Use of the fatty acid profile as a chemotaxonomic marker for diatoms from the genus Nitzschia Hassall of the salt lakes of Mongolia

New diatom strains of Nitzschia were isolated from phytoplankton and benthos of saltwater lakes inMongolia. The strains were identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis using the 18SrDNA gene. The new strains have been included into the Bacillariales clade with a high statistical support. Analysis ofthe fatty acid composition of the studied strains showed that 16:0 palmitic, 18:0 stearic, and 16:1 palmitoleic acids weredominant – they accounted for up to 97.5 % of the total fatty acids. New strains of Nitzschia from Mongolian lakes showedthe minimum content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6. Taking into account the peculiaritiesof the profiles of fatty acids, and primarily the amount of saturated and monounsaturated acids, new strains of Nitzschiacan be considered for biotechnological use as a potential raw material for the production of biofuel.

Identification of tuliposide G, a novel glucoside ester-type tuliposide, and its distribution in tulip

Tuliposides (Pos) are major defensive secondary metabolites in tulip (genus Tulipa), having 4-hydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyl and/or (3S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyl groups at the C-1 and/or C-6 positions of d-glucose. The acyl group at the C-6 position is converted to antimicrobial lactones, tulipalins, by tuliposide-converting enzymes (TCEs). In the course of a survey of tulip tissue extracts to identify novel Pos, we found a minute high-performance liquid chromatography peak that disappeared following the action of a TCE, and whose retention time differed from those of known Pos. Spectroscopic analyses of the purified compound, as well as its enzymatic degradation products, revealed its structure as 5″-O-(6-O-(4′-hydroxy-2′-methylenebutanoyl))-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(2″R)-2″-hydroxymethyl-4″-butyrolactone, which is a novel glucoside ester-type Pos. We gave this compound the trivial name ‘tuliposide G’ (PosG). PosG accumulated in bulbs, at markedly lower levels than 6-PosA (the major Pos in bulbs), but was not found in any other tissues. Quantification of PosG in bulbs of 52 types of tulip, including 30 cultivars (Tulipa gesneriana) and 22 wild Tulipa spp., resulted in the detection of PosG in 28 cultivars, while PosG was present only in three wild species belonging to the subgenus Tulipa, the same subgenus to which tulip cultivars belong, suggesting the potential usefulness of PosG as a chemotaxonomic marker in tulip.

QUALITY AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION OF SUNFLOWER OIL DEODORIZATION DISTILLATE

The composition of the sunflower oil deodorization distillate has been investigated. 18 acidic components have been identified, more than 40% of the composition of the studied sample falls on linoleic acid with F-vitamin activity. More than 30 components of neutral nature have been found that are of interest as bioactive compounds. Of these, 10 are phytosterols, 14 are triterpene alcohols, 5 are tocopherols. The diterpene hydrocarbons, alcohols and acids of the kauran structure found in the composition of deodorization distillate indicate that the original sunflower oil was native, since it is known that kauran derivatives are a chemotaxonomic marker of many plants of the compositae family, including sunflower. In addition to the above compounds, hydrocarbons (more than a quarter of the unsaponifiable matter), both aliphatic and diterpenic, in the studied sample, was found. Aliphatic components are predominantly unsaturated, which may indicate their artifact origin, i.e. they are the products of the dehydration of aliphatic alcohols. Phytadiene isomers, products of phytol dehydration and isomerization, have been found. The data obtained indicate the prospects for the use of oil deodorization distillate as a source of bioactive substances, cosmetic ingredients and pharmaceutical components.

Ethnobotany and Phytochemistry of the genus Eremostachys Bunge

In this review, the species from the genus Eremostachys Bunge are described and explored from different standpoints. In particular, the main attention is focused on phytochemistry also with reference to the biogenesis of the most important class of chemotaxonomic marker, the iridoids, and their co-occurrence with volatile terpene components of essential oils which own the same biogenetic precursors. The ethnopharmacological implications of the plants belonging to this genus are also reported in detail. Nevertheless, a few morphological and botanical details of Eremostachys are also presented, as well as some topics about its chemotaxonomy and pure pharmacology. Based on the data reported in the literature, different species of the genus Eremostachys show important and interesting peculiarities under all these aspects that are extensively discussed and commented.

Neutral Polysaccharide from the Leaves of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii: Presence of 3-O-Methyl Galactose and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells

Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (Seem.) Guillaumin is a native tree in Vietnam. The water extract of the leaves from this tree gives a highly viscous product that has been used to heal wounds and treat inflammations. Our previous studies showed that the leaves of P. carruthersii have a high content of polysaccharides. In this study, the structure and influence of the neutral polysaccharide from Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (PCA1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were investigated. The PCA1 isolated from P. carruthersii is a galactan-type polysaccharide, containing galactose (77.0%), 3-O-methyl galactose (20.0%), and arabinose (3.0%). Linkage analysis of PCA1 showed that both the 3-O-methyl galactose and galactose were 1,4-linked. The presence of 3-O-methyl galactose units as part of the polysaccharide is important and can be used as a chemotaxonomic marker. The molecular weight of the PCA1 was 170 kDa. A PCA1 concentration of 30–40 μg/mL strongly inhibited TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6 inflammatory cytokine production, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release. PCA1 had inhibitory activities on pro-inflammatory cytokine and ROS release in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages in vitro through MAPK signaling.

Study of a chemotaxonomic marker able to identify the genus Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae)

Le genre Aquilaria Lam. (Thymelaeaceae) comprend 21 espèces d’arbres (The Plant List, 2013) et se trouve principalement en Asie du Sud-Est. Lorsque l’arbre est infecté (champignons, bactéries), son bois devient brunâtre ou noirâtre (appelé bois d’agar) en raison de la sécrétion d’une oléorésine en réaction à l’infection. La résine est très parfumée et a été recherchée et utilisée pendant des siècles par les bouddhistes, les hindous et les musulmans pour faire de l’encens pour les cérémonies religieuses. Cette oléorésine se trouve principalement dans les espèces du genre Aquilaria, mais aussi dans quelques espèces des genres Gyrinops Gaertner et Gonystylus Teijsmann & Binnendijk. Il est difficile de faire la distinction entre ces espèces, et ce manque de connaissances taxonomiques a conduit à une surutilisation des arbres, mettant en danger ces espèces endémiques inscrites à l’Annexe II de la CITES. Nous avons utilisé la chimiotaxonomie comme outil de discrimination pour analyser les molécules polyphénoliques, métabolites secondaires, qui sont connus pour agir comme marqueurs taxonomiques dans d’autres plantes. En utilisant une technique d’analyse simple, efficace et peu coûteuse (chromatographie bidimensionnelle en couche mince), nous avons trouvé la même molécule polyphénolique dans les six espèces du genre Aquilaria étudiées, qui a été identifiée comme mangiférine par analyse colorimétrique et chromatographique en comparaison avec la mangiférine de contrôle. Au cours de ces analyses, nous avons trouvé une relation entre les genres Aquilaria et Gyrinops (botaniquement démontrée) par l’existence occasionnelle de mangiférine chez trois espèces du genre Gyrinops. Nous avons également constaté qu’un laps de temps de cent-quarante ans entre deux échantillons d’herbier de la même espèce n’avait pratiquement aucun effet sur la concentration de mangiférine dans la plante. Ces travaux ont montré les mérites de la chimiotaxonomie dans la recherche de marqueurs taxonomiques et l’originalité de l’analyse colorimétrique d’un métabolite de plante chromatographié en couche mince.