Biochemical Systematics and Ecology最新文献

Plant-insect interactions where the insect changes the course of host-plant growth by building a new structure called as a “gall” to protect and nourish the growing insect continue to fascinate scientists. Alstonia scholaris, a medicinal plant extensively used in Indian Traditional Medicine has shown to have such interactions with insect Pauropsylla tuberculata Crawford producing numerous galls on the plant leaves. This intricate and poorly understood natural relationship demands further investigation to unravel the distinctions between gall tissue and unaffected leaves. We examined the tissue ultrastructure by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and phytochemistry by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry to understand variations between the gall tissues and ungalled leaves of A. scholaris. The data showed dense population of sclereids in the gall tissues in addition to parenchyma cells. The concentration of aluminium, phosphorus and carbon were found to be reduced in the galls while cobalt and oxygen were increased. The SEM images gives insight into the ecological relationship between these species. The phytochemical analysis indicated not only enrichment of alkaloids and terpenoids in the gall tissues but also observed several novel peaks with unreported masses indicating a potential reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals.

There is no scientific literature available on the chemical composition and biological activity of Berberis L. species of the Sikkim Himalayan region. The present investigation aimed to compare the phytochemical compositions and biological properties of leaf, fruit, and stem of Berberis sikkimensis (C.K.Schneid.) Ahrendt. Qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to analyze the phytochemicals present in the leaf, fruit, and stem extracts of B. sikkimensis. Biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and DNA damage repair potential were evaluated in vitro. Qualitative screening of phytocompounds revealed the presence of phenol, flavonoids, tannin, saponin, alkaloids, and glycosides in the B. sikkimensis extracts. The contents of total phenol, flavonoids, and tannin were found to be significantly high in the methanolic leaf extract of B. sikkimensis. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extracts detected the presence of 27 compounds in the leaf, 25 compounds in the fruit, and 29 compounds in the stem. Quinic acid was found to be the most abundant compound. Methanolic leaf extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial results showed that the fruit extract has good antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens). DNA damage repair potential was evaluated against oxidative stress, in which leaf methanolic extract showed maximum activity. Our results enlighten us that B. sikkimensis is an excellent source of bioactive compounds that can be used as a promising phytomedicine in the future.

Artemisia sieberi is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert regions of Iran. We collected samples from different parts of Iran and proceeded to extract and analyse their essential oils using hydrodistillation and GC-MS, respectively. Among seventy-two compounds identified within the oils, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenoids, trans-thujone (0.0–22.9%), cis-thujane (0.0–47.3%), 1, 8-cineole (0.7–37.1%), camphor (0.0–46.4%), santolinyl acetate (0–33.8%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (0.0–16.4%) and the sesquiterpenoid, davanone (0.0–59.6%), were reported as the predominant components from the 17-accession. The above-mentioned GC-MS analytical results in conjunction with chemometric calculations, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), suggested 6 chemical groups of A. sieberi collected from the Northern to the Southern parts of Iran. The chemical classification of EOs were based on the sum of concentration of terpenoids with distinct C-skeletons, but not individual constituents. These distinct groups include the species predominant in, I: thujane, II: davanone, III: davanone and bornane, IV: p-menthane, V: bornane and VI: irregular monoterpenoids. The trace or less distributed phytochemicals are also suggested to divide the A. sieberi into two main group of sesquiterpene and monoterpene producers.

Leucosceptrum canum Sm., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a colorful, aromatic woody plant renowned for its nectar production. Extensive phytochemical research over the years has led to the identification of numerous chemical constituents within L. canum, particularly highlighting diterpenoids and sesterterpenoids as its characteristic compounds. L. canum has demonstrated a wide range of biological activities including antibacterial, cytotoxic, antifeedant, insecticidal, herbicidal, immunomodulatory and showed potential properties for treatment of heat stroke, anonymous swollen, impetigo, suppurative osteomyelitis, traumatic injury, and bleeding wound. Phytochemical investigation on L. canum exhibits chemophenetic significance based on its characteristic compounds. Additionally, sesterterpenoids and some other compounds serve as valuable chemotaxonomic marker of this genus, since there are no reports on their isolation from other genera and families. In the current article, the latest research progress on L. canum was reviewed to have a more comprehensive and systemic understanding of the plant. Further exploration of its pharmacological potential and elucidation of its chemical diversity could pave the way for novel applications and therapeutic interventions.

Malaria, transmitted by infected female mosquitoes, is caused by protozoan parasites, of which Plasmodium falciparum is the main species causing clinical manifestations. Malaria affects 87 tropical countries and, according to the World Malaria Report 2021, an estimated 241 million cases of malaria in 2020 led to about 627,000 deaths. Pharmacological treatment is essential to control the morbidity and mortality associated with the clinical manifestation of this disease. However, the excessive deployment of antimalarial drugs has led to drug resistance, which poses a serious threat to public health. Given the reduced discovery and development of new antimalarial drugs the use of specialised plant metabolites is considered a promising strategy to propose new mechanisms and investigate their efficacy in animal and human models. This is a systematic review of several studies, carried out according to the guidelines of the PRISMA statement. The studies were identified in various databases, including EBSCO, Pubmed (MEDLINE), Science Direct, SAGE, Scopus, and Web of Sciences. Eligible studies had to demonstrate the compounds’ ability to inhibit P. falciparum strains through biological activity. Four independent reviewers extracted information from the included studies, and two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias using the CASP systematic review checklist. A total of 2541 studies were initially identified, of which 147 were selected for full-text reading. Of these, studies met the eligibility criteria. The eligible studies were conducted between 2018 and 2024 and came from different countries. The quality of the studies was assessed using the CASP tool. This review provides evidence that plant metabolites could be a valuable resource for the development of new antimalarial drugs. This is supported by extraction and identification techniques and by the evaluation of their mechanisms of action.

The metabolites of Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) leaves are involved in their biological function. However, a thorough examination of metabolites has not been possible due to the complex nature of metabolite distribution in M. oleifera leaves from different regions. The purpose of this study was to investigate regional differences in M. oleifera leaf metabolite profiles. Leaves from the Dehong, Baoshan, and Yuanmou regions of Yunnan Province were studied using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q Exactive™ HF-X MS)-based untargeted metabolomics. A total of 2084 electrospray ionization-positive compounds and 1294 electrospray ionization-negative compounds were identified. The three sample groups were found to be in different quadrants of the principal component analysis (PCA) map; hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that variations in habitat conditions were the cause of the unstable quality of M. oleifera leaves; and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and orthogonal partial least squares-discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) showed regional differences in metabolite numbers and associated pathways. These were the observed variations in the chemical compositions of M. oleifera leaves. Flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosyntheses were the main focus in pathways related to the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. Phenolic substances played a significant role as either leaders or connectors in metabolic pathways. The results provide a deeper understanding of phytochemical variations in M. oleifera leaves from different geographical regions which has potential application in the quality control of raw materials.

Ramps (Allium tricoccum Ait., Alliaceae/Amaryllidaceae) are an herbaceous perennial native to the forests of central/eastern North America. Ramps are consumed for their unique onion and garlic flavor. Knowledge of ramp phytochemistry is limited. Here the influence of plant part, phenological stage, morphology, and growing location on allicin and total phenolic content (TPC) in ramps was examined. Ramps were collected from wild populations across six sites in Pennsylvania at seven developmental stages. In spring, when leaves were present, allicin levels were 5 times greater in bulbs than leaves, and TPC in leaves was 4.5 times greater than bulbs. Allicin concentration was influenced by phenology and peaked at flowering in bulbs and at peak stage in leaves. TPC in bulbs and leaves was influenced by phenology and harvest location. TPC concentration was highest in bulbs and leaves at flowering and emergence, respectively. Stem color and leaf number had no influence on the phytochemicals measured.

This study investigates the impact of geographical location on the nutritional quality, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of Cucurbita maxima (rouge vif d'Etampes) seed oil. In terms of lipidic fraction, variations in fatty acid composition were observed across regions, with Guercif exhibiting the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid levels (57.78%) and El Jadida the lowest (44.21%). Guercif also had the highest β-sitosterol content (107.98 mg/100g oil), while total sterols were highest in Khemisset (314.92 mg/100g oil). Additionally, Guercif displayed the highest γ-tocopherol content (568.51 mg/kg oil). Physicochemical analysis revealed higher acid and peroxide values in El Jadida, along with lower iodine values. El Jadida also exhibited higher levels of carotenoids and chlorophyll. In terms of alcoholic fraction, guercif showed higher polyphenol content and strong free radical scavenging activity, while Khemisset demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ of 0.17 mg/mL). These findings underscore the importance of considering regional variations in future studies on pumpkin seed products.

The phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of Sideritis dichotoma led to the isolation and identification of a new iridoid glycoside (1), along with four known iridoid glycosides (2-5), three phenylethanoid glycosides (6–8), two flavone glycosides (9 and 10), one neolignan (11) and a megastigmane glycoside (12). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 2, 3 and 12 have never been found in the Sideritis genus before. Furthermore, eleven compounds (1–5, 7–12) were characterized for the first time from S. dichotoma. The chemotaxonomic importance of isolated compounds was discussed. This is the first phytochemical study on the polar constituents of S. dichotoma, an endemic species to Türkiye.

The phytochemical study of the fruiting bodies of Albatrellus confluens afforded a new natural product methyl 2-hydroxyimino-3- phenylpropionate (1), as well as 14 known compounds: phenylalanine (2), zarzissine (3), uridine (4), emeheterone (5), uracil (6), nicotinamide (7), adenosine (8)), methyl 4-hydroxyphenylacetate (9), grifolin (10), neogrifolin (11), grifolin methyl ether (12), 4-O-methyl grifolin acid (13), confluentin (14), albatrelin G (15). The structures of these compounds were deduced using spectroscopic methods, including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR, as well as by comparisons with data reported in the literature. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was also discussed.