Triterpenoids from the Dai Medicinal Plant Winchia calophylla

A new compound (1) named as winchic acid and eight known ones were isolated from the stem barks of Winchia colophylla A. DC. (collected in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province of China). The new compound 1 was identified as 3beta-hydroxy-27-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-E-cinnamoyloxy)-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The eight known compounds were determined to be lupenone, lupenyl acetate, betulinic acid, alpha-amyrin acetate, ursolic acid, ptiloepoxide, beta-amyrin and cycloeucalenol, respectively.

ISOFLAVONES FROM ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS

Two new isoflavones (8, 3'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone, odoratin-7-0-[3-D-glu-copyranoside) and four known isoflavones (formononetin, 7,3'-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone, calycosin, calycosin-7-0-(3-D-glucopyranoside) were isolated from the roots of Astragalus mem-branaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. Their structures were established by spectral analysis.

Biotransformation of Gastrodin by Cell Suspension Cultures of Catharanthus roseus

应用长春花 (Catharanthusroseus (L .)G .Don)悬浮细胞培养体系对天麻素进行了生物转化反应研究。经过8d培养形成一个转化产物 ,应用光谱方法鉴定转化产物的结构为对羟基苯甲醇 ,为天麻素水解后形成的甙元。

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Actin Gene from Rehmannia glutinosa

[ Objective ] The aim of this study is to clone and analyze the actin gene from Rehmannia glutinosa. [ Method ] Degenerate primers were designed according to the conserved regions of actin sequences of Rehmannia glutinosa and its similar species, RT-PCR was next conducted to amplify the actin gene from Rehmannia glutinosa. [ Result] The amplified fragment is 724 bp and correspondingly 240 amino acids. The BLAST results indicate that the homology between the amplified fragment and other higher plants for aetin gene sequences and amino acid are more than 80% and 90%, respectively, suggesting that the amplified fragment is the actin gene of Rehmannia glutinosa. [ Conclusion] Phylogenetic analysis shows that the actin gene of Rehmannia glutinosa has an intimate genetic relationship with actin7 gene of Nicotiana tabacum.

Fifty Years of Botanical Gardens in China

The development, distribution and features of one hundred and forty botanical gardens (BGs) in China are reported and their functions on research, conservation, display and utilization of biodiversity are summarized in this paper. The contributions to the social and economic development in the early stage of Chinese BGs with the researches of economic plant (tobacco), medicinal plant (yam) and wild fruit tree resources are evaluated. The theoretical and applied achievements in recent years in seed science, plant conservation, economic plant introduction, acclimatization and breeding are also described. A general scope of living plant collections in Chinese BGs is presented and the outstanding ones, including Magnoliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cycadaceae, medicinal plants, Actinidia and Rhododendron are particularly mentioned. With special reference to Chinese penjing art garden and silicified wood garden, the development of scientific popularization and tourism in BGs is reviewed.

Application of Biological Pesticides in Medicinal Plants

At present, the excessive application of traditional chemical pesticides, serious pesticide residue pollution and destruction of the ecological balance in China have become important factors affecting the quality and safety of medicinal material. Biological pesticides are rapidly developed due to their characteristics of high efficiency, low toxicity and residue. This study aimed to introduce the specific property of biological pesticides, review the classification of biological pesticides and their application in medicinal plants, analyze the problems in the production and utilization process of biological pesticides, and forecast the developmental prospect.

A Bioactive Diterpene from the Chinese Herb Aster souliei

Aster souliei Franch, (Compositae) is a. herbaceous plant distributed innorth China. It has been used in folk medicine as antipyretic, detoxicant, expectorant andantitussive. In an effort to find biologically active components from Chinese medicinal plants ' ,we have examined the aerial parts of this herb, leading to the isolation of a clerodane-typediterpene, 18, 19-dihydroxy-5α, 10β-neo-cleroda-3, 13 (l4)-dien-16, 15-butenolide (1). In thispaper we report the structural elucidation, and the antitumor and antibacterial activities of thiscompound. It was found that 1 possesses moderate cytotoxicity against human leukemia cells (HL-60)and activity against microorganisms.

Investigation and Exploitation of New Medicinal Resources of Genus Bupleurum (Umbelliferae) in Qinghai Province and Xizhang (Tibet) Autonomous Region in China

In China,some species of Bupleurum (family Umbelliferae) have been used as Chinese traditional medicine under the name “Chai-Hu” for the treatment of fevers and influenza.In the present paper,the authors report a study on the investigation and exploitation of new medicinal resources of “Chai-Hu” in Qinghai Province and Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region where no one has studied this hitherto.18 species,7 varieties,I form of Bupleurum and a new species (Bupleurum qinghaiense) have been discovered.The taxonomy and preliminary phytochemical studies of the roots of three medicinal plants,B.qinghaiense,B.rnarginatum var.stenophyllum and B.smithii var.parvifolium.are reported in this paper.

The Alkaloids from Leaves of Croton hemiargyerius var. gymnodiscus

Aim Investigation of alkaloids from the leaves of Brazilian medicinal plantCroton hemiargyerius var. gymnodiscus. Methods Silica gel column chromatography was used repeatedlyfor the isolation and purification, and their structures were identified by extensive spectroscopyand comparison of the chemical and physical data with those of authentic samples reported inliterature. Results Twelve alkaloids were isolated and their structures were identified. ConclusionFour new alkaloids named hemiargines A (1), B (5), C (6) and D (7), together with eight knownalkaloids namely isoc-orydine (2), corydine (3), norcorydine (4), salutaridine (8), glaucine (9),tetrahydropalmatrubine (10), xylopinoine (11), and norlaudanosine (12) were isolated.

Advances in Plant Science and Its Prospects

Focusing on the global food security and analyzing the challenges now confronting human being of global climate change,sustainable development of agriculture,energy and environment,plant scientists should take the social responsibility and play the role in solving the global problems like food security from the developmental status and potential of plant science and technology. Moreover,by working with agronomists, ecologists and environmental experts,plant scientists do provide novel ideas and technologies for developing low carbon agriculture,for breeding new crop varieties with high yield and quality and stress resistance,for developing new type of energy plants,for supplying healthy foods and drugs,reasonably using land and water resources,and for ameliorating environment,making better contribution to the sustainable development of the globe and human being ourselves.

Rapid in vitro propagation of medicinally important Aquilaria agallocha

Aquilaria agallocha can produce fragrant agarwood used for incense, traditional medicine and other products. An efficient plant regeneration system was established via organogenesis from shoots developed from seedlings of Aquilaria agallocha. Shoots generated many buds on MS medium supplemented with 1.3 μmol/L BA （6-benzylaminopurine） in the first 7 weeks, and the buds elongated on MS medium with 1.3 μmol/L BA＋0.5 μmol/L NAA （naphthaleneacetic acid） in another 7 weeks, 2.3 shoots 2 cm in length per explant were obtained within 14 weeks. Plantlets were rooted on l/2 MS medium after being immersed in 5 μmol/L NAA for 48 h, 96.7% of the roots grew up two weeks later. All plantlets that survived acclimatization grew well in the pots.

Studies on Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre leaves: understanding the mechanism(s) of action in infectious diarrhea

While data are available on the effect of medicinal plants on intestinal motility and their antibacterial action, there is a paucity of information on their mode of action on various aspects of diarrheal pathogenicity, namely colonization to intestinal epithelial cells and production/action of enterotoxins. Crude decoction of dried leaves of Pongamia pinnata was evaluated for its antimicrobial (antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral) effect; and its effect on production and action of enterotoxins (cholera toxin, CT; Escherichia coli labile toxin, LT; and E. coli stable toxin, ST); and adherence of enteropathogenic E. coli and invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli and Shigella flexneri to epithelial cells. The decoction had no antibacterial, antigiardial and antirotaviral activity, but reduced production of CT and bacterial invasion to epithelial cells. The observed results indicated that the crude decoction of P. pinnata has selective antidiarrheal action with efficacy against cholera and enteroinvasive bacterial strains causing bloody diarrheal episodes.

Protective Effect of Rhubarb on Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury

To approach the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in causing acute lung injury (ALI) and the protective effect of rhubarb and dexamethasone, lung specimens were examined with macroscopy, microscopy, electron microscopy and the biological markers of ALI including lung wet/dry weight, the rate of neutrophils and protein content in the pulmonary alveolar lavage fluid, pulmonary capillary permeability and pulmonary alveolar permeability index were observed. The mechanism of the ALI is mainly due to direct injury of alveolar epithelium and pulmonary vascular endothelium. Rhubarb and dexamethasone could significantly reduce the edema of the lung tissue, decrease the red blood cell exudation, neutrophil infiltration and plasma protein exudation in the alveoli and all the biological markers in comparison with the ALI model rats, indicating they have protective action on vascular endothelium and alveolar epithelium.

Actions of NO and INOS on Endotoxin Induced rat Acute Lung Injury and Effect of Rhubarb on Them

This study is to explore the actions of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) induced rat acute lung injury (ALI) and effect of Rhubarb on them. LPS was injected into the sublingual vein of male Wistar rats to prepare ALI animal models. The rats were divided into 4 groups: LPS, control, Rhubarb, and dexamethasone. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations of the lung specimens were performed and the biological indexes of lung, including wet weight/dry weight, the rate of neutrophils and protein content in the pulmonary alveolar lavage fluid, pulmonary vascular permeability and pulmonary alveolar permeability were observed. In the mean time, the contents of serum NO and the activities of lung tissue homogenate iNOS were measured. The results showed that in the LPS group, the injury and celluar infiltration in the pulmonary stroma and alveoli were more prominent than that in the control group. Lung wet weight/dry weight, the rate of neutrophils, protein content, pulmonary alveolar permeability, pulmonary vascular permeability were significantly increased (P<0.01); NO and iNOS were also markedly elevated (P<0.01). In the groups of dexamethasone and Rhubarb, the histopathological changes were significantly milder, and all the above biological indexes of lung injury and the contents of NO and the activities of iNOS were correspondingly decreased (P<0.05). The above data demonstrate that NO and the activities of iNOS play an important role in the onset of ALI; dexamethasone and Rhubarb interfering treatment can ameliorate lung injury and decrease the concentrations of NO and iNOS, showing that through inhibiting the levels of NO and the activities of iNOS, these 2 agents exert protective effect on ALI induced LPS.

Antiviral activities of extracts from Hong Kong seaweeds

We extracted six Hong Kong brown seaweed species with hot water for their antiviral properties. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of these extracts were tested by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenlytetrezolium bromide] method, cytopathic effect reduction assay, and plaque reduction assay. The antiviral effect was further determined by flow cytometric analysis. The results showed that most of these extracts inhibited the propagation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) standard strains with very low cytotoxicity to the host cells. The extracts of Hydroclathrus clathratus and Lobophora variegata showed more potential anti-HSV activities than the extracts of the other four seaweeds. They also had moderate anti- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activities but could not inhibit influenza A virus. Hydroclathrus clathratus was further extracted by diluted acid and alkali and the antiviral effects of the extracts were also detected. The result showed that the hot water extract contained the main carbohydrate components that exhibited the antiviral activities against various strains of HSV, including the acyclovir-resistant strain. HI-3, a compound fractionated from this hot water extract, showed a dose-dependent anti-HSV activity in flow cytometric analysis and plaque reduction assay.

Ethnobotanical Study towards Conservation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Upper Catchments of Dhauli Ganga in the Central Himalaya

The present study broadly focused on medicinal plant species collected from wild by the villagers for different purposes in the upper catchment of Dhauli Ganga in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve(NDBR),in the central Himalaya.A schedule based survey was conducted during the years 2003-2005 in 15 villages of Chamoli district part of the NDBR.Information was collected from collectors, vaidya(medicine man)and those dealing with domestication and marketing of the medicinal plants. The aim of the study was to understand the prioritiesed medicinal plants,their mode of collection and document their ethnobotanical uses by the Bhotiya tribal communities,in this world heritage site. During the survey,50 medicinal plants belonging to 31 families and 44 genera were documented.Out of these,70% were harvested from the wild,22% were cultivated and 8% were cultivated as well as wild harvested.Of the cultivated species,8% were found growing in the kitchen gardens and 14%in the agricultural fields.However,42%of the plants had their roots and rhizomes used followed by leaves (26%),seeds(10%),seed and leaf(8%),bark and whole plant(6%)and flower(1%).Most plants were reported to be used for rheumatism(16),followed by stomach disorder(14),cold and cough(11),and jaundice(9).Thirty three plants species were reported to have more than one therapeutic uses,while 17 species were reported to be used against single ailment.The distance of villages from road head was one of the factors contributing to the decline in the medicinal plant population in their natural habitats. The availability of medicinal plants increased with increase in distance from road head and also the peoples'dependence on them.Documentation of the traditional knowledge will help in conservation of knowledge and also opportunity for using it for future training and use.The result of this study will help in promoting sustainable cultivation and implementation in conservation protocol of those species,which are in the verge of extinction in this region.

Maytenus erythroxylon Reissek(Celastraceae) ethanol extract presents antidiarrheal activity via antimotility and antisecretory mechanisms

To investigate the acute toxicity, phytochemical profile, antidiarrheal activity and mechanisms of action of Maytenus erythroxylon (M. erythroxylon) ethanol extract. METHODSA castor oil-induced diarrhea model was used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. Intestinal transit and gastric emptying protocols were used to evaluate a possible antimotility effect. KATP channels, nitric oxide, presynaptic α2-adrenergic and tissue adrenergic receptors were investigated to uncover antimotility mechanisms of action and castor oil-induced enteropooling to elucidate antisecretory mechanisms. RESULTSAll tested doses of the extract (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) possessed antidiarrheal activity, with a significant decrease of the evacuation index. This activity is possibly related to a reduced gastric emptying (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and to a decreased percentage of intestinal transit for all tested doses. That last effect seems to be modulated by nitric oxide, KATP channels and tissue adrenergic receptors. Besides, the extract also presented antisecretory effect due to a decrease of intestinal fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONThe antidiarrheal effect of M. erythroxylon found in this study involves antimotility and antisecretory mechanisms that may be attributed to the chemical compounds found in this species: saponins, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and steroids.

Recommended Medicinal Plants as Source of Natural Products:A Review

Natural product is one of the sources of drugs in pharmaceutical industry,and one of the notable origin of natural product is the medicinal plants.Medicinal plants tend to cure some certain diseases and could be a source for potential drugs.The Department of Health of the Philippines approved 10 medicinal plants namely Allium sativum(Garlic/Bawang),Blumea balsamifera(Nagal camphor/sambong),Cassia alata(Ringworm bush/akapulko),Clinopodium douglasii(Mint/yerba Buena),Ehretia microphylla(Scorpion bush/Tsaang Gubat),Momordica charantia(Bitter Melon/Ampalaya),Peperomia pellucida(Silver bush/ulasimang Bato),Psidium guajava(Guava/Bayabas),Quisqualis indica(Rangoon creeper/niyug-niyogan),and Vitex negundo(Five-leaved Chaste Tree/lagundi).The review was conducted to show that these medicinal plants are capable in treating infections and some diseases.It was found that Allium sativum for the treatmet of wounds,hypertension and tootache;Blumea balsimifera is effective in diuretic treatment for hypertension;Cassia alata for the treatment of scabies,fungal infection,athlete’s foot,tinea flava,ringworm;Clinopodium douglasii for the treatment of muscle pain,arthritis,rheumatism,cough,headache;Ehretia microphylla for the treatment of diarrhea and stomachache;Momordica charantia for the treatment of diabetes mellitus;Peperomia pellucida for the treatment of gout and rheumatism;Psidium guajava for the treatment of wounds and diarrhea;Quisqualis indica for anti-helmintic medicine;and Vitex negundo for the treatment of cough,asthma,and fever.In conclusion,these 10 medicinal plants have natural products that can be used as source for potential drugs.However,there are still many species of ethnobotanical plants that are not yet investigated thoroughly and might be a source for potential drugs.Therefore,more investigations should be done in other species of plant,most especially for the plants with practical used.

Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The rapid appraisal method was used to identity the botanicals used ethnomedicinally from a total of 300 randomly selected respondents drawn from the existing three geo-political zones of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The results obtained revealed that about 40% of the 71 botanicals identified presently rare. Most of the presently abundant botanicals are species primarily cultivated for other purpose other than medicine. Most of the identified species are valued for their curative effects on malaria and fever, the predominant diseases in the study area. The need for the conservation of the rare species cannot be over emphasised as most rural dwellers in the study area depend mostly on herbs from these species. Strategies towards the attainment of this goal are proposed.