Volume 74, Issue 4

The diverse biological resources in nature are vast factories of chemical diversity. With the recent advances in the biological and chemical sciences it is now easier than ever to explore the potential uses of immense biological resources in a sustainable manner. Our investigations focused on the bioprospecting of both terrestrial and marine organisms have led to the discovery of a number of interesting chemical compounds. The discovery of a new class of cholinesterase, α-glucosidase and phosphodiesterase I inhibitors, several new antioxidants, and other classes of bioactive natural products is presented. The theory of the chemical basis of memory through hydrogen bonding in the brain is further elaborated.

High-throughput screening (HTS) of extracts of Australian plants and marine organisms commenced in our laboratory in 1994. The biota collections commenced in late 1993. The collection has in excess of 30 000 biota samples including over 16 000 biota samples of vascular plants, algae, and macro fungi from Queensland, and over 4000 marine invertebrates from Australian waters. The plant collection represents ∼9 % of the world species diversity of higher plants, with representation from 73 % of the world's plant families. The marine collection contains ∼10 % of the world diversity of sponges, ∼10 % of the world diversity of ascidians, and ∼5 % of the world diversity of soft corals and gorgonians. The lecture will highlight some of the advances to knowledge about Australian biodiversity as a result of the HTS project, discuss drug discovery using HTS, and give some examples of the chemistry arising from the screening of the extracts.

Flora of Turkey is rich and diverse with well over 11 000 flowering taxa recorded in the 9-volume set of Prof. Davis's monumental work and its two supplements. Chemical diversity among the flowering plants of Turkey is well documented in the recently published volume 11 of the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. Among the aromatic taxa, remarkable examples can be found in families such as Labiatae, Compositae, Umbelliferae, etc. The occurrence of volatile chemicals in aromatic plants is not only an indication of chemical diversity but may also help solve taxonomical problems is comprehensively studied genera. Aromatic diversity is illustrated with examples from genera such as Sideritis, Salvia, Thymus, Origanum, Satureja, Thymbra, Mentha, Micromeria, Ziziphora, Calamintha, Cyclotrichium, Acinos, Echinophora, Ferulago, Heracleum, Pimpinella, Tanacetum, and Betula. The economic implications of aromatic biodiversity and the importance of bioprospecting are highlighted.

Turkey is among the richest countries in the world in terms of plant diversity. The aim of this paper is to show diversity of the petaloid and bulbous plants, which belong to monocotyledones. According to Flora of Turkey and its supplements, the number of species of bulbous monocotyledones is around 688, of which 244 are endemic (endemism 35.4 %). According to the statistical data of Turkish flowering plants based on the published records, only 15 % of the flora have information about chromosome counts, although bulbous monocots percentage is higher at 58 %. Fritillaria and Tulipa are stable genera as regards chromosome numbers with 2n = 24 and karyotype; on the other hand, the most variable genera are Crocus (2n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 70) and Ornithogalum (2n = 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 32, 40, 45, 54, 60, 80).

There are about 35 Papaver species growing in Turkey, which are grouped into eight sections, namely Argemonidium, Carinata, Glauca, Miltantha, Oxytona, Papaver, Pilosa, and Rhoeadium. As a result of our extensive work on the alkaloids of Turkish Papaver species the presence of several chemotypes has been shown. Among these chemotypes, medicinally important alkaloids such as noscapine (=narcotine), papaverine- and thebaine-containing samples have been found as new sources for the production of them. The infraspecific variation encountered within the Papaver species has been demonstrated mainly in two sections of the genus, Miltantha and Oxytona. The alkaloids of seven species (Papaver armeniacum, P. curviscapum, P. cylindricum, P. fugax, P. persicum, P. polychaetum, and P. triniifolium) of the section Miltantha have been studied, and the existence of chemical strains has been shown mainly in P. fugax, P. persicum, and P. triniifolium. Investigations on the species of the section Oxytona indicated that there is a relationship between the major alkaloid content and the chromosome numbers of the samples. Isolation of new secoberbine-type alkaloids as well as promorphinane- and morphinane-types has revealed the biosynthetic relationship between the alkaloids of Miltantha and Oxytona species. Chemical races are also known for species of Papaver within other sections of the genus. P. lateritium of Turkish origin from section Pilosa yielded some secoberbine and protoberberine types, whereas P. rhopalothece of the section Rhoeadium contained narcotine as a major alkaloid. Isolation of spirobenzylisoquinoline type from P. argemone (sect. Argemonidium) was the first report of the occurrence of this type in the Papaveraceae.

The loss of biodiversity resulting from extinctions is receiving increasing attention. Over several thousands of animal species have been evaluated and recognized as endangered species. Inbreeding depression has been demonstrated in many wild animal species. Here we sequenced 655-978 bp mitochodrial D-loop region of 32 individuals from four regional giant panda populations. Sixteen haplotypes were observed. AMOVE analysis demonstrated that genetic differentiation was not significant in the overall population, except the Qingling population. The current panda population may recover from a recent severe bottleneck that occurred about 43 000 years ago. Combining with our results on two endangered snub-nosed monkey species and one common hare species, different scenarios for low genetic variation have been discussed. Our results suggest that low genetic variation does not necessary result from a recent bottleneck, and it is not necessarily an indication of the level of endangerment.

Essential aspects for characterization of a flow-based analytical procedure or system are discussed in order to permit the composition of a checklist that will lead to a protocol for reporting results and systems in flow analysis. Aspects more related to chromatographic procedures are not considered. The intent is to present normalized proposals in the field of flow analysis for practitioners and developers.

A new, simplified design and a convenient preparation procedure for the Pb(Hg)|PbSO 4 |SO 4 2- electrode are proposed. This procedure ensures preparation of stable amalgams and reproducible electrode potentials, which make this electrode useful and attractive for both thermodynamic investigations and electroanalytical applications. For these purposes, the electrode prepared according to the proposed procedure has been exhaustively characterized both thermodynamically and as a sulfate-sensing electrode, in different sulfate solutions, including H 2 SO 4 . Also, a practical standardization procedure has been proposed. The Pb(Hg)|PbSO 4 |SO 4 2- electrode can be structured with a built-in concentrated Li 2 SO 4 salt bridge for use as a sulfate-based reference electrode. This electrode can be operated as a reference electrode alternative to the conventional calomel or Ag|AgCl reference electrodes in electroanalytical practice.

Characterization of continuous fiber-reinforced composites is examined in terms of processing, properties, and structure. Five processing and five property topics are then examined in terms of reviewing some of the historic background in these areas with the aim of identifying current issues and requirements for the future. The topics covered in the processing section are: polymeric matrix, impregnation, interfacial effects, residual stresses, and pre-preg tack. In the mechanical properties section the topics are: choice of standard, recycling and reusability, durability, environmental strength, and toughness. The paper provides a ten-point plan for future requirements.

Fullerenes are a new allotrope of carbon characterized by a closed-cage structure consisting of an even number of three-coordinate carbon atoms devoid of hydrogen atoms. This class was originally limited to closed-cage structures with 12 isolated five-membered rings, the rest being six-membered rings. Although it was recognized that existing organic ring nomenclature could be used for these structures, the resulting names would be extremely unwieldy and inconvenient for use. At the same time it was also recognized that established organic nomenclature principles could be used, or adapted, to provide a consistent nomenclature for this unique class of compounds based on the class name fullerene. However, it was necessary to develop an entirely new method for uniquely numbering closed-cage systems. This paper describes IUPAC recommendations for naming and uniquely numbering the two most common fullerenes with isolated pentagons, the icosahedral C 60 fullerene and a D 5h -C 70 fullerene. It also describes recommendations for adapting organic nomenclature principles for naming fullerenes with nonclosed-cage structures, heterofullerenes, derivatives formed by substitution of hydrofullerenes, and the fusion of organic rings or ring systems to the fullerene cage. Finally, this paper suggests methods for describing structures consisting of two or more fullerene units and for denoting configurations of chiral fullerenes and their derivatives.

In this Technical Report, recommendations are presented for international cooperation between academia and industry on molecular biodiversity. The recommendations are based on discussions in workshops/meetings held in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Bangkok (Thailand), Kunming (China), and Antalya (Turkey) involving national and international representatives of relevant organizations.