Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of Purple Leaf Extract [Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff] Against Streptococcus mutans

Background. Streptococcus mutans is the leading cause of dental caries. One of many medicinal plants, purple leaf [Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff], which contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, and saponins, is a potential antibacterial agent. Objective. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of purple leaf extract (Graptophyllum pictum L. Griff) against Streptococcus mutans. Methods. Streptococcus mutans were suspended in several Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff extract concentrations in a BHIB medium using the dilution method so that the concentration of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.12%, 1.56%, 0.78% were obtained. Each tube was incubated for 24 hours, then subcultured in a Tryptone Yeast Extract Cystine medium in a petri dish using a spreader. Each petri dish was set for 24 hours; the growth of the colony, using CFU/mL unit, was manually calculated. The samples were then subjected to microbiological analysis. The Tukey's Honest Significant Difference test was performed to determine if the relationship between the sets of data in the treatment group is statistically significant (p<0.05). Results. Purple leaf extract contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoid, alkaloid, tannin, triterpenoid/ steroid, and saponin. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff against Streptococcus mutans was in concentration 3.125%, and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was in concentration 6.25%. Conclusion. Purple Leaf Extract [Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff] has antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans.

Lilium shenxianjui (Liliaceae), a new species from central Zhejiang, East China

Lilium shenxianjui Y.L.Xu & Y.F.Lu, a new species of Liliaceae from Zhejiang, East China, is described with illustrations. The new species is morphologically similar to L. concolor and L. bakerianum in having campanulate flowers and converging stamens, but differs from the former in having stems dark purple (vs. green, rarely base purple), leaf blades densely papillose at margin and abaxial mid-ribs (vs. glabrous), pedicle base with 2 bracts (vs. solitary), flowers red-orange, 4–10 in a short raceme (vs. dark red, 1–5 in a raceme or sub-umbel), tepals 4.8–6 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide (vs. 2.2–4 cm long, 4–7 mm wide), nectars glabrous at margin (vs. papillose at margin), anthers lunate, ca. 1 cm long (vs. long-oblong, ca. 7 mm long), styles ±2 as long as ovaries (vs. slightly shorter). It differs from Lilium bakerianum in having pedicle base with 2 bracts (vs. solitary), flowers 4–10, red-orange, unspotted (vs. flowers 1–3, white, purple-red spotted), tepals 4.8–6 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide (vs. 6.5–8 cm long, 1.4–2.3 cm wide), ovaries 8–10 mm long (vs. 1.7–2 cm long).

Inheritance of Compact Growth Habit, and Investigation of Linkage to Weeping Architecture and Purple Leaf Color in Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis L.)

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) is a commonly used small landscape tree. Compact growth, purple leaf color, and weeping architecture are three popular ornamental phenotypes. Inheritances of weeping architecture and purple leaves have been reported previously. Inheritance of compact growth habit and its genetic linkage with the weeping and purple leaf genes have not been reported. In the present research, the inheritance of compact growth derived from ‘Ace of Hearts’ was explored in the F1, F2, and reciprocal backcross families resulting from the controlled hybridization of ‘Ruby Falls’ (normal growth/weeping architecture/purple leaf) × ‘Ace of Hearts’ (compact growth/nonweeping architecture/green leaf). All 27 F1 individuals were nonweeping, green-leaved, and noncompact. A total of 572 F2 progeny were obtained, and subsequent analysis of segregation revealed a single recessive gene controlled compact growth habit. Analysis of reciprocal backcross families confirmed this result as well. Weeping architecture and purple leaf color were also controlled by single recessive genes, confirming findings presented in previous studies in another redbud family. No linkage between the three genes was detected. This research is the first to report the inheritance of compact growth in eastern redbud and confirms independent assortment between the compact, purple leaf, and weeping genes.