Alcaloïdes steroidiques du Malouetia Brachyloba et du M. Heudelotii

Malouetine and funtumafrine C have been isolated from the leaves of Malouetia brachyloba, indicating that this species is not very different from M. bequaertiana. Five conanine derivatives have been extracted from the leaves of M. heudelotii, a species which does not contain any alkaloid with a quaternary ammonium function.     

Toxicity of Leaf and Stem Extracts to Tylenchorhynchus dubius

Plant extracts, made by grinding 2 g of fresh tissue in 5 ml of water, were toxic to Tylenchorhynchus dubius and Hoplolaimus spp. Such extracts from leaves and stems of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were most toxic; those from leaves of corn (Zea mays L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense L.) were less toxic; and extracts of bean roots were nontoxic. Nematode movement slowed markedly within 1 hr in tobacco leaf extract, and within 4 hr in bean leaf extract; both extracts completely inactivated or killed 95% of the nematodes in 24 hr. Heating leaf extract 10 min at 80 C eliminated toxicity. Absorption of fusicoccin, a phytotoxin produced by Fusicoccum amygdali Del., increased the toxicity of tomato leaf extracts, whereas water extracts of acetone-extracted powder preparations of leaves were about 15-fold more toxic than water extracts of fresh tissue. Addition of homogenized leaves of bean, tobacco and tomato to soil significantly reduced nematode populations within 3 days.     

Elemental and metabolite profiling of nickel hyperaccumulators from New Caledonia

Leaf material from nine Ni hyperaccumulating species was collected in New Caledonia: Homalium kanaliense (Vieill.) Briq., Casearia silvana Schltr, Geissois hirsuta Brongn. & Gris, Hybanthus austrocaledonicus Seem, Psychotria douarrei (G. Beauvis.) Däniker, Pycnandra acuminata (Pierre ex Baill.) Swenson & Munzinger (syn Sebertia acuminata Pierre ex Baill.), Geissois pruinosa Brongn. & Gris, Homalium deplanchei (Viell) Warb. and Geissois bradfordii (H.C. Hopkins). The elemental concentration was determined by inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and from these results it was found that the species contained Ni concentrations from to 250–28,000 mg/kg dry mass. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based metabolite profiling was then used to analyse leaves of each species. The aim of this study was to target Ni-binding ligands through correlation analysis of the metabolite levels and leaf Ni concentration. Approximately 258 compounds were detected in each sample. As has been observed before, a correlation was found between the citric acid and Ni concentrations in the leaves for all species collected. However, the strongest Ni accumulator, P. douarrei, has been found to contain particularly high concentrations of malonic acid, suggesting an additional storage mechanism for Ni. A size exclusion chromatography separation protocol for the separation of Ni-complexes in P. acuminata sap was also applied to aqueous leaf extracts of each species. A number of metabolites were identified in complexes with Ni including Ni-malonate from P. douarrei. Furthermore, the levels for some metabolites were found to correlate with the leaf Ni concentration. These data show that Ni ions can be bound by a range of small molecules in Ni hyperaccumulation in plants.     

Composition and antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanolic Pelargonium radula extracts

Pelargonium radula (Cav.) L'Hér is a plant with hypoglycaemic properties originating from South Africa. Since oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of diabetic complications, the aim of this study was to evaluate if P. radula, besides its glucose-lowering properties, can have additional beneficial effects on diabetes. For preparation of extracts fresh or dried leaves were extracted at 20 °C with either ethanol or water. Since P. radula is commercially cultivated for its essential oil, the residues obtained after steam distillation of essential oil from dry or fresh leaves were also included in the investigation. Content of phenols (total phenols, flavonoids and tannins) was determined in the extracts. Antioxidant activity was established as radical scavenging and chelating activity, reducing power and activity in β-carotene-linoleic acid assay. To establish possible intracellular effects of the extracts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was determined in Hep G2 cells with glucose induced oxidative stress. All the extracts were found to possess antioxidant activities and were able to reduce LDH leakage from Hep G2 cells. In addition to having excellent extraction yields the residues obtained after steam distillation of essential oil showed the most pronounced antioxidant activity in our study. The results of the present study suggest that P. radula leaf might be useful as complementary therapy in diabetes.     

Enzymatic assays and molecular modeling studies of Schisandra chinensis lignans and phenolics from fruit and leaf extracts

Abstract

Considerable interest has been shown in natural sources and their compounds in developing new therapeutically agents for different diseases. In this framework, investigations performed on this topic play a central role for human health and drug development process. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill is a medicinal and edible plant showing highly advantageous bioactivity and nutritional value. The main bioactive compounds from its fruits are lignans, derivatives of dibenzocyclooctadiene whereas concerning its leaves, phenolic acids, and flavonoids are dominant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the enzyme inhibitory potential on selected carbohydrate hydrolases, cholinesterases, and tyrosinase of extracts from fruits and leaves of Schisandra in relation with their main bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the interactions between dominant compounds (schisandrol A, schisandrol B, schisandrin B, and cinnamic acid) from extracts and selected enzymes were investigated by molecular modeling and molecular dynamic studies in order to explain at a molecular level our findings.     

Site of synthesis of geranylgeraniol derivatives in intact spinach chloroplasts

Chloroplasts isolated from fully developed spinach leaves and incubated in the presence of isopentenyl pyrophosphate were able to synthesize rapidly geranylgeranyl chlorophyll a and geranylgeraniol.The biosynthesis of the geranylgeraniol derivatives from isopentenyl pyrophosphate is a compartimentalized process. The membrane fractions (thylakoid and envelope membranes) were essentially unable to synthesize geranylgeraniol, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl chlorophyll a. When stromal and thylakoid fractions were combined the capacity to synthesize geranylgeranyl chlorophyll a and geranylgeraniol was restored. When stromal and envelope membrane fractions were combined the capacity to synthesize geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeraniol was restored. The products of the reaction were discharged inside the lipid phase of the membranes.     

Improving propagation methods of Ricinodendron heudelotti Baill. from cuttings

Ricinodendron heudelotii is a valuable multipurpose tree from Africa that is lacking an efficient and inexpensive vegetative propagation method. To improve multiplication, a series of nursery experiments were conducted to assess the effect of propagation media, plant growth regulators (NAA and IBA), accession source harvest timing, cutting type, and pre-treatment with honey. Maximum survival and rooting percentages of 90.2 and 93.7% respectively were achieved in all experiments. The maximum number of leaves and roots were respectively, 7.4 and 8.7; maximum root length was 15.6 cm. Fine sand was superior to sawdust or fine sand:sawdust mixture. IBA, at 100 μg/l was more effective than NAA for rooting and growth. Principal component analysis showed that, independent of the accession source, cuttings harvested from April to May were more suitable for propagation, giving the highest rates of rooting and growth. In contrast, variable results were achieved with apical cuttings (highest rooting), basal single-node leafy cuttings (highest number of leaves and length of root) and basal two-node leafy cuttings (highest number of roots). Cuttings were more successful when they were soaked in honey for 60 min. After acclimatization, maximum survival rate of plants was 67.6%. This improved protocol can be incorporated into agro forestry system in which propagation of R. heudelotii is a component.     

A strophanthidin glycoside in siberian wallflower: A contact deterrent for the large white butterfly

In the greenhouse the Large White butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.) does not oviposit on the Siberian wallflower (Cheiranthus x allionii) or Erysimum scoparium. From the leaves of Cheiranthus x allionii we extracted a strophanthidin glycoside (also present in washings from the leaf surface which when sprayed onto cabbage leaves inhibited egg laying. These extracts were tested in a dual choice chamber. Assayed on the butterfly's tarsal receptors the strophanthidin glycoside produced a high, to very high impulse frequency, which is phasi-tonic, with only one cell firing. It appears to be the first natural contact oviposition deterrent recorded for the Lepidoptera.     

Fat Metabolism in Higher Plants: LXII. Stearl-acyl Carrier Protein Desaturase from Spinach Chloroplasts

Stearyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase (EC 1.14.99.6), present in the stroma fraction of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplasts, rapidly desaturated enzymatically prepared stearyl-acyl carrier protein to oleic acid. No other substrates were desaturated. In addition to stearyl-acyl carrier protein, reduced ferredoxin was an essential component of the system. The electron donor systems were either ascorbate, dichlorophenolindophenol, photosystem I and light, or NADPH and ferredoxin-NADP reductase. The desaturase was more active in extracts prepared from chloroplasts obtained from immature spinach leaves than from mature leaves. Stearyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase also occurs in soluble extracts of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) mesocarp and of developing safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds.     

The oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid by supernatants of homogenates of barley leaves infected with powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC.) and by extracts from the surface of barley roots

The supernatants obtained after the centrifugation of the homogenates of healthy barley leaves and the extracts from the surface of barley roots can enzymatically oxidize exogenously supplied IAA in the presence of Mn²⁺ ions and 2,4-dichlorophenol. On the contrary, IAA oxidation is strongly inhibited or does not occur at all in the supernatants from the leaves infected with powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC.) and in the extracts from the surface of both healthy and diseased leaves. The supernatants from diseased leaves inhibit IAA oxidation proportionally to the amount of the added supernatant. That indicates that natural inhibitors formed in the course of infection are present. In the case of the roots, the enzyme obviously penetrates to the surface of the organ. The presence of the enzyme on the surface of the leaves could not be proved either for its low concentration or owing to the presence of the above-mentioned inhibitors.     

In vitro synthesis of a mutagenic azide metabolite by cell-free bacterial extracts

Cell-free extracts of Salmonella typhimurium synthesize a mutagenic azide metabolite from sodium azide and O-acetylserine. S. typhimurium mutant DW379 (O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase-deficient) extracts were neither able to carry out this reaction nor produce the mutagenic azide metabolite in vivo. The in vitro reaction was inhibited by sulfide but not by l-cysteine. The catalytic activity responsible for the mutagenic metabolite synthesis was stable to brief heating up to 55°C and had a pH optimum between 7–7.4. These results suggest that the enzyme O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase catalyzes the reaction of azide with O-acetylserine to form a mutagenic azide metabolite.     

黑河下游绿洲胡杨生长状况与叶生态特征

选择黑河下游额济纳绿洲为研究区,以优势物种胡杨(Populus euphratica Oliv.)为研究对象。在2009年和2010年对研究区胡杨的生长状况、叶生态特征和生境进行了调查。调查结果表明:胡杨受水分胁迫的程度增强,生长态势变差,其枯枝比由2.45%增加到81.00%,其比叶面积由11.84 m2/kg减少到5.35 m2/kg。叶气孔密度变化很大,最小值为105(个/mm2),最大值为218(个/mm2),平均值为158.4(个/mm2),随着地下水埋深的增加,叶气孔密度先减少后增加之后再显著减少(P0.05),呈三次函数关系。研究得出枯枝比能够反映胡杨分布区地下水的变化状况,是林相描述比较重要的指标,比叶面积和叶气孔密度能够指示胡杨种群环境变化。研究结果可为荒漠河岸林恢复和生态输水效应评价提供科学依据。     

Dalnigrin, a neoflavonoid marker for the identification of Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) in CITES enforcement

International trade in Brazilian rosewood, Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Allemão ex Benth., is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). One problem in enforcing these regulations is the difficulty in distinguishing the wood of D. nigra from that of a closely-related but unregulated species, Dalbergia spruceana Benth. Using LC-MS to analyse methanol extracts of xylaria specimens, we identified a chemical marker for D. nigra heartwood, and determined its structure as the neoflavonoid 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (4′-O-methylmelanettin; dalnigrin), using spectroscopic techniques. Dalnigrin was present in all nine available heartwood specimens of D. nigra, but it was not detected in extracts of 59 other heartwood samples representing 15 species of Dalbergia, including D. spruceana. Five other phenolic compounds were also isolated from D. nigra heartwood and similarly identified as the neoflavonoids 3′-hydroxymelanettin, melanettin, melannein and dalbergin, and the isoflavone caviunin. In extracts of D. spruceana heartwood, pseudobaptigenin was identified by LC-MS to be a major phenolic component that was not detected in wood extracts of D. nigra. We conclude that chemical analysis, in combination with anatomical investigation, can provide persuasive evidence to support the positive identification of untreated heartwood of D. nigra.     

ent-Kaurene Biosynthesis in Cell-Free Extracts of Excised Parts of Tall and Dwarf Pea Seedlings

Investigations on the sites of ent-kaur-16-ene (ent-kaurene) biosynthesis were conducted with cell-free extracts from several excised parts of 10-, 13-, and 16-d-old tall and dwarf pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings. [¹⁴C]Mevalonic acid was incorporated into ent-kaurene in cell-free extracts from young developing leaves and elongating internodes of tall (`Alaska') and dwarf (`Progress No.9') pea seedlings at all three stages of development. ent-Kaurene biosynthesis also occurred readily in cell-free extracts from shoot tips, petioles, and stipules near the young elongating internodes. The ent-kaurene-synthesizing activity found in young developing tissues declined as tissues matured. Little or no activity was detectable in enzyme extracts from cotyledons and root tips at different stages. In light grown tall pea internodes ent-kaurene-synthesizing activity was low as they began to elongate, reached a maximum when the internodes reached about 2 cm in length and declined as they matured. Activity in extracts of dwarf shoot tips and internodes was generally lower than in equivalent tall plants, but the activity in dwarf leaves and stipules was somewhat higher than in tall plants. With the exception of root tips, there is a strong correlation between growth potential of a tissue and the rate of ent-kaurene biosynthesis in extracts from that tissue.     

Relationship of Camphor Biosynthesis to Leaf Development in Sage (Salvia officinalis)

The camphor content of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) leaves increases as the leaves expand, and the increase is roughly proportional to the number of filled peltate oil glands which appear on the leaf surface during the expansion process. ¹⁴CO₂ is more rapidly incorporated into camphor and its direct progenitors in expanding leaves than in mature leaves, and direct in vitro measurement of the key enzymes involved in the conversion of geranyl pyrophosphate to camphor indicates that these enzymes, including the probable rate-limiting cyclization step, are at the highest levels during the period of maximum leaf expansion. These results clearly demonstrate that immature sage leaves synthesize and accumulate camphor most rapidly.     

UDPG: p-Coumarate glucosyltransferase activity in enzyme extracts from higher plants

Leaves of Coleus, Pilea, Cistus and Cestrum, and ripe tomatoes were all able to convert trans-cinnamic acid-[3-¹⁴C]into glucose esters of cinnamic acids. The pool sizes of these esters were measured by the radioisotopic dilution method, and they were found to be of the order of a few μg/g fresh plant material. 1-O-Caffeoyl-β-d-glucose in Cestrum leaves amounted to 70μg/g fresh plant material. Enzyme extracts from Cestrum leaves were able to convert trans-p-coumaric acid-[3-¹⁴C] to 1-O-p-coumaroyl-β-d- glucose, using UDPG as a source of glucose. This enzyme activity could be measured only by trapping techniques, due to the presence of considerable hydrolase activity in crude enzyme extracts.     

Interference by phosphatases in the spectrophotometric assay for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase

The aim of this work was to discover the extent of interference by phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) phosphatase in spectrophotometric assays of PEP carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) in crude extracts of plant organs. The presence of PEP phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in extracts leads to PEP-dependent NADH oxidation that is independent of PEP carboxylase activity, and hence to overestimation of PEP carboxylase activity. In extracts of three organs of pea (Pisum sativum L.: leaves, developing embryos, and Rhizobium nodules), two organs of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.: developing grain and endosperm), and leaves of Moricandia arvensis (L.) D.C., lactate dehydrogenase activity was at most only 16% of that of PEP carboxylase at the pH optimum for PEP carboxylase activity. Endogenous PEP phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase are thus unlikely to interfere seriously with the assay for PEP carboxylase at its optimum pH. Addition of lactate dehydrogenase to PEP carboxylase assays— a proposed means of correcting for nonenzymic decarboxylation of oxaloacetate to pyruvate—resulted in increases in PEP-dependent NADH oxidation from zero (Rhizobium nodules) to 131% (wheat grains). There was no obvious relationship between the magnitude of this increase and conditions in the assay that might promote oxaloacetate decarboxylation. However, the magnitude of the increase was highly positively correlated with the activity of PEP phosphatase in the extract. Addition of lactate dehydrogenase to PEP carboxylase assays can thus result in very large overestimations of PEP carboxylase activity, and should only be used as a means of correction for oxaloacetate decarboxylation for extracts with negligible PEP phosphatase activity.     

Allelopathic potential of Bothriochloa laguroides var. laguroides (DC.) Herter (Poaceae: Andropogoneae)

Bothriochloa laguroides var. laguroides (DC.) Herter, a native bluestem of America, has been shown to produce many biologically active compounds. The allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts from roots, stems and leaves was examined. Lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) and maize (Zea mays), the common allelopathy bioassay systems, as well as seeds from two native species, wintergreen paspalum (Paspalum guenoarum) and lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula), were germinated in the presence of aqueous extracts. Percent seed germination, root and shoot elongation were measured. After 4 and 7 days root, stem and leaf extracts caused inhibition of root and shoot elongation in all four species tested. Aqueous extracts were generally less inhibitory to seed germination. Aqueous extracts from different parts of B. laguroides var. laguroides show therefore allelopathic effects inhibiting, in particular, growth of competing plants.     

杜仲叶绿原酸的提取，分离和鉴定

杜仲叶绿原酸的提取、分离和鉴定＠戚向阳＠张声华￥华中农业大学食品科学系杜仲叶;绿原酸;提取;鉴定杜仲叶绿原酸的提取、分离和鉴定戚向阳张声华（华中农业大学食品科学系,武汉４３００７０）Ｔｈｅｅｘｔｒａｃｔｉｏｎ,ｉｓｏｌａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｉｄｅｎｔｉｆｉｃａｔ...