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 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 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.     

Patterns of energy content in plants from the venezuelan paramos

Summary Determinations of energy and ash content were made on the organs of some common plant species from an elevational gradient in the Venezuelan páramos. The results indicate differences in energy content among the life forms sampled. Giant rosette plants show the highest values in the roots while woody plants have the highest energy content in the leaves. The reproductive organs show a higher energy content than the vegetative organs. There is a tendency to increase energy content as elevation and environmental stress increase. The adaptive significance of these patterns is discussed. The high average energy value for páramo plants, 20.18 KJ/g ash free dry weight, is similar to values reported for alpine tundra plants and conifer forests.     

Chemical constituents of Quercus lanceaefolia

The isolation and identification of friedelin, lignoceryl alcohol, ferulic acid, lignoceryl ferulate, canophyllal, canophyllol and an unusual 2α, 3β dihydroxy triterpene, maslinic acid, have been described.     

红波罗花的化学成分研究(英文)

从红波罗花(Incarvillea delavayi)植物的干燥全草乙醇提取物中分离得到12个化合物,通过MS和NMR等方法鉴定为tecomine(1)、epidihydrotecomanine(2)、2,6-二甲基-6-羟基-2-庚烯-4-酮(3)、marine B(4)、(3R,5S)-3-methyl-cyclopentyl[1,2-c]pyridine-5-ol(5)、3,4,5-三甲氧基苯甲酸乙酯(6)、cleroindicin B(7)、3,4,5-三甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯(8)、2-(4’-乙氧基苯基)-乙醇(9)、6-羟基苯并二氢呋喃(10)、β-谷甾酮(11)、β-乙酰齐墩果酸(12)。其中化合物1～3、5～6、8～12为首次从角蒿属植物中分离得到,所有化合物均为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Total and CO-reactive heme content of actinorhizal nodules and the roots of some non-nodulated plants

Summary The concentration of total and CO-reactive heme was measured in actinorhizal nodules from six different genera. This gave the upper limit to hemoglobin concentration in these nodules. Quantitative extraction of CO-reactive heme was achieved under anaerobic conditions in a buffer equilibrated with CO and containing Triton X-100. The concentration of CO-reactive heme in nodules of Casuarina and Myrica was approximately half of that found in legume nodules, whereas in Comptonia, Alnus and Ceanothus the concentrations of heme were about 10 times lower than in legume nodules. There was no detectable CO-reactive heme in Datisca nodules, but low concentrations were detected in roots of all non-nodulating plants examined, includingZea mays. Difference spectra of CO treated minus dithionite-reduced extracts displayed similar wavelengths of maximal and minimal light absorption for all extracts, and were consistent with those of a hemoglobin. The concentration of CO-reactive heme was not correlated to the degree to which CO inhibited nitrogenase activity nor was it affected by reducing the oxygen concentration in the rooting zone. However, there was a positive correlation between heme concentration and suberization or lignification of the walls of infected host cells. These observations demonstrate that, unlike legume nodules, high concentrations of heme or hemoglobin are not needed for active nitrogen fixation in most actinorhizal nodules. Nonetheless, a significant amount of CO-reactive heme is found in the nodules of Alnus, Comptonia, and Ceanothus, and in the roots ofZea mays. The identity and function of this heme is unknown.     

西南獐牙菜化学成分的研究

对龙胆科(Gentianaceae)獐牙菜属植物西南獐牙菜(Swertia cincta)进行化学成分研究,从中分离鉴定了15个化合物,包括5个裂环烯醚萜(苷),2个三萜,1个口山酮,4个芳香酸(醇),以及3个其它类成分.以上化合物分别为:獐牙菜苦苷(swertiamarin,1),龙胆苦苷(gentiopicroside,2),红白金花内酯(erythrocentaurin,3),(-)龙胆内酯((-)-gentiolactone,4),angelone(5),齐墩果酸(olcanolic acid,6),3-表-蒲公英赛醇(3-epi-tarax-erol,7),当药醇苷(swertianolin,8),间羟基苯甲醇(m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol,9),邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(dimethyl phthalate,10),邻苯二甲酸二异丁酯(diisobutyl phthalate,11),3,4-二羟基苯甲酸(12)和正三十一烷醇( n-hentria-contanol,13),β-谷甾醇(β-sitosterol,14)和胡萝卜苷(daucosterol,15).其中化合物4-5,7,9～13和15为首次从西南獐牙菜中分离得到.     

九头狮子草化学成分的研究

从九头狮子草种分离得到9个化合物,分别鉴定为:正十八烷(1)、cholest-5-en-3β-oxyl hexadecanoate(2)、硬脂酸(3)、软脂酸(4)、三十三烷醇(5)、β-谷甾醇(6)β-谷甾醇和豆甾醇的混合物(7)、β-谷甾醇和豆甾醇的葡萄糖苷(8)、尿囊素(9).其中化合物1～5系首次从本植物中分得.     

苦荞麦麸皮的化学成分研究

从苦荞麦麸皮浸膏中分离得到7个化合物,经波谱分析确定结构分别为：β—谷甾醇(1)、过氧化麦角甾醇(2)、大黄素(3)、胡萝卜甙(4)、山奈酚(5)、异山奈酚(6)和槲皮素(7)。化合物1—6为首次从苦荞麦麸皮中分离得到。     

Chemical constituents of Picea neoveitchii

Four flavonoids, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,-dimethoxy-6-C-methylflavone (1), 5,8,4′-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-6-C-methylflavone (2), 7-methoxy-6-C-methylkaempferol (3) and kaempferol-7-O-(2″-E-p-coumaroyl)-α-l-arabinofuranoside (4), together with 15 known compounds, were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Picea neoveitchii Mast. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of analyses of spectroscopic data. Compound 4 showed strong anti-fungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum whereas compounds 1-4 were all active against Rhizoctonia solani.     

Mineral content of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus

It is known that certain inorganic trace elements such as vanadium, zinc, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, sodium, and nickel play an important role in the maintenance of normoglycemia by activating the beta-cells of the pancreas. In the present study, the elemental composition in the leaves of four traditional medicinal plants (Murraya koenigii, Mentha piperitae, Ocimum sanctum, and Aegle marmelos) widely used in the treatment of diabetes-related metabolic disorders has been studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Cu, Ni, Zn, K, and Na were found to be in trace amounts, whereas Fe, Cr, and V levels were found in marginal levels. The importance of these elements in disorders related to diabetes is also briefly discussed.     

Toxic constituents of legume forage plants

In this review, the toxic and antinutrient compounds biosynthesized by legumes used as forage crops in the United States are described under the categories alkaloids, amino acids, cyanogens, isoflavone and coumestan estrogenic principles, nitro compounds, protease inhibitors, phytohemagglutinins, saponins, selenium compounds and tannins. The legume-related livestock conditions, bloat, locoweed poisoning and photodermatitis are also discussed. Relevant veterinary, phytochemical and toxicological literature citations are presented.     

Chemical constituents of Mallotus macrostachyus growing in Vietnam and cytotoxic activity of some cycloartane derivatives

Two new cycloartane derivatives, macrostachyosides A (1) and B (2), and seventeen known compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of Mallotus macrostachyus leaves. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS data. Macrostachyosides A (1) and B (2) showed significant cytotoxic activities on KB (epidermoid carcinoma) and LU-1 (lung adenocarcinoma) human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.31 ± 0.09 to 7.12 ± 0.07 μg/mL.