New sesquiterpenoids of Bombax malabaricum

Hemigossypol-6-methyl ether, reported to be present in the root bark of Bombax malabaricum, has been shown to be isohemigossypol-1-methyl ether. Isohemigossypol-1,2-dimethyl ether, 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone, 7-hydroxycadalene and an unidentified phenolic compound have also been isolated. Long range couplings in the ¹H NMR spectrum of isohemigossypol-1-methyl ether have been established by decoupling experiments.     

Essential oil variation in Calyptranthes spruceana

Two chemical races in Calyptranthes spruceana were examined. One of them contains limonene, geranial and perillaldehyde as the main constituents of its essential oil. The other is shown to contain α-pinene, β-pinene, neral and geranial as its major oil components.     

Cuauthemone sesquiterpenoids from Blumea alata

The investigation of five Blumea species afforded, in addition to known compounds, several cuauthemone derivatives, most of them being 7,11-epoxides, some thymol derivatives, an eremophilane epoxide and a himachalane diol. From Pterocaulon virgatum a further himachalane derivative was isolated. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and in part by partial synthesis.     

Changes in the sweet proteins (thaumatins) in thaumatococcus danielli fruits during development

The thaumatin content (forms TO, TI and TII) of fruits from Thaumatococcus danielli at various stages of maturation were examined. The amounts of all three forms of sweet protein increased during maturation to reach a total of about 50 mg/g in mature aril tissue in fruits from both the Ashanti and Kadjebe regions of Ghana. TO was a minor form in fruits at all stages of development from both regions. The major regional difference was that TII was absent from the Kadjebe fruits; however, the total level of sweet proteins was maintained by increased levels of TO and TI. Structural and immunological comparisons of the three thaumatin forms showed that TO is closely related to the other two forms which are known to differ at only five positions in their primary structure.     

Sesquiterpenes of six Porella species (hepaticae)

The distribution in six Porella species of drimane-, aromadendrane- and pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes and norsesquiterpenes is described. The sharp pungent substance of P. gracillissima, P. fauriei and P. macroloba is (+)-tadeonal.     

Sesquiterpenes from Artemisia princeps

Copaene, cyperene, caryophyllene, β-farnesene, α-himachalene, γ-humulene and farnesyl acetate were isolated from the root of Artemisia princeps. As a result of isomerization studies on γ-humulene, the main constituent, a preferred conformation was proposed.     

New sesquiterpenes from Pleocarphus revolutus

Six new sesquiterpenes of the guaiane and isopatchoulenone types have been isolated from the Chilean plant Pleocarphus revolutus. Of these, the compound hydroxy-isopatchoulenone and related esters showed cytotoxicity towards TLX5 mouse mammary lymphoma cells.     

Volatile constituents of spanish origanum (Coridothymus capitatus) essential oil

Analysis of the neutral fraction of Coridothymus capitatus essential oil (Spanish origanum oil) revealed 61 components. Of the new components reported there were 25 monoterpenes, 9 sesquiterpenes, 5 aliphatic, 1 phenol and 1 phenyl ether.     

Enantiomeric type sesquiterpenoids of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

A series of ent-sesquiterpenoids corresponding to the optical antipodes of those in higher plants have been isolated from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. These sesquiterpenoids provide yet another example of the peculiar stereospecificity of the biogenesis of the liverwort sesquiterpenoids and suggest a special taxonomic position of the liverworts in the plant kingdom.     

UV-B is required for normal development of oil glands in Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil)

Plants of Ocimum basilicum L. grown under glass were exposed to short treatments with supplementary UV-B. The effect of UV-B on volatile essential oil content was analysed and compared with morphological effects on the peltate and capitate glandular trichomes. In the absence of UV-B, both peltate and capitate glands were incompletely developed in both mature and developing leaves, the oil sacs being wrinkled and only partially filled. UV-B was found to have two main effects on the glandular trichomes. During the first 4 d of treatment, both peltate and capitate glands filled and their morphology reflected their 'normal' mature development as reported in the literature. During the following days there was a large increase in the number of broken oil sacs among the peltate glands as the mature glands broke open, releasing volatiles. Neither the number of glands nor the qualitative or quantitative composition of the volatiles was affected by UV-B. There seems to be a requirement for UV-B for the filling of the glandular trichomes of basil.     

A glucomannan from the tubers of Arum orientale

Two glucomannans (A and B), and an attendant polysaccharide (C) have been isolated from the tubers of Arum orientale (L.) by gel chromatography. Glucomannan B was found to be composed of d-glucose and d-mannose in a molar ratio of 2:3·1, and traces of uronic acid. IR spectra, enzymatic hydrolysis with α- and β-amylase, and periodate oxidation followed by reduction, showed the presence of a β-(1→4) glucoside linkage in this glucomannan, and of hexose residues in a β-pyranose form.     

Volatile constituents of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens

The essential oils of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens were compared. The composition of the hydrocarbon fraction showed a great similarity between the two species.     

Volatile phenolic constituents of spanish origanum (Coridothymus capitatus) essential oil

Analysis of the phenolic fraction of Coridothymus capitatus essential oil (Spanish origanum oil) indicated 7 major components. One of them is the well known carvacrol and among the others there are one diisopropylphenol and 5 methyldiisopropylphenols, which are found for the first time from a natural source.     

New sweet diterpene glucosides from Stevia rebaudiana

From the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, two new sweet glucosides, rebaudiosides A and B, were isolated besides the known glucosides, stevioside and steviolbioside. On the basis of IR, MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as chemical evidences, the structure of rebaudioside B was assigned as 13-O-[β-glucosyl(1-2)-β-glucosyl(1-3)]-β-glucosyl-steviol and rebaudioside A was formulated as its β-glucosyl ester.     

Varietal differences in the constituents of citronella oil

Gas chromatography of citronella oil showed that the Ceylon variety (Lenabatu) contained large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the Java variety (Mahapengiri) contained only small amounts, mainly limonene. Both types contained comparable amounts of geraniol, and the Java type more of citronellol and citronellal. In addition the Ceylon type contained tricyclene, methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol, eugenol and l-borneol. The GLC profiles enable the identification of the type of oil and the detection of kerosene as a possible adulterant. The variety that grows wild in Ceylon (Mana) was quite different to both cultivated types.     

6-Oxodendrolasin, 6-hydroxydendrolasin, 9-oxofarnesol and 9-hydroxyfarnesol,stress metabolites of the sweet potato

Four sesquiterpene stress metabolites, 6-oxodendrolasin, 6-hydroxydendrolasin, 9-oxofarnesol, and 9-hydroxyfarnesol have been isolated from mercuric chloride-treated sweet potatoes. The metabolites have been synthesized and feeding studies have been carried out to determine the extent of incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled 6-oxodendrolasin and 9-hydroxyfarnesol into ipomeamarone.     

Biotransformation of a guaiane 6,12-diol to the corresponding guaianolide in hypocotyl cuttings of Phaseolus aureus

The hypocotyl cuttings of Phaseolus aureus brought about the biotransformation of a guaiane 6,12-diol to the corresponding lactone during the formation of adventitious roots.     

Essential oil of Psiadia salviifolia

Utilizing GLC, IR, combined GC-MS, the following constituents were identified in the essential oil of Psiadia salviifolia; β-pinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, α-copaene, linalool, β-bourbonene, α-himachalene, γ-cadinene, δ-cadinene, -γ-elemene, and a hydroxy derivative of calamenene. A new monoterpene hydrocarbon was also isolated which from MS and IR evidence was named as 7-methyl-3-methylene-octa-1,4-diene.     

New hydroxy fatty acid from seed oil of Baliospermum axillare

A fatty acid, found as a minor component in the seed oil of Baliospermum axillare, is shown to be the hitherto unknown 11,13-dihydroxytetracos-trans-9-enoic acid (axillarenic acid).     

Starch breakdown in the spadix of Arum maculatum

The aim of this work was to discover the pathway of starch breakdown during thermogenesis in the club of the spadix of Arum maculatum. The conventional α-amylase of higher plants could not be demonstrated in extracts of clubs although such extracts did exhibit considerable hydrolytic activity towards starch. This activity had an action pattern characteristic of an endo-amylase, was destroyed by heating to 70°, and was not inhibited by either 7 mM ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid or 100 mM N-ethyl maleimide. Measurements of this hydrolytic activity, and of the maximum catalytic activities of starch phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase and hexokinase, were made at different stages of club development. These measurements were compared with estimates of the rate of starch breakdown at thermogenesis. This comparison indicates that phosphorolytic cleavage does not play a large role in such starch breakdown, and that this process is mediated, mainly, by the hydrolytic activity, described above, and by hexokinase.