Volume 61, Issue 1-2

Pyrazolopyranopyrimidines 6a-c and 8a-c were prepared from the reaction of compounds 4a-c or 7a-c with methylamine or ammonium hydroxide solutions. Treatment of compounds 6a-c or 8a-c with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether afforded their corresponding acyclonucleosides 9a-c or 10a-c, respectively, as a new class of acyclonucleosides. All prepared compounds were tested as anti-inflammatory agents and some of them revealed moderate to potent antiinflammatory activity

This work describes the seasonal variation of curcumenol (1) and dihydrocurdione (2), two active terpenoids from different parts (roots, mother rhizome and rugous rhizome) of Curcuma zedoaria grown in Brazil. The analysis was carried out by high resolution gas chromatography, using external standards for determination. The results showed that both terpenoids are present in all the parts studied. However, C. zedoaria exhibited about three times more terpenoids in the mother rhizome in autumn than in other parts and seasons studied. The antinociceptive activity of the dichloromethane extracts from different parts and collected in different seasons was studied using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction model in mice. The extracts obtained from mother rhizome collected in autumn and winter at doses of 10 mg/kg body weight, i.p., caused considerable antinociceptive activity inhibiting 91.1 and 93.4% of the abdominal constrictions, respectively, whereas compounds 1 and 2 caused inhibitions of 64.0 and 46.0%, respectively. These results confirm that both compounds contribute to explain the antinociceptive effect of the plant but suggest that other compounds are also acting as analgesics

Forty-three norditerpenoid alkaloids isolated from Aconitum, Delphinium and Consolida species have been evaluated for their cytotoxic effects on the tumor cell lines CT26 (murine colon adenocarcinoma), SW480 (human colon adenocarcinoma), HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma), SkMel25 (human melanoma) and SkMel28 (human malignant melanoma) with several multidrug resistance mechanisms and the non-tumor cell line CHO (Chinese hamster ovary cells). Neoline (5), 8-O-methylcolumbianine (6), 1,14-diacetylcardiopetaline (9), 18-O-demethylpubescenine (13), 14-deacetylpubescenine (14), pubescenine (15), 14-deacetylajadine (25), lycoctonine (26), browniine (28), delphatine (29), dehydrotakaosamine (34), and ajadelphinine (37) exhibited selective cytotoxicity to cancerous versus non-cancerous cells. Some of these compounds had an irreversible effect on SW480 (5, 15, 25, 26, and 34), HeLa (15, 34, and 37) and SkMel25 (15 and 34) cell lines. In order to gain insights into the mechanism of irreversible cytotoxic action of these compounds we compared the cell viability by means of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and the acid phosphatase (AP) methods. Our results suggest that the effects of these compounds could be related to the inhibition of ATP production

Phytochemical analysis of the antioxidant ethanolic extract of Alternanthera tenella Colla led to the isolation of six flavonoids, acacetin 8-C-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside] (1), 2″-O-α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl-vitexin (2), 2″-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-vitexin (3), vitexin (4), quercetin (5) and kaempferol (6). All the structures were established by ESIMS and NMR spectroscopic methods. Antioxidant capacity of extract, fractions and isolated compounds was determined using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and extract, fractions and flavonoids isolated showed antioxidant activity in vitro. Moreover, the total soluble phenolic contents of the extract and fractions were measured using the Folin- Ciocalteau reagent and the quantitative analysis of flavone C-glycosides major constituents was performed by HPLC

Viscum album L. has been used in the indigenous systems of medicine for treatment of headache and some inflammatory diseases. In order to evaluate this information, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the five flavonoids (5,7-dimethoxy naringenin or 4′,6′- dimethoxy chalcononaringenin) derivatives, isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the extract from V. album ssp. album, were investigated, namely 5,7-dimethoxy-flavanone-4′-O- β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (1), 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxy-chalcone-4-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (2), 5,7-dimethoxy-flavanone-4′-O-[2″-O-(5‴-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-β-ᴅ-apiofuranosyl]-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (3), 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxy-chalcone-4-O-[2″-O-(5‴-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-β-ᴅ-apiofuranosyl]- β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (4), 5,7-dimethoxy-flavanone-4′-O-[β-d-apiofuranosyl- (152)]-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (5). For the antinociceptive activity assessment the p-benzoquinone- induced writhing test and for the anti-inflammatory activity the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model in mice were used. The ethyl acetate fraction in a dose of 250 mg/kg as well as compounds 2 and 5 in a 30 mg/kg dose were shown to possess remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities per os without inducing any apparent acute toxicity as well as gastric damage

Applanoxidic acids and sterols, isolated from Ganoderma spp., were acetylated and/or methylated. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes of the derivatives were investigated by a microdilution method, and compared with those of the natural products. Both natural and modified compounds exhibited comparable antibacterial and antifungal activities in a range of 1.0 to > 2.0 mg/ml minimal inhibitory concentration

Five lignans (secoisolariciresinol, pinoresinol, eudesmin, lariciresinol, and lariciresinol-4- methyl ether) were isolated from an MeOH extract from Araucaria araucana (Mol.) K. Koch wood for the first time in this species and their structures determined with spectroscopic methods. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were determined for the bacteria Citrobacter sp., Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and for the white rooting and staining fungi Mucor miehei, Paecilomyces variotii, Ceratocystis pilifera, Trametes versicolor, and Penicillium notatum, and in addition, the MeOH extract was evaluated against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Fusarium moniliforme, F. sporotrichum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The most sensitive bacteria against pinoresinol were the Gram-positive. However, secoisolariciresinol exhibited a significant antifungal activity on fungi of white rooting and wood staining and this compound completely inhibited the mycelial growth of T. versicolor and C. pilifera at 300 and 400 μg per disc, respectively, whereas pinoresinol showed a moderate inhibitory activity. On the other hand, the MeOH extract had the highest activity against rooting and staining and pathogenic fungi as well as T. versicolor, Fusarium spp. and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, inhibiting completely the growth at 400 μg per disc

The extract containing sesquiterpene lactones of Centaurea iberica (Asteraceae) isolated was separated and a steroidal compound, which is stigmast-1,5-dien-3β-ol, was purified. The chemical structure was established based on spectroscopic data (UV, IR, MS, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR). Both the extract and the compound showed significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

Three species of lichens, Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca (Sm.) Zopf, Rhizoplaca melanopthalma (DC.) Leuckert & Poelt and Rhizoplaca peltata Ramonds Leuckert, were collected from middle Anatolia, Erciyes Mountain (Kayseri) in Turkey. Their usnic acid amounts were determined by HPLC in acetone extracts. In addition, antimicrobial activities of these extracts were determined against Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218), Enterococcus faecalis (RSKK 508), Proteus mirabilis (Pasteur Ens. 235), Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was shown that, as the usnic acid amount increased, the antimicrobial activities increased too. The usnic acid contents of Rhizoplaca species varied between 0.19-4.0% dry weight

A study was undertaken to explore the content and composition of volatile oil from decaying leaves of lemon-scented eucalypt (Eucalyptus citriodora Hook.) not analyzed earlier. GC and GC-MS analysis of the oil (yield 0.6%) revealed the monoterpenoid nature with citronellal (52.2%), citronellol (12.3%) and isoisopulegol (11.9%) as the major constituents. Overall, 17 components were identified that accounted for over 94% of the decaying leaf oil. Surprisingly, the decaying leaf oil contained nearly 1.8% of trans-rose oxide, which is generally absent in eucalypt essential oil. Decaying leaf oil and its major 2 components (citronellal and citronellol) inhibited the germination and root elongation of two weeds D Cassia occidentalis (broad-leaved) and Echinochloa crus-galli (grassy weed). Based on the dose-response studies, I 50 values were determined for decaying leaf oil and the effect was more on germination only of broad-leaved weed (C. occidentalis), whereas that of citronellal and citronellol were on germination as well as root length of E. crus-galli (grassy weed). Based on I 50 values it was observed that citronellal was more phytotoxic and germination inhibiting in nature, whereas citronellol was a more potent root inhibitor, thereby indicating a possible different mode of action. The study concludes that decaying leaf oil hold a good commercial value for exploitation as weed management agent

The molluscicidal activity of leaf and rhizome extracts of Iris germanica L. (var. alba) against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails was evaluated and the rhizome extracts were found to be the most potent. Activity-guided fractionation revealed that the chloroform extract showed the highest molluscicidal activity (LC 90 = 1.26 mg/l) among the tested extracts of the rhizomes. Fraction B prepared from the chloroform extract was the most potent molluscicide (LC 90 = 0.96 mg/l) in addition, it showed a significant heart rate reduction in the snail after a 6- to 24-h exposure period. It also displayed a significant level of cercaricidal potential in a time-concentration relationship pattern. Chromatographic fractionation and purification of fraction B resulted in the isolation of two novel compounds: 5,2′-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6,7- methylenedioxyflavone and 5,7,2′-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone. Their structures were established by one- and two-dimensional NMR methods and mass spectrometry

Aim of study: Search for plant compounds possessing anti-leukemic properties. Results: We have shown that 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy flavanone (pinostrobin) isolated from Polygonum lapathifolium ssp. nodosum quickly penetrates through cytoplasm to the cellular nucleus of the cultured cells, and gives intensive apoptotic response in stimulating leukemic cells in vitro. The number of apoptotic cells increased with the concentration of pinostrobin: 10 nm D 25% and 60%; 100 nm D 45% and 76%; 1 μm D 70% and 88% for Jurkat and HL60 cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: Pinostrobin may be considered as a good candidate for a leukemia chemopreventic agent

Catechol is an allelochemical which belongs to phenolic compounds synthesized in plants. Its herbicidal effects on weed species; field poppy (Papaver rhoeas), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) were investigated using wheat (Triticum vulgare) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) species as control plants. In comparison to 2,4-D (a common synthetic herbicide), 13.64 mᴍ of catechol have been found to have a strong herbicidal effect, as effective as 2,4-D on field poppy weed by killing it, and a suppressive herbicidal effect on the other weeds by inhibiting their growth significantly. Concerning all the weeds, in general, elongation of the shoot was affected more negatively than that of the root. Fresh weights of the weeds were decreased by catechol significantly only in field poppy but not in other weeds. The study reveals that catechol is a potent inhibitor of growth of the weeds and therefore it can be evaluated as a herbicide for future weed management strategies

Effects of naturally existing rare-earth metals (REMs; atomic numbers, 39, 57D60, 62D71; Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu), added as chloride salts, on Ca 2+ influx induced by two different stimuli, namely hypoosmotic shock and hydrogen peroxide, were examined in a suspension-cultured transgenic cell line of BY-2 tobacco cells expressing aequorin, a Ca 2+ -sensitive luminescent protein in cytosol. Most REM salts used here showed inhibitory effect against Ca 2+ influx. Especially NdCl 3 , SmCl 3 , EuCl 3 , GdCl 3 and TbCl 3 showed the most robust inhibitory action. In contrast, LuCl 3 , YbCl 3 , ErCl 3 and YCl 3 were shown to be poor inhibitors of Ca 2+ influx. Since REMs tested here form a sequential range of ionic radii from 86.1 to 103.2 pm and the optimal range of ionic radii required for blocking the flux of Ca 2+ was determined for each stimulus. The hydrogen peroxideinduced Ca 2+ influx was optimally blocked by REMs with a broad range of ionic radii (93.8D 101 pm) which is slightly smaller than or similar to that of Ca 2+ (100 pm), while the hypoosmotically induced flux of Ca 2+ was inhibited optimally by few REMs with a narrower range of relatively smaller ionic radii around that of Gd 3+ (93.8 pm) a well known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels. Possible applications of such series of channel blockers in elucidation of plant signal transduction pathways are encouraged

The American serpentine leaf mining fly, Liriomyza trifolii, whose larva feeds on more than 120 plant species is well characterized by its high degree of polyphagy. Observations on the oviposition behavior by L. trifolii demonstrated that among cucurbitaceous plants, Momordica charantia is rarely attacked by L. trifolii. The methanol extract of M. charantia leaves strongly deterred the females from ovipositing on kidney bean leaves treated at a concentration of 1 g leaf equivalent extract/ml. Analysis of the polar fraction of the methanol extract of M. charantia leaves resulted in the isolation of a novel cucurbitane glucoside, 7-O- β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl-3,23-dihydroxycucurbita-5,24-dien-19-al, named momordicine IV, along with another known compound, momordicine II. Momordicine II and IV deterred oviposition by L. trifolii significantly when bioassays were carried out on kidney bean leaves treated at 75.6 and 20.3 μg/cm 2 leaf surface, respectively. There was no synergistic effect on oviposition deterrent when the two compounds were combined in their natural abundance

The present investigation dealt with the use of previously isolated and studied gamma-ray mutant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa EBN-8 for the production of biosurfactant by using different hydrocarbon substrates viz. n-hexadecane, paraffin oil and kerosene oil, provided in minimal medium, as the sole carbon and energy sources. The batch experiments were conducted in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, containing 50 mL minimal salt media supplemented with 1% (w/v) hydrocarbon substrate, inoculated by EBN-8 and incubated at 37 °C and 100 rpm in an orbital shaker. The sampling was done on 24 h basis for 10 d. The surface tension of cell-free culture broth decreased from 53 to 29 mN/m after 3 and 4 d of incubation when the carbon sources were paraffin oil and n-hexadecane, respectively. The largest reduction in interfacial tension from 26 to 0.4 mN/m was observed with n-hexadecane, while critical micelle dilution was obtained as 50 X CMC for paraffin oil as carbon source. When grown on n-hexadecane and paraffin oil, the EBN-8 mutant strain gave 4.1 and 6.3 g of the rhamnolipids/ L, respectively. These surface-active substances subsequently allowed the hydrocarbon substrates to disperse readily as emulsion in aqueous phase

The types of carbon source and nitrogen source used as well as the C:N ratio in the medium influenced lovastatin production by Pleurotus ostreatus. The maximum value of the lovastatin yield was obtained in a medium that contained organic nitrogen

Sugar metabolism is one of the important factors involved in winter hardiness and since the discovery of sucrose biosynthesis, considerable advances have been made in understanding its regulation and crucial role. This investigation examined the changes in activities of sucrose metabolizing enzymes and sugar content during cold hardening of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Changes in acid invertase (AI), sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) along with all the three soluble sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose were measured in leaves and stem base tissue during cold acclimation. Although fructans were the predominant carbohydrate the changes in glucose, fructose and sucrose were significant. All the three soluble sugars in both leaf and stem tissues started to decrease from the first day and continued up to day 7 and thereafter started to increase until day 28. AI in the soluble fraction showed a higher activity than that in the cell wall bound fraction. In both the leaf and stem bases soluble AI activity increased during the first week and after that it started to decrease gradually. On the other hand both the SS and SPS increased gradually throughout the acclimation period. Sucrose content was negatively correlated with AI and positively correlated with SS and SPS accounting well for the relation between the substrate and enzyme activity. These results suggest that AI, SS and SPS in ryegrass are regulated by cold acclimation and play an important role in sugar accumulation and acquisition of freezing tolerance

Mangueira Lagoon, located in the extreme south of Brazil, has water with physicochemical characteristics such as alkaline pH and carbonate levels propitious for the growth of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis. Previously published studies have shown that Mangueira Lagoon water supplemented with small quantities of carbon and nitrogen is suitable for S. platensis cultivation and can significantly reduce production costs. We studied mixed cultures of Spirulina platensis and the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa using a 23 factorial design in which the three factors were the initial biomass concentration of S. platensis and M. aeruginosa and the type of culture medium (100% Zarrouk’s medium or 80% Mangueira Lagoon water plus 20% Zarrouk’s medium). The highest S. platensis maximum specific growth rate (μ max ) occurred in the culture with the highest M. aeruginosa biomass concentration and when undiluted culture medium was used (μ max = 0.283 d -1 ). The highest M. aeruginosa specific death rate (k) was obtained in the presence of S. platensis (k = 0.555 d -1 ) and was independent of the initial M. aeruginosa biomass concentration and culture medium, demonstrating that S. platensis cultures are not susceptible to contamination by M. aeruginosa. The culture medium had no significant influence (p > 0.05) on S. platensis μ max values, indicating that production costs could be reduced by using a medium consisting of 80% Mangueira Lagoon water plus 20% Zarrouk’s medium

Chlorophyllase (Chlase) catalyzes the initial step of chlorophyll (Chl)-degradation, but the physiological significance of this reaction is still ambiguous. Common understanding of its role is that Chlase is involved in de-greening processes such as fruit ripening, leaf senescence, and flowering. But there is a possibility that Chlase is also involved in turnover and homeostasis of Chls. Among the de-greening processes, autumnal coloration is one of the most striking natural phenomena, but the involvement of Chlase during autumnal coloration is not clear. Previously, it was shown that Chlase activity and expression level of the Chlase gene were not increased during autumnal coloration in Ginkgo biloba, indicating that Chlase does not work specially in the de-greening processes in G. biloba. In this study, we characterized the recombinant Chlase and analyzed its subcellular localization to understand the role of the cloned Chlase of G. biloba (GbCLH). GbCLH exhibited its highest activity at pH 7.5, 40 °C. Kinetic analysis revealed that GbCLH hydrolyzes pheophytin (Pheo) a and Chl a more rapidly than Pheo b and Chl b. Transient expression analysis of 40 N-terminus amino acids of GbCLH fused with GFP (green fluorescent protein) and subcellular fractionation showed that GbCLH localizes within chloroplasts. Together with our previous results, property of GbCLH and its location within the chloroplasts suggest that GbCLH plays a role in the turnover and homeostasis of Chls in green leaves of G. biloba

Identified germplasm is an important component for efficient and effective management of plant genetic resources. Traditionally, plant identification has relied on morphological characters like growth habit, floral morphology like flower colour and other characteristics of the plant. Studies were undertaken for identification and genetic variation within 15 clones of Tinospora cordifolia through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Analysis was made using forty decamer primers. Out of them, 15 primers were selected and used for identification and genetic relationships within 15 clones. A total of 138 distinct DNA fragments ranging from 0.2 to 3.2 kb were amplified using 15 selected random primers. The genetic similarity was evaluated on the basis of presence or absence of bands. The genetic distance was very close within the clones. Thus, these RAPD markers have the potential for identification of species and characterization of genetic variation within the population. This study will be helpful to know the genetic background of the medicinal plants with high commercial value, and also provides a major input into conservation biology

Germplasm identification and characterization is an important link between the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. Traditionally, species or cultivars identification has relied on morphological characters like growth habit or floral morphology like flower colour and other characteristics of the plant. Studies were undertaken for identification and determination of genetic variation within the two species of Hibiscus and 16 varieties of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. through random amplified polymorphic (RAPD) markers. Primer screening was made by using the DNA of variety “Prolific”. Genetic analysis was made by using ten selected decamer primers. A total of 79 distinct DNA fragments ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 kb were amplified by using ten selected random decamer primers. The genetic similarity was evaluated on the basis of presence or absence of bands. The cluster analysis indicated that the 16 varieties and two species formed one cluster. The first major cluster consisted of three varieties and a second major cluster consisted of two species and 13 varieties. The genetic distance was very close within the varieties and also among the species. Thus, these RAPD markers have the potential for identification of species/varieties and characterization of genetic variation within the varieties. This is also helpful in Hibiscus breeding programs and provides a major input into conservation biology

The sterol and fatty acid composition of three Adriatic Sea sponges (Geodia cydonium and two unidentified Tedania sp.), collected at the same time and same place, was established. Twenty-four sterols and forty fatty acids were identified. The identical ecological conditions, including the diet, allowed us to apply the results obtained for taxonomical conclusions, based on the biodiversity of the investigated sponges. On the basis of the sterol composition they can be separated into two groups: Tedania and Geodia sponges. The sterol and fatty acid composition indicates that the two investigated Tedania samples might be different species or subspecies

The homology and diversification of genomic sequence encoding glucagon gene among native Egyptian buffalos, camel and sheep were tested using cattle as model. Oligodeoxynucleotide primers designed from the available GenBank data were used for PCR probing of the glucagon gene encoding sequence at different loci. The DNA oligomer probes were constructed to flank either the whole gene encoding sequence or different intra-gene encoding sequences. The PCR products were visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis. All species showed a same size band of prepro-glucagon when PCR was used to amplify the whole gene encoding sequence. In contrary, amplifications of different intra-gene loci failed to give the same results. The results indicated variable degrees of diversity among old world ruminating ungulates in the glucagon gene encoding sequence. Compared with other ruminants, the variation appears predominantly in camel. Surprisingly, the similarity in size between both amplification products of whole gene encoding sequence and the proposed size of glucagon cDNA definitely excludes the possibility of large intervening introns spanning the genomic sequence of the glucagon gene in these species. This indicates that, in contrast to other tested mammals, the glucagon gene includes an essentially full-length copy of glucagon mRNA. The study revealed a possible new aspect of glucagon gene evolution in order to correlate its corresponding protein function among different ruminant species

Nickel(II) can be genotoxic, but the mechanism of its genotoxicity is not fully understood and the process of DNA repair may be considered as its potential target. We studied the effect of nickel chloride on the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-mediated repair of DNA damaged by γ-radiation and idarubicin with the alkaline comet assay in normal and cancer cells. Our results indicate that nickel chloride at very low, non-cytotoxic concentration of 1 μᴍ can affect PARP-mediated DNA repair of lesions evoked by idarubicin and γ-radiation. We also suggest that in the quiescent lymphocytes treated with γ-radiation, nickel(II) could interfere with DNA repair process independent of PARP

We have investigated the reaction products of several iron(III) compounds with hydrogen peroxide, and have found that hydrogen peroxide promotes the formation of an oxo-bridged iron(III) species in the presence of methanol (electron donor), and carboxyl groups of the ligand systems play a role to give the tetranuclear iron(III) compound containing a bent Fe- O-Fe unit (O: oxo oxygen atom). Based on the present results and the facts that L-chains of human ferritins lack ferroxidase activity, but are richer in carboxyl groups (glutamates) exposed on the cavity surface, it seems reasonable to conclude that (i) the hydrogen peroxide released in the H-subunit may contribute to the formation of a diferric oxo-hydrate in the L-subunit, (ii) the formation of a bent oxo-bridged iron(III) species is essentially important in the L-subunit, and (iii) rich carboxyl groups in L-subunits contribute to facilitate iron nucleation and mineralization through the capture and activation of the peroxide ion, and formation of a stable bent oxo-bridged iron(III) species

The ecology and quinolizidine alkaloid chemistry of Calia secundiflora (Ortega) Yakovlev growing at two sites in Mexico were compared. At one site (Hidalgo) the vegetation was dominated by Flourensia resinosa and C. secundiflora, at the other site (Queretaro) C. secundiflora and Dodanaea viscosa were dominant. The Hidalgo site had shallower soils with less organic matter, N, P, and CaCO 3 . Seeds of C. secundiflora from each site accumulated a similar range of quinolizidine alkaloids, but the profile of alkaloids in the leaves and roots were different. The leaves and roots of plants at Hidalgo accumulated a similar range of alkaloids to the seeds with cytisine and/or N-methylcytisine being most abundant, whereas at Queretaro the leaves and roots accumulated lupinine, with other alkaloids being relatively minor constituents. The latter profile has not been reported previously for C. secundiflora