Free amino acids in the seeds of Acacia species

Free amino acids in the seeds of 80 species of Acacia have been determined. In addition to confirming the known difference in seed amino acid ‘patterns’ shown by species of the series Gummiferae on the one hand and species of the series Phyllodineae and Botryocephalae on the other, we have found that species of the series Vulgares Benth. show two additional ‘patterns’. One of these is common to some of the Afro-Asian species of the series which have been analysed and the other is common to species from America and Africa. One of the ‘marker’ amino acids of the Afro-Asian group is the neurotoxic lathyrogen α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid. The possible taxonomic and phylogenetic significance of these results is discussed, with special reference to five species A. albida, A. confusa, A. heterophylla, A. coulteri and A. kauaiensis.     

Free amino acids in some sponges

Most invertebrates, particularly those of marine origin, have relatively high concentrations of free amino acids which are considered an important constituent of their osmoregulatory mechanisms [1]. Very little information is available on the free amino acid distribution in Porifera [2,3]. Common amino acids in some sponges were recognised by paper chromatography by Inskip and Cassidy [4] and Ackermann et al. [5,6] included a few sponges in their survey of the occurence of nitrogen compounds in marine invertebrates. More recently Bergquist and Hartman [7] surveyed semiquantitatively the distribution of free amino acids in several sponges. In the present paper we report on the amino acid composition of 12 species of sponges belonging to the class Demospongiae as a part of a study on the metabolites of Porifera [8]. Fresh sponges were extracted with aqueous ethanol. The organic solvent was removed and the aqueous solution, after removal of the ether soluble compounds, was separated into cationic, anionic and neutral fractions by ion-exchange chromatography. The cation fraction was analysed for amino acids using an automatic amino acid analyser. The results, which are presented in Table 1, show that all species of sponges examined have a similar composition in common amino acids. Glycine almost always appears as the dominant protein amino acid, followed by high concentrations of alanine and glutamic acid, whereas relatively lower concentrations of basic amino acids are present. In Axinella cannabina, Chondrosia reniformis, Chondrilla nucula, Cliona viridis and Hymeniacidon sanguinea, glycine represents more than 77% of the total amino acids. The high percentage of free glycine (90.4%) in Chondrosia reniformis is noteworthy. The anionic and the neutral fractions were examined for sulfur-containing amino acids using PC. Taurine (Table 2) was detected in all the Porifera examined; this is in agreement with previous observations [5–7]. N-Methyltaurine was identified in some of the species examined, whereas neither N,N-dimethyltaurine nor N,N,N-trimethyltaurine were found.     

Tarsal taste neurons of Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée) respond to sugars and amino acids, suggesting a role in feeding and oviposition

Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera are sibling species with different host-plant ranges. We have previously reported electrophysiological and behavioral responses of H.armigera to sugars and amino acids. Here we describe a parallel study performed on H. assulta and compare the results obtained with the two species. In females, fourteen gustatory chemosensilla, identified on one ventrolateral side of the fifth tarsomere were stimulated with sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, myo-inositol, and the twenty common amino acids, using the tip-recording technique. The taste receptor neurons in eight chemosensilla were identified sensitive to the sugars, myo-inositol, Lys, Glu, Arg, Trp, and Ser which all induced proboscis extension reflex (PER) when tarsi were stimulated. There was a positive correlation between electrophysiological activities and PER responses triggered by sucrose. No stimulatory effect on oviposition was observed with sugar or amino acid mixtures. In males, three chemosensilla showed responses to the four sugars, but generally weaker than in females. The major difference of the two species was the variety of amino acids triggering electrophysiological responses. The stimulatory effect of sugars and amino acids on H.assulta was also generally weaker than that on H. armigera.     

Flavonoid diversification in the polemoniaceae

Analysis of species representing most sections of all the genera in the family Polemoniaceae showed a range of variation in flavonoids comparable to variation already documented for gross morphological features, karyotypes and pollen grains. Three main groups of flavonoids predominate: (A) common flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin); (B) 6-methoxyflavonols (patuletin, eupalitin, eupatolitin); and (C) C-glycosylflavones (apigenin and luteolin based). Cobaea, Loeselia], Polemonium, Allophyllum, Collomia and Gymnosteris have predominantly Group A flavonoids; Bonplandia, Ipomopsis and Eriastrum have predominantly Group B flavonoids; Phlox, Microsteris and Leptodactylon have predominantly Group C flavonoids; while the remaining genera (Cantua, Huthia, Gilia, Langloisia, Navarretia and Linanthus) either have flavonoids of all three groups, or some species within a genus have flavonoids of one group, while other species have flavonoids of another group. Linanthus, Gilia and Navarretia (3 of the larger genera in the family) show great flavonoid diversity, while Langloisia (4 species) has 2 species with Group A flavonoids and the other two species have Group B pigments. Two rare hydroxycoumarins, one being daphnetin, were detected in five genera but they proved to be only of limited systematic interest.     

Chemical stimulants of cheliped flexion behavior by the Western Atlantic ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius)

Cheliped flexion behavior was used as a bioassay to measure the responses of the Western Atlantic ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius) to pure and natural stimuli. Responses to mantle fluid of Geukensia demissa Dillwyn are based on heat stable components of < 1000 mol. wt. In each class of pure compounds the following were most stimulatory: butanoic acid, carboxylic acids; trehalose, carbohydrates; homarine, amines; asparagine, amino acids. The response to butanoic acid was the largest of any stimulus tested. Disaccharides were more stimulatory than their common monosaccharide component, glucose, and were significantly more potent than amines, except for homarine. Disaccharides, carboxylic acids, and most of the amines were significantly more stimulatory than any of the amino acids. Proteins were the least stimulatory in contrast to the tripeptide glutathione that elicited responses similar to amino acids. These chemical stimuli are components of both live and decomposing foods in the diet of this species. The wide response spectrum of this species may reflect its “plasticity” of foraging behavior     

Comparative study of the free amino acid compositions and contents in three different botanical origins of Coptis herb

Free amino acids are important bioactive ingredients in herbs and herbal products. Coptis herbs contain a variety of free amino acids; however, studies have not yet analyzed the relationship between free amino acids and species of Coptis herbs. In the current study, the contents of 20 free amino acids in Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis teeta Wall., and Coptis deltoidea C.Y. Cheng et Hsiao were determined using an automatic amino acid analyzer to evaluate the differences between the three species. We found that the major amino acids (Asn, Arg, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)) were significantly more in C. chinensis than in the other two species. In addition, Asp content was significantly more in C. deltoidea. The study concluded that Asn can be used to identify C. deltoidea, C. chinensis, and C. teeta, and Gln and Arg can be used to distinguish C. teeta from C. chinensis and C. deltoidea. These findings suggested that free amino acids as active ingredients can be used to identify Coptis herb species.     

New reports on flavonoids,benzoic- and chlorogenic acids as rare features in the Psychotria alliance (Rubiaceae)

Five flavonoid glycosides, three chlorogenic and one benzoic acid were isolated from leaves of seven species belonging to the genera Notopleura, Palicourea and Psychotria. In most species, common flavonol glycosides based upon quercetin and kaempferol were recorded, which corresponds well to literature data on other species of the Psychotria alliance. From Notopleura polyphlebia, however, the new dihydroflavonol glycoside (2R,3R)-7,4′-O-dimethyl-aromadendrin 5-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated, which is remarkable in terms of both the structure of the aglycone as well as the rarity of apiose as sugar moiety. In addition to flavonoids, benzoic and chlorogenic acids are a common and frequently neglected feature in the alliance, but all appear to be of limited chemosystematic significance when compared to tryptamine-iridoid alkaloids prominently known from this group.     

Taste attractiveness of free amino acids and their physicochemical and biological properties (as exemplified by fishes)

Using fishes (32 species, 11 families) as an example, the relationship between the taste attractiveness of free amino acids (L-isomers) and their physicochemical and biological properties was analyzed. It was shown that essential amino acids, most nutritionally required for an organism, have lower taste attractiveness for fishes than nonessential amino acids. Only in 6 of the 32 tested species (sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus, European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus, dace Leuciscus leuciscus, chub Leuciscus cephalus, blue gourami Trichopodus trichopterus, pearl gourami Trichopodus leerii) the relationship between the taste attractiveness and molecular weight of amino acids was supported statistically, being negative in all cases. Only in 2 species, a statistically significant correlation between the taste properties of amino acids and the dissociation constant (K₁) was found, positive in the stone loach Barbatula barbatula and negative in the lake char Salvelinus namaycush. A positive correlation between taste preferences and the magnitude of the isoelectric point (pI) of amino acids was found in one species (roach Rutilus rutilus) and a negative correlation in 2 species (brown trout Salmo trutta and Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus erythrinus). A statistically significant correlation between the taste attractiveness and water solubility of amino acids was revealed in 2 species (chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta and navaga Eleginus nawaga), negative in both cases. The flavor, which stimulates food intake, was found to be more often intrinsic to acidic and polar uncharged than basic and nonpolar amino acids, L- than D-isomers, amino acids with an amino group at the α- than β-position. Amino acids are more attractive than their salts. Aromatic amino acids are much less attractive than S-containing or acyclic amino acids. Thus, in most fish species there is no or weak relationship between the taste attractiveness of free amino acids and many of their physical, chemical and biological properties, suggesting a mediated character of this relationship and/or its poor detectability.     

基于广泛靶向代谢组学分析黑老虎不同部位成分差异

为提高黑老虎(Kadsura coccinea)资源的综合利用率，采用广泛靶向代谢组学技术鉴定并分析了根、茎、叶代谢组分差异及高度富集成分。结果表明，在根、茎和叶中分别鉴定出642、650和619个代谢物，以酚酸、脂质、类黄酮和有机酸为主；叶与根、茎与根的共有成分分别为566和650个，显著差异成分有442和393个，主要为酚酸、类黄酮和脂质，差异代谢物在苯丙烷生物合成、黄酮与黄酮醇生物合成通路中显著富集。代谢物总丰度和次生代谢物丰度均表现为叶>根>茎，叶中酚酸、类黄酮和脂质及茎中酚酸积累量显著高于根，而氨基酸及其衍生物、萜类、木脂素、香豆素、生物碱的丰度在根中显著上调。因此，黑老虎根、茎、叶有大量共有成分，叶和茎中酚酸、叶中类黄酮和脂质高度富集，含有新绿原酸、绿原酸、槲皮素等多个丰度较高且具有重要生物活性化合物，具有较高利用价值。     

De Novo Synthesis of Amino Acids by the Ruminal Bacteria Prevotella bryantii B14, Selenomonas ruminantium HD4, and Streptococcus bovis ES1

The influence of peptides and amino acids on ammonia assimilation and de novo synthesis of amino acids by three predominant noncellulolytic species of ruminal bacteria, Prevotella bryantii B₁4, Selenomonas ruminantium HD4, and Streptococcus bovis ES1, was determined by growing these bacteria in media containing ¹⁵NH₄Cl and various additions of pancreatic hydrolysates of casein (peptides) or amino acids. The proportion of cell N and amino acids formed de novo decreased as the concentration of peptides increased. At high concentrations of peptides (10 and 30 g/liter), the incorporation of ammonia accounted for less than 0.16 of bacterial amino acid N and less than 0.30 of total N. At 1 g/liter, which is more similar to peptide concentrations found in the rumen, 0.68, 0.87, and 0.46 of bacterial amino acid N and 0.83, 0.89, and 0.64 of total N were derived from ammonia by P. bryantii, S. ruminantium, and S. bovis, respectively. Concentration-dependent responses were also obtained with amino acids. No individual amino acid was exhausted in any incubation medium. For cultures of P. bryantii, peptides were incorporated and stimulated growth more effectively than amino acids, while cultures of the other species showed no preference for peptides or amino acids. Apparent growth yields increased by between 8 and 57%, depending on the species, when 1 g of peptides or amino acids per liter was added to the medium. Proline synthesis was greatly decreased when peptides or amino acids were added to the medium, while glutamate and aspartate were enriched to a greater extent than other amino acids under all conditions. Thus, the proportion of bacterial protein formed de novo in noncellulolytic ruminal bacteria varies according to species and the form and identity of the amino acid and in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Acides aminés de microsporidies parasites de crustacés décapodes marins

The amino acids of four species of Microsporidia parasitizing crustaceans were investigated: three species — Thelohania maenadis, Ormieresia carcini and Ameson pulvis — are parasites of Carcinus mediterraneus; Inodosporus sp. is a parasite of Palaemon serratus. Seventeen protein amino acids were identified of which aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine were quantitatively the most important, being quantitatively similar in all four parasites. The relative amounts of the next most abundant amino acids were found to vary and might serve as a systematic criterion at the genus level. For example, phenylalanine is predominant in Ormieresia and leucine in Inodosporus: serine in Thelohania and glycine in Ameson are also predominant, but to a lesser extent. The free amino acids composition shows little qualitative variation among the four genera, but quantitative differences are found in the composition of Microsporidia parasitizing the same host species; this may reflect variations in the amino acid metabolism of the parasite. The urea cycle in Ormeresia is most remarkable in this connection. The free amino acid level in the parasites was generally found to be in inverse proportion to the level in the host; the amino acids which are found to exist at high levels in the parasites correspond to essential amino acids of the Crustacea. Metabolic and adaptative relations are discussed.     

三角鲂和长春鳊肌肉营养成分分析与品质评价

用常规方法测定、分析了三角鲂(Megalobrama tarminalis)和长春鳊(Parabramis pekinensis肌肉中营养成分组成与含量.结果显示,三角鲂肌肉蛋白质、脂肪含量分别为18.19％和3.06％,长春鳊肌肉蛋白质、脂肪含量分别为19.38％和2.89％.三角鲂和长春鳊肌肉中均检测出18种氨基酸,其中包括了8种人体必需氨基酸.三角鲂肌肉中氨基酸总量为76.27％,其中,8种人体必需氨基酸含量为32.17％,占氨基酸总量的42.18％;长春鳊肌肉中氨基酸总量为77.60％,其中,8种人体必需氨基酸含量为31.70％,占氨基酸总量的40.85％.必需氨基酸的构成比例基本符合FAO/WHO的标准.三角鲂肌肉中限制性氨基酸主要为甲硫氨酸加胱氨酸,必需氨基酸指数为63.55,4种呈味氨基酸为氨基酸总量的32.81％;长春鳊肌肉中限制性氨基酸主要为色氨酸,必需氨基酸指数为66.81,4种呈味氨基酸为氨基酸总量的33.80％.脂肪酸中二十碳五烯酸(EPA)与二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量均较高,三角鲂为7.96％,长春鳊为3.11％.矿物元素比值合理.以上分析表明,三角鲂和长春鳊均为营养价值、经济价值都较高的优质鱼类,相比而言,三角鲂肌肉脂肪、脂肪酸含量和质量更优,而长春鳊肌肉在蛋白质、氨基酸组成与含量方面更优.     

Ueber den abbau von polyphenolen durch pilze der gattung Fusarium

The ability of 16 Fusarium species to degrade polyphenols was investigated. Phenols, benzoic acids, cinnamic acids, flavonoids and isoflavones are efficiently catabolized by all strains investigated. o-coumaric acid is transformed into 4-hydroxycoumarin by 7 species. A pronounced capability for methyl ether cleavage is demonstrated by stepwise o-demethylation of veratric acid and 5,7,4′-trimethoxyisoflavone. The latter compound is degraded via the sequence: 5,7,4′-trimethoxyisoflavone → 5,4′-dimethoxy-7-hydroxyisoflavone → biochanin A → genistein → orobol → ring fission products.     

A populational survey of amino acids in Prosopis species from North and South America

Leaf extracts of 540 plants representing 24 species of the genus Prosopis from North and South America were analyzed by 2-D PC and high voltage electrophoresis for their protein and non-protein amino acids. In addition to the presence of the usual protein amino acids, most of the species examined contained high concentrations of the non-protein amino acids, pipecolic acid, 4-hydroxypipecolic acid and proline.     

A chemosystematic study of some geraniaceae

The flavonoids of five Geranium, fourteen Erodium and four Monsonia species were studied. Quercetin was the most common aglycone with lesse     

Phenolic compounds from aerial parts as chemosystematic markers in the Scorzonerinae (Asteraceae)

In continuation of our chemosystematic survey of the Lactuceae tribe of the Asteraceae family and of the Scorzonerinae subtribe in particular, we have studied the profiles of phenolic compounds of aerial parts of Geropogon glaber L., and seven representatives of each of the genera Scorzonera and Tragopogon. Employing HPLC-MS³, 56 phenolics amongst the seven phenolic acids and 49 flavonoids were characterized. All phenolic acids were assigned as caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives and 15 of the flavonoids were identified as aglyca and glycoside of apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, whilst the remaining flavonoids were only partially characterized. Multivariate data analyses of the HPLC-DAD quantification data revealed no significant differences between the three genera Geropogon, Scorzonera, and Tragopogon. However, some clusters of chemically very similar species amongst them the group of Tragopogon minor Mill., Tragopogon orientalis L., and Tragopogon pratensis L. (also regarded as subspecies of T. pratensis by some authors) were identified. In contrast, the three taxa of Scorzonera hispanica s.l. (Scorzonera crispatula Boiss., S. hispanica L., and Scorzonera trachysperma Guss.) were chemically less similar and partially clustered with other morphologically less closely related species.     

Quantitative analysis of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in four Daphne L. species

The content of biologically active phenolic compounds (total polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids) were determined using spectrophotometry in four wild Croatian species of Daphne L. in the family Thymelaeaceae (Daphne alpina, D. cneorum, D. laureola, and D. mezereum). The concentration of total flavonoids (TF) was highest in the leaves of these Daphne species (0.12?C0.51% dry herb weight, DW) whereas the content of other phenolic compounds analyzed were highest in the roots, including total polyphenols (TP; 2.71?C19.03% DW), tannins (T; 1.14?C7.39% DW), and total phenolic acids (TPA; 0.12?C0.87% DW). D. alpina contained the highest amount of polyphenols, with the exception of flavonoids, where maximum concentrations were found in D. laureola. We also examined the antioxidant activity of leaf, stem, and root extracts. All extracts analyzed demonstrated high free radical scavenging activity with the highest concentration in the leaf extracts of D. alpina. Leaf extracts of D. cneorum showed the highest antioxidant activity in a ??-carotene bleaching assay.     

Salivary amino acids in Lygus species (Heteroptera:Miridae)

Free and protein-bound amino acids were investigated in the phytophagous bug Lygus rugulipennis and its salivary gland. Over 38 substances were separated. The total content of amino compounds in the insects was about 1400 μmol/g fr. wt (16% by weight), of which 97% was amino acid residues in proteins.The salivary glands, which comprise about 1.5% of the live weight of the insects, contain 3.5% of the total free amino acids and 1% of the whote insect. Free and protein-bound amino acids comprise, respectively, about 1.4 and 11.6% of the fresh weight of the gland. The total concentration of free amino acids in the saliva was estimated to range from 0.5 to 2.2% by weight (ca. 0.1 M).The composition of free amino acids in the salivary gland of Lugus varies markedly. In four studied species (L. rugulipennis, L. gemellatus, L. pratensis, L. punctatus), the most abundant compounds were proline, arginine, lysine, leucine, glutamic acid, methionine sulphoxide and glycerophosphoethanolamine. In whole specimens of L. rugulipennis the predominant free amino acids were proline, alanine, taurine, glutamic acid, glutamine and methionine sulphoxide. The most abundant amino acids in proteins were glutamic and aspartic acid, glycine, alanine and leucine. The results indicate that the amino acid composition in the salivary glands of Lygus species does not differ markedly from that of the whole insect. The functions of salivary amino acids are discussed.     

Chemical Constituents of <i>Pedicularis longiflora</i> var. <i>tubiformis</i> (Orobanchaceae), a Common Hemiparasitic Medicinal Herb from the Qinghai Lake Basin,China

Pedicularis longiflora var. tubiformis (Orobanchaceae) is an abundant parasitic herb mainly found in the Xiaopohu wetland of the Qinghai Lake Basin in Northwestern China. The species has an important local medicinal value, and in this study, we evaluated the chemical profile of its stems, leaves and seeds using mass spectrometry. Dried samples of stems, leaves and seeds were grinded, weighted, and used for a series of extractions with an ultrasonic device at room temperature. The chemical profiles for each tissue were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid ChromatographyMass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Twenty-seven amino acids and organic acids were identified and quantified from stems, leaves and seeds. The content of amino acids detected in leaves and seeds was higher than the amount found in stems. Six flavonoids were also detected, including isoorientin, orientin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, apigenin and tricin. The concentrations of luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin and tricin were the highest and more concentrated in leaves, while that of orientin was the lowest and mainly found in stems. Soluble monosaccharides and oligosaccharides below tetramer were also examined, and our analyses detected the presence of arabitol, fructose, galacturonic acid, glucose, glucuronic acid, inositol, sucrose, and trehalose. This is the first study to identify and quantify the main components of amino acids, organic acids, flavonoids and soluble sugars from stems, leaves and seeds of P. longiflora var. tubiformis. Eight of the amino acids detected are essential for humans, highlighting the medicinal importance of this species. Results shown here can be used as a reference case to develop future studies on the chemical constituents of Pedicularis herbs and other medicinal plants from the Tibetan region.