Two New Steroidal Glycosides from Fermented Leaves of Agave americana

Two new spirostanol glycosides named agamenoside A and B, ere isolated from the fermented leaves of Agave americana. Their structures were elucidated as (23S,25R)-5α-spirostan-3β,6α，23－triol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(1) and (25R)-5α-spiro-stan-3β,6α-diol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyra-nosyl-(1→4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(2) by a combination of chemical and spectral methods.     

A Volatile Lactone of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus,Pathogen of European Ash Dieback,Inhibits Host Germination

The largely unknown secondary metabolism of the plant pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus was investigated by use of the CLSA method. A set of volatile lactones was identified by GC/MS. The lactones were synthesized and used in bioassays in which one of the compounds was found to be a strong germination inhibitor for ash seeds, causing necroses in the plant tissue.     

A secoiridoid dilactone fromFraxinus ornus bark

Summary The isolation and structure elucidation of the secoiridoid hydroxyornoside is described. The behaviour of secoiridoid dilactones on acid methanolysis is discussed.

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Ein Secoiridoiddilacton aus der Rinde vonFraxinus ornus

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung und Strukturaufklärung des Secoiridoids Hydroxyornosid wird beschrieben. Das Verhalten von Secoiridoiddilactonen bezüglich saurer Methanolyse wird diskutiert.

     

The Influence of Ammonium on Nitrate Uptake and Assimilation in 2-Year-Old Ash and Oak Trees - A Tracer-Study with 15N

Abstract

Interactions between ammonium and nitrate as competitive N sources depend on various biotic and abiotic factors. The preference for one of these N sources and the influence of ammonium on nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity was investigated in a ¹⁵N labelling experiment using 2-year-old potted plants of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) under greenhouse conditions.

Seedlings of both tree species use ammonium and nitrate in equal amounts when both N forms are supplied in a 1:1 ratio (1.5 mM NH₄ ⁺ + 1.5 mM NO₃ ^?), although there is a slight tendency that ammonium is preferred. In both species total N uptake is higher if ammonium and nitrate are supplied simultaneously when compared with uptake of nitrate alone (3 mM nitrate). If nitrate is the sole N source N uptake is only half as high as if ammonium and nitrate are supplied in a ratio of 1:1.

The distribution of nitrate reductase between shoot and roots is not influenced by the N-form: nitrate reductase activity is always highest in the roots of both species under the conditions of this experiment.

Xylem sap analyses showed that both species transport higher concentrations of amino acids than of nitrate from the roots to the shoot. The amino acid composition is independent of the type of N source. Furthermore, ash trees contain more nitrate in the xylem sap than oak trees, reflecting the higher N uptake and the higher nitrate reductase activity in the leaves of this species.     

Application of MEKC and monolithic CEC for the analysis of bioactive naphthoquinones in Eleutherine americana

Two microscale separation techniques for the analysis of bioactive naphthoquinones in Eleutherine americana were developed and validated. By MEKC four compounds (eleuthoside B, isoeleutherin, eleutherol and eleutherinoside A) could be determined in plant extracts using an aqueous electrolyte solution composed of 25 mM sodium tetraborate, 50 mM sodium cholate and 20% THF. CEC on a polymeric methacrylate‐based monolith with strong cationic properties showed promising results, as it additionally enabled the separation of two enantiomers, eleutherin and isoeleutherin. The mobile phase for CEC experiments comprised 3 mM ammonium formate in a mixture of ACN and water. At an applied voltage of ?25 kV, all five markers were baseline separated in less than 12 min. Both methods were successfully validated for linearity (MEKC: R²≥0.999; CEC: R²≥0.997), sensitivity (MEKC: LOD=4–5 μg/mL; CEC: LOD=2–8 μg/mL), accuracy (MEKC: 96.5–102.7% recovery; CEC: 97.1–103.5% recovery) and precision (MEKC: σ_rel≤2.43%; CEC: σ_rel≤2.21%). The quantitative analysis of naphthoquinone derivatives in several E. americana samples showed that both methods are suitable for practical applications, because the results were well comparable to those obtained by established techniques such as HPLC.     

红光皂甙元及其两个甾体皂甙的NMR研究

从番麻(Agave americana L.)发酵的叶汁中分离得到红光皂甙元(hongguanggenin)、Cantalasaponin-1及一个新的甾体皂苷Agameroside-1. 运用2D NMR技术,包括DQF ¹H-¹H COS Y,HSQC,HMBC,HSQC-TOCSY,ROESY等技术,首次全归属了3个甾体化合物的氢和碳的化学位移,并总结了红光皂甙元的甙化位移效应,从而修正了文献中部分碳信号归属以及甙元的甙化位移效应.     

美洲商陆对锰毒生理响应的FTIR研究

在一定Mn浓度梯度处理下(0,0.125,0.25,0.5,1 g·kg-1),超积累植物——美洲商陆(Phytolacca americana)不同组织器官的傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)图谱发生了变化。其中,茎组织在3 336和2 916 cm-1处峰高先上升后下降,反映了有机物运输受阻情况的变化,即美洲商陆在低Mn刺激下会产生大量有机物作为渗透调节物质来增强其耐Mn性,高Mn则抑制了有机物的分泌和运输;根和叶组织分别在2 922和1 606 cm-1处表现不同变化趋势,但都反映了一个变化规律即低Mn处理下美洲商陆分泌的有机酸不断螯合Mn,随着Mn毒害的加重,其羧酸螯合力变弱;根组织1 732和1 026 cm-1、茎组织1 028 cm-1、叶组织1 052和967 cm-1处呈现差异性变化,但都与其膜脂过氧化有关;根组织1 375 cm-1处峰高先上升后下降,可能与植物在细胞壁结构上增强抗逆性有一定关系,即低Mn处理下细胞壁可能通过阳离子交换能力(CEC)的提高增强了耐Mn性。以上说明,利用FTIR研究重金属超积累植物化学组分具有应用价值。     

Physicochemical,Structural, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Flour and Starch Isolated from Avocado Seeds of Landrace and Hass Cultivars

The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize flours and starches from the avocado seeds of Hass and landrace cultivars. The morphological, physical-chemical, structural, thermal and rheological characteristics were evaluated. The flour yield of the Hass and landrace cultivars was 41.56 to 46.86% (w/w), while for starch, it was 35.47 to 39.57% (w/w) (cv. Hass and landrace, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of oval starch granules and other particles in flour, in contrast to flours, starches showed lower ash, proteins and lipids content. However, the amylose content was higher in starches (42.25–48.2%). Flours showed a higher gelatinization temperature (T_p = 73.17–73.62 °C), and their starches presented greater gelatinization enthalpy (∆H_gel = 11.82–13.43 J/g). All samples showed a B-type diffraction pattern, and the crystallinity was higher in the flours. The rheological analysis (flow curves and viscoelastic tests) evidenced a pseudoplastic (n = 0.28–0.36) behavior in all samples analyzed, but the consistency index (k) was higher in starches. In general, the flours and starches from avocado seeds presented interesting proximal, thermal and functional properties for possible application in food systems, and these findings could contribute to the revaluation of this by-product.     

Identification of anti–hepatic fibrosis components in Periplaneta americana based on spectrum–effect relationship and chemical component separation

Periplaneta americana (PA) is used as a traditional medicine for hepatic diseases such as hepatic fibrosis in China. However, the relationship between the corresponding therapeutic effect and the chemical composition is still unclear. In this study, spectrum–effect relationship and chemical component separation were used to discover the potential of anti–hepatic fibrosis components of PA. The fingerprints of 10 batches of samples were established using HPLC, and the anti–hepatic fibrosis effect was determined using HSC-T6 cells. The spectrum–effect relationship between common peaks and efficacy values was established using partial least squares analysis. Partial peaks in the fingerprints were identified, including X₄ (9,12-heptadecanedenoic acid glyceride), X₅ (nonadecanoic acid methyl ester), X₆ (glyceryl oleate), X₇ (13,16,19-eicosatrienoic acid), X₉ (linoleic acid), X₁₀ (9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid glyceride), X₁₂ (hexadecanoic acid), X₁₃ (oleic acid), and X₁₄ (octadecanoic acid), and their anti–hepatic fibrosis activity was tested to verify the results of spectrum–effect relationships. The results showed that X₄, X₆, X₇, and X₁₀ were the active ingredients of PA. This work successfully identified the partial anti–hepatic fibrosis components of PA, which can be used to explain the material basis for the PA anti–hepatic fibrosis effect.