Chemical constituents and some biological activities of plants from the genus Ceriops

In this review, the literature data on phytochemical and biological investigations of the genus Ceriops are compiled. The Ceriops species are mangrove plants widely distributed along the sea coasts of Africa, Madagascar, South Asia, and South Pacific islands. To date, 43 diterpenes and 29 triterpenes have been reported from the embryos, fruits, hypocotyls, roots, stems, and twigs of C. tagal and C. decandra. Diterpenoids and triterpenoids are the main constituents of this genus. The isolated terpenes showed an enormous structural diversity and exhibited various biological properties, such as antitumor, antibacterial, and larvicidal activities.     

Chemical constituents of some Tricholomataceae

Sterols, fatty acids and free amino acids of four species of Tricholomataceae were investigated. They contained ergosterol in high amount and the related sterols, fucosterol, sitosterol, cholesterol and brassicasterol. Linoleic and palmitic are the main unsaturated and saturated fatty acids respectively. The most abundant free amino acids were alanine, valine and proline.     

Chemical constituents and energy content of two milkweeds,Asclepias speciosa andA. curassavica

Asclepias speciosa and A. curassavica were evaluated as potential renewable sources of chemicals for use as fuel and/or chemical feedstock. Leaves and stems of both plants were analyzed for acid-detergent fiber, acid-detergent lignin, cellulose and ash. Bomb calorimetry was performed onA. curassavica (leaves 4,590 cal/g; stems 4,219 cal/g; and latex 4,663 cal/g), andA. speciosa (leaves 4,404 cal/g; stems 4,514 cal/g; and latex 9,005 cal/g). Organic carbon inA. curassavica (leaves 41.20%; stems 41.18%; latex 48.03%) andA. speciosa (stems 45.71%; leaves 42.51%; latex 67.30%) were also determined. Major differences between the 2 plant species were in the chemical composition of the latex; A. speciosa latex contained primarily α- and β-amyrin and their acetates, and a small amount of rubber, whileA. curassavica latex is known to contain at least 50% cardiac glycoside.     

Chemical constituents of some species of Agaricaceae

Free amino acids, fatty acids and sterols from six species of Agaricaceae were determined. PRO, GLU, SER and ALA were the most abundant free amino acids. Among the fatty acids, linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids constituted almost all the fatty acid content. The mushrooms have been shown to contain ergosterol as the principal sterol.     

Chemical constituents of plants from the genus Symplocos

The chemical constituents of Symplocos genus were reviewed with 90 structures and 28 references cited. These constituents include triterpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, phenols, steroids, alkaloids, and iridoids. Triterpenoids are the dominant constituents within the genus Symplocos, some of them exhibited antiproliferative effects. Some phenolic glycoside derivatives showed inhibitory activity against snake-venom phosphodiesterase I and human nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase.     

Chemical examinations of some non-vascular Paleozoic plants

The organic chemical constituents of compression fossils ofNematothallus,Spongiophyton, Orestovia andEohostimella are identified and compared with those isolated from living and fossil forms ofBotryococcus (a green alga) andTaeniocrada (a vascular plant fossil). The range and maxima in the carbon numbers observed in the normal, saturated acids isolated fromNematothallus, Orestovia, andSpongiophyton are similar to those of fossilBotryococcus, while those acids contained within compression fossils ofEohostimella are similar to the hydrocarbon composition ofTaeniocrada. Isoprenoid, branched hydrocarbons and steroids identified fromNematothallus, Orestovia, andSpongiophyton suggest these genera have algal affinities, while the presence of thick cuticles and in some cases cutin-like compounds appear to show adaptation to a terrestrial environment. Phenolic compounds retained within rock matrices associated withEohostimella are similar to those isolated fromTaeniocrada suggesting chemical, as well as morphological parallels with the land plant habit. These data are interpreted as indicating an early polyphyletic exploitation of the terrestrial habitat during the Paleozoic.