Distribution of stizolamine in some leguminous plants

The seeds of 38 species of 29 genera in 21 tribes of the Leguminosae were screened for stizolamine. It was detected in 19 species of the subfamily Lotoideae. Its occurrence in Lotoideae was wide (82% in tribes, 56% both in genera and species) but sporadic. The content was fairly varied (0·249–9540 nmol/g of seeds), the largest amount occurring in Stizolobium hassjoo.     

Biosynthesis of stizolamine in Stizolobium hassjoo

In Stizolobium hassjoo, stizolamine is located in seeds and pericarps and is not found in mature leaves, stems and roots. The content of stizolamine in seeds and the fruits increases with their maturation but do not correlate with their dry weights. A feeding experiment showed that guanosine triphosphate [U-¹⁴C] is effectively incorporated into stizolamine in pericarps.     

Characterization of amine oxidases from pisum, lens, Lathyrus and Cicer

Amine oxidases have been purified to homogeneity from Pisum sativum, Lens esculenta, Lathyrus sativus and Cicer arietinum. The enzymes have a M_r. of 150 000 and are composed of two identical subunits of 72 000. The amine oxidases showed an isoelectrophoretic heterogeneity.     

N-Formylcytisine: A new alkaloid from Thermopsis chinensis

A new base have been isolated from Thermopsis chinensis along with N-methylcytisine, cytisine, anagyrine and lupanine. The new alkaloid have been shown to be N-formylcytisine.     

Tetrahydrolathyrine: A new amino acid from seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis

A new non-protein amino acid, tetrahydrolathyrine (2(S)-3(2-amino-1,4,5,6- tetrahydropyrimidin-4-yl)alanine), has been isolated from seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis.     

Polyamine oxidation by enzymes from Hordeum vulgare and Pisum sativum seedlings

The properties of the amine oxidases of barley leaves and pea seedling cotyledons have been compared using a colorimetric assay in which the hydrogen p     

A new sesquiterpene alcohol from Pterocarpus marsupium

The petrol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium afforded a new sesquiterpene alcohol of the eudesmane type, selin-4(15)-en-1β,11-diol, besides β-eudesmol, erythrodiol-3-monoacetate and pterostilbene.     

Two isoflavones from Piscidia erythrina

Two new prenylated isoflavones were isolated from the root bark of Piscidia erythrina. The first compound was identified as 2′-deoxypiscerythrone. The second compound, the most abundant component of the extract, was identified as 3′-6′-di-Δ²-isopentenyl-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-5′-methoxyisoflavone.     

A new triterpene lactone from Gymnocladus dioica

2β,23-Dihydroxyacacic acid lactone was isolated from Gymnocladus dioica as an artifact from 2β, 3β 16β, 21β, 23-pentahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid.     

A new isoflavone phytoalexin from fungus-inoculated stems of Glycine wightii

6-Isopentenylgenistein 1 (wighteone) has been isolated as a phytoalexin from the fungus-inoculated or CuCl₂-treated stems of Glycine wightii. Plants treated with aqueous CuCl₂, but not those inoculated with the fungus, also accumulated genistein (2) and its 2′-hydroxy derivative (3).     

Isoflavan phytoalexins from Anthyllis,lotus and Tetragonolobus

Two previously unreported phytoalexins, 7,4′dihydroxy-2′-methoxy- and 7,2′,4′-trihydroxyisoflavan, have been isolated from the fungus-inoculated leaves of Anthyllis vulneraria and 5 Tetragonolobus species. Examination of Lotus corniculatus revealed the co-occurrence of the latter with the known isoflavans, vestitol and sativan. Only 7,2′4′-trihydroxyisoflavan and vestitol were produced by the closely related L. uliginosus.     

A new isoflavan phytoalexin from leaflets of Lotus hispidus

A new isoflavonoid phytoalexin isolated from the fungus-inoculated leaflets of Lotus hispidus (hairy birdsfoot trefoil) has been identified as 5,4′-dimethoxy-7,2′-dihydroxyisoflavan (5-methoxyvestitol). Three known isoflavans (demethylvestitol, vestitol and sativan) are also produced by L. hispidus. The synthesis of 5-, 6- and 8-methoxyvestitol is described. Preparation of the pterocarpan analogues of 6- and 8-methoxyvestitol has allowed the structures of two additional legume phytoalexins to be unequivocally confirmed.     

Isopterofuran,a new 2-arylbenzofuran phytoalexin from Coronilla emerus

Two 2-arylbenzofuran phytoalexins isolated from the fungus-inoculated leaflets of Coronilla emerus (scorpion senna) have been identified as 6-demethylvignafuran and the previously unreported 2-(4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzofuran (isopterofuran). The synthesis of isopterofuran is described.     

Volubilin,a new isoflavone-C-glycoside from Dalbergia volubilis flowers

Dalbergia volubilis flowers after successive extraction with light petroleum, benzene and alcohol yielded β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, biochanin-A and a new isoflavone-C-glycoside named volubilin. The glvcoside on boiling with HI and phenol gave genistein and on ferric chloride oxidation rhamnose. The compound was identified as 8-C-rhamnopyranosyl-genistein-4′,7-dimethyl ether by means of chemical reactions as well as from spectral data.     

Biosynthesis of bakuchiol,a meroterpene from Psoralea corylifolia

Biosynthesis of bakuchiol was examined using phenylalanine and mevalonic acid as substrates. It has been demonstrated that bakuchiol is derived from one phenylpropane (with the loss of one carbon atom) and two isoprenoid (C₅) units.     

Isoprenylated resorcinol derivatives from Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa

The ether extract of leaves and terminal branches of Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa afforded four new isoprenylated resorcinol derivatives. Two of these are isoprenologues of cannabigerol and cannabigerolic acid.     

A 2-arylbenzofuran phytoalexin from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

2-(2′-methoxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxybenzofuran (vignafuran) has been identified as the major phytoalexin from cowpea leaves infected with Colletotrichum lindemuthianum.     

A comparison of the thermal stability and substrate binding constants of prolyl-tRNA synthetase from Phaseolus aureus and Delonix regia

Pro-tRNA synthetase from P. aureus and D. regia was protected against thermal denaturation by various substrates; the kinetics of this protection was investigated. The affinity of substrates for each synthetase was studied by a thermal inactivation technique. In the presence of ATP, Pro and several Pro-analogues were bound to each enzyme more efficiently than when ATP was absent. The efficiency of imino acid analogue binding, relative to that of Pro, was greater when ATP was absent. Pyrrolidine and 3-pyrroline were able to bind to the enzyme only in the presence of ATP. The ratio of the ATP/Pro binding constants for the Delonix enzyme was greater than that for the Phaseolus enzyme. Values for several thermodynamic parameters involved in substrate binding were determined for each synthetase. The results are discussed in relation to the order of substrate binding and the known differences in substrate specificity between the enzymes from P. aureus and D. regia.     

Diterpenoids from Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Three new furanoditerpenoids of the caesalpin-type have been isolated from the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The structures of these compounds, vouacapen-5α-ol, 6β-cinnamoyl-7β-hydroxy-vouacapen-5α-ol and 8,9,11,14-didehydrovouacapen-5α-ol, were elucidated through interpretation of their spectral data. Sitosterol was also obtained.