Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Ripe Fruits of Mistletoe (Psittacanthus calyculatus).

Psittacanthus calyculatus is a hemiparasitic plant of an arboreal species (e.g., forest, fruit trees). Its foliage has therapeutic potential; however, little is known about its fruits. In this study, the phytochemical profile and biological activities of P. calyculatus fruits hosted by Prosopis laevigata and Quercus deserticola were evaluated. The fruits of P. calyculatus from P. laevigata showed the highest content of total phenols (71.396 ± 0.676 mg GAE/g DW). The highest content of flavonoids and anthocyanins was presented in those from Q. deserticola (14.232 ± 0.772 mg QE/g DW; 2.431 ± 0.020 mg C3GE/g DW). The anthocyanin cyanidin-3-glucoside was detected and quantified via high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) (306.682 ± 11.804 mg C3GE/g DW). Acidified extracts from host P. laevigata showed the highest antioxidant activity via ABTS•+ (2,2'azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazdin-6-sulfonic acid) (214.810 ± 0.0802 mg TE/g DW). Fruit extracts with absolute ethanol from the P. laevigata host showed the highest antihypertensive activity (92 ± 3.054% inhibition of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)). Fruit extracts from both hosts showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 12.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis and Shigella flexneri. Interestingly, a significant host effect was found. P. calyculatus fruits extract could be used therapeutically. However, further confirmation experiments should be carried out.

Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico.

There are approximately 250 species of Eryngium L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of Eryngium reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: E. cymosum, E. longifolium, E. fluitans (or mexicanum), E. beecheyanum, E. carlinae, E. comosum, E. heterophyllum, and E. nasturtiifolium. The extracts of the different Eryngium spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. E. carlinae is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on Eryngium spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.

Cuscuta seeds: Diversity and evolution, value for systematics/identification and exploration of allometric relationships.

Cuscuta (dodders) is a group of parasitic plants with tremendous economic and ecological significance. Their seeds are often described as "simple" or "unspecialized" because they do not exhibit any classical dispersal syndrome traits. Previous studies of seed morphology and/or anatomy were conducted on relatively few species. We expanded research to 101 species; reconstructed ancestral character states; investigated correlations among seed characters and explored allometric relationships with breeding systems, the size of geographical distribution of species in North America, as well as the survival of seedlings. Seed morphological and anatomical characters permit the separation of subgenera, but not of sections. Identification of Cuscuta species using seed characteristics is difficult but not impossible if their geographical origin is known. Seeds of subg. Monogynella species, exhibit the likely ancestral epidermis type consisting of elongated and interlocked cells, which are morphologically invariant, uninfluenced by dryness/wetness. Subgenera Cuscuta, Pachystigma and Grammica have evolved a seed epidermis with isodiametric cells that can alternate their morphology between two states: pitted when seeds are dry, and papillose after seed imbibition. A seed coat with double palisade architecture throughout the entire seed has also apparently evolved in subgenera Cuscuta, Pachystigma and Grammica, but several species in two clades of the latter subgenus reverted to a single palisade layer outside the hilum area. The same latter species also evolved a peculiar, globose embryo, likely having a storage role, in contrast to the ancestral filiform and coiled embryo present throughout the remainder of the genus. Autogamous species had on average the highest number of seeds per capsule, whereas fully xenogamous taxa had the lowest. No correlation was revealed between the size of the seeds and the size of their geographical distribution in North America, but seedlings of species with larger seeds survived significantly longer than seedlings resulted from smaller seeds. Diversity and evolution of seed traits was discussed in relationship with their putative roles in dormancy, germination and dispersal.

Taxonomic and floristic novelties for Echeveria (Crassulaceae) in Central Michoacan, Mexico.

A new species, Echeveria coruana, is described and illustrated from the malpaís near San Andrés Corú, Michoacan, Mexico. The species belongs to series Gibbiflorae and the new taxon was compared with Echeveria purhepecha and Echeveria patriotica, with whom it shares the closest morphological affinities. Additionally, Echeveria yalmanantlaensis an endangered species from Sierra of Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, State of Colima, was also discovered near San Andrés Corú and is reported for the first time from the State of Michoacan. The conservation status of both species was (re)evaluated according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.