蟛蜞菊属和孪花菊属(菊科-向日葵族)的细胞学研究

研究了菊科向日葵族鳢肠亚族蟛蜞菊属(Sphagneticola O. Hoffm.)和孪花菊属(Wollastonia DC. ex Decne.)各2种植物的染色体数目和染色体形态。蟛蜞菊[S. calendulacea (L.) Pruski]的染色体数目为2n=50, 核型公式为2n=18m+30sm+2st,南美蟛蜞菊[S. trilobata (L.) Pruski]的染色体数目为2n=56, 核型公式为2n=24m+28sm+4st, 孪花菊[W. biflora (L.) DC.]的染色体数目为2n=30,核型公式为2n=24m+4sm+2st,山孪花菊[W. montana (Blume) DC.]的染色体数目为2n=74, 核型公式为2n=37m+31sm+6st。根据上述结果并结合以前的有关资料,推测蟛蜞菊属的染色体基数可能为x=14和x=25,而不应是x=15。该属的3个新世界热带种[S. brachycarpa (Baker) Pruski、S. gracilis (Richard) Pruski和南美蟛蜞菊]可能都基于x=14, 其中S. gracilis为二倍体(2n=2x=28), S. brachycarpa和南美蟛蜞菊为四倍体(2n=4x=56); 唯一的亚洲种(蟛蜞菊)可能是基于x=25的二倍体(2n=2x=50)。染色体资料不支持将山孪花菊(x=37)这一植物置于孪花菊属(x=15)中。     

Comparative pollen morphology of Brachylena, Tarchananthus and two species of Tubulifloridites (Asteraceae) from the Eocene, Knysna Lignite of South Africa

Two fossil taxa Tubulifloridites antipodica and T. viteauensis recovered from the Eocene Knysna Lignite of South Africa were examined with scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The details of their sculpturing and wall structure are similar to the same species of fossil dispersed pollen taxa recovered from southwestern Africa and South America. Fifteen species of the woody South African taxa, Brachylaena (9 species) and Tarchonanthus (6 species) were investigated with SEM and TEM. All of the taxa are tricolporate, spherical to slightly prolate, microechinate to echinate and have a bilayered columellate infrastructure, except B.ilicifolia, which has a single columellate infrastructural level with the “granularization” of the outer portion of the infrastructural layer or the inner layer of the tectum. There is a similar distribution of plesiomorphic and derived pollen characters in a number of aster subfamilies and tribes suggesting a similar evolutionary progression of pollen, and pollen wall character evolution was occurring synchronously in a variety of aster subfamilies during the middle Tertiary and that these unique pollen features may be important to the evolution and diversification of the Asteraceae.     

Hypolipidemic effect of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) roots on diabetic rats: biochemical approach

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are sugars found naturally at high concentrations in the storage roots of yacon. This study was designed to analyze the beneficial effects of subchronic oral consumption of yacon root flour as a diet supplement in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. The experiments were carried out using yacon flour tablets containing the desired level of FOS (340 or 6800 mg FOS/kg body weight/day). Yacon flour is a natural product obtained by a simple process of dehydration of yacon roots without added preservatives or chemicals. The administration of FOS-rich yacon flour to diabetic rats for 90 days did not significantly alter the body weight of animals throughout the experimental period. Interestingly, a significant decrease in fasting plasma triacylglycerol and very low-density lipoprotein levels were observed. In addition, the treatment was able to protect the diabetic rats of the postprandial peak of plasma triacylglycerol. Yacon-supplemented rats showed an increased insulin-positive pancreatic cell mass distributed in small cell clusters within the exocrine parenchyma, but can only observe a slight increase in fasting plasma insulin levels. Glucagon like peptide-1 content in the cecum was significantly higher in diabetic rats treated with a diet supplemented with yacon flour compared with untreated diabetic animals, accompanied by an important cecal tissue enlargement. All these findings lead us to suggest that this incretin could be an effective mediator of the lipid lowering effects of FOS present in yacon flour. In conclusion, yacon root flour is a natural product rich in FOS that could be well positioned as a nutraceutical product since the present results demonstrate its beneficial effects on diabetes-associated hyperlipidemia.     

Ent-kauranes and other constituents of three Helianthus species

Aerial parts of Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius, H. occidentalis and H. simulans afforded a variety of known and some unknown ent-kauranoic acids. H. occidentalis gave, in addition, ciliaric acid and a new biogenetically related atisane derivative occidentalic acid. H. simulans gave the heliangolide leptocarpin and the flavone hymenoxin in addition to ent-kauranes. Several of the diterpenoids from these species inhibited larval growth of the sunflower moth.     

Stigmastane derivatives and isovaleryl sucrose esters from Vernonia guineensis (Asteraceae)

Vernoguinoside, 16beta,22R;21,23S-diepoxy-3beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-21S,24-dihydroxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8,14-dien-28-one (1), a new stigmastane derivative, 16beta,22R;21,23S-diepoxy-21S,24-dihydroxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8,14-diene-3,28-dione (2) and two new sucrose esters, 1',3,3',4',6'-pentakis-O-(3-methylbutanoyl)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 1',2,3',6,6'-pentakis-O-(3-methylbutanoyl)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4), have been isolated from the stem bark of Vernonia guineensis. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Vernoguinosterol and vernoguinoside, trypanocidal stigmastane derivatives from Vernonia guineensis (Asteraceae)

Two bitter stigmastane derivatives, vernoguinosterol (1) and vernoguinoside (2), have been isolated from the stem bark of Vernonia guineensis and their structures eludicated using spectroscopic methods. The new compounds exhibit trypanocidal activity.     

Psednotrichia perennis (Asteraceae,Senecioneae): A new species from the Huila plateau,Angola

The genus Psednotrichia (Asteraceae–Senecioneae) is endemic to Angola and currently consists of two annual species, P. xyridopsis (O. Hoffm.) Anderb. & P. O. Karis, and P. newtonii (O. Hoffm.) Anderb. & P. O. Karis. A perennial member of the genus was collected on a recent field trip to Angola, and is here described as P. perennis N. G. Bergh & B. Nord., sp. nov. A key to the three species is provided.     

Free-living amoebae isolated from water-hyacinth root (Eichhornia crassipes)

Free-living amoebae are widely distributed in aquatic environments and their hygienic, medical and ecological relationships to man are increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to isolate free-living amoebae from water-hyacinth root (Eichhornia crassipes) and the water of an urban lake in Mexico City. Five grams of wet root were seeded on non-nutritive agar with Enterobacter aerogenes (NNE). Water samples were concentrated by centrifugation at 1200g for 15 min and the pellet was seeded on NNE. Of the 16 isolated genera, 10 were detected in both habitats. The most frequent were Vannella in root and Acanthamoeba and Naegleria in water. The total number of isolates and genera isolated from root was higher than that isolated from water. The differences between root and water are probably due to the morphological characteristics of water-hyacinth root, which provides a large habitat and refuge area for many organisms.     

Eremophilane derivatives and other constituents from Senecio species

The investigation and reinvestigation respectively of 23 Senecio species afforded 11 further cacalol derivatives, a furoeremophilone, 17 eremophilanes, 4 bisabolene derivatives, a shikimic acid derivative, a bis-prenylated p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, menth-2-en- 1,7-diol and a cumol derivative. The configuration of some eremophilanes have been revised. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The results are summarized in a table. The chemotaxonomic aspects agree with those of previous investigations.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from glandular trichomes of Viguiera radula (Heliantheae; Asteraceae)

In addition to known compounds, the floral parts of Viguiera radula afforded two new sesquiterpene lactones. All compounds were detected in glandular trichomes, which were micromechanically collected from the anther appendages and analyzed by HPLC. Structure identification was performed by NMR and MS techniques.     

Hydrozoan and protozoan epibionts on two decapod species, Liocarcinus depurator (Linnaeus, 1758) and Pilumnus hirtellus (Linnaeus, 1761), from Scotland

Crabs of the species Liocarcinus depurator and Pilumnus hirtellus, collected on the west coast of Scotland, showed hydrozoan and protozoan epibionts. The epibionts of Liocarcinus depurator were the protozoan Ephelota plana and the hydrozoans Clytia gracilis and Leuckartiara sp. The epibionts of Pilumnus hirtellus were the protozoans E. plana and Zoothamnium sp. For Liocarcinus depurator the number of Ephelota per crab fluctuated between 0 and 47 and the greatest number of suctorians were located on the chelipeds, carapace and anterior pereiopods. The hydrozoans, for Liocarcinus depurator, showed densities of 0-20 (Clytia gracilis on the second pereiopod) and 0-507 individuals per crab (Leuckartiara sp., principally on chelipeds, carapace and the fourth right pereiopod). For Pilumnus hirtellus, Ephelota plana showed densities between 3 and 56 individuals per crab, the greatest number of suctorians being located on the same areas as on Liocarcinus depurator. There was a density of 10-69 individuals per crab of Zoothamnium sp. on Pilumnus hirtellus (located on the carapace). Ephelota plana has not been observed previously as an epibiont on crustacea, nor had Zoothamnium sp. as an epibiont on Pilumnus hirtellus. Both hydrozoans, Leukartiara and Clytia, have not been previously described as epibionts on Liocarcinus depurator. Data about the morphological characteristics and distribution of these epibionts are included.     

Gazania lanata and G. splendidissima: Two new species of Asteraceae (tribe Arctotideae) from the Greater Capensis, with an updated key for the genus

Two new species of Gazania Gaert. (Asteraceae, tribe Arctotideae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa are described. Gazania lanata Magee & Boatwr., a local endemic of dolomite lenses near Robertson, is distinguished by the spatulate to sublyrate, simple or weakly pinnatilobed leaves, the bristle-like hairs along the inflorescence and the densely lanate vestiture of the young growth and involucre. Gazania splendidissima Mucina, Magee & Boatwr. from the arid Namaqualand coast between Port Nolloth and Hondeklipbaai, is distinguished by the suffrutescent habit, semi-succulent leaves with a densely mealy uppermost surface, and prominently maculate involucre. An updated key to the now 18 recognised Gazania species is provided to facilitate identification of these and existing taxa in the genus.