Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of extracts from (Tunisian)Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae)

The petroleum ether, chloroformic, ethyl acetate, methanolic, Total Oligomers Flavonoids (TOF) enriched extracts, water extract as well as its fractions A₁, A₂, A₃ obtained from aerial parts ofRhamnus alaternus, a Tunisian-Mediterranean medicinal species, were investigated for the contents of phenolic compounds, cytotoxic activity against the K562 human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line and L1210 leukaemia murine cells and for antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial reference strains. A pronounced cytotoxic effect on both the cell lines was shown in the TOF, ethyl acetate, methanolic, aqueous extracts and A₂ fraction, with respectively IC₅₀ values 75, 232, 298, 606 and 571 μg/ml on K562 cells and 198, 176, 767, 560 and 614 μg/ml on L1210 cell line. Significant activity against bacterial reference strains:Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis andSalmonella typhimurium was shown with ethyl acetate, TOF extracts and A2 fraction. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities showed byR. alatemus depended on the chemical composition of the tested extracts.     

Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci for Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae)

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for Rhamnus alaternus using an enriched-library approach. We detected 69 alleles in 49 individuals genotyped (mean number of alleles per locus was 4.79) in two different populations. The values of observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.045 to 0.963 and 0.089 to 0.873 respectively. Levels of polymorphism and the exclusionary power of the developed markers render them readily applicable for studies of contemporary pollen and seed gene flow through parentage analyses.     

Evaluation of nigerian millet (pennisetum typhoideum) as a raw material for beer production

Millet (Pennisetum typhoideum) its malt and wort were evaluated to ascertain the suitability of the grain for beer production. Thousand grain weight was 8.03 g while foreign material and broken cernels represented 3.23%. Germination energy, germination capacity and moisture content of the grain were 75.67, 92.33 and 10.43%, respectively, while the carbohydrate, total nitrogen and protein contents were 53.88, 1.34 and 8.40%, respectively. Millet malt had a moisture content of 5.03% while its carbohydrate, total nitrogen, protein content and malting loss were 48.47, 1.87, 11.7 and 8.3%. pH and specific gravity of the worth were 5.70 and 1.5927, respectively; its protein content was negligible while % titratable acidity was 1.35. The low nitrogen and protein contents of the grain as well as the low malting loss make millet an attractive alternative cereal for beer production in Nigeria.     

Chiral separation of rac-Ornidazole and detection of the impurity of (R)-Ornidazole in (S)-Ornidazole injection and raw material

(S)-Ornidazole is a subject of research as an antifertility agent in male animals at present. However, there seems to be no relative report on chiral separation for rac-Ornidazole, which has been used as an effective medicine for more than 30 years. In this article, the chiral separation of rac-Ornidazole on a Chiralcel OB-H column based on normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) is investigated and the methodology for detection of impurity of (R)-Ornidazole in (S)-Ornidazole injection and raw material is established. The novel mobile phase is utilized by mixing n-hexane, methanol and isopropyl alcohol (95:4:1, v/v/v) instead of the typical mobile phase of n-hexane and isopropyl alcohol, although the methanol, which offers a good resolution factor for the enantiomeric separation in this system, is not recommended on the Chiralcel OB-H column according to the instruction supplied by Daicel Chemical Ind., LTD (Japan).     

Above‐ and Belowground Impacts of European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) on Four Native Forbs

Fast‐growing European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) shrubs are aggressively invading woodlands in eastern and midwestern North America. Buckthorn casts dense shade, alters soil conditions, and may be allelopathic. We used greenhouse and field experiments to investigate above‐ and belowground effects of Rhamnus on four herbaceous species native to southern Wisconsin. In the greenhouse, we assessed how Rhamnus leaves and fruit affected seed germination and seedling growth relative to sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves. Fewer seeds of Eurybia macrophylla and Thalictrum dasycarpum germinated under Rhamnus leaves, and those that germinated were slowed. We planted seedlings of the four natives into four treatments at three sites in the field to assess how their survival, growth, and flowering respond to the separate and combined effects of light levels, buckthorn canopies, and buckthorn soils. Buckthorn consistently reduced native plant performance by diminishing survival, flowering, and growth in Thalictrum, survival and flowering in Eurybia, and flowering and growth in Symphyotrichum lateriflorum. Removing buckthorn canopies enhanced growth of these native species, but buckthorn soils separately inhibited growth at least as much (despite being more fertile). Buckthorn's impacts on native plants exceed effects attributable to light levels and soil fertility, suggesting allelopathy. Buckthorn reduced performance more in the uncommon species (Thalictrum and Eurybia) than the common species (Geranium maculatum and Symphyotrichum). As we do not yet know how long these inhibitory soil effects persist, we need additional research to learn how best to control buckthorn's impacts on native plant communities.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of amisulpride and bumidazone in raw materials and tablets

A highly sensitive, simple and rapid spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of amisulpride (AMS) and bumidazone (BUM) in tablet form. The proposed method is based on measuring the native fluorescence of the studied drugs in methanol at 360 and 344 nm after excitation at 276 and 232 nm for AMS and BUM, respectively. The fluorescence–concentration plots were rectilinear over the ranges of 5.0–60.0 ng/mL for AMS and 0.5–5.0 µg/mL for BUM. The lower detection limits were 0.70 ng/mL and 0.06 µg/mL, and the lower quantification limits were 2.0 ng/mL and 0.18 µg/mL for AMS and BUM, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the analysis of AMS and BUM in commercial tablets. Statistical evaluation and comparison of the data obtained using the proposed and comparison methods revealed good accuracy and precision for the proposed method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Leaf domatia in the section Alaternus (Miller) DC. of the genus Rhamnus (Rhamnaceae)

MARTINEZ-SOLIS, I., IRANZO, J., ESTRELLES, E. & IBARS, A. M., 1993. Leaf domatia in the section Alaternus (Miller) D C, of the genus Rhamnus (Rhamnaceae). Anatomical and morphological study of leaves from three species of Rhamnus {R. alaternus, R. myrtifolius and R. ludovici-salvatoris) which comprise the section Alaternus (Miller) DC. from the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, have revealed the presence of domatia, which are macroscopic infundibuliform structures. Although not all the leaves of one single plant showed domatia, all the individuals of each species examined presented these structures.     

Development of soybean aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on its primary overwintering host, Rhamnus cathartica

Thermally dependent development of soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) and common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) were examined in growth chambers in spring 2005. Models based on ambient air temperatures for all development events were developed. Adjusted models were developed to account for heat units acquired because of solar radiation. These models were tested at field sites in Guelph and Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada. It was found that egg hatch of aphids and bud swell of buckthorn coincided at low temperatures in growth chambers and in the field. Development thresholds of 9 and 10 degrees C were acquired for bud swell and egg hatch, respectively. Models based on ambient air temperatures were poor predictors of bud swell and egg hatch in the field, but models adjusted for solar radiation predicted these events just 1-4 d before they were observed at both sites. The results obtained have broad application for predicting aphid hatch on a regional basis.     

Sex ratio, reproductive investment and flowering phenology in dioecious Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae)

Guitián, J. 1995. Sex ratio, reproductive investment and flowering phenology in dioecious Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae). - Nord. J. Bot. 15: 139–143. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
During 1992 and 1993 I investigated the reproductive biology of the dioecious Mediterranean shrub Rhamnus alaternus in a population in the northwest Iberian Peninsula. Reproductive investment was estimated as the mean total dry weight of reproductive organs per branch tip. I also estimated number of flowers produced per plant and population sex ratio, and investigated the spatial distribution of the sexes and flowering phenology. The sex ratio was 1:1, and the spatial distribution of the sexes was random. Male plants produced 2.6 times more flowers than female plants, but the overall reproductive investment by females was 5- to 9-fold higher. In both years of study, male plants commenced flowering first. The male and female flowering peaks coincided closely (in late March) in both years. The results of this study suggest that male and female R. alaternus differ most notably in the amount of resources allocated to reproduction.     

Genetic variability of the narrow endemic Rhamnus persicifolia Moris (Rhamnaceae) and its implications for conservation

Rhamnus persicifolia Moris is an endemic small tree belonging to the Rhamnus cathartica group, growing along mountainous streams of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Italy). ISSR markers were used to detect the genetic diversity within and among six populations representative of the species distribution range. In spite of the limited distribution of this endemic taxon, fairly high levels of genetic diversity were detected. Percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB), gene diversity (H_S and H_T) and Shannon information measure (Sh) were calculated both at population (PPB = 30.70%, H_S = 0.1105, Sh = 0.1646) and at species level (PPB = 68.42%, H_T = 0.2066, Sh = 0.3139).The existence of a spatial distribution of genetic diversity in R. persicifolia was revealed by a low gene flow, a fairly high level of genetic differentiation (G_ST = 0.4583) among populations and a positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances (Mantel test, r = 0.71, p = 0.016). The spatial genetic structure was also confirmed with BAPS analysis. Our results show that a certain level of isolation by distance and sex-ratio bias may explain the distribution of genetic diversity among populations.Conservation measures are suggested on the basis of the genetic diversity detected, by implementing an integrated in situ and ex situ conservation program for each population, in order to ensure effective protection for this endemic species.     

Deoxynivalenol (DON) in raw and cooked Pasta

29 pasta samples were purchased from retail shops in Berlin in April and May 2001 and were analysed for their content of Deoxynivalenol (DON). Since it is much more important for the consumer to know the level of contamination with this mycotoxin in the ready to eat pasta we determined DON additionally in the cooked pasta and cooking water. 90% of the raw samples contained less than 0.5mg DON/kg, but three out of 29 samples up to 0.84mg/kg. The amount of DON decreased during cooking, which resulted in 60–80% lower DON levels in the ready to eat products. DON was analysed by HPLC-DAD, confirmatory analyses were carried out by GC-MS after derivatization of the analyte.     

用生料制备功能性双歧醋生产工艺的实验室研究

目的将双歧杆菌、醋酸菌、酵母菌和粉碎的制醋原料及麸曲共同发酵,通过生料制醋的方法来制备功能性双歧醋。方法将粉碎的玉米与麸曲、酵母液、麸皮和水搅拌均匀,使其经过液态糖化和酒精发酵后,接入醋酸菌和双歧杆菌(二者比例为1∶1),同时加入辅料,进行醋酸发酵,当检测到醋酸酸度为5.0%~7.5%时,加入食盐终止发酵,经过过滤,除菌澄清得到功能性双歧醋。结果双歧醋的最终醋酸度为3.2%,外观红棕色,光泽度好,清澈透明,无沉淀和悬浮物。总菌数:醋酸菌为3.3×1011/m l,双歧杆菌为1.9×107/m l;活菌数:醋酸菌为1.7×1011/m l,双歧杆菌为6.8×106/m l;大肠菌群数3个/100 m l;致病菌:不得检出。结论双歧杆菌及其代谢物可以在双歧醋中存活,生料固态发酵制备双歧醋的方法可行。     

Microsatellite primers in Rhamnus cathartica (Rhamnaceae) and applicability in related taxa to assess hybridization events

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed in the introduced shrub Rhamnus cathartica L., to investigate potential hybridization events with related taxa as a stimulus of invasive spread. ? Methods and Results: Using a non-radioactive protocol, 15 primer sets were identified in North American and European populations of R. cathartica. The primers amplified di-, tri- and pentanucelotide repeats with 1-14 alleles per locus. Most primers also amplified in R. lanceolata, R. smithii, and/or Frangula alnus (previously R. frangula). ? Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of primers in R. cathartica for future genetic studies as well as their potential applicability in other related taxa.