Norditerpenoid alkaloids from the roots of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall with antibacterial activity

Two new aconitine-type norditerpenoid alkaloids 6-dehydroacetylsepaconitine (1) and 13-hydroxylappaconitine (2), along with three known norditerpenoid alkaloids lycoctonine, delphatine and lappaconitine were isolated from the roots of the Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. These compounds exhibited significant antibacterial activity. The structure of compound 1 and 2 were deduced on the basis of their spectral data.     

一株海草沉积物菲降解菌的筛选、鉴定和降解特性

【背景】多环芳烃(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,PAHs)是一类高毒性的有机污染物,在海洋环境尤其是沿海环境中广泛分布。海草床生态系统作为沿海环境的重要组成部分,深受环境污染等人类活动的影响而处于严重衰退的状态。微生物修复是修复环境中多环芳烃污染的重要途径,具有经济简便、环境友好和无二次污染等特点。【目的】从深圳市大亚湾的海草床沉积物中筛选获得高效多环芳烃降解菌,并分析其降解特性,从而探究海草床生态系统中多环芳烃污染物的微生物修复可行性。【方法】以多环芳烃菲为唯一碳源从海草床沉积物样品中筛选菌株,再通过形态学观察、生理生化实验和16SrRNA基因序列对筛选的菌株进行鉴定,并利用特定引物扩增多环芳烃降解的功能基因——双加氧酶(nidA)基因,最后通过培养实验分析该菌株对菲的降解特性。【结果】筛选出一株高效降解菲的菌株SCSIO 43702,经鉴定为玫瑰杆菌属(Roseovarius)的潜在新菌,并成功扩增得到双加氧酶相似(nidA like)基因;培养实验结果表明,玫瑰杆菌SCSIO 43702在10 d内对100 mg/L菲的降解率最高可达96%,而且其对菲的最适降解条件为:温度30°C、pH值7.5和8.0、盐度3%。【结论】玫瑰杆菌SCSIO 43702凭借其良好的菲降解能力和较强的环境适应性,具有进一步被开发为微生物菌剂以用于多环芳烃污染修复的巨大潜力,为海草床生态系统中多环芳烃污染的微生物修复研究提供了理论依据和可利用的微生物资源。     

Urease inhibitors from Indigofera gerardiana Wall

Three new phloroglucinol type compounds Indigoferin-A (1), Indigoferin-B (2) and Indigoferin-C (3), along with a known compound β-sitosterol were isolated from the Indegofera gerardiana Wall. The structures of Indigoferin-A (1), Indigoferin-B (2), and Indigoferin-C (3) were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (EI-MS, HREI-MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC). The urease inhibition studies on all the four compounds have also been carried out.     

Whale Sharks,Rhincodon typus,Aggregate around Offshore Platforms in Qatari Waters of the Arabian Gulf to Feed on Fish Spawn

Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are known to aggregate to feed in a small number of locations in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we document a newly discovered major aggregation site for whale sharks within the Al Shaheen oil field, 90 km off the coast of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. Whale sharks were observed between April and September, with peak numbers observed between May and August. Density estimates of up to 100 sharks within an area of 1 km² were recorded. Sharks ranged between four and eight metres’ estimated total length (mean 6.92±1.53 m). Most animals observed were actively feeding on surface zooplankton, consisting primarily of mackerel tuna, Euthynnus affinis, eggs.     

Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Clerodendrum serratum L

The ethanol extract of C. serratum roots and ursolic acid isolated from it were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in male Wistar strain rats. The parameters studied were estimation of liver function serum markers such as serum total bilirubin, total protein, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities. The ursolic acid showed more significant hepatoprotective activity than crude extract. The histological profile of the liver tissue of the root extract and ursolic acid treated animal showed the presence of normal hepatic cords, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration as similar to the controls. The results when compared with the standard drug silymarin, revealed that the hepatoprotective activity of the constituent ursolic acid is significant as similar to the standard drug.     

Role of purinergic receptors in hepatobiliary carcinoma in Pakistani population: an approach towards proinflammatory role of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors

Purinergic Signalling - The primary malignancy of liver, known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), comprises 9% of all hepatobiliary carcinomas. A steady rise has also been observed in...     

Effect of maturation conditions on light and temperature requirements during seed germination of Citrullus colocynthis from the Arabian Desert

• Seed germination of Citrullus colocynthis, as in many other species of Cucurbitaceae, is inhibited by light, particularly at low temperatures. Germination response to light and temperature has been attributed to day length and temperature during seed maturation. This study assessed the effects of these factors on the germination response of C. colocynthis to temperature and light quality.
• Ripe fruits were collected from natural habitats during December and February and germinated at three temperatures (15/25, 20/30 and 25/35 °C) in five light treatments (dark, white light and Red:Far Red (R:FR) ratios of 0.30, 0.87 and 1.19). Additionally, unripe fruits were also collected from natural habitats and completed their maturation in growth chambers under different day lengths (6, 16 and 24 h of darkness) at 10/20 °C, and in darkness at both 10/20 °C and 25/35 °C. Mature seeds of the different treatments were germinated in the same five light treatments at 15/25 °C.
• Germination was significantly higher in the dark than that in any light treatment. Seeds matured at higher temperatures (i.e. seeds from the December collection and those matured at 25/35 °C) had significantly higher germination than those matured at lower temperatures (i.e. seeds from the February collection and those matured at 10/20 °C). Dark germination was significantly higher for the December collection than for the February collection. Seeds of the two collections germinated in the dark only at 15/25 °C. However, seeds matured in a growth chamber at 10/20 °C in darkness germinated at 15/25 °C in all light treatments, except for the R:FR ratio 0.30. Seeds of the different treatments failed to germinate in FR‐rich light.
• This study demonstrates that both temperature and day length during seed maturation play significant roles in the germination response of C. colocynthis. Additionally, the dark requirement for germination is likely beneficial for species with the larger seeds, such as C. colocynthis, which produce bigger seedlings that are able to emerge from deep soils and are competitively superior under dense vegetation and resource‐limited conditions.

     

Comparative study on floristic diversity of protected and unprotected Forests of Sathan Gali,District Mansehra,KP, Pakistan

This first ever study was carried out to explore the floristic composition of protected and unprotected forests of Sathan Gali, District Mansehra, KP, Pakistan. The study area being the part of the Western Himalayas harbours rich floristic diversity. In the current investigation, an effort was made to record primary data about floral diversity of the area. The study area was visited recurrently during 2013 and 2014. Plants were collected from different sampling sites, identified, preserved and deposited in Herbarium of Hazara University, Mansehra. A total of 127 plants species including 59 common and 68 different were found in 13 stands of reserved forest. The different species were only confined with this forest whereas common plant species were distributed in both forests. The dominant family was Asteraceae (13 species, 10.7%) followed by Labiateae (10 species, 7.75%), Poaceae and Rosaceae (8 species, 6.2%) each, Polygonaceae and Pteridaceae by (5 species, 3.87%) each. Angiosperms were represented by 118 (92.91%), plant species, Pteridophytes 5(3.93%) species and Gymnosperms 4 (3.14%) species were recorded in reserved forest. Only single species of climber was documented. The number of herbs, shrubs and trees species recorded were 73.64%, 13.17% and 10.07% respectively. A total of 103 plant species of 55 families including 61 common in both forest types and 42 species different to guzara Forest. These plant species were recorded from 22 sampling stands. Angiosperms by (92.3%) plant species, Gymnosperms (2.88%) and Pteridophytes (4.8%) were recorded. The dominant family was Poaceae by 11 plant species followed by Asteraceae and Rosaceae each represented by 10 species and Pteridaceae by 5 plant species. Habit wise 69.23% were herbs, 14.42% shrubs and 16.34% species of tree were reported. This study will assist ecologists, botanists, taxonomist, conservationists and policy makers to mend, and manage the current vegetation status and sustainability for upcoming generations. The present investigation will also serves as base line for future researches on the Himalaya regions.