O-glycosylated C-glycosylflavones from Passiflora platyloba

Five C-glycosylflavonoids including two new compounds, isovitexin 7-rhamnosylglucoside and isomollupentin 7-rhamnosylglucoside, were obtained from the leaves of Passiflora platyloba. The known flavonoids were isovitexin, vitexin and isomollupentin (6-C-arabinosylapigenin). In addition, the coumarin esculetin was isolated.     

ON THE MECHANISM OF THE INHIBITION OF GROWTH BY XYLULOSE IN CHLOROCOCCUM ECHINOZYGOTUM1,2

We previously established that xylulose inhibits the growth of the green alga Chlorococcum echinozygotum. Utilizing experiments involving exposure of the alga to NaHC¹⁴O₃, it was possible to show by counting the C¹⁴ activity of methanolic extracts of the algal cells that xylulose inhibited CO₂ uptake. Subsequently it was shown that xylulose does not inhibit or otherwise influence the Hill reaction in this alga. Several enzymes related to xylulose metabolism were investigated. It was found that xylulokinase was active in C. echinozygotum while phosphoketolase activity was absent. Transketolase was present but its activity was not notably affected by xylulose. Crude carboxydismutase preparations were found to be inhibited by xylulose and xylulose 5-phosphate. However, as carboxydismutase was purified further, this inhibition was relatively less. When xylulose 1,5-diphosphate was prepared synthetically, this compound was found to be the most effective inhibitor of purified algal carboxydismutase. We conclude that d -xylulose enters the cells of C. echinozygotum where it is converted to d -xylulose 1,5-diphosphate which acts as a competitive inhibitor of carboxydismutase.     

In vitro regeneration of Gaillardia pulchella Foug.

Young leaf and internodal stem segments of Gaillardia pulchella, collected from wild species re-established in the greenhouse, were used to initiate callus on Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with NAA (2.0 mgl⁻¹) and BA (0.4 mgl⁻¹). Callus formed after 10 to 14 days in the dark. Cultures were transferred to fresh medium and placed under lighted conditions where shoot formation occurred approximately 14 to 30 days after initiation. Callus sub-cultured at 14 to 21-day intervals continued to produce primordia for several weeks. Flowers were produced by regenerated shoots maintained on MS medium, but roots did not develop until the plantlets were transferred to soil conditions.     

Diterpene carboxylic acids and a heliangolide from Helianthus angustifolius

Two diterpene carboxylic acids, one a new kaurenoid derivative and one the previously characterized labdane, ()-cis-ozic acid, as well as a     

Systematics ofNama (Hydrophyllaceae): Flavonoids and phyletic position of sect.Arachnoidea and sect.Cinerascentia

Eight flavonoids, four 6-oxygenated flavones, two methyl ethers of luteolin, apigenin 6,8-C-diglucoside and quercetin 3-O-glucoside, were isolated fromNama lobbii andN. rothrockii, sole members of sects.Arachnoidea andCinerascentia, respectively. Both taxa diverge markedly from other namas in morphology and chromosome number and their placement inNama has been questioned. The occurrence of 6-oxygenated flavones in these taxa adds to their already distinctive nature. Flavonoid evidence argues that both are more closely allied toEriodictyon than either is toNama.     

Two new neoflavonoids and C-glycosylflavones from Passiflora serratodigitata

The aerial parts of Passiflora serratodigitata yielded 5,7-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin, its 7-β-glucoside and the known C-glycosylflavones 2″-xylosylvitexin, 2″-xylosylisovitexin, vitexin, isovitexin, a vicenin, and orientin. The known flavone chrysin was also isolated. This is the first report of neoflavonoids in the family Passifloraceae.     

Trichoclin,a new furocoumarin from trichocline incana

The structure for trichoclin, (E)-8-(3-methyl-4-hydroxy-2-butenyloxy)-psoralen, a new furocoumarin isolated from Trichocline incana, has been established. Phellopterin and isopimpinellin were also obtained. The new side chain of trichoclin was confirmed by synthesis.     

Raf-1-induced cell cycle arrest in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in men. LNCaP cells continue to possess many of the molecular characteristics of in situ prostate cancer. These cells lack ras mutations, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is not extensively phosphorylated in these cells. To determine the effects of ras/raf/MAPK pathway activation in these cells, we transfected LNCaP cells with an activatable form of c-raf-1(deltaRaf-1:ER). Activation of deltaRaf-1:ER, with resultant MAPK activation, reduced plating efficiency and soft agarose cloning efficiency 30-fold in LNCaP cells. Cell cycle distribution showed an accumulation of cells in G1 and was associated with the induction of CDK inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 at the protein and mRNA levels. p21WAF1/CIP1 mRNA stability was increased after deltaRaf-1:ER activation. In addition, activated deltaRaf-1:ER induced the senescence associated-beta-galactosidase in LNCaP cells. These data demonstrate that raf activation can activate growth inhibitory pathways leading to growth suppression in prostate carcinoma cells and also suggest that raf/MEK/MAPK pathway activation, rather than inhibition, may be a therapeutic target for some human prostate cancer cells.