A modified Murashige and Skoog media for efficient multipleshoot induction in G. arborea Roxb.

This paper reports on the effect of various micropropagation factors of Gmelina arborea Roxb. through multiple shoot induction. Factors like the source and age of explants, plant growth regulators （PGRs）, media composition, and carbon source affected multiple shoot-ing in the present study. Among all the explants used, only shoot tips derived from one, two, and three week old seedlings could form multiple shoots. Besides, the formation of multiple shoots depended on the con-centration and combination of PGRs. Among all the PGRs, BAP （6-benzylaminopurine） alone gave the highest regeneration efficiency. Simi-larly, IBA （Indole-3-butyric acid） was the most efficient PGR in inducing root formation in the microshoots. Media composition and carbon source also affected the regeneration efficiency. MS （Murashige and Skoog medium） proved to be the best media for regeneration followed by B5, SH （Schenk and Hilderbrandt medium） and WPM （Woody plant medium） in that order. Similarly, among sugars, only sucrose and glucose sup-ported induction of microshoots. Based on this study we recommend the use of glucose in place of sucrose in MS medium for maximum regenera-tion efficiency.

Two New Iridoid Glucosides from Clerodendrum serratum

Two new iridoid glucosides, serratoside A and serratoside B, were isolated from the aerial parts of Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexifolium Moldenke. Their structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical methods.

Two New Iridoid Glucosides from Clerodendrum serratum

Two new iridoid glucosides, named 7 beta -coumaroyloxyugandoside (1) and 7 beta - cinnamoyloxyugandoside (2) were isolated from the leaves of Clerodendrum serratum, and their structures were elucidated by spectral means.

A New Phenylpropanoid Glycoside: Serratumoside A from Clerodendrum serratum

A new phenylpropanoid glycoside, serratumoside A, was isolated from the aerial parts of Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexifolium Moldenke. Its structure was determined by spectral and chemical methods.

A New Triterpenoid Saponin: Se-saponin A

A new triterpenoid saponin, se-saponin A, was isolated from the aerial parts of Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexifolium Moldenke. Its structure was determined by spectral and chemical methods. Only one triterpenoid saponin has been isolated from Clerodendrum genus before. Se-saponin A is the second instance.

Two New C_(29) Sterols from Clerodendrum colebrookianum

From the aerial parts of Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp., two new C_29 sterols colebrin A and colebrin B, were isolated, along with a known compound, clerosterol. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence.

Two New Diterpenoid Glucosides from Clerodendrum serratum

Two new diterpenoid glucosides, cleroserroside A and cleroserroside B, were isolatedfrom the aerial pans of Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexghlium Moldenke. Their structureswere characterized by spectral and chemical methods.

Two New Steroidal Glycosides from Caryopteris terniflora

Two new steroidal glycosides were isolated from the Chinese medicinal plantCaryopteris terniflora. The spectroscopic and chemical evidences revealed that their structures tobe 6-(β-sitosteroyl-3-O-β-glucopyranosidyl) hexacosanate 1 and 6-(stigmasteroyl-3-O-β-glucopy-ranosidy1) linolenate 2, respectively.

Essential Oils from <i>Lippia origanoides</i>Kunth. and <i>Mentha spicata</i>L.: Chemical Composition, Insecticidal and Antioxidant Activities

This work describes the chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from fresh leaves of Lippia origanoides Kunth. and Mentha spicata L. and their antioxidant and insecticidal activities. The essential oils were extracted by steam distillation using a modified Clevenger apparatus and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities were determined by the β-carotene-linoleic acid method and by sequestration of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hidrazila radical. The concentrations of the essential oils and the synthetic standard, butylated hydroxyltoluene, were 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 500 μg mL-1. Insecticidal activity was analyzed by non-preference with choice and no choice against the aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer. Gas chromatography analysis of the essential oil from Lippia origanoides Kunth. revealed carvacrol (41.51%), p-cymene (18.36%), γ-terpinene (17.03%) and thymol (4.86%) as major constituents, and the essential oil from Mentha spicata L. contained piperitona (81.18%), piperitenone (14.57%) and limonene (1.47%) as the principal components. The essential oils and the standard exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activities at the concentrations tested. The essential oils were shown to be potential agents in the integrated management of the aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer.

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Premna microphylla Turcz

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Premna microphylla Turcz led to the isolation of 13 known compounds. Based on spectroscopic and chemical evidences, their structures were identified as diosmetin （1）, blumenol A （2）, （3S,5R,6S,7E,9R）-5,6-epoxy-3,9-dihydroxy-7-megastigmene （3）, 3β-hydroxy-5a,6a-epoxy-γ-megastigmen-9-one （4）, ixerol B （5）, （-）-dehydrovomifoliol （6）, 3S,5R-dihydroxy-6S,7-megastigmadien-9-one （7）, loliotide （8）, （＋）-dehydrololiolide （9）, （＋）-medioresinol （10）, 4-oxopinoresinol （11）, tormentic acid （12）, and indole-3-carboxylic acid （13）. Compounds 2-13 described above were isolated from this genus for the first time.

3, 4-seco-Labdane diterpenoids from the leaves of Callicarpa nudiflora with anti-inflammatory effects

Four new 3,4-seco-labdane diterpenoids,nudiflopenes J-M,were isolated from the leaves of Callicarpa nudiflora along with six known compounds.The structures of these diterpenoids were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis.All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated RPMs and RAW264.7 cells.The results suggest that nudiflopenes J-M and other four known compounds showed significant inhibitory effects against NO production comparable to the positive control dexamethasone.

Ethnobotany,phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of Vitex negundo L.(five-leaved chaste tree):An updated review

In the past two decades,a shift in paradigm has been observed in the development of new drugs from the plants for the treatment of diseases.Many scientists are focusing on the evidence based use of medicinal plants to develop pharmacotherapy for various human ailments.An important medicinal plant that has caught the attention of researchers all over the globe is Vitex negundo Linn.This plant is commonly used in various traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda,Chinese,Siddha and Unani to treat various diseases and has been the subject of extensive research studies lately.Its roots and leaves are widely used in various disorders and illnesses such as skin eczema,ringworm,liver disorders,spleen enlargement,rheumatic pain,gout,abscess,backache etc.Seeds are also used as folklore medicine in bronchitis,eye disorders,female reproductive disorders,cold,dropsy,malarial fever and as demulcent.The current article is an effort to compile an updated review to disseminate knowledge and information among the scientific fraternity covering the progress made in the pharmacology and phytochemistry of this useful medicinal plant.This review on a very important traditional medicine,Vitex negundo L.can serve as a reference to the scientific community for their future research on this plant.