Major xanthones from Garcinia quadrifaria and Garcinia staudtii stem barks

The stem bark of Garcinia quadrifaria has yielded the novel xanthone 1, 3, 5-trihydroxy-4, 8-di(3,3-dimethylallyl)xanthone and the biflavonoids O-methylfukugetin and morelloflavone. The seeds contained the biflavonoids but not the xanthone. G. staudtii stem bark gave rheediaxanthone-A and the polyisoprenylated benzophenone xanthochymol. .     

Manniflavanone,a new 3,8-linked flavanone dimer from the stem bark of Garcinia mannii

A new biflavanone has been isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia mannii (Guttiferae) and identified as I-3′-II-3,3′-I-4′-II-4′-I-5-II-5-I-7-II-7-nonahydroxy-I-3-II-8-biflavanone. Structural assignments for this compound, which has been named manniflavanone, were made on the basis of spectral studies and simple degradation. The complex xanthone derivative xanthochymol has also been isolated.     

Xanthones and biflavonoids from Garcinia densivenia stem bark

The stem bark of a species of Garcinia (Guttiferae), provisionally identified as G. densivenia, has yielded a xanthone and two biflavonoids. The xanthone has been characterized as a novel 1,3,5,6-tetraoxygenated compound and has been assigned the trivial name pyranojacareubin (1,5-dihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethylpyrano (2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano (2″,3″:6,7)-xanthone). The biflavonoids were identified as morelloflavone and its methyl ether derivative, O-methyl fukugetin.     

A pungent diarylheptanoid from Alpinia oxyphylla

From the neutral fraction of the methanolic extract of the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, a new pungent compound has been isolated, and is shown to be 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3-heptanone. This compound is 125 times more pungent than zingerone.     

Thonningine-A and thonningine-B: two 3-phenylcoumarins from the seeds of Millettia thonningii

The seeds of Millettia thonningii have yielded four isoflavones and three 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcoumarins, of which two are novel. On the basis of spectral analyses the novel compounds have been identified as 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano (4″,5″:6,7)coumarin (thonningine-A) and 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(4′-methoxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano(4″, 5″: 6,7)coumarin (thonningine-B).     

Antiplasmodial and other constituents from four Indonesian Garcinia spp.

Phytochemical investigations of four Garcinia spp. from Indonesia, i.e. Garcinia griffithii T. Anderson, Garcinia celebica L., Garcinia cornea L. and Garcinia cymosa K. Schum (Clusiaceae), have resulted in the isolation of a xanthone, 1,5-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-2,7-diprenylxanthone, 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone, isoxanthochymol, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside and stigmasterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside from the stem bark of G. griffithii; friedelin and 3β-hydroxy-23-oxo-9,16-lanostadien-26-oic acid or garcihombronane D from leaves of G. celebica; 23-hydroxy-3-oxo-cycloart-24-en-26-oic acid and epicatechin from stem bark of G. cornea; (±)-morelloflavone, morelloflavone-7-O-β-d-glucoside or fukugiside, the triterpene 3β-hydroxy-5-glutinen-28-oic acid and canophyllol from stem bark of G. cymosa. The xanthone and garcihombronane D displayed a selective activity against Plasmodium falciparum; isoxanthochymol and the triterpene β-hydroxy-5-glutinen-28-oic acid a broad but non-selective antiprotozoal activity.     

Pyrones from the bark of Garcinia conrauana: Conrauanalactone,a novel C20 derived α-pyrone

Conrauanalactone has been isolated from the bark of Garcinia conrauana Engl. (Guttiferae) and identified, on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence, as 4-hydroxy-6-pentadecyl- 2-pyrone. Minor constituents of the bark have been identified as 5,7-dihydroxychromone and eriodictyol.     

Further phloroglucinol derivatives in the fruits of Mallotus japonicus

Two new rottlerin-like phloroglucinol derivatives were detected from the fruits of Mallotus japonicus and identified as 3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5-(3-acetyl-2,4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-6-methoxybenzyl)-phlorobutyrophenone and -phloroisobutyrophenone by spectral studies. 2,6-Dihydroxy-3-methyl-4-methoxyacetophenone was also isolated     

Purification of cytochromes P-448 from β-naphthoflavone-treated rainbow trout

Rainbow trout were treated with β-naphthoflavone and the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 solubilized with 3-[(3-cholaminopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate. Chromatography on tryptamine-Sepharose 4B gave a single cytochrome P-450 peak which was further resolved into three components by elution from DEAE-Sepharose. The two main peaks were then chromatographed on hydroxyapatite and a total of four fractions obtained. Two of these fractions had similar properties and significantly metabolized $\text{[}{}^{14}\text{C}\text{]}\text{benzo}\text{[a]}\text{pyrene}$ in a reconstituted system containing rat cytochrome P-450 reductase. This activity was inhibited by α-naphthoflavone but not by metyrapone or SKF-525A. Purified cytochromes P-448 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rat had similar spectral properties and activity towards $\text{[}{}^{14}\text{C}\text{]}\text{benzo}\text{[a]}\text{pyrene}$ suggesting similarities between these forms.     

Flavonoids from the seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis

Seven flavonoids have been isolated from the seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis of which four appear to be novel. The new compounds have been identified as the β-hydroxychalcone demethylpraecansone-B and the flavanones 7-(3,3-dimethylallyloxy)-8-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-but-1-enyl)flavanone, 7-(3,3-dimethylallyloxy)-8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5-methoxyflavanone and 8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone.     

Cis-avicennol,a new pyranocoumarin from the root bark of Zanthoxylum elephantiasis

A new pyranocoumarin has been isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum elephantiasis and identified as cis-avicennol (6-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-cis-but-1-enyl)-5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl- 2H-benzo [1,2b:3,4b′] dipyran-8-one) on the basis of comparison of spectral data with that of trans-avicennol and conversion to tetrahydroavicennol. The usefulness of the lanthanide shift reagent Eu(fod)₃ in the assignment of cis configuration to the butenyl sidechain is briefly discussed.     

Quinoline alkaloids and cytotoxic lignans from Haplophyllum tuberculatum

Three quinoline alkaloids and two lignan lactones were isolated from Haplophyllum tuberculatum. Physicochemical and spectral evidence established the structures of two of the alkaloids as a new quinoldione, 3-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)-3-(3″,3″-dimethylallyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4-quinoldione and the known 4-(3′,3′-dimethylallyloxy)-3-(3″,3″-dimethylallyl)-2(1H)-quinolone. The former was shown to undergo facile [3,3]-sigmatotropic transformation into the latter. The remaining compounds were identified as the known Polygamain, kusunokinin and 1-methyl-2-n-nonyl-4(1H)-quinolone.     

The 520 nm absorbance changes in Scenedesmus obliquus and its relation to Photosystem I

The kinetics (region of seconds) of the light-induced 520 nm absorbance change and its dark reversal have been studied in detail in the wild type and in some pigment and photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus. The following 5 lines of evidence led us to conclude that the signal is entirely due to the photosystem I reaction modified by electron flow from Photosystem II.Gradual blocking of the electron transport with 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea resulted in diminution and ultimate elimination of the biphasic nature of the signal without reducing the extent of the absorbance change or of the dark kinetics. On the contrary, blocking electron flow at the oxidizing side of plastoquinone with 2, $\text{5-}\text{dibromo}\text{-3-}\text{methyl}\text{-6-}\text{isoprophyl}\text{-p-}\text{benzoquinone}$ or inactivating the plastocyanin with KCN, prolonged the dark reversal of the absorbance change apart from abolishing the biphasic nature of the signal.Action spectra clearly indicate that the main signal (I) is due to electron flow in Photosystem I and that its modification (Signal II) is due to the action of Photosystem II.Signal I is pH independent, whereas Signal II demonstrates a strong pH dependence, parallel to the O₂-evolving capacity of the cells.Chloroplast particles isolated from the wild type Scenedesmus cells demonstrated in the absence of any added artificial electron donor or acceptor and also under non-phosphorylation conditions the 520 nm absorbance change with approximately the same magnitude as whole cells. The dark kinetics of the particles were comparatively slower. Removal of plastocyanin and other electron carriers by washing with Triton X-100 slowed down the kinetics of the dark reversal reaction to a greater extent. A similar positive absorbance change at 520 nm and slow dark reversal was also observed in the Photosystem I particles prepared by the Triton method.Mutant C-6E, which contains neither carotenoids nor chlorophyll $\text{b}$ and lacks Photosystem II activity, demonstrates a normal signal I of the 520 nm absorbance change. This latter result contradicts the postulate that carotenoids are the possible cause of the 520 nm absorbance change.     

Picosecond time-resolved energy transfer in Porphyridium cruentum. Part I. In the intact alga

The wavelength-resolved fluorescence emission kinetics of the accessory pigments and chlorophyll a in Porphyridium cruentum have been studied by picosecond laser spectroscopy. Direct excitation of the pigment B-phycoerythrin with a 530 nm, 6 ps pulse produced fluorescence emission from all of the pigments as a result of energy transfer between the pigments to the reaction centre of Photosystem II. The emission from B-phycoerythrin at 576 nm follows a nonexponential decay law with a mean fluorescence lifetime of 70 ps, whereas the fluorescence from R-phycocyanin (640 nm), allophycocyanin (660 nm) and chlorophyll a (685 nm) all appeared to follow an exponential decay law with lifetimes of 90 ps, 118 ps and 175 ps respectively. Upon closure of the Photosystem II reaction centres with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and preillumination the chlorophyll a decay became non-exponential, having a long component with an apparent lifetime of 840 ps. The fluorescence from the latter three pigments all showed finite risetimes to the maximum emission intensity of 12 ps for R-phycocyanin, 24 ps for allophycocyanin and 50 ps for chlorophyll a.A kinetic analysis of these results indicates that energy transfer between the pigments is at least 99% efficient and is governed by an exp $\text{?At}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ transfer function. The apparent exponential behaviour of the fluorescence decay functions of the latter three pigments is shown to be a direct result of the energy transfer kinetics, as are the observed risetimes in the fluorescence emissions.     

A substituted 1,2-diarylethane from Cymbidium giganteum

In addition to sitosterol and taraxerone, a new substituted 1,2-diarylethane, gigantol has been isolated from Cymbidium giganteum and characterized as 1-(3′-hydroxy-5′-methoxyphenyl-2-(4″-hydroxy-5″-methoxyphenyl)ethane on the basis of physicochemical data and through synthesis of its derivative.     

Photosynthetic electron transport,ATP synthesis and nitrogenase activity in isolated heterocysts of Anabaena cylindrica

Isolated heterocysts of the N₂-fixing blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica contain the Photosystem I components P-700, bound and soluble ferredoxins and ferredoxin-NADP reductase. They also show Photosystem I activity being able to photoreduce both methylviologen and NADP when ascorbate+dichlorophenol-indophenol acts as reductant. They photophosphorylate (64 μmol ATP produced/mg chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{h}$) and carry out oxidative phosphorylation (8.7 μmol ATP produced/mg chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{h}$). Ninety per cent of the total cell-free extract nitrogenase activity is located in the heterocyst fraction of aerobic cultures.     

The structures of garcinones a,b and c: Three new xanthones from Garcinia mangostana

Three new tetraoxygenated xanthones (garcinones A, B and C), each disubstituted with C₅-units, have been isolated from the chloroform extract of the fruit-hulls of Garcinia mangostana. Their structures were established by a combination of spectral interpretation and chemical correlation.     

Reactions between primary and secondary acceptors of Photosystem II in Chlorella Pyrenoidosa under anaerobic conditions as studied by chlorophyll a fluorescence

The kinetics of the fluorescence yield Ф of chlorophyll a in Chlorella pyrenoidosa were studied under anaerobic conditions in the time range from 50 μs to several minutes after short ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 30}\text{ns}$ or 5 μs) saturating flashes. The fluorescence yield “in the dark” increased from $\text{Ф = 1}$ at the beginning to $\text{Ф ≈ 5}$ in about 3 h when single flashes separated by dark intervals of about 3 min were given.After one saturating flash, Ф increased to a maximum value (4–5) at 50 μs, then Ф decreased to about 3 with a half time of about 10 ms and to the initial value with a half time of about 2 s. When two flashes separated by 0.2 s were given, the first phase of the decrease after the second flash occurred within 2 ms. After one flash given at high initial fluorescence yield, the 10-ms decay was followed by a 10 s increase to the initial value. After the two flashes 0.2 s apart, the rapid decay was not follewed by a slow increase.These and other experiments provided additional evidence for and extend an earlier hypothesis concerning the acceptor complex of Photosystem II (Bouges-Bocquet, B. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 314, 250–256; Velthuys, B. R. and Amesz, J. (1974) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 333, 85–94): reaction center 2 contains an acceptor complex QR consisting of an electron-transferring primary acceptor molecule Q, and a secondary electron acceptor R, which can accept two electrons in succession, but transfers two electrons simultaneously to a molecule of the tertiary acceptor pool, containing plastoquinone (A). Furthermore, the kinetics indicate that 2 reactions centers of System I, excited by a short flash, cooperate directly or indirectly in oxidizing a plastohydroquinone molecule (A^2?). If initially all components between photoreaction 1 and 2 are in the reduced state the following sequence of reactions occurs after a flash has oxidised A^2? via System I: Q^?R^2? + A → Q^?R + A^2? → QR^? + A^2?. During anaerobiosis two slow reactions manifest themselves: the reduction of R (and A) within 1 s, presumably by an endogenous electron donor D₁, and the reduction of Q in about 10 s when R is in the state R^? and A in the state A^2?. An endogenous electron donor, D₂, and Q^? compete in reducing the photooxidized donor complex of System II in reactions with half times of the order of 1 s.     

Isolation and characterization of Photosystem I and II membrane particles from the blue-green alga, Synechococcus cedrorum

Fractions enriched in either Photosystem I or Photosystem II activity have been isolated from the blue-green alga, Synechococcus cedrorum after digitonin treatment. Sedimentation of this homogenate on a 10–30% sucrose gradient yielded three green bands: the upper band was enriched in Photosystem II, the lowest band was enriched in Photosystem I, while the middle band contained both activities. Large quantities of both particles were isolated by zonal centrifugation, and the material was then further purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose.The resulting Photosystem II particles carried out light-induced electron transport from semicarbizide to ferricyanide of over 2000 μmol/mg Chlorophyll per h (which was sensitive to 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea), and was nearly devoid of Photosystem I activity. This particle contains β-carotene, very little phycocyanin, has a chlorophyll absorption maximum at 675 nm, and a liquid N₂ fluorescence maximum at 685 nm. The purest Photosystem II particles have a chlorophyll to cytochrome $\text{b-559}$ ratio of 50 : 1. The Photosystem I particle is highly enriched in $\text{P-700}$, with a chlorophyll to $\text{P-700}$ ratio of 40 : 1. The physical structure of the two Photosystem particles has also been studied by gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. These results indicate that the size and protein composition of the two particles are distinctly different.     

Light-dependent development of photosynthetic competence in Scenedesmus mutant no. 8

The heterotrophically grown, $\text{P-700-}\text{free}$ mutant No. 8 of Scenedesmus obliquus is unable to carry out photosynthesis. Yet, chloroplast particles isolated from the alga reduced ferricyanide. They also reduced methyl viologen in the presence of the artificial donor reduced 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol with a low yield but an appreciable saturation rate. NADP reduction or $\text{P-700}$ turn-over could not be detected.When grown mixotrophically, the mutant showed increasing $\text{P-700}$ activity with a concomitant increase in the rate of photosynthesis. Both activities were lost again when the algae were returned to darkness. Isolated chloroplast particles showed a good $\text{P-700}$ turn-over and reasonable rates of NADP reduction.The data suggest that the mutation occurred at a site preceding the formation of the pigment. The results on the photochemical activities are discussed in the light of reports concerning the involvement of $\text{P-700}$ in linear electron transport.