In vitro germination and shoot proliferation of the threatened species Cinchona officinalis L(Rubiaceae).

Cinchona officinalis （Rubiaceae） is an endemic species of the Loja Valley in southern Ecuador with medicinal uses. Because of over-exploitation in the nine- teenth century and more recent disturbances to its ecosystem, C. officinalis populations are threatened. Currently, natural regeneration of the populations is low, despite its high plant regeneration and seed formation capacity. In the present study, an efficient protocol for germination, shoot proliferation and plantlets regeneration was developed for this species. Phenolic content and germination rate of C. officinalis seeds were compared with a control species, C. pubescens. Nodal segments from seedlings of C. officinalis were cultured on Gamborg medium supplemented with different combinations of plant growth regulators. Because the phenol content is high in C. officinalis, the phenolic should be removed with hydrogen peroxide or water washes to stimulate germination. Shoots and callus developed from nodal segments within 45 days using most of the tested combinations of plant growth regulators. The best rates of shoot proliferation, callus formation and adventitious buds were obtained in medium supplemented with 5.0 mg L^-1 6-benzyl-aminopurine and 3.0 mg L^-1 indole- 3-butyfic acid.

Molecular Phylogeny of the Philippine Endemic Genus <i>Antherostele</i>Bremek. (Rubiaceae) Inferred from ITS Data (nrDNA) and Its Conservation Status

Antherostele Bremek. is an understudied genus of Rubiaceae endemic to the Philippines formerly comprising four species of shrubs or small trees distributed in Luzon and Visayas. In this first molecular study of the genus, the ITS (nrDNA) was utilized to determine the monophyly of Antherostele, reconstruct its phylogeny, and resolve its placement in Rubiaceae. Furthermore, an update on the assessment of its conservation status of the included species in the genus was done. Antherostele is monophyletic and is nested within the tribe Urophylleae of subfamily Rubioideae which confirms its segregation from Urophyllum and its placement within Urophylleae as proposed by earlier authors based on morphology. However, the relationships of Urophylleae members remain unresolved. Antherostele is united by reflexed corolla, hairs on upper side of the corolla lobes and syngenesious stamens. The montane A. luzoniensis with small leaves is found to be sister to the rest of Antherostele species. Antherostele is hypothesized to originate from montane regions and diversified by forming larger leaves following dispersal to the shaded forest understory. From the five species of Antherostele currently recognized in the study, two are endangered (A. banahaensis, A. grandistipula) and three are critically endangered including a new species (A. callophylla, A. luzoniensis, A. sp. nov.) following the criteria of IUCN.

Chemistry and Biological Activity of Condamineeae Tribe: A Chemotaxonomic Contribution of Rubiaceae Family

This study is a review of the Condamineeae tribe, through the acquisition of data from phytochemical studies and evaluation of genera activities that constitute the tribe, in order to contribute to chemotaxonomic classification of this tribe in the Rubiaceae family. This review also states the scarcity of phytochemical investigations of several genera and consequently a lot of species of family.

A New Bis-iridoid Glucoside from Mussaenda incana

A new bis-iridoid glucoside, incaside 1 was isolated along with known iridoid, 6-0- veratroylcatalposide from the stem-bark of Mussaenda incana. The structure of the new iridoid was established mainly on the basis of the spectroscopic （including 2D NMR） and chemical studies of its octaacetate 1a.

Natural and unnatural anthraquinones isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots of Knoxia valerianoides

Eight new 9,10-anthraquinones(1-8)including three acetonide derivatives of 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinones(68)were isolated from an ethanol extract of the roots of Knoxia valeriamoides.On the basis of chemical transformation reactions of the co-occurring 14 and 15 combined with HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis of the extracts,the previously and newly isolated 2-methoxymethy-and 2-ethoxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinones(4,5,and 9-13),as well as the 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone acetonide derivatives(68),were shown to be solvolytic artifacts.In the in vitro assays,compound 4 was active to protect hepatocyte(WB-F344)damage.

Two folate-derived analogues from an aqueous decoction of Uncaria rhynchophylla

Two new folate-derived analogues,named uncarophyllofolic acids A(1)and B(2),respectively,were isolated from the Uncaria rhynchophylla hook bearing stem(Gouteng in Chinese).The distinct stereochemical structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic data analysis in combination with acidic hydrolysis and Marfey’s derivatization,along with comparison of their specific rotation and Cotton effect(CE)data with those of the biogenetically related known derivatives as well as theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism(ECD)spectra.A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 and 2,associating to folate metabolism and the previously reported orychophragines A-C from Orychophragmus violaceus,is discussed.

Triterpenes from the stem bark of Mitragyna diversifolia and their cytotoxic activity

AIM: To study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the stem bark of Mitragyna diversifolia. METHOD: Compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques(IR, UV, MS, and NMR), and they were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities by the MTT method. RESULTS: Eight triterpenes were isolated and identified as 3α, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid(1), 3β, 6β, 19α- trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid(2), 3-oxo-6β-19α-dihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid(3), 3β, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-24, 28-dioic acid 24-methyl ester(4), 3β, 6β, 19α, 24-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid(5), rotundic acid(6), 23-nor-24-exomethylene- 3β, 6β, 19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid(7), and pololic acid(8), respectively. All of the isolates were tested against two human tumor cell lines, MCF-7(breast) and HT-29(colon). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 was a new triterpene. Compounds 5-7 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the growth of MCF-7 and HT-29 cells, and the others showed no cytotoxicity.

27-Ald-triterpenoid saponins from Adina rubella

Four new triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the roots of Adina rubella Hance. They were characterized as adinaic acid 3 beta-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucurono-pyranoside-6-O-methyl ester]-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, adinaic acid 3 beta-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl ester]-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, adinaic acid 3 beta-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyrnaosyl]-(28-->1)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 27-hydroxyursolic acid 3 beta-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester]-28-O-beta-D-glycopyranoside. Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods, especially with the aid of 2D NMR techniques. Their complete assignments of the H-1 and C-13 NMR signals were carried out.

One New Iridoid Glycoside from Hedyotis tenelliflora

Objective To study the chemical constituents of Hedyotis tenelliflora.Methods The compounds were isolated by chromatographic separation technology.The structures were identified on the basis of chemical and spectral data.Results Four iridoid glycosides were isolated from the whole plant of H.tenelliflora.On the basis of the chemical and spectral methods,their structures were elucidated as teneoside C(1),harpagoside(2),harpagide(3),and asperulosidic acid(4).Conclusion Compound 1 is a new compound,and compounds 2 and 3 are isolated from H.tenelliflora for the first time.

New iridoid glucoside from Wendlandia tinctoria roots

A new iridoid glucoside,10-O-veratroyleranthemoside（1） was isolated from the roots of Wendlandia tinctoria.The structure was established by spectroscopic（including 2D NMR） and chemical methods.

27-Nor-triterpenoid saponins from Adina rubella

Three new 27-nor-triterpenoid saponins named rubenorside A (l), rubenorside B (2) and rubenorside C (9) were isolated from the roots of Adina rubella. Their structures were characterized as pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(28→ 1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-fucopyranosyl(28→1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2) and pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl (28→ 1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl( 1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (S) by spectral methods, especially 2D NMR experiments.