Phylogenetic, population structure, and population demographic analyses reveal that Vicia sepium in Japan is native and not introduced.

Vicia sepium (bush vetch) is a perennial legume widely distributed throughout the Eurasian continent. However, its distribution in Japan is limited to Mt. Ibuki and small parts of central and southern Hokkaido. Therefore, each Japanese V. sepium lineage has been considered to have been introduced separately from Europe. Here, we examined whether the species was introduced or not on the basis of cpDNA sequences and genome-wide SNPs from Japanese and overseas samples. Both the cpDNA haplotype network and the nuclear DNA phylogenetic tree showed that Japanese V. sepium is monophyletic. Furthermore, although the nuclear DNA phylogenetic tree also showed that each lineage is clearly monophyletic, genetic admixture of the genetic cluster dominated in the Hokkaido lineage was also detected in the Mt. Ibuki lineage. Population divergence analysis showed that the two lineages diverged during the last glacial period. The Mt. Ibuki lineage showed a sudden population decline 300-400 years ago, indicating that some anthropogenic activity might be involved, while the Hokkaido lineage showed a gradual population decline from 5000 years ago. Consequently, these two lineages show low current genetic diversity compared with overseas lineages. These results show that the Japanese V. sepium is not introduced but is native.

The structure of a new crystalline cevane alkaloid: its identity with persicanidine B and harepermine.

The structure of a new crystalline base (melting point (mp) 167-169 degrees C) obtained from Fritillaria imperialis was elucidated as (20R, 25R)-5alpha,17beta-cevanine-3beta,6beta-diol, X-ray diffraction analysis of the mono-hydrate. The base was found to be identical with persicanidine B and also with harepermine.

Identification of Anogeissus latifolia Wallich and analysis of refined gum ghatti.

Natural medicinal exudates such as gum arabic are high-molecular-weight natural polysaccharides and are highly soluble in water. The dissolved solutions of these exudates show viscous behavior and exhibit favorable emulsion stability. These exudates have been widely used not only as a medicinal additive, such as a coating agent for tablets and as an emulsifier and stabilizer in beverage and food products, but also for other industrial applications, such as paints and ink. Gum ghatti was originally used as an alternative to gum arabic due to its similar properties to those found in gum arabic. Gum ghatti has been used as a food additive due to its excellent emulsification properties. In this study, we obtained gum ghatti nodules and branches as botanical specimens, which were collected from the same harvesting area. Refined gum ghatti processed from the collected gum ghatti nodules was found to comply with the specifications set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and also to be identical to commercially available gum ghatti products as a food additive. Component analysis of the refined gum ghatti samples revealed that they contain arabinose (34.0-38.0 %), galactose (21.0-24.6 %), mannose (5.3-7.9 %), xylose (0.8-1.2 %), rhamnose (0.8-1.2 %), and glucuronic acid (15.4-18.6 %) as constituent sugars, protein (2.7-3.6 %), moisture (4.9-8.3 %), and tannin (0.041-0.092 %). As a result of the investigation of collected branches as botanical specimens, they were identified as Anogeissus latifolia Wallich. Detailed observation of their morphological characteristics revealed that many crystal cells were aligned in the lengthwise section of branch specimens.