1,2(3)-Tetrahydro-3,3′-biplumbagin: A naphthalenone and other constituents from Plumbago zeylanica

The isolation of plumbagin, droserone, isoshinanolone and a new naphthalenone, 1,2(3)-tetrahydro-3,3′-biplumbagin is reported from the phenolic fract     

Isoflavones of two Iris species

Analysis of the methanol extracts of the rhizomes of Iris milesii resulted in the isolation of a new isoflavone, 5,6,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-3′-methoxyisoflavone and that of Iris kumaonensis, iriskumaonin methyl ether, iriskumaonin, irisflorentin, junipegenin-A, irigenin and iridin.     

Flavonoids in the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia panduta

5-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dimethoxyfiavone, 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone have been isolated from the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata.     

Isoflavonoids and norneolignan from Caragana changduensis

Two new isoflavonoids, named 6,7,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone (1), 7,3′-dimethoxy-5′-hydroxyisoflavone (2), one new norneolignan, named (8S)-2,4-dihydroxy-8-hydroxymethyl-4′-methoxydeoxybenzoin (3); together with six known compounds, methyl 4-hydroxylbenzoate (4), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (5), piceatannol (6), cararosin A (7), 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate (8), and 6,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone (9) were isolated from the red heartwood in the rhizomes of Caragana changduensis by using chromatographic methods Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their spectral data with previous reported data.     

Phenolic constituents of Iris milesii rhizomes

Analysis of a methanol extract of the rhizomes of Iris milesii resulted in the isolation of a new isoflavone, 5,6,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-8-methoxyisoflavone along with prunetin, sakuranetin, 2:6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone, tectorigenin, irigenin,4-β(D-glucosyloxy)-ferulic acid methyl ester, quercetin-3-methyl ether, tectoridin, iridin and iristectorin B.     

Two new flavonoid glycosides from Iris tectorum

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of rhizomes of Iris tectorum resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new flavonoid glycosides, tectorigenin-7-O-β-d-fucopyranoside (1), 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-7,3′-dimethoxyflavanone-5-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (2), together with two known ones (3, 4). The rhamnose substituent at C-5 displayed uncommon connection in naturally occurring flavonoid glycosides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. All of the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity against aldose reductase.     

Chemophenetics of Azorean Leontodon taxa (Cichorieae,Asteraceae)

The genera Leontodon s.str. and Hedypnois are so far the only known sources of hydroxyhypocretenolides, a rare subclass of guaianolide type sesquiterpene lactones. In this study the three endemic species from the Azorean Archipelago, L. filii, L. hochstetteri, and L. rigens, were analyzed together with L. hispidus and L. × grassiorum, a hybrid originating from L. hispidus and L. hochstetteri. Flowering heads were analyzed by UHPLC-DAD-MS with regards to their phenolics' profiles, establishing qualitatively identical profiles for all taxa. The following phenolics were detected in flowering heads of all investigated taxa: caffeoyltartaric acid, cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, luteolin, luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, luteolin 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucuronide.In UHPLC-DAD-MS analyses of the rhizomes, no flavonoids were detected. In rhizomes, caffeoyltartaric acid was only detected in L. hispidus. However, in addition to caffeoylquinic acid derivatives already found in the flowering heads, 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid were detected in rhizomes of all investigated taxa.The chemophenetically most interesting group of hydroxyhypocretenolides was detected in rhizomes of all investigated taxa. 11,13β-Dihydro-14-dihydroxyhypocretenolide was detected in L. filii and L. hochstetteri, while 11,13β-dihydro-14-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-d-glucopyranoside was present in all Azorean taxa. 1,10-Epoxy-14-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-d-glucopyranoside and 1,10-epoxy-14-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-d-glucopyranoside-6′-O-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid ester were restricted to the Azorean taxa and the hybrid L. × grassiorum, while the dimeric sesquiterpenoid 14-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-d-glucopyranoside-4′,14″-hydroxyhypocretenoate ester was restricted to L. hispidus and L. × grassiorum.     

Synthesis of some ester derivatives of 4′-demethoxyepipodophyllotoxin/2′-chloro-4′-demethoxyepipodophyllotoxin as insecticidal agents against oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata Walker

Podophyllotoxin is a naturally occurring non-alkaloid toxin isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum peltatum and P. hexandrum. In continuation of our program aimed at the discovery and development of natural product-based insecticides, two series of ester derivatives of 4′-demethoxyepipodophyllotoxin/2′-chloro-4′-demethoxyepipodophyllotoxin were prepared. The structures of the target compounds were well characterized by 1H NMR, IR, optical rotation and mp. The precise three-dimensional structural information of 8j was further determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their insecticidal activity was tested against Mythimna separata Walker. These compounds showed delayed insecticidal activity. Among all derivatives, some compounds showed more potent insecticidal activity than toosendanin against M. separata; especially compounds 8k and 9k exhibited the most potent activity with the final mortality rates of 71.4%. Their structure–activity relationships were discussed.     

Lignan glycosides from the Rhizomes of Smilax trinervula and their Biological activities

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Smilax trinervula led to isolation and structure elucidation of eight lignan glycosides, including five new lignans, namely, (7S, 8R, 8′R)-4, 4′, 9-trihydroxy-3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethoxy-7, 9′-epoxylignan-7′-one 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), (7S, 8R, 8′R)-4, 4′, 9-trihydroxy-3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethoxy-7, 9′-epoxylignan-7′-one 4-O-β-d- glucopyranoside (2) (7S, 8R)-4, 9, 9′-trihydroxy-3, 3′, 5-trimethoxy-4′, 7-epoxy-8, 5′-neolignan 9′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), (7R, 8R)-4, 9, 9′-trihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-7.O.4′, 8.O.3′- neolignan 9′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), and (7S, 8R)-4, 9, 9′-trihydroxy-3, 3′, 5-trimethoxy-8, 4′-oxy-neolignan 4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), along with three known compounds (6-8). Their structures were established mainly on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, ESI–MS and comparison with the literature. Compounds 1-8 were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against four human tumor cell lines (SH-SY5Y, SGC-7901, HCT-116, Lovo). Compounds 3 and 5 exhibited cytotoxic activity against Lovo cells, with IC₅₀ value of 10.4 μM and 8.5 μM, respectively.     

西伯利亚蓼谷氨酰胺合成酶基因的克隆及碱性盐胁迫下的表达

根据西伯利亚蓼(Polygonum sibiricum Laxm.)地下茎抑制消减文库(SSH)中获得的谷氨酰胺合成酶基因(Glutamin synthetase,GS)EST序列,应用RACE技术克隆了具有Poly A的全长cDNA序列,以下简称为PsGS基因。该序列全长1 273 bp,其5'非翻译区178 bp,3'非翻译区24 bp,开放阅读框编码356个氨基酸残基;根据与其他植物谷氨酰胺合成酶的氨基酸序列的比对以及系统进化分析的结果,确定此基因为谷氨酰胺合成酶基因家族成员;经过SignalP3.0预测该蛋白没有信号肽,无切割位点,为非分泌蛋白。经过ProtParam计算该蛋白的理论等电点为5.55,分子量为39.2 kD,不稳定系数为43.82%,为非稳定蛋白。实时定量PCR分析表明,PsGS在西伯利亚蓼叶、茎、地下茎中均有表达。在3%NaHCO3诱导下,该基因在叶和茎中表达升高,在地下茎中表达受到抑制,推测该基因在抵御碱性盐迫时具有重要作用。     

Rhizome architecture inPhragmites australis in relation to water depth: Implications for within-plant oxygen transport distances

Phragmites australis (Cav.)Trin. exSteud. is a perennial plant, largely relying on its rhizomes for resource storage, spreading and anchorage in the substrate. Vertical distribution and length of horizontal rhizomes ofPhragmites australis were investigated at the reed bed edge in a lake in southern Sweden. In deep water, horizontal rhizomes were relatively short and superficially situated in the substrate. It is hypothesised that this is an adaptation to water depth by keeping O₂-transport distances through shoots and rhizomes as short as possible. In shallow water,P. australis rhizomes generally penetrated deeply into the substrate, probably improving anchorage and nutrient uptake possibilities. Further, horizontal rhizomes were longer in shallow water, which may increase the rate of vegetative spread. Because of these changes in rhizome architecture, “critical within-plant oxygen transport distances” did not change with water depth. This indicates thatP. australis maximises the extension of its rhizomes in relation to spatial differences in water depth. This may limit the ability ofP. australis to tolerate sudden temporal increases in water depth or eutrophication.     

Steroidal saponins from Yucca gloriosa L. rhizomes: LC-MS profiling, isolation and quantitative determination

The occurrence of steroidal saponins in the rhizomes of Yucca gloriosa has been detected by LC-MS. On the basis of the LC-MS analysis, five steroidal glycosides, including three spirostane, one furostane and one cholestane glycosides, along with seven known compounds have been isolated and characterized by ESI-MS and by the extensive use of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. Quantitative analysis of the steroidal glycosides in Y. gloriosa rhizomes was performed by an LC-MS method validated according to European Medicines Agency (EMEA) guidelines. The dried BuOH extract obtained from rhizomes contains more than 25% w/w of glycosides, thus Y. gloriosa rhizomes can be considered a rich source of steroidal glycosides.     

A dihydrochalcone and several homoisoflavonoids from Polygonatum odoratum are activators of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase

Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major cellular energy sensor and master regulator of metabolic homeostasis; thus, AMPK plays a central role in studies on diabetes and related metabolic diseases. From the rhizomes of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, six homoisoflavonoids (1–6) and one dihydrochalcone (7) were isolated, and the structures of polygonatones A–D (4–7) were elucidated by various spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1–7 were evaluated for their effect on AMPK activation. The amount of active phosphorylated AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in rat liver epithelial IAR-20 cells increased when the cells were incubated with the aforementioned compounds. Specifically, (3R)-5,7-dihydroxyl-6-methyl-8-methoxyl-3-(4′-hydroxylbenzyl)-chroman-4-one (1), (3R)-5,7-dihydroxyl-6,8-dimethyl-3-(4′-hydroxylbenzyl)-chroman-4-one (2), (3R)-5,7-dihydroxyl-6-methyl-3-(4′-hydroxylbenzyl)-chroman-4-one (3), and polygonatone D (7) exhibited significant activation effects.     

初始克隆分株数对大米草表型可塑性及生物量分配的影响

克隆植物大米草 (Spartina anglica) 目前在我国出现了严重的自然衰退 (Dieback),为了阐明大米草衰退的机理,分析影响大米草形态可塑性的因素与自然衰退之间的相关性,以期为近缘植物互花米草 (S. alterniflora) 这一爆发种群的生物控制提供借鉴,对3种不同初始克隆分株数 (单克隆、三克隆和五克隆) 大米草的克隆生长、生物量累积与分配和异速生长特征进行了野外栽培试验。研究结果表明,初始克隆分株数对间隔子长度影响较弱;初始多克隆的分支强度高于初始单克隆;初始三克隆和五克隆在总生物量 (7.921 5~10.431 7 g 和 8.903 9~10.431 7 g)、地上生物量 (3.396 1~4.255 8 g 和3.618 4~4.338 9 g)、地下生物量 (4.286 9~5.206 6 g 和 5.298 8~6.079 3 g)和根状茎生物量 (1.318 6~1.767 7 g 和 1.499 1~2.038 7 g) 积累上均显著高于初始单克隆,不同初始克隆分株数条件下根生物量差异不显著;初始多克隆倾向于将资源更多地分配给根状茎,而初始单克隆倾向于将更多的资源分配给根系。由此推断,在不同初始克隆分株数条件下,大米草的形态可塑性和生物量分配格局的差异显示出在同样资源格局下,初始多克隆的克隆生殖能力较初始单克隆强。初始多克隆生长的大米草较初始单克隆生长的大米草更能占据优势生境,选择生境“觅养”的能力与克隆繁殖能力更强。     

Hydnora abyssinica: Ethnobotanical evidence for its occurrence in southern Mozambique

Hydnora spp. are rarely collected root holoparasites due to the subterranean nature of the rhizomes and seasonal emergence of the flowers. Results from a recent study in South African traditional medicine markets positively identified Hydnora abyssinica A.Br. rhizomes in trade and indicated that there was a high probability of the species also occurring in southern Mozambique. An ethnobotanical study was thus conducted in two markets in Maputo, and the presence of H. abyssinica at the stalls of traditional medicine sellers is a new record for the species' occurrence in Mozambique. Most of the rhizomes were cited as being harvested in the districts of Boane and Manhica, and further research is required to verify the harvesters' accounts of its distribution.     

Latent Pathogenic Fungi in the Medicinal Plant Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Are Modulated by Secondary Metabolites and Colonizing Microbiota Originating from Soil

Latent pathogenic fungi (LPFs) affect plant growth, but some of them may stably colonize plants. LPFs were isolated from healthy Houttuynia cordata rhizomes to reveal this mechanism and identified as Ilyonectria liriodendri, an unidentified fungal sp., and Penicillium citrinum. Sterile H. cordata seedlings were cultivated in sterile or non-sterile soils and inoculated with the LPFs, followed by the plants’ analysis. The in vitro antifungal activity of H. cordata rhizome crude extracts on LPF were determined. The effect of inoculation of sterile seedlings by LPFs on the concentrations of rhizome phenolics was evaluated. The rates of in vitro growth inhibition amongst LPFs were determined. The LPFs had a strong negative effect on H. cordata in sterile soil; microbiota in non-sterile soil eliminated such influence. There was an interactive inhibition among LPFs; the secondary metabolites also regulated their colonization in H. cordata rhizomes. LPFs changed the accumulation of phenolics in H. cordata. The results provide that colonization of LPFs in rhizomes was regulated by the colonizing microbiota of H. cordata, the secondary metabolites in the H. cordata rhizomes, and the mutual inhibition and competition between the different latent pathogens.     

Different patterns of aerenchyma formation in two hygrophytic species of Paspalum (Poaceae) as response to flooding

Paspalum modestum and P. wrightii are perennial grasses growing in permanent and seasonally flooded areas, respectively. The former produces short rhizomes and floating culms, the latter forms long rhizomes and erect culms. Variations in percentage aerenchymatous space (PAS) in different organs as a response to flooding was analysed using a clone of each species. Eighteen plantlets of each clone were cultivated during 7 months under flooded vs. unflooded conditions. After this period, roots, rhizomes, culms, and leaf sheaths were collected and prepared. PAS was measured using an image analysis device, and data were analysed using ANOVA.Production of aerenchyma took place in both species within the cortical parenchyma of roots, rhizomes and culms, and the mesophyll of leaf sheaths, both in flooded and unflooded plants. Under flooding conditions PAS increased in both species, although the individual response of organs differed: whereas in P. modestum PAS increased primarily in substratum-fixed roots, in P. wrightii all organs produced additional aerenchyma uniformly. Contrasting responses are understood as adaptations to permanent and seasonal flooding, respectively.     

Fern constituents: Cycloartane triterpenoids and allied compounds from Polypodium formosanum and P. niponicum

From the rhizomes of Polypodium formosanum, new triterpenoids of the cycloartane group, (24R)-cyclolaudenol and (24R)-cyclomargenol, were isolated as the corresponding acetates, alcohols and ketones, and their structures were established. Also, from the rhizomes of P. niponicum eight acetates of cycloartane derivatives and two acetates of new methyl sterols were isolated and characterized.     

毛乌素沙地克隆植物对风蚀坑的修复

通过在根茎型克隆植物沙鞭和赖草的种群中设置模拟风蚀坑,研究了根茎禾草沙鞭和赖草对风蚀坑的修复能力及其机理。实验结果表明:沙鞭和赖草都能通过克隆拓展在风蚀坑中产生比自然条件下更多的分株,以更好利用风蚀坑中充足的光照,从而具有很强的风蚀坑修复能力;但同时这些分株的生长也受到风蚀坑中养分条件的制约,生物量、叶片数量和分株高度都不如自然条件下形成的分株;赖草通过间隔子的可塑性反应,将更多的新生分株放置在风蚀坑内,从而具有更强的修复能力。赖草对风蚀坑的修复主要是通过周围根茎扩展进入坑中,然后产生新的分株;而沙鞭不仅可以通过周边根茎进入产生新的分株,同时也可以通过更深层次的根茎来产生新的分株。