Volume 67, Issue 7-8

Column chromatography of the light petroleum fraction from the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Salix tetrasperma Roxb. (Salicaceae) resulted in the isolation of β-sitosterol acetate, friedelin, 3β-friedelinol, β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-O-glucoside in addition to palmitic acid. From the dichloromethane fraction of the leaves, catechol and tremulacin were isolated. Salicin and its derivatives tremuloidin and 2’-O-p-(E)-coumaroyl salicin were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the leaves. The isolated compounds were identified by MS, and 1D NMR ( 1 H and 13 C) and 2D NMR (H-H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) spectral analyses. The total methanolic extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity (rat hind paw oedema). The extract with a content of 120 mg/kg body weight produced 52% inhibition equivalent to the standard diclofenac sodium (54% inhibition). The antioxidant (DPPH free radical scavenging) and analgesic activities, respectively, were also evaluated.

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities of different extracts from the aerial parts and the roots of Anchusa azurea Miller var. azurea (Boraginaceae), as well as their major constituent, rosmarinic acid. The extracts were water (AWa, RWa) and methanol (AMe, RMe) extracts prepared from the aerial parts and the roots of A. azurea, respectively. The AMe extract was found to exert anti-inflammatory effects; so it was evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in distilled water (AMeWa) and then further fractionated with n-hexane (AMeHe) and n-butanol (AMeBu). Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in rats using carrageenan-induced acute inflammation, and antiulcer activity was investigated using indomethacin-induced gastric damage. The methanolic extract from the aerial parts, its n-butanol fraction, and rosmarinic acid, which was isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the AMe extract, showed signifi cant dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity. During the acute phase of inflammation, the anti-inflammatory activity of rosmarinic acid was comparable to that of ibuprofen. No antiulcer activity was observed. The experimental data demonstrate that A. azurea Miller var. azurea and rosmarinic acid display significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Extracts of aerial parts and roots of wild Astragalus gombiformis Pomel were tested for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities and contents of phenolic compounds. Antibacterial activity was tested by the paper disk agar diffusion method and determination of the minimal inhibitor concentration. Among the tested extracts, three extracts (methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate) from aerial parts and two extracts (water, methanol) from roots exhibited diameters of inhibition zone equal or above 12 mm (at 150 μg/ disk) and minimal inhibitor concentrations ranging between 233 and 1250 μg/ml. Spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses showed that contents of both total polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity were higher in the methanolic extract of aerial parts as compared to roots. No insecticidal activity of the extracts of the aerial parts was found against Culex pipiens.

3 Eight sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the roots of Inula helenium and fl owers of I. japonica. Among them, isoalantolactone () and santamarine ( 6 ) exhibited significant growth inhibitory activities against gynecologic cancer cell lines, while others weakly inhibited the growth of the cell lines (IC50 ≤ 100 μM). In addition, 3 significantly inhibited the tumour growth of S180 tumour-bearing mice. Compounds 3 and 6 were not toxic to human embryonic lung fibroblast cells in vitro. These results demonstrated that the antitumour activities are closely related to the structures of the compounds, that is, an α-exomethylene- γ-lactone ring is necessary for these activities.

A new digalacturonide flavone, luteolin 7-O-β-galacturonyl-(2→1)-O-β-galacturonide (1), was isolated along with nine known fl avone glycosides from the aqueous methanolic extract of Lantana camara (L.) flowers. Their structures were determined on the basis of the spectral data. The extract of L. camara was evaluated for antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties in the acetaminophen-induced mouse liver damage model. 1 exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay with an IC 50 value of 27.2 μM. Pre-treatment with L. camara extract (25 and 75 mg/ kg body weight) decreased the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) enzyme levels that were elevated by acetaminophen. Both doses of the L. camara extract ameliorated the histopathological and histochemical alterations induced by acetaminophen. The results indicate that the L. camara extract possesses hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced liver damage.

Red seaweeds are known sources of polysaccharides, some of which possess antiadhesive properties by inhibition of P-selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling. We here report the chemical composition and the antiadhesive activity of polysaccharide-rich fractions from the red alga Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae). The crude fractions enriched in polysaccharides B1 and B2 were obtained, respectively, by sequential extraction with 1% and 2% (w/v) Na 2 CO 3 solution, at 60 °C. Fractionation of B1 and B2 by gel permeation chromatography afforded three polysaccharide-rich fractions each, whose compositions were characterized by chemical analysis (total contents of carbohydrates, proteins, sulfate, and uronic acid); their molecular weights were estimated by high-performance gel permeation chromato graphy (HPGPC). The antiadhesive activity of B1-derived fractions was assayed by visualizing lipopolysaccharides-induced leukocyte rolling under intravital miscroscopy. The intravenous injection of fractions B1a and B1b in mice, at the dose of 10 mg/kg body weight, reduced leukocyte rolling by approximately 90%; fucoidan (10 mg/kg body weight) employed as positive control induced a similar response. Therefore, the sulfated polysaccharides of L. muelleri deserve further evaluation as potential templates for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.

Insecticide and repellent activity of an acetone extract and oil from fresh leaves of Pelargonium x hortorum (cv. Orangesonne) were evaluated against the 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The oil showed medium toxicity against the 2 nd instar and low toxicity against the 4 th instar larvae, while the extract showed high significant toxicity at all concentrations tested against the two instars. On the other hand, both oil and extract exhibited highly significant repellency against the two tested instars. Volatile constituents of the oil were also identified by GC-MS analysis.

Type II arabinogalactan (AG) is a polysaccharide found in Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae), a plant reputed as gastroprotective. Oral and intraperitoneal administration of the AG protected rats from gastric ulcers induced by ethanol. No alteration of mechanisms related to acid gastric secretion and gastrointestinal motility were observed. In vitro, the AG showed a potent scavenging activity against the radical of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) with an IC 50 value of 9.3 μM. However, the mechanism of the gastroprotective action remains to be identified.

A detailed study of the biotransformation of 6- and 7-methoxyfl avones by four fungal strains (Aspergillus niger strains MB, KB, and SBP; Penicillium chermesinum 113) was carried out. Products of demethylation and also demethylation combined with hydroxylation at C-4’ were identifi ed. The biotransformation products were stronger antioxidants than the substrates.

Leaf detachment is a common signal that triggers both the differentiation of dormant epiphyllous buds as well as the onset of foliar senescence in Kalanchoe pinnata Lam. (Pers.). The present study looked for any probable correlations among selected attributes of foliar senescence, e.g. soluble proteins, chlorophylls a and b (Chl a+b ), and membrane stability index (MSI), and the antioxidative status, e.g. phenolics, ferric reducing ability in plasma equivalence (FRAP eq ), and membrane protection index (MPI), during epiphyllous bud differentiation. The experimental system comprised 0.75-cm leaf discs, with or without a dormant epiphyllous bud, cultured in vitro and exposed for ten days to continuous light or dark. A steady depletion of soluble proteins and Chl a+b , and lowering of MSI in the leaf discs were observed, the decline being relatively faster and of higher magnitude in discs exposed to dark rather than to light. The pigment loss in discs with differentiating epiphyllous buds was greater and faster than in those lacking buds, a somewhat reverse situation was observed in case of soluble proteins. Simultaneously, a time-dependent decrease in the level of phenolics was also observed. Their content was found to be lower in discs exposed to dark as compared to light, pointing to a relationship with a higher rate of senescence-related degradative processes in the dark. The change in the content of Chl a+b was found to be significantly correlated with the variation in the level of phenolics. The average FRAP eq after ten days was one half that of the initial level, which could be correlated with the decreasing levels of phenolics (intra-correlation) and maximally correlated with variations in Chl a+b and protein contents (inter-correlation). Aqueous alcohol foliar extracts significantly (p < 0.05) protected membranes against peroxidative stress, although the pattern was not found to be in line with that of the phenolics content or FRAP eq . The diminishing Chl a+b content was found to be maximally correlated with alterations in the membrane protection.

The enzyme peroxidase is known for its capacity to remove phenolic compounds and aromatic amines from aqueous solutions and also to decolourize textile effluents. This study aims at evaluating the potential of a turnip (Brassica rapa) peroxidase (TP) preparation in the discolouration of textile azo dyes and effluents. An azo dye, Congo Red (CR), was used as a model pollutant for treatment by the enzyme. The effects of various operating conditions like pH value, temperature, initial dye and hydrogen peroxide concentrations, contact time, and enzyme concentration were evaluated. The optimal conditions for maximal colour removal were at pH 2.0, 40 °C, 50 m M hydrogen peroxide, 50 mg/l CR dye, and TP activity of 0.45 U/ml within 10 min of incubation time. Analysis of the by-products from the enzymatic treatment by UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy showed no residual compounds in the aqueous phase and a precipitate of polymeric nature.

Olfactory responses of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), a major defoliator of deciduous trees, were examined in Inner Mongolia, China. We studied whether the gypsy moth adults are attracted by the major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of damaged Larix gmelinii (Dahurian larch) foliage and compared the attractiveness of the plant volatiles with that of the synthetic sex pheromone. Our results indicated that the VOCs of the Dahurian larch were effective in attracting gypsy moth males especially during the peak flight period. The VOCs also attracted moths significantly better than the sex pheromone of the moth. Our study is the first trial to show the responses of adult gypsy moths to volatile compounds emitted from a host plant. Electroantennogram responses of L. gmelinii volatiles on gypsy moths supported our field observations. A synergistic effect between host plant volatiles and sex pheromone was also obvious, and bothcan be jointly applied as a new attractant method or population management strategy of the gypsy moth.