The sesquiterpene constituents of Mortonia hidalgensis

The structure of mortonol B, a sesquiterpene constituent of Mortonia hidalgensis, was established as 2β-acetoxy-mortonol A. Mortonol B is propose     

Chemical constituents from the stems of Tripterygium regelii

Phytochemical investigation on the stems of Tripterygium regelii resulted in the isolation of fourteen compounds, including six flavonoids (1–6), seven lignans (7–13), and one cyanogenic glycoside (14). This is the first report of the four dimeric flavonoids bis-8, 8′-catechinylmethane (2), bis (8-epicatechinyl) methane (3), bis-6, 8′-catechinylmethane (4) and montahomobisflavan B (5) from a species of Tripterygium. Previously, these dimeric flavonoids have been mainly identified from species of gymnosperms. This research has shown that the main secondary metabolisms identified in T. regelii were flavonoids and lignans. These data enable this species to be differentiated from T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum that contain the triptolide-resembling diterpenoids.     

Embryology of Acanthothamnus, Brexia and Canotia (Celastrales): a comparison

TOBE, H. & RAVEN, P. H., 1993. Embryology of Acanthothamnus, Brexia and Canotia (Celastrales): a comparison. Acanthothamnus, Brexia and Canotia , which have been variously discussed with respect to their mutual relationships, are studied embryologically in an effort to clarify their proper systematic positions. Comparisons in embryological characters show that, although Acanthothamnus and Canotia are more similar to eacli other than is any of the genera to Brexia , they all share quite a number of features with one another and further with other Celastraceae. The shared features include a distinctive combination of features, which is common to Celastraceae and related families, and which comprises (1) tenuinucellate (or weakly crassinucellate) ovules, (2) a small nucellus with an early disintegrating tissue, (3) Nuclear type endosperm, (4) albuminous mature seeds with a straight embryo and (5) a fibrous exotegmen. Evidence from embryology supports the inclusion of the two closely related genera Acanthothamnus and Canotia in Celastraceae. Furthermore, combined with evidence from floral anatomy and development as well as from chemistry, it also supports the concept of a unigeneric family Brexiaceae in Celastrales. The affinities of Brexia with any of the families of Saxifragales sensu laio , which have been widely accepted, are not supported.     

Chemical constituents from Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A. C. Smith collected at the Amazon rainforest

The phytochemical investigation of Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A. C. Smith led to the isolations of 15 compounds, including triterpene quinonemethides, which are employed as the common characteristic constituents of the Celastraceae family. Pristimerin (9) and tingenone (12) were isolated as the main compounds in the studied tissues. Additionally, friedelane, lupane, oleanane, and ursane triterpenoids were also isolated. All of them were isolated from this plant for the first time.