UPLC-MS/MS Profile of Alkaloids with Cytotoxic Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants of the Berberidaceae and Papaveraceae Families

Cancer is one of the most occurring diseases in developed and developing countries. Plant-based compounds are still researched for their anticancer activity and for their quantity in plants. Therefore, the modern chromatographic methods are applied to quantify them in plants, for example, UPLC-MS/MS (ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the content of sanguinarine, berberine, protopine, and chelidonine in Dicentra spectabilis (L.) Lem., Fumaria officinalis L., Glaucium flavum Crantz, Corydalis cava L., Berberis thunbergii DC., Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Vig., Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., Macleaya cordata Willd., and Chelidonium majus L. For the first time, N,N-dimethyl-hernovine was identified in M. cambrica, B. thunbergii, M. aquifolium, C. cava, G. flavum, and C. majus; methyl-hernovine was identified in G. flavum; columbamine was identified in B. thunbergii; and methyl-corypalmine, chelidonine, and sanguinarine were identified in F. officinalis L. The richest source of protopine among all the examined species was M. cordata (5463.64 ± 26.3 μg/g). The highest amounts of chelidonine and sanguinarine were found in C. majus (51,040.0 ± 1.8 μg/g and 7925.8 ± 3.3 μg/g, resp.), while B. thunbergi contained the highest amount of berberine (6358.4 ± 4.2 μg/g).

Molecular Detection of Tobacco rattle virus in Bleeding Heart [Dicentra spectabilis (L.) Lem.] Growing in Alaska

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) was detected in bleeding heart from South Central Alaskan home gardens in 2010-11. TRV M-type and NM-type isolates were confirmed from these symptomatic bleeding heart plants by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR polymerase chain reaction, protein, serological, and virus transmission assays. RNA1 was sequenced from one of the bleeding heart M-type isolates, and the nucleotide identity ranged from 91% to 94% when compared with six TRV isolates from potato, spinach, and alstroemeria. This is the first detection of TRV from D. spectabilis in Alaska. It is also the first time that M- and NM-type isolates have been distinguished from bleeding heart plants. The significance of these findings is that even though TRV infected plants containing NM-type isolates probably will not be spread to other plants by its specific nematode vector; vegetative propagated roots from TRV infected plants of either type of isolates will continue to be a source of diseased plants to home gardeners. Accepted for publication 18 December 2012. Published 27 February 2013.

Bleeding Hearts Turn Yellow: A Case Study to Determine the Cause of Chlorosis in a Crop of Cut Dicentra spectabilis

Case studies promote the development of problem-solving skills, but few have been created for horticulture and related curricula. This web-based decision case presents the challenge of determining the cause of symptoms of foliar chlorosis in a crop of cut Dicentra spectabilis while forcing it for Valentine's Day sales. It provides a tool to promote the development of diagnostic skills for production dilemmas, including nutritional disorders, disease and insect problems, and evaluation of the appropriateness of cultural practices. Cut Dicentra is a minor crop and standard production practices are not well established. Therefore, solving this case requires that students research production protocol as well as nutritional and pest problems to develop a solution. In this case study, which is supported by an image-rich web-based version at www.hightunnels.org/cutflowercasestudy.htm, a grower at Flint's Flower Farm must determine the cause of foliar chlorosis that is slowly appearing on about half of the plants of her cut Dicentra crop. The condition could be related to a number of possible problems including a nutritional disorder, insect attack, disease infection, or production practices. Some resources are provided to aid students in gathering background information. Data accumulated by the grower is presented to allow students to logically eliminate unlikely solutions and predict (a) probable cause(s). The solution, which is rather unique to this crop, is provided. This case study is intended for use in upper-level undergraduate courses of floriculture production, nutrient management, plant pathology, and entomology.