Genetical identification of Akebia and Aristolochia species by using Pyrosequencing

This study was performed to determine if Akebia and Aristolochia species (Akebia quinata Decaisne and Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom.) could be identified by genetic analysis of Pyrosequencing method, which is used to assess genetic variation. The Pyrosequencing results of Akebia and Aristolochia species showed different patterns. The Pyrosequencing analysis of A. quinata Decaisne was very different compared with that of A. manshuriensis Kom. Pyrosequencing analyses might be able to identify the Akebia and Aristolochia species.     

Aristolochia bhamoensis sp. nov. (Aristolochiaceae) and a diagnostic key to all known A. subgen. Siphisia species from Myanmar

Aristolochia bhamoensis from Myanmar is here described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar to A. faviogonzalezii (confined to northern Vietnam) and A. cathcartii (growing in the Himalayan region) but is distinguished from the latter two species by having a cream‐white upper part of the perianth tube, with visible purple ridges, a trumpet‐shaped limb, 5.0–5.5 cm diameter, inner surface of limb lobes densely covered with dark‐purple bristles, a nearly circular mouth, 3.2–3.5 cm wide, upper half of throat being dark‐purple to blackish, without striations or dots, and lower half purple, with conspicuous white striation. Morphological characters such as a 3‐lobed gynostemium and a 3‐lobed limb support a placement of the new species in the subgenus Siphisia. A diagnostic key is provided to the seven Siphisia species known from Myanmar.     

四川马兜铃属植物新类群

凉山马兜铃地檀香(会理、米易)新种图1 Aristolochia liangshanensis Z.L.Yang,sp.nov.     

Configurational analysis of cubebins and bicubebin from Aristolochia lagesiana and Aristolochia pubescens

(8S,8'R,9S)-, (8R,8'R,9R)-, and (8R,8'R,9S)-cubebins, together with (8R,8'R,8'R,8'R,9R,9'S)-bicubebin, were isolated from Aristolochia lagesiana and Aristolochia pubescens. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy at low temperatures, and by chemical transformations.     

Morphological aspects of self-repair of lesions caused by internal growth stresses in stems of Aristolochia macrophylla and Aristolochia ringens

This study reveals in detail the mechanism of self-repair during secondary growth in the vines Aristolochia macrophylla and Aristolochia ringens based on morphological data. For a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms during the self-repair of lesions in the sclerenchymatous cylinder of the stem, which are caused by internal growth stresses, a classification of morphological changes in the cells involved in the repair process is required. In an early stage of self-repair, we observed morphological changes as a mere extension of the turgescent cortex cells surrounding the lesion, whereby the cell wall extends locally through visco-elastic/plastic deformation without observable cell wall synthesis. Later stages involve typical cell growth and cell division. Several successive phases of self-repair were investigated by light microscopy of stained samples and confocal laser-scanning microscopy in fluorescence mode. The results indicate that A. macrophylla and A. ringens respond to lesions caused by internal growth stresses with a sophisticated self-repair mechanism comprising several phases of different repair modes.     

Sporoderm ultrastructure and development in Aristolochia manshuriensis Komarov (Aristolochiaceae)

Pollen ontogeny and sporoderm development in Aristolochia manshuriensis were studied for elaboration of the inaperturete pollen ontogeny in Aristolochia. Despite the formation of apertures in the tetrad period, the sporoderm in A. manshuriensis becomes inaperturate at the end of the free microspore period. A similar immature exine is also detected in A. macrophylla. Variants of aperture formation in the tetrad period in A. manshuriensis or formation of a polar aperture in the free microspore period in A. clematitis are associated with types of microsporogenesis. The ectexine and endexine in A. manshuriensis are formed over a longer time and reached much greater thickness than those in A. clematitis. The endexine and intine in A. manshuriensis do not reach a mature state, similar to A. clematitis. The exine of A. manshuriensis cracks, releasing a pollen tube enveloped by the intine. This fact does not hinder the functioning of the male gametophyte of A. manshuriensis.     

一株马兜铃内生真菌Colletotrichum sp.代谢产物中细胞毒活性成分的研究

从马兜铃内生真菌Colletotrichum sp.的大米发酵产物中分离得到6个化合物,经波谱数据分析分别鉴定为7-hydroxy-10-oxodehydrodihydrobotrydial(1)、格链孢酚(2)、5-甲氧基格链孢酚(3)、链格孢毒素I(4)、腾毒素(5)和二氢腾毒素(6)。以上化合物均为从该菌属中首次分离得到,其中化合物1～4对肺癌细胞和乳腺癌细胞有一定的细胞毒活性。     

Antitoxin activity of plants used in Mexican traditional medicine against scorpion poisoning

Scorpions, especially in urban areas of tropical and subtropical regions, present a common risk of poisoning. In Mexico, scorpion envenomation is considered a public health problem. Despite the frequency of scorpion sting cases, there are to date no uniform criteria for their treatment. In Mexican traditional medicine, different plant species have been widely used as a remedy for treating scorpion poisoning. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Bouvardia ternifolia, Aristolochia elegans and Vitex mollis extracts on Centruroides limpidus limpidus venom lethality in mice, and to determine their antagonist activity on guinea pig ileum. The hexane and methanol extract from B. ternifolia modified the LD50 of C. limpidus limpidus venom from 0.750 +/- 0.08 to 1.64 +/- 0.19 and 1.16 +/- 0.14 mg/kg, respectively. The extracts of A. elegans produced lower antitoxic activity, while extracts of V. mollis did not show any protection. On in vitro test, addition of B. ternifolia and A. elegans extracts strongly inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the ileum contractions induced by venom. In general, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of these two plant species in modifying the lethality of C. limpidus limpidus venom in mice.     

丁烯羟酸内酯对公鸡花种子萌发和赤霉素含量的影响

从植物燃烟中提取的丁烯羟酸内酯（buten01ide）能提高公鸡花种子的萌发率,并促进其萌发后的生长。光可以增强丁烯羟酸内酯的作用。公鸡花对外源GA的响应与对丁烯羟酸内酯的响应类似,二者有协同效应。酶联免疫法测定结果显示,在种子尚未萌发时,经丁烯羟酸内酯处理的种子中内源赤霉素含量低于不做处理的;萌发生长后,其赤霉素含量则高于不做处理的。因此认为,丁烯羟酸内酯可能是通过增加种子对GA的敏感性而起作用的。     

Plants as concept generators for biomimetic light-weight structures with variable stiffness and self-repair mechanisms

1 Introduction Over the last few years, plants have proved to be areal treasure trove as models for the construction of bio-logically inspired technical structures and materials [1–5].One ongoing project of the Competence Network ‘Plantsas Concept Generators for Biomimetic Materials andTechnologies’deals with the construction of light-weightstructures with variable stiffness and rapid self-repairmechanisms based on plant structures [6, 7] …