoloba (II).

The stems of Lespedeza homoloba yielded fifteen new isoflavonoids and a new stilbenoid having antioxidative activity. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Chemical constituents from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don (Leguminosae)

Phytochemical investigation of Lespedeza cuneata led to the isolation of seventeen compounds including three steroids (β-sitosterol 1, β-sitosterol-6′-linolenoyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside 3, and β-sitosterol glucoside 13), nine flavonoids (quercetin 4, kaempferol 5, isovitexin 8, hirsutrin 9, nicotiflorin 10, vitexin 11, astragalin 12, trifolin 14, and isorhamnetin 17), two phenolics (benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside 7 and homovanillyl alcohol 16), one carotenoid (loroxanthin 2), one lignin (7R,8S–dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 15), and one hexose (pinitol 6) on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Among these compounds, 2, 3, 7, 15 and 16 were reported for the first time from the genus Lespedeza. The taxonomic significance of these isolated compounds was also summarized.     

Nivicolous Myxomycetes from tyrol (Austria). I

25 taxa of Myxomycetes collected around melting snow banks in montaneous and alpine areas of Tyrol are presented. From a chorological point of view especially interesting are: Diderma asteroides, D. lyallii, D. peyerimhoffii, Didymium nivicolum, Hemitrichia abietina, Physarum alpestre, Trichia persimilis, Trichia sordida var. sordida, Trichia sordida var. sordidoides. The nivicolous taxa Badhamia alpina and Didymium wilczekii are considered to be synonyms of Badhamia foliicola and Didymium dubium. SEM micrographs of spores and capillitia of the most significant species are included.     

Structure of poly (I).poly (A).poly (I)

The molecular structure of poly (I).poly (A).poly (I) has been determined and refined using the continuous intensity data on layer lines in the x-ray diffraction pattern obtained from an oriented fiber of this polymorphic RNA complex. The polymer forms a 12-fold right-handed triple-helix of pitch 39.7A and each base-triplet is stabilized by quasi Crick-Watson-Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds. The ribose rings in all the three strands have C3'-endo conformations. The final R-value for this best structure is 0.24 and the x-ray fit is significantly superior to all the alternative structures where the different chains might have different furanose conformations. This all-purine triple-helix, counter-intuitively, has a diameter roughly 3A shorter than that of DNA and RNA triple-helices containing a homopurine and two complementary homopyrimidine strands. Its compact, grooveless cylindrical shape is consistent with the lack of lateral organization.     

达乌里胡枝子中黄酮类化学成分的研究

运用硅胶柱层析,凝胶柱层析,聚酰胺柱层析等化学方法对达乌里胡枝子70%乙醇提取液中的黄酮类化学成分进行分离,结果共得到10个化合物,用ESI-MS、1H-NMR和13C-NMR等技术对其结构鉴定结果表明,10种化合物分别为:香叶木素(1)、山奈酚(2)、柽柳素(3)、木犀草素(4)、槲皮素(5)、槲皮素-3-O-β-D-半乳糖苷(6)、表儿茶素(7)、三叶豆苷(8)、异荭草素(9)、芦丁(10).10种化合物均系首次从达乌里胡枝子中分离得到.研究认为,具有多种生物活性的黄酮类化合物是达乌里胡枝子的主要化学成分,也可能是其药理功效的基础物质.     

New Taxa of Lespedeza (Leguminosae) from China

Lespedeza fasciculiflora Franch. var. hengduanshanensis C. J. Chen and L. davurica (Laxm.) Schindl. Subsp. huangheensis C. J. Chen are described from the Hengduan Mountains of SW China and from the Yellow Rivervalley respectively.     

Novel opioid peptides derived from casein (beta-casomorphins). I. Isolation from bovine casein peptone

A material which displayed opioid activity in the guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparation was extracted from an enzymatic casein digest into chloroform/methanol. The extract was roughly purified by adsorption/desorption procedures using charcoal and Amberlite XAD-2 resin as adsorbents. A high degree of purity was achieved by high-pressure liquid chromatography of the material on muBondapak C18 and mu-Porasil columns and finally by gel filtration chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-2 column. Several pronase-resistant compounds with opioid activity were obtained.     

Vanadium-substituted hemoproteins (I).

The vanadium containing myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase were synthesized by recombination of apoproteins and various 2,4-modified vanadyl porphyrins.Optical as well as electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were examined in detail, and it is concluded that vanadium-porphyrin can be used as a sensitive probe for the heme-environment in various hemoproteins.     

Antineoplaston A in cancer therapy. (I).

Twenty-one patients with advanced cancer or leukemia were treated with antineoplaston A and followed for up to nine months. Dosage by intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, rectal, intrapleural, intravesical and/or topical administration ranged from 0.6 to 33 U/m2/24 h. Treatment was well tolerated, although side effects included fever of short duration and elevation of platelet and white blood count. In 18 cases some degree of clinical improvement was observed. Complete remission occurred in 4 cases. More than 50% remission occurred in 4 other cases which, along with another 6 cases, are continuing the treatment with high doses of antineoplaston A and show a continuing regression of the tumors although not yet achieving the criteria for complete remission; 2 of these 6 cases seem unlikely to achieve remission. Two patients temporarily discontinued treatment. During treatment, 5 patients expired; in 2 of them, however, was seen significant regression of the neoplastic process. The deaths were not due to cancer or to any toxicity incurred by the treatment.     

HydroLink gel electrophoresis (HLGE). I. Matrix characterization

A new gelatinous matrix is reported, having intermediate properties between those of polyacrylamide and agarose gels. The matrix has the unique property of being amphiphilic, i.e. of swelling in both plain water and polar organic solvents, and seems particularly well suited for electrophoresis of DNA. The compatibility with organic solvents includes 50% dimethyl sulphoxide, 50% tetramethyl urea, 50% acetonitrile and 50% tetrahydrofuran, the latter having a dielectric constant of 20. The matrix is hypothesized to consist of brush-like pillars, having a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic coating. The latter is formed by short chains protruding in the surrounding liquid and able to coordinate large amounts of water.     

I.R.-Stimulated catalysis (a potential spectral tool).

Catalytic rate is proposed as an infrared spectrographic index. Initial investigations of catalytic activity, on beta-galactosidase show a 1-2 fold increase in rate for a mutant enzyme when exposed to 10.6 micrometer irradiation at 2%. No increase was obtained for the wild-type enzyme.     

Prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin).

Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), or prostacyclin, is a recently discovered prostaglandin that affects many organ systems. It is both a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation and a powerful vasodilator. The recent demonstration that it is the main prostaglandin synthesized by the blood vessel wall suggests that it may play an important role in limiting platelet-mediated thrombosis. However, despite considerable investigation, the exact physiological role of PGI2 has yet to be elucidated.     

Invasive Lespedeza cuneata and native Lespedeza virginica experience asymmetrical benefits from rhizobial symbionts

Background and Aims

Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don is an invasive legume that displaces populations of native N. American congeners. Our aims are to determine the growth benefits of different rhizobacterial strains for L. cuneata and native Lespedeza virginica (L.) Britton, and to determine if these strains influence competition between these plants.

Methods

Plants were grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions in sterilized soil in pairs consisting of two L. cuneata, two L. virginica, or one of each species, and then plants were inoculated with one of seven rhizobial isolates, or with a no-strain control. After 3 months, plants were harvested for determination of biomass and nodulation rate.

Results

Five of the assayed stains improved L. cuneata biomass over uninoculated controls, but none of the strains benefited L. virginica. L. cuneata plants had more biomass and root nodules when grown in competition with L. virginica than with a conspecific.

Conclusions

Asymmetrical benefits from these symbionts accrued to invasive L. cuneata but not to native L. virginica, and this may provide the invader with a growth advantage in the field. Changes in the availability of effective symbionts in the soils of invaded sites can shape performance of native and invasive plants.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MEIOSIS IN DASYA BAILLOUVIANA (RHODOPHYTA). I. PROPHASE I1

This first of two papers on ultrastructural observations of meiosis in the red alga Dasya baillouviana (Gmelin) Montague describes stages of prophase I of meiosis. Although the five stages of prophase were originally derived from light microscopic studies, the same stages were utilized for this study based on the developmental sequence of the synaptonemal complex, which has the same morphology and mode of development as those reported for other red algae. The cytoplasm in early prophase sporocytes was typically less electron dense than either vegetative cells or sporocytes in later stages of meiosis. The reduction in density suggests clearing of ribosomes and other cytoplasmic components prior to conversion from sporophyte to gametophyte control. Leptotene cells often had an amorphous, chromatin-free area, function unknown, which was not obviously associated with any specific nuclear region. Diplotene cells were characterized by nuclei containing prominent ring-shaped nucleoli composed of a dark staining ring of material surrounding an electron-translucent “vacuole.” Packets of electron-dense, fibrillar material were often noted in the cytoplasm of late prophase cells. These packets are thought to he “nuage,” a term applied to large cytoplasmic aggregations of RNA in germ cells of several other phyla. It is suggested that nuage may represent a new infusion of ribosomal and messenger RNA for post-meiotic development. The division pales are established by late prophase and a single polar ring is found within each large “exclusion zone” in close association with a pore-free area of nuclear envelope. Both annulate lamellae and small, numerous vesicles are located in the exclusion zones. The significance of the various aspects of prophase I is discussed with the overall observation that this phase of meiosis in red algae is very similar to the process in higher plant and animal cells.     

Systematics of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae). I. Four new species from the Neotropics

Four night-blooming water-lilies ofNymphaea subgenusHydrocallis,N. conardii, N. lingulata, N. novo-granatensis, andN. prolifera, are described from the American tropics.     

Uridine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic UMP). I. Isolation from rat liver extracts.

A compound isolated from the cold acid soluble fraction and from hot water extracts of rat liver has been identified as 3′,5′-cyclic UMP by comparison with the authentic compound with respect to the following characteristics: Rf values in nine solvent systems; electrophoretic mobility in three buffers; UV spectra; nmr spectrum; acid and enzymatic hydrolysis; and effect on L-1210 cell growth $\text{in vitro}$.