Chrysophanol glycosides from callus cultures of monocotyledonous Kniphofia spp. (Asphodelaceae)

We established callus cultures of the monocotyledonous plants Kniphofia foliosa and K. tuckii (Asphodelaceae), which produce the anthraquinone derivatives chrysophanol and its glycosides. The minor product chrysophanol 8-O-beta-gentiobioside was fully characterized by spectroscopic analysis and synthesis.     

Hairy Roots of Scutellaria spp. (Lamiaceae) as Promising Producers of Antiviral Flavones

We measured and studied the growth parameters and the qualitative and quantitative composition of the flavones of hairy roots of the Scutellaria genus: S. lateriflora, S. przewalskii and S. pycnoclada. Hairy roots were obtained using wild-type Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 by co-cultivation of explants (cotyledons) in a suspension of Agrobacterium. The presence of the rol-genes was confirmed by PCR analysis. The hairy roots of the most studied plant from the Scutellaria genus, S. baicalensis, were obtained earlier and used as a reference sample. HPLC-MS showed the predominance of four main flavones (baicalin, baicalein, wogonin and wogonoside) in the methanol extracts of the studied hairy roots. In addition to the four main flavones, the other substances which are typical to the aerial part of plants were found in all the extracts: apigenin, apigetrin, scutellarin and chrysin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide. According to the total content of flavones, the hairy roots of the studied skullcaps form the following series: S. przewalskii (33 mg/g dry weight) > S. baicalensis (17.04 mg/g dry weight) > S. pycnoclada (12.9 mg/g dry weight) > S. lateriflora (4.57 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, the most promising producer of anti-coronavirus flavones is S. przewalskii.     

Diffusion of Re(VII) and Se (IV) in compacted GMZ bentonite in the presence of Bacillus spp.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The effect of Bacillus spp. on Re(VII) and Se(IV) diffusion in compacted GMZ bentonite was investigated by a through-diffusion method. Bacillus...     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of some oleogum resin essential oils from Boswellia spp. (Burseraceae)

The chemical composition of Boswellia carteri (Somalia), B. papyrifera (Ethiopia), B. serrata (India) and B. rivae (Ethiopia) oleogum resin essential oils was investigated using GC-MS to identify chemotaxonomy marker components. Total ion current peak areas gave good approximations to relative concentrations based on GC-MS peak areas. B. carteri and B. serrata oleogum resin oils showed similar chemical profiles, with isoincensole and isoincensole acetate as the main diterpenic components. Both n-octanol and n-octyl acetate, along with the diterpenic components incensole and incensole acetate, were the characteristic compounds of B. papyrifera oleogum resin oil. Hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant classes of compounds identified in the B. rivae oleogum resin oil. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were individually evaluated against different microorganisms including fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. The essential oils with the best activity against fungal strains were those obtained from B. carteri and B. papyrifera with MIC values as low as 6.20 microg/ml. The essential oil of B. rivae resin showed the best activity against C. albicans with a MIC value of 2.65 microg/ml.     

Food-induced esterase electromorphs in Carinarion spp. and their effects on taxonomic data analysis (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Arionidae)

Nonspecific esterases (EST) are often used to measure genetic variation, yet they may be influenced by environmental factors such as food, climate and age. This may produce misleading similarity indices and genetic diversity estimates (i.e., clone or strain diversities in uniparental organisms). Therefore, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) were used to investigate environmental effects on the EST variation in natural Carinarion populations, as well as in 45 individuals that were raised individually on carrots to produce offspring by selfing. Food effects on EST profiles in these progenies were examined by raising them on different food items (lettuce, nettle, or paper). Our results indicated that: (i) Arion (Carinarion) fasciatus and A. (C.) silvaticus show species-specific EST profiles, (ii) A. fasciatus-like outcrossers most probably are conspecific with A. fasciatus s.s., (iii) not all EST variation has a Mendelian basis since lettuce and nettle altered EST profiles, and (iv) food effects on EST profiles differed strongly between individuals. Although food-induced EST profiles did not affect taxonomic interpretations, they did inflate genetic diversity estimates and thus provided misleading population-genetic data.     

Rosa spp. Extracts as a Factor That Limits the Growth of Staphylococcus spp. Bacteria,a Food Contaminant

Due to their richness of bioactive substances, rose hips are a valuable raw material for obtaining extracts with potential antimicrobial activity. The aim of the study was to determine the antagonistic potential of whole pseudo-fruit and flesh extracts of three Rosa sp. varieties against Staphylococcus spp. bacteria isolated as food contaminants. The biological material in this study consisted of seven strains of bacteria from the genus Staphylococcus. Two strains—Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus epidermidis DSMZ 3270—were used as reference strains. The other five strains were food-derived isolates—S. epidermidis A5, S. xylosus M5, S. haemolyticus M6, S. capitis KR6, and S. warneri KR2A. The material was the pseudo-fruits of Rosa canina, Rosa pomifera Karpatia, and Rosa rugosa. The polyphenols were extracted from the fleshy part and the whole pseudo-fruit for all rose varieties. The tested preparations differed significantly in their polyphenol composition. The sum of polyphenols ranged from 28 862 to 35 358 mg/100 g of lyophilisate. The main groups of polyphenols found in the preparations were flavanols and ellagitannins. All of the tested extracts inhibited the growth of staphylococci at a concentration of 500 mg/mL. Rosa rugosa fruit extract showed the strongest antimicrobial properties among the studied extracts. For all the strains, the growth inhibition had a diameter of 20.3–29.0 mm. Moreover, six out of the seven tested strains showed the highest inhibition with the use of this extract. The MIC of rose extracts was in the range of 3.125–500 mg/mL and was strictly dependent on the bacterial species, the species of the rose, and the part of the fruit from which the extract was obtained. Correlations were assessed between the main groups of polyphenols in the extracts and their inhibition of bacterial growth. In the case of pseudo-fruit extracts, the inhibitory effect on bacterial growth positively correlated with the content of ellagitannins, and this effect was observed for almost all the tested strains. The results presented herein follow the current trend of minimising the use of chemical preservatives in food; from this point of view, rose extracts are very promising.     

Nutrient status of edible plantains (Musa spp) as determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Summary Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was to determine the nutrient status of six varieties of plantain. A total of 12 minerals were detected in both the pulp and the peel although their concentrations differed from variety to variety. Of these elements, only two (Mg and Cl) were classified, as macronutrients while seven (Cr, Zn, Se, Fe, Co, Mn, and Cu) were micronutrients essential for human life. The concentration of Cl, Mn and Cr in the edible pulp far exceeds the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Aluminum, Br and Rb, which are neither classified as macro- nor micronutrients, were found in comparatively higher concentrations in the peel than is the pulp. The presence of seven micronutrients essential to human life in plantains makes it suitable for food, particularly in areas where micronutrient deficiencies may be prevalent.     

Radioresistance studies in Methylobacterium spp.

Methylobacterium extorquen was isolated and was found as one of the most resistant microorganisms in the original bioburden of ophthalmic cotton dressings to be submitted to γ radiation sterilization. Radiation survival curves were simultaneously performed in phosphate buffer and in test-pieces on two isolates, one obtained before irradiation (wild strain) and the other after irradiation at 20 kGy (rad strain), as well as on three type strains of Methylobacterium spp. (M. extorquens^T, M. radiotolerans^T and M. fujisawaense^T). The radiation resistance was compared using D_values. To analyze the effect of non linearity on radioresistance other measures were applied, such as intercept point, fraction of surviving cells at a selected dose and area. The ranking of strains with these approaches showed to be different, pointing out the need of an integrated measure of radioresistance. Therefore, an index of relative survival (IRS) is proposed.     

Triterpenoids from Abies spp. VI. “Isofirmanic” and (24E)-lanosta-8,24-diene-3,23-dion-26-oic acids from Siberian fir needles

Two triterpene acids have been isolated in the form of methyl esters from an extract of Siberian fir needles, and their structures have been established as 9β-lanosta-7,25-diene-3,23-dion-26-oic and (24E)-lanosta-8,24-dien-3,23-dion-26-oic acids, respectively.     

Novel Sesquiterpenes from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

Two novel sesquiterpene dimers, ligularin A ( 1 ) and ligulolide D ( 2 ), and one new sesquiterpenoid, 1β,10α‐dihydroxy‐6β‐[(2‐methylpropyl)oxy]furanoeremophil‐9‐one ( 3 ), as well as two known sesquiterpenoids, 6β‐[(2‐methylpropyl)oxy]‐furanoeremophil‐1(10)‐en‐9‐one ( 4 ) and 1‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethyl‐2‐(pent‐3‐enyl)benzofuran ( 5 ), were isolated from the petroleum‐ether fraction from an alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy together with HR‐ESI‐MS analysis, and comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds. In addition, the cytotoxicities against human gastric cancer SGC‐7910 cell were measured in vitro, the results demonstrated that these sesquiterpenes have no cytotoxicity against the selected tumor cell (all IC₅₀ values >200 μM ).     

Purification and biochemical characterization of two major thermophilic xylanase isoforms (T70 and T90) from xerophytic Opuntia vulgaris plant spp.

Thermostable xylanase isoforms T₇₀ and T₉₀ were purified and characterized from the xerophytic Opuntia vulgaris plant species. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity employing three consecutive steps. The purified T₇₀ and T₉₀ isoforms yielded a final specific activity 134.0 and 150.8 U mg^?1 protein, respectively. The molecular mass of these isoforms was determined to be 27 kDa. The optimum pH for the T₇₀ and T₉₀ xylanase isoforms was 5.0 and the temperature for optimal activity was 70 and 90 °C, respectively. The Km value of T₇₀ and T₉₀ enzyme isoforms was 3.49, 2.1 mg ml^?1, respectively when oat spelt xylan was used as a substrate. The T₇₀ had a Vmax of 10.4 μmol min^?1 mg^?1, and T₉₀ had a Vmax of 8.9 μmol min^?1 mg^?1, respectively. In the presence of 10 mM Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺ the activity of T₇₀ and T₉₀ isoforms increased, where as 90 % inhibition was noted with of the use 10 mM Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ while partial inhibition was observed in the presence of Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺. The T₇₀ and T₉₀ isoforms retained nearly 50 % activity in the presence of 2.0 M urea, while use of 40 mM SDS lowered the activity nearly 38–41 %. The substrate specificity of both T₇₀ and T₉₀ isoforms showed maximum activity for oat spelt xylan. Western blot, immunodiffusion, and in vitro inhibition assays confirmed reactivity of the T₉₀ isoform with polyclonal anti-T₉₀ antibody raised in rabbit, as well as cross-reactivity of the antibody with the T₇₀ xylanase isoform.     

Comparative analysis of amino acid composition in the active site of nirk gene encoding copper-containing nitrite reductase (CuNiR) in bacterial spp.

The nirk gene encoding the copper-containing nitrite reductase (CuNiR), a key catalytic enzyme in the environmental denitrification process that helps to produce nitric oxide from nitrite. The molecular mechanism of denitrification process is definitely complex and in this case a theoretical investigation has been conducted to know the sequence information and amino acid composition of the active site of CuNiR enzyme using various Bioinformatics tools. 10 Fasta formatted sequences were retrieved from the NCBI database and the domain and disordered regions identification and phylogenetic analyses were done on these sequences. The comparative modeling of protein was performed through Modeller 9v14 program and visualized by PyMOL tools. Validated protein models were deposited in the Protein Model Database (PMDB) (PMDB id: PM0080150 to PM0080159). Active sites of nirk encoding CuNiR enzyme were identified by Castp server. The PROCHECK showed significant scores for four protein models in the most favored regions of the Ramachandran plot. Active sites and cavities prediction exhibited that the amino acid, namely Glycine, Alanine, Histidine, Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Threonine, and Glutamine were common in four predicted protein models. The present in silico study anticipates that active site analyses result will pave the way for further research on the complex denitrification mechanism of the selected species in the experimental laboratory.     

Antioxidant,Antimicrobial Activities and Fatty Acid Compositions of Wild Berberis spp. by Different Techniques Combined with Chemometrics (PCA and HCA)

Interest in medicinal plants and fruits has increased in recent years due to people beginning to consume natural foods. This study aims to investigate the total phenolic flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, condensed tannin content, oil content, and fatty acid compositions of five local breeds of Berberis spp. from Bayburt, Turkey, and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The fatty acid composition of samples was performed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the total fatty acid content of samples was between 6.12% and 8.60%. The main fatty acids in Berberis spp. samples were α-linolenic acid (32.85–37.88%) and linoleic acid (30.98–34.28%) followed by oleic acid (12.85–19.56%). Two antioxidant assays produced similar results, demonstrating that extracts of wild B. vulgaris L. had the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (621.02 μmol FeSO₄.7H₂O/g) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) (0.10 SC₅₀ mg/mL) values. According to principal component analysis (PCA), four components were determined. In addition, two main groups were determined according to hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and wild and culture of B. vulgaris L. were in different subgroups. This is the first original report about the fatty acid composition and oil content of Berberis spp. grown in Bayburt, Turkey. The obtained results indicate that B. integerrima Bunge and B. vulgaris, which have especially remarkable fatty acid content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity, could be potential sources for these properties in different areas of use.     

Three Novel Eremophilanolides from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

From the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala, three novel eremophilane sesquiterpene lactones, 6α, 10α-dihydroxy- 1-oxoeremophila-7(11), 8(9)-dien-8, 12-olide, 613, 10α-dihydroxy-1-oxoeremophila-7 (ll), 8 (9)-dien-8, 12-olide and 10α-hydroxy-1-oxoeremophila-7(l 1), 8(9)-dien-8, 12-olide were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including intensive 2D NMR techniques (COSY,HMQC, HMBC and ^1H-^1H NOESY) and HR-MS.     

Inorganic coordination polymers. XII. Chromium(III) tris(phosphinates)

Cohesive films of a series of chromium(III) tris(phosphinates)[Cr(OPRR′O)(OPR″-R?O)(OPR^*R^**O)]_y in which the side groups on the phosphorus are alkyl, phenyl, and/or hydrogen groups have been prepared by reaction casting or by hot pressing. The preparative reaction appears to involve conversion of an aquahydroxo or hydroxo chromium(III) bis(phosphinate) to an intermediate hydroxo bis(phosphinate) containing coordinated phosphinic acid followed by an intrachain reaction leading to the tris(phosphinate). Tensile strengths of the chromium(III) tris(phosphinates) range from 100 to 5600 psi, elongations from less than 1 to 100%. Thermogravimetric data indicate that major decomposition occurs at temperatures from 200 to 435°C in air and from 410 to 510°C in nitrogen. Infrared spectra and physical properties are interpreted to support a structure for the chromium(III) tris(phosphinates) which is based on linear, triple-bridged chains. The presence of octyl or other long alkyl side groups on the phosphorus improves the physical properties, presumably by internal plasticization, but leads to decreased thermal stability.     

Unusual sesquiterpene lactones from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

[structure: see text] [structure: see text] Sesquiterpene lactones, ligulolide A (1) and 6beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-1-oxoeremophila-7(11),9(10)-diene-12,8-olide (2), were isolated from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala. Their structures were established by analysis of one- and two-dimensional NMR data. The relative stereostructures were determined on the basis of NOESY and single-crystal X-ray experiments. 1 represents a novel sesquiterpene carbon framework, and a possible biosynthetic process is proposed. 2 is a novel eremophilane-type sesquiterpene.     

Sesquiterpenoids and Lignans from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

From the BuOH extract of the whole plant of Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala, a series of sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene glycosides, and lignan glycosides were isolated, including the three new compounds (1α)‐1‐hydroxy‐8‐oxo‐eremophila‐6,9‐dien‐12‐oic acid ( 1 ), 8‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]eremophila‐1(10),8,11‐trien‐2‐one ( 2 ), and 4‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]pinoresinol ( 4 ). Their structures were elucidated by 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as HR‐ESI‐MS analyses, and by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds.