Alkaloids from the Leaves of Fissistigma Glaucescens

Two new alkaloids, glaucenamide ( 1 ) and fissiceine ( 2 ), along with fifteen known ones, liriodenine ( 3 ), oxocrebanine ( 4 ), kuafumine ( 5 ), oxoxylopine ( 6 ), atherospermidine ( 7 ), (‐)‐xylopine ( 8 ), (‐)‐N‐acetylxylopine ( 9 ), N‐trans‐feruloyltyramine ( 10 ), aristololactam BII ( 11 ), aristololactam BIII ( 12 ), aristololactam AII ( 13 ), piperolactam A ( 14 ), goniothalactam ( 15 ), norcepharadion B ( 16 ), and noraristolodione ( 17 ) were isolated from the methanolic extracts of the Fissistigma glaucescens. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectral analysis.     

Triterpenoids and lignans from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens

Two new triterpenoids, 24(E)-3α,12α-dihydroxyl-lanost-9(11),24-dien-26-oid acid (1) and 3,4-seco-24(Z)-6α,7β-dihydroxyl-cycloart-4(28),24-dien-3,26-dioic-3-methyl ester (2), and ten known ones (3–12), together with eight lignans (13–20), were isolated from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1–3, 5–7, 9, 11–13 and 15–18 were isolated from this species for the first time. 1 and 2 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities against the mouse cancer B16 cell line, human cancer HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines by MTT assay.     

HABITAT PATCH OCCUPANCY DYNAMICS OF GLAUCOUS‐WINGED GULLS (LARUS GLAUCESCENS) I: A DISCRETE‐TIME MODEL

ABSTRACT. Diurnal habitat occupancy dynamics of Glaucous‐winged Gulls were evaluated in a system of six habitats on and around Protection Island, Washington. Data were collected on the rates of gull movement between habitat patches, and from these data the probabilities of transitions between habitats were estimated as functions of tide height and time of day. A discrete‐time matrix model based on the transition probabilities was used to generate habitat occupancy predictions, which were then compared to hourly census data. All model parameters were estimated directly from data rather than through model fitting. The model made reasonable predictions for two of the six habitats and explained 45% of the variability in the data from 2003. The construction and testing of mathematical models that predict occupancies in multiple habitats may play increasingly important roles in the understanding and management of animal populations within complex environments.     

New pharmacological insights of Galactia glaucescens

Galactia glaucescens leaves are popularly used against snakebites in Brazil. The hydroethanolic extract from aerial parts of G. glaucescens (HEGg) was assayed against the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom. A traditional myographic technique was applied for neurotoxicity and the resulting muscles were treated routinely by light microscopy analysis for myotoxicity. Additionally, the antimicrobial potential of HEGg was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, as well as Rutin was isolated for the first time in this specie using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and its antiophidian property was assessed. HEGg totally prevents the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity effects caused by B. jararacussu, but did not show any antimicrobial effect. Concluding, HEGg and Rutin were able to counteract the toxic effects of the venom and confirmed the antiophidian potential, but not antimicrobial, of G. glaucescens as an alternative for neutralization of B. jararacussu venom.     

Triterpenoids from the Stems of Schisandra glaucescens

Two new lanostane triterpenoids, schiglauzic acid ( 1 ) and schiglaucyclozic acid ( 2 ), together with two known ones, anwuweizic acid ( 3 ) and manwuweizic acid ( 4 ), were isolated from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including two‐dimensional NMR techniques, and were further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

HABITAT PATCH OCCUPANCY DYNAMICS OF GLAUCOUS‐WINGED GULLS (LARUS GLAUCESCENS) II: A CONTINUOUS‐TIME MODEL

ABSTRACT. The diurnal distribution and abundance dynamics of loafing Glaucous‐winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) were examined at Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Asynchronous movement of gulls among three habitat patches dedicated to loafing was modeled as a function of environmental variables using differential equations. Multiple time scale analysis led to the derivation of algebraic models for habitat patch occupancy dynamics. The models were parameterized with hourly census data collected from each habitat patch, and the resulting model predictions were compared with observed census data. A four‐compartment model explained 41% of the variability in the data. Models that predict the dynamics of organism distribution and abundance enhance understanding of the temporal and spatial organization of ecological systems, as well as the decision‐making process in natural resource management.