Effects of two medicinal plants Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) and Diospyros mespiliformis L. (Ebenaceae) leaf extracts on rat skeletal muscle cells in primary culture

Crude decoction, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of two medicinal plants （Psidiura guajava and Diospyros raespiliformis）, widely used in the central plateau of Burkina Faso to treat many diseases were evaluated for their antagonistic effects on caffeine induced calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat skeletal muscle cells. These different extracts showed a decrease of caffeine induced calcium release in a dose dependent manner. Comparison of the results showed that Psidiura guajava leaf extracts are more active than extracts of Diospyros mespiliformis and that crude decoctions show better inhibitory activity. The observed results could explaine their use as antihypertensive and antidiarrhoeal agents in traditional medicine, by inhibiting intracellular calcium release.

Taxonomic Significance of Anatomical Characters in Some Species of the Family Myrtaceae

This paper elaborated the epidermis properties, transverse sections of leaves, petioles and stems of five cultivated spe-cies belong to five genera of Myrtaceae. They are Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G. Don, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Myrtus communis L., Psidium guajava L. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. It was clear that certain structural characteristics were of significant impor-tance in separation of these taxa, such as the presence of hypodermis in the leaves of P. guajava, the absence of stomata from the abaxial surface of leaves of C. viminalis and P. guajava, the isobilateral mesophyll in C. viminalis and E. camaldulensis leaves, the wavy transverse section of stem in C. viminalis, the presence of more than one vascular strand in S. aromaticum petioles as well as the presence of prismatic crystals in addition to the druses in the petioles of P. guajava.

Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Activity of the Essential Oil from Callistemon viminalis(Myrtaceae)Blossoms on Lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)Seedlings

The extraction of essential oils was performed by using the technique of hydrodistillation modified Clevenger apparatus, identification and quantification of the constituents was achieved by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry, and Gas Chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Assessment of allelopathic activity was evaluated with the use of the method that assesses the direct contact of essential oils on germination and vigor of lettuce seeds. The major constituents that characterize the essential oil from the flowers of Callistemon viminalis were 1, 8-cineole, α-pinene and limonene at concentrations of 66.9%, 16.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The essential oil presented allelopathic activity at intensities that varied proportionately to the concentration of the essential oil, with a reduction in the percentage of germination and the germination speed index (GSI) of lettuce seeds and in the dry mass and length of shoots and roots of lettuce seedlings.

Development and Garden Application of Myrtaceae in South China

Myrtaceae is widely applied in landscaping and garden construction all around the world.Through investigating indigenous species of Myrtaceae in south China,14 species of 6 genera with landscape and garden application value were selected.Application patterns and relevant cases were discussed on the basis of resource evaluation,including construction of traditional garden landscapes,creation of ecological gardens,pioneering species for ecological restoration.Furthermore,application of indigenous species of Myrtaceae in Shenzhen City was studied.

Litterfall production modeling based on climatic variables and nutrient return from stands of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and Pinus taeda L.

Native grasslands in the Pampas of South America are increasingly being replaced by Eucalyptus and Pinus stands.The short rotation regimes used for the stands require high nutrient levels,with litterfall being a major source of nutrient return.To model the litterfall production using climatic variables and assess the nutrient return in 14-year-old Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus taeda stands,we measured litter production over 2 years,using conical litter traps,and monitored climatic variables.Mean temperature,accumulated precipitation,and mean maximum vapor pres-sure deficit at the seasonal level influenced litterfall produc-tion by E.grandis;seasonal accumulated precipitation and mean maximum temperature affected litterfall by P.taeda.The regression tree modeling based on these climatic vari-ables had great accuracy and predictive power for E.grandis(N=33;MAE(mean absolute error)=0.65;RMSE(root mean square error)=0.91;R^(2)=0.71)and P.taeda(N=108;MAE=1.50;RMSE=1.59;R^(2)=0.72).The nutrient return followed a similar pattern to litterfall deposition,as well as the order of importance of macronutrients(E.grandis:Ca>N>K>Mg>P;P.taeda:N>Ca>K>Mg>P)and micronutrients(E.grandis and P.taeda:Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu)in both species.This study constitutes a first approximation of factors that affect litterfall and nutrient return in these systems.

Syzygium cumini(L.)Skeels:A review of its phytochemical constituents and traditional uses

Syzygium cumini(S.cumini)(L.) Skeels(jambolan) is one of the widely used medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases in particular diabetes.The present review has been primed to describe the existing data on the information on botany,phytochemical constituents,traditional uses and pharmacological actions of 5.cumini(L.) Skeels(jambolan).Electronic database search was conducted with the search terms of Eugenia jambolana,S.cumini,jambolan,common plum and java plum.The plant has been viewed as an antidiabetic plant since it became commercially available several decades ago.During last four decades,numerous folk medicine and scientific reports on the antidiabetic effects of this plant have been cited in the literature.The plant is rich in compounds containing anthocyanins,glucoside,ellagic acid,isoquercetin,kaemferol and myrecetin.The seeds are claimed to contain alkaloid,jambosine,and glycoside jambolin or antimellin,which halts the diastalic conversion of starch into sugar.The vast number of literatures found in the database revealed that the extracts of different parts of jambolan showed significant pharmacological actions.We suggest that there is a need for further investigation to isolate active principles which confer the pharmacological action.Hence identification of such active compounds is useful for producing safer drugs in the treatment of various ailments including diabetes.

Sex-specific effects of Eugenia punicifolia extract on gastric ulcer healing in rats

AIM To evaluate the sex-specific effects of a hydroalcoholic extract from Eugenia punicifolia(HEEP) leaves on gastric ulcer healing.METHODS In this rat study involving males, intact(cycling) females, and ovariectomized females, gastric ulcers were induced using acetic acid. A vehicle, lansoprazole, or HEEP was administered for 14 d after ulcer induction. Body weight was monitored throughout the treatment period. At the end of treatment, the rats were euthanized and the following in vivo and in vitro investigations were performed: macroscopic examination of the lesion area and organ weights, biochemical analysis, zymography, and evaluation of protein expression levels. Additionally, the concentration-dependent effect of HEEP was evaluated in terms of subacute toxicity and cytotoxicity.RESULTS Compared to the vehicle, HEEP demonstrated a great healing capacity by substantially reducing the ulcerative lesion area in males(52.44%), intact females(85.22%), and ovariectomized females(65.47%), confirming that HEEP accelerates the healing of acetic acidinduced gastric lesions and suggesting that this effect is modulated by female sex hormones. The antiulcer effect of HEEP was mediated by prostaglandin E2 only in male rats. Overall, the beneficial effect of HEEP was the highest in intact females. Notably, HEEP promoted the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(intact vs ovariectomized females) and decreased the expression of Caspase-8 and Bcl-2(intact female vs male or ovariectomized female). Additionally, HEEP enhanced fibroblast proliferation and migration into a wounded area in vitro, confirming its healing effect. Finally, no sign of subacute toxicity or cytotoxicity of HEEP was observed.CONCLUSION In gastric ulcers, HEEP-induced healing(modulated by female sex hormones; in males, mediated by prostaglandin) involves extracellular matrix remodeling, with gastric mucosa cell proliferation and migration.

Structurally Diverse Polymethylated Phloroglucinol Meroterpenoids from Baeckea frutescens

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of twigs and leaves of Baeckea frutescens led to the isolation of seven new polymethylated phloroglucinol meroterpenoids(PPMs),named baeckfrutones M-S(1-7).Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analyses,chiral-phase HPLC analysis,and electronic circular dichroism(ECD)calculations.PPM 1 is a novel meroterpenoid possessing a 6/6/5/3 tetracyclic skeleton in PPMs,whereas 3 and 4 are the first hydroxytasmanone type phloroglucinol-monoterpene hybrids.(+)-2 and 7 displayed potent antiinflammatory activity with IC50 values of 20.86±0.60 and 36.21±1.18 lL,respectively.

Leaf Essential Oil from Three Exotic Mytaceae Species Growing in the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The leaf essential oils of three Myrtaceae species: Melaleuca leucadendra, Lophostemon confertus and Ugni molinae, non-native to Brazil and growing in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Oil yields from fresh leaves were 0.76%, 0.08%, and 0.04%, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of M. leucadendra oil was made up of monoterpenes, wherein 1,8-cineole was largely predominant (49%), followed by α-terpineol (7.6%) and terpinen-4-ol (4.3%). The sesquiterpene profile was characterized by a significant amount of viridiflorol (29%). Oil from L. confertus was 42% monoterpenes;the most predominant constituents being α-pinene (20.8%) and α-thujene (7.1%). Total sesquiterpenes (55.4%) comprised spathulenol (28%), globulol (14%), and aromadendrene derivatives (8.5%) as the main species. U. Molinae oil was exclusively composed of sesquiterpenes, with a predominance of β-elemene (44%) followed by β-caryophyllene (7.1%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.7%);guaiol-type alcohols made up 30% of its profile. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time U. Molinae leaf oil composition has been described. The composition of M. leucadendra oil corresponded to a chemotype described for a species growing in Cuba, but was different from that produced by M. leucadendra growing in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere in Brazil. The profile of the L. confertus leaf oil showed high similarity with those described for Australian native specimens, in particular in relation to the relevant presence of α-pinene, aromadendrenes, and the guaiol-type alcohols.

Cytotoxic Acylphloroglucinol Derivatives from Callistemon salignus

Callisalignenes G–I(1–3),three new meroterpenoids of b-triketone and monoterpene,along with two known analogues(4 and 5),were isolated from Callistemon salignus.Their structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously established by a combination of NMR and MS analysis and electronic circular dichroism(ECD)evidence.Callisalignenes H(2)and I(3)have a rare sec-butyl moiety at C-7.Meroterpenoids 1–3 exhibited cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 8.51±1.8,9.12±0.3,and 16.33±3.3 lM,respectively.

Eucaglobulin, A New Complex of Gallotannin and Monoterpene from Eucalyptus globulus

Eucaglobulin 1, a new complex of gallotannin and monoterpene, was isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus. Its structure was determined by spectral methods.

Drying,Storage and Osmotic Conditioning of Psidium guineense Swartz Seeds

This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of Psidium guineense Swartz seeds to air-dry storage and priming. Desiccation tolerance was analyzed for seed moisture content of 15%, 10% and 5%. The longevity of seeds during storage was analyzed in seeds with 5% and 10% moisture content maintained in cold and dry chamber (16°C ± 1°C/40% RH), laboratory environment (25°C ± 2°C/60% RH), refrigerator (5°C ± 1°C) and freezer (-18°C ± 1°C) during 90 days, and the priming effect in seeds that were imbibed for 5 or 10 days in polyethylene glycol 6000 at osmotic potentials of -0.3 MPa, -0.5 MPa, -0.7 MPa and -1.3 MPa. The quality of seeds was evaluated after desiccation, storage, and priming by the seeds germination, fresh weight of seedlings, seedlings growth, and germination medium time. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications of 25 seeds each one. Although a reduction in seed germination and seedling growth was observed in seeds with 10% and 5% moisture content, drying did not cause complete loss of seed germination and seedling development. Sour guava seeds exhibited an orthodox response to desiccation tolerance and storage. Seed germination and seedling growth were reduced with increased osmotic potential of osmoconditioning. However, conditioning of 10 days increased the seeds germination and optimized the average germination time to 20 days. The seeds of Psidium guineense are able to tolerate desiccation and storage for up to 90 days at a temperature of 5°C ± 1°C and priming for 10 days is a promising technique for propagation of P. guineense.

Storage of Campomanesia adamantium(Cambess.)O.Berg Seeds:Influence of Water Content and Environmental Temperature

The present work evaluated the conservation of Campomanesia adamantium seeds under different conditions. The fruits used in the study were collected from matrices located in the city of Ponta Por&atilde-MS, Brazil. After processing, the seeds were slowly dried to different water content levels and subsequently exposed to various environmental conditions: 25&degC ± 2&degC, 35% relative humidity (laboratory);16&degC ± 1&degC, 40% relative humidity (cold and dry);8&degC ± 1&degC, 35% relative humidity (refrigeration);and -18&degC ± 1&degC, 42% relative humidity (freezing). Each treatment was conducted for 0 (recently processed seeds, with superficial drying of 40 minutes), 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days. Seed potential was physiologically evaluated based on radicle protrusion, percentage of normal seedlings, seedling length (primary root, shoot and total), and dry mass of the seedlings. The experimental design was a completely randomized factorial scheme with split-split plots (4 temperatures/environments × 5 water content × 7 storage periods). C. adamantium seeds tolerated a reduction in the water content to 15.3% but did not tolerate the storage period, confirming the recalcitrant behavior of the seeds.

Discovery of unusual phloroglucinol-triterpenoid adducts from Leptospermum scoparium and Xanthostemon chrysanthus by building blocks-based molecular networking

The first phloroglucinol-triterpenoid hybrids,myrtphlotritins A-E(1-5),were rapidly recognized and isolated from two species of Myrtaceae by employing the building blocks-based molecular network(BBMN)strategy.Compounds 1-5 featured new carbon skeletons in which phloroglucinol derivatives were coupled with lupane-and dammarane-type triterpenoids through different linkage patterns.Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data and quantum chemical calculations.Biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1-5 were proposed on the basis of the coexisting precursors.Guided by the biogenetic pathways,the biomimetic synthesis of compound 1 was also achieved.Additionally,compounds 2,3,and 5 exhibited potent antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type-1(HSV-1)infection,and compounds 2 and 5 displayed significant anti-inflammatory activities on RAW264.7 cells.

Antidiarrheal and protein conservative activities of Psidium guajava in diarrheal rats

Objective: Psidium guajava occurs worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. It has been used to treat inflammation, diabetes, fever, hypertension and ulcers. However, its antidiarrheal and protein conservative activities still need to be investigated.Methods: Fifty-four male rats were divided into normal and diarrheal rats. The normal rats were divided into 4 groups: control, low-dose P. guajava leaf extract(50 mg/kg), high-dose P. guajava leaf extract(100 mg/kg) and gallic acid. Treatments were administrated orally in 1 mL saline for a 1-month period.The diarrheal rats were divided into 5 groups: desmopressin(0.2 mg/kg) drug, low-dose P. guajava leaf extract(50 mg/kg), high-dose P. guajava leaf extract(100 mg/kg), gallic acid and an untreated control.Doses were given daily for a 1-month period while the untreated control received no treatment.Results: Diarrhea was responsible for an observed decline in kidney weight and serum sodium, potassium and chloride. Further, diarrhea was positively correlated with a significant increase in urine volume, and excretion of electrolytes, serum urea, creatinine and uric acid in the urine. In contrast, there was a proportional increase in the lipid peroxidation value in diarrhea and a significant decline was observed in serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione levels in diarrhea. Also, diarrhea inhibited blood proteins. The oral intake of P. guajava leaf extract by diarrheal rats restored all of these parameters to near normal levels. High-dose P. guajava leaf extract was more effective than the same compound at a low dose.Conclusion: P. guajava leaf extract elicited antidiarrheal and protein conservative effects.

Quambalaria species associated with eucalypt diseases in southern China

The genus Quambalaria includes several important pathogens of species of Eucalyptus and Corymbia, mainly causing leaf and shoot blight. Recently,extensive shoot and leaf dieback and stem cankers suspected to be Quambalaria diseases have been found on young Eucalyptus urophylla ? E. grandis trees in Guangdong and Hainan Provinces. The occurrence of Quambalaria species and their association with eucalypt hosts within China needs to be investigated for tree diseases management. The isolates from the diseased samples were identified based on their morphological structures and phylogenetic analyses with DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer region and large ribosome subunit RNA of the nuclear r DNA. This work revealed that three species of Quambalaria were present: Quambalaria pitereka from Corymbia citriodora,Q. eucalypti from E. urophylla ? E. grandis, both isolated from young eucalypt leaves and shoots in Guangdong Province, and Quambalaria simpsonii, which was isolated from stem cankers of E. urophylla ? E. grandis at four different sites across Guangdong and Hainan Provinces.These results confirmed that Quambalaria agents were associated with the diseases occurring on eucalypt hosts in South China. This is the first report of Q. eucalypti in Asia and the first report of Q. simpsonii in China on Eucalyptus trees.

New meroterpenoids and C-methylated flavonoid isolated from Baeckea frutescens

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Baeckea frutescens resulted in the isolation of three new mono-or sesquiterpene-based meroterpenoids, frutescones S-U(1-3), and one pair of new(±)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-isobutyryl-6-methyldihydroflavonol(4). Their structures and absolute configurations were established by HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and quantum chemical ECD calculation. Compound 1 exhibited inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages with an IC50 value being 0.81 μmol·L–1.