Lysimachia septemfida(Primulaceae),a new species from Yunnan,China

A new species, Lysimachia septemfida(Primulaceae), from Yunnan(Southwest China) is described and illustrated. The new species exhibits several unusual characters in Lysimachia including lack of a corolla,7-merous flowers, leaves in whorls of 3 and distinct multicellular nodiferous hairs, which make it readily distinguishable from all other species in this genus. The diagnostic differences between this new species and its suppositive allies are given. In addition, the systematic placement of this new species is also discussed based on an ITS molecular tree.

SYSTEMATIC STUDIES ON THE PRIMULACEAE OF CHINA

The Primulaceae is a large subcosmopolitan family of 22 genera and about 1,000 species with a wide diversity in morphological features as well as in ecological characteristics. Because of its significance in phylogenetic research and its remarkable decorative value, it has attracted the attention of the earliest botanists and horticulturalists. China is particularly rich in this family as upwards 50% of the species are found there. When Primula sinensis, a well-known pot plant, was introduced to England in 1821 for the first time, it aroused the enthusiasm

Circumscriptions and Phylogenetic Relationships of Primula Sects. Auganthus and Ranunculoides: Evidence from nrDNA ITS Sequences

The circumscriptions of sections Auganthus Pax ex Balf. f. and Ranunculoides Chen et C. M. Hu in the genus Primula L. have been controversial, due to the different treatments of P. filchnerae Knuth. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis using sequences from the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. All five species of these two sections and some representatives of other related sections were sampled. The ITS trees show that P. filchnerae could be convincingly placed in sect. Auganthus , together with P. sinensis Sabine ex Lindl. and P. rupestris Balf. f. et Farrer, whereas sect. Ranunculoides contains two species: P. cicutariifolia Pax and P. merrilliana Schltr. These two sections are distantly related and their association with other sections needs further studies. This study also demonstrated that ITS sequences would be a suitable marker for the reconstruction of Primula phylogeny.

Chemical Constituents of Pomatosace filicula

A new triterpenoid saponin, namely pomatoside A (3) 13beta, 28-epoxy-16-oleananone-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 -->6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -->4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -->6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, together with twelve known compounds, was isolated for the first time from Pomatosace filicula Maxim., a monotypic endemic plant, grown in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau of China. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods, especially 2D-NMR.

Two New Saponins from Lysimachia davurica

Two new saponins named davuricoside I (1) and davuricoside E (2) were isolated fromthe whole plants of Lysimachia davurica. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR,FAB-MS techniques, and chemical methods.

Leigongteng(Radix et Rhizoma Tripterygii) via compatibility with Jinqiancao(Herba Lysimachiae): its toxicity-reduced efficacy in H22-bearing mice

OBJECTIVE: To observe toxicity-reduced effects of Leigongteng(Radix et Rhizoma Tripterygii)(LGT) via compatibility with Jinqiancao(Herba Lysimachiae)(JQC) in H22-bearing mice and investigate the possible underlying mechanism, and further explore whether JQC can enhance LGT-evoked anti-tumor effect.METHODS: H22-bearing mice were orally administered with LGT alone and its compatibility with JQC, and tumors, serum, livers and kidneys were collected to evaluate the toxicity-reduced efficacy and the possible mechanism.RESULTS: LGT evoked significantly elevated biochemical indicators including serum alanine/aspartate transaminase(ALT/AST), creatinine(Cr) and urea nitrogen(BUN) as well as pathological damage in mice, which were all obviously reversed by JQC via compatibility at the ratios from 4/1 to 1/4.Further analysis indicated that pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels significantly decreased, while anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin(IL)-10, and glutathione(GSH), GSH-s transferase(GST), GSH peroxidase(GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) levels all increased in livers and kidneys of mice. Besides, after compatibility with JQC at the ratios of 4/1, 2/1, 1/1,1/2 and 1/4, LGT-decreased tumor weight was further decreased by 48.4%, 57.3%, 54.0%, 49.3% and52.9%, respectively(all P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: JQC could reduce LGT-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, and enhance the antitumor efficacy via compatibility with JQC, and the toxicity-reduced mechanism could involve inhibiting hepatic and kidney oxidative stress and inflammation.