Sesquiterpene lactones as chemotaxonomic markers in genus Anthemis

Sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the genus Anthemis are used as chemotaxonomic markers. The obtained results support with some exceptions the botanical classification in Flora Europaea. Discrepancy between the lactone profile, cluster analysis and classification of A. melampodina, A. macedonica and A. austriaca in the genus Anthemis is discussed. The lactone composition of the undescribed as an European species A. plutonia correlates well with the guaianolide containing group of sect. Hiorthia.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from the aerial parts of Anthemis arvensis L.

Two known sesquiterpene lactones, antheindurolides A and B, together with five new related lactones with the same unusual skeleton were isolated from the aerial parts of Anthemis arvensis growing in Serbia. The originally proposed structure of antheindurolide B was revised. This (antheindurolide) type of lactones, detected so far only in the genus Anthemis (Anthemis indurata, Anthemis pseudocotula and Anthemis cotula) could be of chemotaxonomic significance.     

New cytotoxic saturated and unsaturated cyclohexanones from Anthemis maritima

Two new cyclohexenones (antheminones A and B) and a new cyclohexanone, (antheminone C) along with five known compounds were isolated from the leaves of Anthemis maritima L. The structures were mainly deduced from extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The new compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against adherent and non-adherent cancer cell lines. Antheminones A and C exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against leukemia cells with IC(50) values ranging from 3.2 to 14 microM.     

Further sesquiterpene lactones from Anthemis carpatica

A new germacranolide, (E)-1alpha, 10beta-epoxy-3beta-acetoxy-6alpha-hydroxygermacra-4,11 (13)-dien-12,8alpha-olide, together with nine new highly oxygenated guaiadien-12,6alpha-olides of anthemolide, and cumambrin type were identified in the repeated examination of the aerial parts of the flowering Anthemis carpatica. In addition, six known guaianolides belonging to the same groups, also isolated previously from A. carpatica, along with two guaianolides, 2beta-hydroxyepiligustrin and cumambrin B, not found before in this species, were isolated this time.     

Terpenoids from Anthemis austriaca Jacq

The aerial parts of Anthemis austriaca Jacq. afforded five new sesquiterpene lactones (two of which are dimeric guaianolides) and three new guaiane type sesquiterpene acids In addition, seven known terpenoids were also found in the studied species. Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Anthemis carpatica Willd

Four new eudesmanolides and two new guaianolides were isolated from the aerial parts of Anthemis carpatica Willd. and their structures elucidated by spectral methods. In addition, seven known sesquiterpene lactones were identified.     

Note critiche sulla Flora d'Italia. VI. Ultimi appunti miscellanei

Abstract

Critical notes on the flora of Italy. VI. Final miscellaneous remarks. – The present paper includes a number of changes of rank and nomen-clatural transfers in the genera Jovibarba, Saxifraga, Buglossoides, Stachys, Scabiosa, Helichrysum, Anthemis, Leucanthemopsis, Centaurea, Avenula some of them proposed by other Authors (B. Anzalone, W. Greuter, P. Marchi). Achillea lucana Pign. from the Southern Apennines near Potenza is described as a new species.     

Mycorrhizosphere mediated Mayweed Chamomile invasion in the Kashmir Himalaya, India

Recent studies have established the controlling influence of rhizospheric biota, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on colonization and spread of some alien plants in their introduced range. But how AMF from different geographical sources influence traits that contribute to invasiveness, particularly in presence of neighbouring plants of other species, has been rarely investigated. Thus, we compared the influence of some local (Kashmir Himalayan isolates) and non-local (isolates from Rajasthan, India) AMF isolates of Glomus moseae, G. fasciculatum and Gigaspora margarita on vegetative and reproductive attributes of Mayweed Chamomile (Anthemis cotula L.), a highly invasive species in the Kashmir Himalaya, India. We also examined whether or not the neighbouring plant species, namely Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae) alters the mutualistic interaction between the AMF and A. cotula. Pot experiments revealed greater positive impact of the local than the non-local AMF on vegetative as well as reproductive attributes of A. cotula. Experimental field studies showed that the incidence of highly prevalent Arum-type mycorrhizal colonization in natural populations of A. cotula was reduced in presence of D. carota. Besides, the local AMF significantly promoted growth of A. cotula more than D. carota under mixed-culture conditions. These results suggest that the facilitation of some alien plant invasions by AMF needs to be considered together with plant–plant interactions and invasion-induced changes in the soil microbial community.     

Chemical constituents from Anthemis wiedemanniana Fisch. & Mey.

The lipophilic extract of the aerial parts of Anthemis wiedemanniana Fisch. & Mey, a Turkish endemic species, was investigated. In addition to one new natural product, namely 3,4,4-trimethyl-6-carboxy-cyclohex-2-ene-1-one, five known sesquiterpene lactones, five methylated flavonoids, one simple phenolic derivative and one nor-isoprenoid were isolated. Among the sesquiterpene lactones, canin was found to be the main compound.     

The central Mediterranean as a phytodiversity hotchpotch: phylogeographical patterns of the Anthemis secundiramea group (Compositae,Anthemideae) across the Sicilian Channel

Aim We investigated the phylogeography of the Anthemis secundiramea group (Compositae, Anthemideae) to assess the role of palaeogeographical events in its genetic and taxonomic differentiation. We also evaluated the contribution of hybridization to the complexity of these diversification processes in an area of phytogeographical overlap. Location Central Mediterranean: North Africa, Tyrrhenian Islands, Sicily, and its surrounding islands and islets. Methods The geographical distribution of the genetic variability and differentiation of 207 individuals belonging to 42 populations was analysed through chloroplast DNA variation (sequences of the two spacer regions psbA–trnH and trnC–petN), and 290 individuals belonging to 35 populations were analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting. Results We found three well‐defined groups of taxa. The first includes all populations located in North Africa belonging to the species Anthemis confusa, A. glareosa and A. ubensis, which show a significant pattern of isolation by distance from one another. They share the same chloroplast DNA haplotypes, possibly reflecting range expansion/contraction during the Quaternary. Within the second group, which comprises all populations belonging to A. secundiramea, an absence of genetic structure suggests contemporary or at least recent gene flow among its populations. The third group includes the populations belonging to Anthemis urvilleana, which is endemic to the Maltese archipelago. While hybridization with Anthemis arvensis or A. peregrina is hypothesized for four populations of A. urvilleana, the sharing of a haplotype between one population and A. muricata, endemic to Sicily, is interpreted as a relict of the ancient connection between the Maltese archipelago and south‐eastern Sicily. Main conclusions The strong genetic differentiation observed between circum‐Sicilian and North African populations of the A. secundiramea group suggests the paramount importance of the Sicilian Strait as a barrier to dispersal and gene flow. The present distribution of A. secundiramea, however, demonstrates that this barrier may be crossed by long‐distance dispersal overseas, or by anthropogenic dispersal. Sea‐level oscillations during the Pleistocene were responsible for the divergence between the Sicilian endemic A. muricata and the Maltese endemic A. urvilleana. Incongruent AFLP patterns and chloroplast haplotype distributions indicate that hybridization of members of the A. secundiramea group with eastern (A. arvensis or A. peregrina) as well as with western (the clade of A. maritima and A. pedunculata) Mediterranean elements has strongly influenced the genetic and taxonomic diversity in this species group.     

Chromosome numbers in the tribe Anthemideae (Asteraceae) from north-east Anatolia

Twenty-two chromosome counts of 19 taxa in the tribe Anthemideae of the family Asteraceae are reported from north-east Anatolia, Turkey. The taxa belong to the subtribes Achilleinae (four Achillea taxa), Anthemidinae (five Anthemis taxa), Artemisiinae (two Artemisia species), Leucantheminae (one Lecanthemum species), Matricariinae (two Tripleurospermum species) and Tanacetinae (five Tanacetum taxa). Six counts are new reports, seven are not consistent with previous counts, and the remainder are confirmations of very limited previous data. Most of the populations of Anthemideae studied have the basic number x  = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2 x to 7 to 8 x , but dysploidy is also present, with one diploid species, Artemisia austriaca , having x  = 8.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 203–211.     

Efficacy of plant extracts against stored-products fungi

The fungistatic activity of six aqueous extracts of plants were tested against Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium culmorum. The plants were, chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.), French lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), malva (Malva sylvestris L.) and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). The more concentrated extracts of chamomile and malva inhibited totally the growth of the tested fungi with malva the most effective one.     

Effect of seven species of the family Asteraceae on longevity and nutrient levels of Episyrphus balteatus

Adult hoverflies feed on pollen, nectar and honeydews. Thus, the implementation of floristically diverse resources in agroecosystems can enhance biological control of pests by increasing populations of these natural enemies. The objective of this work was to study the effect of seven species of Asteraceae (Andryala integrifolia L., Anthemis arvensis L., Calendula arvensis L., Carduus tenuiflorus Curtis, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All., Coleostephus myconis (L.) Rchb.f. and Crepis vesicaria L.) on adult longevity and nutrient levels of Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae). Crepis vesicaria and C. nobile gave the highest mean longevities while, for the other plant species, longevities were not significantly different from those in the water only treatment. In addition, all species tested resulted in significantly lower longevities than the positive control (glucose). In terms of nutrient levels, C. nobile generated high levels of total sugars and C. vesicaria high levels of lipids which suggests the consumption of flower resources. However, the majority of the plants tested would not allow hoverflies to complete their life cycle. Thus, further experimentation needs to be done before considering these plants for implementation in agroecosystems.     

Composition of the volatile oils of two Anthemis L. taxa from Turkey

The essential oils of water-distilled aerial parts of Anthemis pseudocotula and Anthemis cretica subsp. pontica (Asteraceae) were analysed by GC-MS. As a result thirty-five and forty compounds were identified representing 93.1% and 89.0% of the oils, respectively. The main compounds of A. pseudocotula were 1,8-cineole (39.40%), camphor (9.36%), artemisiaketone (5.68%), filifolene (5.15%), and a-terpineol (4.69%), whereas beta-caryophyllene (20.26%), azulene (14.98%), spathulenol (6.03%), and germacrene D (5.82%) were the major constituents of A. cretica subsp. pontica.     

Chloroplast DNA restriction site variation and phylogenetic interrelationships of some genera of the Heliantheae sensu lato (Asteraceae)

Phylogenetic interrelationships of 12 genera of the Heliantheae s. lat., as well as two genera of the Anthemideae and Eupatorieae, were assessed by chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis. The 14 investigated species represented Guizotia, Helianthus, Melampodium, Rudbeckia, Sigesbeckia, Tridax , and Verbesina (Heliantheae s. str.), Helenium, Hymenoxys , and Palafoxia (Helenieae), Porophyllum (Tageteae), Coreopsis (Coreopsideae), Pleurocoronis (Eupatorieae), and Anthemis , (Anthemideae). Using 9 enzymes, 39 phylogenetically informative sites were found. Wagner parsimony analysis of the data yielded 10 equally parsimonious cladograms. Well supported relationships displayed by all cladograms included (1) a clade comprising all the genera (Heliantheae s. lat. and Eupatorieae) except Anthemis (Anthemideae), (2) a clade consisting of the genera of the Heliantheae s. str. with Pleurocoronis (Eupatorieae) nested among them, (3) a subclade of the former comprising Pleurocoronis, Guizotia , and Sigesbeckia , and (4) the generic pair of Helenium and Hymenoxys.     

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Three Endemic Species of Anthemis Sect. Hiorthia (DC.) R.Fern. Growing Wild in Sicily and Chemotaxonomic Volatile Markers of the Genus Anthemis L.: An Update

The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of Anthemis pignattiorum Guarino, Raimondo & Domina and A. ismelia Lojac . and the aerial parts and flowers of Anthemis cupaniana Tod . ex Nyman , three endemic Sicilian species belonging to the section Hiorthia, was determined by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. (Z)‐Muurola‐4(14),5‐diene (27.3%) was recognized as the main constituent of the A. pignattiorum essential oil, together with isospathulenol (10.6%), sabinene (7.7%), and artemisyl acetate (6.8%), while in the oil obtained from the aerial parts of A. ismelia, geranyl propionate (8.8%), bornyl acetate (7.9%), β‐thujone (7.8%), neryl propionate (6.5%), and τ‐muurolol (6.5%) prevailed. α‐Pinene was the main compound of both the aerial part and flower oils of A. cupaniana (18.4 and 13.2%, resp.). Also noteworthy are the considerable amounts of artemisyl acetate (12.7%) and β‐thujone (11.8%) found in the oil from the aerial parts and those of tricosane (9.8%) and sabinene (7.6%) evidenced in the flower oil. Furthermore, an update on the main compounds identified in the essential oils of all the Anthemis taxa studied so far was presented, and cluster analyses were carried out, to compare the essential oils of these taxa.     

Acht neue Arten der GattungAnthemis (Compositae) aus Persien

The following species are described as new:Anthemis mazandaranica in N. and NW. Iran is allied toA. coelopoda; A. moghanica in NW. Iran is close toA. candidissima andA. sintenisii; A. atropatana also in NW. Iran is similar toA. hyalina; A. gracilis in W. Iran is close toA. plebeia; A. bushehrica in SW. Iran is similar toA. susiana; andA. rhodocentra in S. and E. Iran and in Pakistan is akin toA. austro-iranica, A. gayana, andA. kandaharica.

Anschrift des Herausgebers: Hofrat Univ.-Prof. Dr.Karl Heinz Rechinger, Beckgasse 22, A-1130 Wien, Österreich.     

The growth,flower properties and demography of Anthemis arvensis exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation

The winter annual species Anthemis arvensis L. (Asteraceae) was grown for 3.5 months in the field under ambient or ambient plus supplemental UV-B radiation, simulating a 15% ozone depletion over Patras (38.3° N, 29.1° E). Enhanced UV-B radiation had no effect on the methanol extractable UV-B absorbing capacity of leaves, phenological and morphometric parameters of anthesis (flowering time, anthesis duration, head life span, number of heads per plant, number of tubular and ligulate florets per head, area per ligulate floret). Concerning the optical properties of heads, enhanced UV-B radiation had no significant effect on the extractable absorbance of both floret types nor on the spectral reflectance of the tubular florets. However, under UV-B supplementation the white ligulate florets exhibited a slight, statistically significant decrease of reflectance in the visible region of the spectrum. This may be due to structural changes of the floret surface, since microscopic examination under SEM revealed the papillae of the adaxial epidermal cells to be swollen. The above ground dry mass measured at plant harvest was not affected but a significant increase in root biomass (and accordingly in root/shoot ratio) was observed. We conclude that Anthemis arvensis is resistant against UV-B radiation damage. The possible consequences of UV-B induced structural changes on floret epidermis are discussed.