Systematic characterisation of secondary metabolites from Ixeris sonchifolia by the combined use of HPLC‐TOFMS and HPLC‐ITMS

Introduction – Ixeris sonchifolia (Bunge) Hance, a folk medicine, has been widely used in China for its anti‐inflammatory and haemostatic effects. However, the miscellaneous component composition of this herbal medicine is not well known. Objective – To develop a fast and comprehensive analytical method for the characterisation of various components from I. Sonchifolia, as a tool for the quality control of the herb and its related preparations. Methodology – Ixeris sonchifolia samples were extracted with 60% aqueous methanol, purified by solid‐phase extraction and then analysed by the combinatorial use of HPLC‐TOFMS and HPLC‐ITMS. Results – A total of six sesquiterpene lactones, six phenolic acids and seven flavonoids were identified or tentatively characterised. Five of them were reported for the first time in I. sonchifolia and, in particular, two amino acid‐sesquiterpene lactone conjugates, 11,13‐dihydro‐13‐prolyl‐ixerin Z and 11,13‐dihydro‐13‐prolyl‐ixerin Z₁, that were first found in this plant source. Conclusion – A global profile of I. sonchifolia constituents was described, which could be useful for the quality control of this herb and its related preparations. The employed combination of HPLC‐TOFMS and HPLC‐ITMS could also be a promising tool for the analysis of other herbal medicines containing sesquiterpene lactones, phenolic acids or flavonoids. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In silico and In vitro evaluation of the anti-inflammatory potential of Centratherum punctatum Cass-A

Centratherum punctatum Cass., a herb belonging to the family Asteraceae has been traditionally used as a curative against diverse disorders like inflammation, tumor, depression, and hypertension. Though the medicinal properties of this plant have been attributed to the presence of flavonoids, glucosides, alkaloids, Vitamin C, etc., the molecular constituents of this plant and of the flavonoids that contribute to its medicinal activity have not been explored yet. This work attempts to evaluate the potential of Centratherum punctatum extract as an anti-inflammatory agent. Ethanolic extracts of Centratherum punctatum analyzed by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) identified the presence of the flavones kaempferol, glycoside Isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-glucoside. The plant extract exhibited anti-oxidant property as confirmed by DPPH assay and IC₅₀ value of 271.6 μg/mL during inhibition of protein denaturation, 186.8 μg/mL during RBC membrane stabilization, and 278.2 μg/mL for proteinase inhibition. Membrane stabilizing functions of flavones and flavones glycosides validated the anti-inflammatory potential of the extract. In silico evaluation using a rigorous molecular docking protocol with receptors of Cox2, TNF-α, Interleukin 1β convertase, and Histamine H1 predicted high binding affinity of the isoflavones and isoflavone glycosides of Centratherum punctatum Cass. The interactions have also been shown to compare well with that of known drugs valdecoxib through Gln178, His342, and Gly340, desloratadine (through Lys191 and Thr194) and belnacasin (through Asp288 and Gly287) proven to function through the anti-inflammatory pathway. This work establishes the anti-inflammatory potential of Centratherum punctatum Cass. extract as an alternative to existing therapeutic approach to inflammation through a systematic in silico approach supplementing the findings.     

Cytogeography of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ixeris nakazonei</Emphasis> (Asteraceae,Lactuceae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan and Taiwan

The cytogeographical structures of Ixeris nakazonei, a putative hybrid between I. debilis (6x) and I. repens (2x), were investigated in the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan. In the Ryukyus, I. debilis occurs on Miyakojima Island of the southern Ryukyus and northward, while I. repens occurs on all islands except for Iriomotejima and Yonagunijima Islands. I. nakazonei, comprises six polyploid cytotypes, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x and 8x, based on x=8. Four cytotypes from 3x to 6x occur in the central Ryukyus, while four cytotypes from 5x to 8x occur in the southern Ryukyus. The higher polyploids of I. nakazonei tend to be distributed in the more southerly area. Tetraploids of I. nakazonei always co-occur with I. debilis and I. repens, supporting the hybrid origin of this cytotype. Considering the chromosome number, octoploids, which predominate in the southern Ryukyus and Taiwan, may have derived directly from hybridization between I. debilis and I. repens. Odd-numbered polyploids of I. nakazonei, 3x, 5x and 7x, are relatively rare. Their chromosome numbers indicate that triploids and heptaploids are hybrids between the tetraploid of I. nakazonei and I. repens, and between the octoploid of I. nakazonei and I. debilis, respectively. Pentaploids of I. nakazonei in the central and southern Ryukyus are, respectively, hybrids between the tetraploid of I. nakazonei and I. debilis and between the octoploid of I. nakazonei and I. repens, indicating that pentaploids of I. nakazonei have at least two independent origins.     

中国橐吾属(菊科-千里光族)的分类学研究(四):康定橐吾和Senecio ficariifolius的名实订正(英文)

将康定橐吾(Ligularia kangtingensis S.W.Liu)处理为细茎橐吾[L.hookeri(C.B.Clarke)Hand.-Mazz.]的异名。Senecio ficariifolius H.Lév.Vaniot长期以来被处理为细茎橐吾的异名,但我们检查模式材料后发现其头状花序盘状,与头状花序辐射状的细茎橐吾明显不同,而与头状花序盘状的贵州橐吾[L.leveillei(Vaniot)Hand.-Mazz.]没有区别,故将其处理为贵州橐吾的异名。     

Plant regeneration from cotyledons of niger

Callus initiation from seedling explants of niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass) cv. Ootacamund was found to be better on LS medium containing kinetin (1.4 M) plus 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (9 M) than its analogues. Embryoids were induced directly from cotyledons on LS medium supplemented with 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid. When cotyledon-derived callus was subcultured onto medium with 10.7 M naphthalene-acetic acid and 2.3 M kinetin, embryogenesis was observed. Multiple shoots were obtained from cotyledonary explants in presence of MS medium containing 4.4 M benzyladenine and 11.4 M indoleacetic acid. Regenerated plants that were transferred to pots and grown to maturity were morphologically normal and fertile.Abbreviations NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - BA benzyladenine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid - 2,4,5-TP 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid - ABA abscisic acid     

苹果蓟属,东南亚大陆菊科一新归化属

该文报道了在泰国北部和中国西南部的菊科一个新归化属——苹果蓟属(Centratherum Cass.)。依据所采集的标本,详细描述了该属在东南亚大陆的唯一代表亚种苹果蓟 [Centratherum punctatum Cass. Subsp. fruticosum(S. Vidal)K. Kirkman ex Shih H. Chen, M. J. Wu & S. M. Li],并配以插图。苹果蓟与其所在属的其他种的区别在于该亚种叶片菱形至椭圆形,叶缘具不规则锯齿,先端微尖,总苞片基部硬化,先端无芒。文中还提供了苹果蓟的分布图,并讨论了其可能的传播途径。     

橐吾属植物的研究进度

对近年来橐吾属植物的研究文献进行综述,主要内容有该属植物的化学成分、药理作用及其它方面的研究情况。     

On the Classification of Ixeris Group (Compositae) from China

Ixeris Cass., strinctly speaking, is confined to plants which have achenes with sharply winged ribs. Ixeridium (A. Gray ) Tzvel. contains plants which have persistent radical leaves at anthesis and achenes with obtuse ribs and a fine rostrum at its apex. Paraixeris Nakai is restricted to plants which are of the same achenes as in the genus Ixeridium (A. Gray) Tzvel., but rostra of achenes are robust and radical leaves deciduous in flowering in the former. The Chorisis DC., a monotypic genus, is characterized by ternate palatisect leaves. In the light of the above mentioned understanding of these genera, the author thinks that the division of Chinese Ixeris group, a comparatively complex one, into four genera would be more reasonable than merging them into one genus, namely, Ixeris Cass. Based on the examination of specimens in the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica (PE), the author found that there are four species in the genus Ixeris Cass., including one new combination in China. They are I. polycephala Cass., I. dissecta (Makino) Shih, I. japonica (Burm. f. ) Nakai and I. stolonifera A. Gray. The genus Ixeridium (A. Gray ) Tzvel. has 13 species, including five new combinations and three new species in China, namely, I. sagittaroides (C. B. Clarke) Shih, I. gramineum (Ledb.) Tzvel., I. yunnarense Shih,I. graminifolium(Ledb.)Tzvel.,I, biparum Shih,I.aculeolatum Shih,I. chinense( Thunb. ) Tzvel., I. strigosum( Fisch. ) Tzvel., I. elegans( Franeh. ) Shih, I. sonchifolium (Maxim.)Shih,I. laevigatum (BI.)Shih,I. dentatum(Thunb. )Nakai and I. gracile(DC.)Shih, in China. There are six species in the genus Paraixeris Nakai, including One new combination, namely, P. denticulata(Houtt.) Nakai, P. humifusa(Dunn) Shih, P. cheldonifolia( Makino) Nakai, P. saxatilis( Baran. ) Tzvel., P.pinnatipartita (Makino)Tzvel. and P.serotina(Maxim.)Tzvel.in China.     

中国橐吾属(菊科-千里光族)的分类学研究(三)：芥形橐吾、岷县橐吾和半裂橐吾的名实订正

将芥形橐吾（Ligularia brassicoides Hand.-Mazz.）、岷县橐吾（L. ianthochaeta C. C. Chang）和半裂橐吾（L. paradoxa Hand.-Mazz. var. palmatifida S. W. Liu