Anthocyanins acylated with gallic acid from chenille plant, Acalypha hispida

Three anthocyanins were isolated from the red flowers of chenille plant, Acalypha hispida Burm. (Euphorbiaceae) by a combination of chromatographic techniques. Their structures were elucidated mainly by homo- and heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry, and supported with complete assignments of 13C NMR resonances. The novel pigment, cyanidin 3-O-(2"-galloyl-6"-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-galactopyranoside) (5%), contains the disaccharide robinoside. The other anthocyanins were identified as cyanidin 3-O-(2"-galloyl-beta-galactopyranoside) (85%), and cyanidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (5%). Anthocyanins acylated with gallic acid have previously been identified in species from the families Nymphaeaceae and Aceraceae, and tentatively in Abrus precatorius (Leguminosae).     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acalypha</Emphasis> (Euphorbiaceae: Acalyphoideae: Acalypheae) from Belize and adjacent Mexico and Guatemala

Acalypha gentlei is described, illustrated and mapped. The species is endemic to Belize and adjacent areas of Mexico and Guatemala and restricted to semi-deciduous moist forests on limestone. The species is referred to Acalypha subgenus Linostachys.

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Resumen  Se describe, ilustra y grafica la distribución de Acalypha gentlei. Esta especie nueva es endémica a Belice y áreas adyacentes de México y Guatemala, y está restringida a bosques húmedos semi-deciduos sobre caliza. La especie es referida a Acalypha subgénero Linostachys.

     

Isolation, Identification and Study of Antimicrobial Property of a Bioactive Compound in an Indian Medicinal Plant Acalypha indica (Indian-Nettle)

Summary Fresh, dried and powdered samples of leaf, stem and root of Acalypha indica were subjected to fractional distillation in a soxhlet apparatus using solvents such as hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanol. The plant extracts and a synthetic antifungal compound, Clotrimazole (authentic standard) were subjected to TLC and HPLC analyses. The R_f (relative front) value of Clotrimazole was 0.371. The plant’s leaf, root and stem extracts also gave distinct spots respectively at R_f value of 0.371 ± 0.0009. In HPLC, the TLC-separated active compound and Clotrimazole resolved at 1.90 ± 0.2 min (retention time). The amounts of active compound present in root, leaf and stem extracts were 538, 415 and 171 μg/g respectively. From the results of our study, we infer that the active compound isolated from Acalypha indica is more potent in controlling Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Escherichia coli. The Active compound present in the plant had more than 100% activity when compared to standard Clotrimazole.     

山东10种植物的核型分析

对山东１０ 种植物进行了核型分析。茴茴蒜（ Ｒａｎｕｎｃｕｌｕｓｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｂｇｅ－） 染色体数目２ｎ ＝１６ , 核型公式Ｋ（２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ ＝ １６ ＝ ２ Ｍ ＋ ２ｍ ＋ ２ｓｍ ＋ １０ｓｔ, “３Ａ”类型; 五脉地椒（ Ｔｈｙｍｕｓｑｕｉｎｑｕｅｃｏｓｔａｔｕｓ Ｃｅｌａｋ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ２６ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ２６ ＝ ８ Ｍ ＋ １８ｍ , “１Ａ”类型; 蛇床（ Ｃｎｉｄｉｕｍ ｍｏｎｎｉｅｒｉ（Ｌ－） Ｃｕｓｓ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ２０ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ２０ ＝ ２Ｍ＋ １６ｍ ＋ ２ｓｍ , “２Ｂ”类型; 波斯菊（ Ｃｏｓｍｏｓ ｂｉｐｉｎｎａｔｕｓ Ｃａｖ－） 染色体数目２ｎ ＝ ２４ , 核型公式Ｋ（２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ ＝ ２４ ＝ １６ｍ ＋ ２ｍ （ｓａｔ） ＋ ６ｓｍ , “２Ａ”类型; 白车轴草（ Ｔｒｉｆｏｌｉｕｍ ｒｅｐｅｎｓ Ｌ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ３２ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ４ｘ ＝ ３２ ＝ ３２ｍ , “１Ａ”类型; 铁苋菜（ Ａｃａｌｙｐｈａ ａｕｓｔｒａｌｉｓ Ｌ－）染色体数目２ｎ ＝ ３２ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ３２ ＝ ３２ｍ , “１Ｂ”类型; 地构叶（ Ｓｐｅｒａｎｓｋｉａ ｔ?     

Cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic pyridone glucosides from Acalypha indica (Euphorbiaceae)

Seven cyanopyridone derivatives and one corresponding seco compound have been isolated from a methanolic extract of the inflorescences and leaves of Acalypha indica L. (Euphorbiaceae). The absolute configuration of the main cyanogenic glucoside acalyphin, (−)-(5R,6S)-5-cyano-5-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-methyl-2(5,6-dihydro)-pyridone, was deduced from an X-ray crystallographic study. In addition, the 6R-epimer of acalyphin, epiacalyphin, and the corresponding pair of N-demethyl derivatives were isolated. The corresponding amide of acalyphin and a 1′,2′-glucosyl-fused epiacalyphin amide were isolated from air-dried material. Structural elucidation was performed by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR-spectra, chiroptical methods such as CD-spectroscopy and optical rotation. Two further corresponding derivatives, an aromatized compound and an open-chain structure, were isolated from the aqueous phase.     

Anodic asymmetry of leaves and flowers and its relationship to phyllotaxis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: New approaches are needed to evaluate the various hypotheses of phyllotaxis, and an examination of anodic leaf asymmetry may be one such approach. METHODS: Data were collected on the direction of midrib curvature and leaf coil in Syngonium podophyllum, the location of floral buds in Acalypha virginica, the position of secondary leaves of Croton variegatus 'Banana' and the relative size of half-lamina in Aglaonema crispum and Calathea ornata. KEY RESULTS: All five features were exclusively anodic with respect to the direction of the genetic spiral regardless of whether the spiral was clockwise or counterclockwise. CONCLUSIONS: Any phyllotactic mechanism must include some asymmetric component which cannot be explained by the prevalent hypotheses of contact parastichies, inhibitory fields, available space, pressure waves and auxin transport. The most favourable hypothesis is the primary vasculature explanation as it includes an asymmetric feature.     

Altitude and species identity drive leaf litter decomposition rates of ten species on a 2950 m altitudinal gradient in Neotropical rain forests

Identifying the environmental factors controlling litter decomposition is key to understanding the magnitude and rates of nutrient cycling in tropical forests, and how they may be influenced by climate variability and environmental change. We carried out a leaf litter translocation experiment in mature rain forest over a 2,520 m altitudinal gradient in Costa Rica. Leaf litter decomposition rates (k) of ten tree species, two dominant species from each ecosystem, plus two standard species, were calculated over 540 days in four life zones. k was lowest in montane with 0.83 per year and lower montane forests with 2.21 per year. k did not differ between lowland and premontane forests at 3.12 per year, in spite of the 3℃ difference of mean annual temperature between these life zones. k varied fourfold among species. Species decomposition rates ranked as follows, and were predictably related to leaf economic spectrum traits of the species: Acalypha communis (standard, fast decomposer)» Hyeronima oblonga > Alchornea latifolia, Quercus bumelioides, Jarava ichu (standard, slow decomposer)> Minquartia guianensis > Magnolia sororum > Vochysia allenii > Pourouma bicolor, Carapa guianensis. These two slowest-decomposing species were native premontane and lowland forest dominants, respectively, with tough, low-nutrient leaves. The ranking of species by k varied very little among life zones suggesting that decomposer organisms in very different ecosystems and environments react in similar ways to the litter quality in general. We conclude that while k decreases with temperature in rain forests on tropical mountains, bioclimatic zones defined as premontane may be “functionally lowland.” The effects of species identity on decomposition rates on tropical mountains are consistent and independent of environment for both standard and native species. Under climate change on these mountains, if moisture regimes do not change, decomposition rates will increase due to rising temperatures. Soil carbon storage may therefore decrease. Changes in the altitudinal distributions of currently dominant species will also affect this critically important biogeochemical process.     

Factors influencing dispersal of larval Coleomegilla maculata from the weed Acalypha ostryaefolia to sweet corn

The polyphagous predator, Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), commonly oviposits on the native weed, Acalypha ostryaefolia Riddell (Euphorbiaceae), in and around Kentucky sweet corn fields. Cannibalism of eggs by C. maculata adults and larvae is drastically lower on A. ostryaefolia than on nearby sweet corn plants. We examined ovipositional preference of C. maculata for A. ostryaefolia plants or sweet corn plants, dispersal of larvae from A. ostryaefolia plants, capability for dispersal of larvae across bare soil (e.g., to nearby plants), ability of larvae to climb from ground level up A. ostryaefolia plants or sweet corn plants, and effect of A. ostryaefolia borders adjacent to sweet corn plots on C. maculata population density in sweet corn. The ovipositional preference study revealed that C. maculata laid more eggs on A. ostryaefolia than on corn. First-instar C. maculata that hatched from egg clusters on A. ostryaefolia dispersed predominantly by falling, rather than crawling, to the ground. Glandular trichomes on A. ostryaefolia petioles and stems apparently inhibited intraplant movement of first instars, resulting in those larvae falling directly from leaves to the ground. Some first instars were capable of moving at least 8 m across bare soil in 24 h. From the ground, significantly more first instars climbed sweet corn plants than climbed A. ostryaefolia plants. Significantly more larvae were present in sweet corn plots bordered by A. ostryaefolia plants than in sweet corn plots without an A. ostryaefolia border. These findings show that physical attributes of companion plants can significantly influence natural enemy populations on crop plants by affecting interplant dispersal of natural enemies.     

Transdifferentiation of human gingival mesenchymal stem cells into functional keratinocytes by Acalypha indica in three‐dimensional microenvironment

Gingival tissue is reportedly a promising, easily accessible, abundant resource of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for use in various tissue engineering strategies. Human gingival MSC (HGMSCs) were successfully isolated from gingival tissue and characterized. To analyze in a two‐dimensional form, HGMSCs were cultured with basal medium and induced with 25 µg/ml of Acalypha indica. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis showed the presence of keratinocyte‐specific markers, including cytokeratin‐5 and involucrin. To further assess its capability for stratification akin to human keratinocytes, HGMSCs were encapsulated in a HyStem^®‐HP Cell Culture Scaffold Kit and cultured in the presence of A. indica. Calcein AM staining indicated that the HyStem^®‐HP Scaffold Kit has excellent biocompatibility. Immunofluorescence and qPCR analysis revealed the presence of keratinocyte‐specific markers. The study concluded that the three‐dimensional microenvironment is a novel method for inducing epidermal differentiation of HGMSCs to engineer epidermal substitutes with the help of A. indica, which provides an alternative strategy for skin tissue engineering.     

广西新纪录的大戟科植物

<正> 广西生长的大戟科植物,国内、外学者曾予研究;作者编写中国植物志过程,查阅广西植物研究所植物标本室(IGB)和广西中医药研究所植物标本室(GXMI)收藏的近年在广西石灰岩地区采集的一批标本,其中一些种类,对广西植物区系的探讨,具有一定意义。现报道广西石灰岩山地生长的3个我国新纪录种。