Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Stem from Tunisian Flora.

Scarce information about the phenolic composition of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. is available, and no carotenoid compounds have been reported thus far. In this study the phenolic and carotenoid composition of this plant was both investigated and associated bioactivities were evaluated. Aiming to obtain extracts and volatile fractions of known medicinal plants to valorize them in the pharmaceutical or food industries, two techniques of extraction and five solvents were used to determine the biologically active compounds. Gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization and mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry highlighted the presence of 15 volatiles, 19 phenolic, and 24 natural pigments in Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem samples; among them, the most abundant were 1,8-cineole, chlorogenic acid, cynaroside, and lutein. Bioactivity was assessed by a set of in vitro tests checking for antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and allelopathic (against Brassica oleracea L. and Lens culinaris Medik) effects. Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem extracts presented a considerable antioxidant, antibacterial, and allelopathic potential, with less antifungal effectiveness. These results indicate that the volatile fractions and extracts from S. atropurpurea L. stem could be considered as a good source of bioactive agents, with possible applications in food-related, agriculture, and pharmaceutical fields. Genetic investigations showed 97% of similarity with Scabiosa tschiliensis, also called Japanese Scabiosa.

[Study on associated plants and spatial distribution pattern of Dipsacus asperoides populations].

In order to understand the associated species and the population distribution pattern, the investigation of 32 sample plotsfrom the main natural distribution area in Dipsacus asperoides community was carried by quadrat method .The results showed that there were 156 species, which belong to 131 genera and 60 families. There were more species in the two dominant families, Asteraceae and Rosaceae. There were many types of associated, but most appeared at a low frequency. The vegetation type were mostly herbaceous and shrub species, which accounted for 77.6% of the total species. The value of t was greater than t0.05 by methods of variance/mean, showed the difference was significant and the distribution pattern of D. asperoides were cluster distribution. The determination results of seven aggregation intensity index also showed that D. asperoides population accorded with the characteristics of cluster distribution（C>1，K>0，Ca>0，m*>1，m*/m>1，I>0，GI>0）.

Soil nutritional status, not inoculum identity, primarily determines the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Knautia arvensis plants.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is among the factors contributing to plant survival in serpentine soils characterised by unfavourable physicochemical properties. However, AM fungi show a considerable functional diversity, which is further modified by host plant identity and edaphic conditions. To determine the variability among serpentine AM fungal isolates in their effects on plant growth and nutrition, a greenhouse experiment was conducted involving two serpentine and two non-serpentine populations of Knautia arvensis plants grown in their native substrates. The plants were inoculated with one of the four serpentine AM fungal isolates or with a complex AM fungal community native to the respective plant population. At harvest after 6-month cultivation, intraradical fungal development was assessed, AM fungal taxa established from native fungal communities were determined and plant growth and element uptake evaluated. AM symbiosis significantly improved the performance of all the K. arvensis populations. The extent of mycorrhizal growth promotion was mainly governed by nutritional status of the substrate, while the effect of AM fungal identity was negligible. Inoculation with the native AM fungal communities was not more efficient than inoculation with single AM fungal isolates in any plant population. Contrary to the growth effects, a certain variation among AM fungal isolates was revealed in terms of their effects on plant nutrient uptake, especially P, Mg and Ca, with none of the AM fungi being generally superior in this respect. Regardless of AM symbiosis, K. arvensis populations significantly differed in their relative nutrient accumulation ratios, clearly showing the plant's ability to adapt to nutrient deficiency/excess.

[Spatial structure and geographic distribution of major active component in medical herb Dipsacus asperoides population].

To study the spatial structure and geographic distribution of major active components in medical herb Dipsacus asperoides population, in Guizhou province, the author obtained the asperosaponin VI content among 38 D. asperoides population points. Using spatial statistic and traditional statistic, the spatial variation pattern has been found. Combining the environment variables, it is tried to reveal the geographic distribution rules between group of major active component in medical herb D. asperoides population and group of environmental factors. The results show: the spatial structure of major active component in medical herb D. asperoides population is randomly distributed in global space, but has two aggregation points which have a high positive correlation in local space; environmental factors value for group of major active component in medical herb D. asperoides population has a large difference in the interior-group, but environmental factors value has a small difference in inter-group.

[Optimization of processing technologies for dipsaci radix habitat by comprehensive evaluation method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the processing technologies of Dipsaci Radix by comprehensive method. METHODS: According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition), UV Spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were used to determine the contents of total saponins, saponins VI of water extract and alcohol extract of Dipsaci Radix. Comprehensive evaluation method was used to optimize the processing technologies for Dipsaci Radix habitat. RESULTS: The sequence of quality of processing was as follows: baked half dry sweating products (0.7046) > half dry sweating products (0.5857) in the shade > scald soft sweating products (0.5852) > bask dried products (0.3138) > evaporate soft sweating products (0.0952). CONCLUSION: The processing technology optimized by the comprehensive method can ensure the quality of Dipsaci Radix.

[Study on identification of wild Dipsacus asper and cultivated Dipsacus asper at different growth years by organization structure].

OBJECTIVE: To study the regular pattern of growing development and the structural changes of the main root of Dipsacus asper; Find the basis for distinguishing between wild and cultivated Dipsacus asper as well as identifying cultivated Dipsacus asper at different growth years. METHODS: Continuous sectional sampling and histological observation was conducted on the main roots of annual and biennial cultivated Dipsacus asper and on the main roots of bolting and non-bolting plants of wild Dipsacus asper; Histological observation was carried out respectively on the main roots of one to four-year-old cultivated Dipsacus asper. RESULTS: It was discovered for the first time that there was structure of growth rings in the main roots of Dipsacus asper. And the ways in which the vessels of the growth rings were arranged differed between wild and cultivated Dipsacus asper, the vessels of growth rings in wild Dipsacus asper were arranged tangentially while those in cultivated Dipsacus asper were arranged as clusters. Pith existed in the upper part of roots of wild Dipsacus asper,while it was not found in the cultivated ones, and this could be adopted as a preliminary method to distinguish the wild Dipsacus asper from cultivatedone. The structures of growth rings in each main root were in consistency from top to bottom, and the thickening of roots mainly depended on the growth of xylem in the first year. There were particular relations and regular patterns between the structure of main roots of one to four-year-old cultivated Dipsacus asper and the ages of their growth, which could serve as the primary basis for identifying their growth years. CONCLUSION: Methods to distinguish wild Dipsacus asper from cultivated ones at different ages by organization structure are established, which could provide the basis for identification of the medicinal material of Dipsacus asper.

[Quality classification standard of Dipsacus asperoides seed].

OBJECTIVE: To establish seed quality classification standard of Dipsacus asperoides. METHOD: Through the detection on seed purity, 1 000-grain weight, water content, germination rate of D. asperoides from different areas, and observation on seed external characters, the primary seed quality classification standard of D. asperoides was preliminarily formulated. RESULTS: The first level D. asperoides seed germination rate was over 85%, 1 000-grain weight above 3.94 g, purity above 90.95%, water content lower than 9.08%. The second level D. asperoides seed germination rate was over 64%, 1 000-grain weight was above 3.57 g, purity was over 83.66%, water content was above 10.23%. The third level seed germination rate was above 35%, 1 000-grain weight was above 3.04 g, purity was above 75.51%, water content was lower than 11.37%. CONCLUSION: Germination rate and 1 000-grain weight were the main indexes of quality classification standard, and purity and water content provide the important reference. This quality classification standard of D. asperoides was scientific and feasible, and can be used as the quality control standard of D. asperoides.

[Fingerprint analysis of Dipsacus asperoides by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC fingerprints of Dipsacus asperoides for reflecting the internal information, evaluating its internal quality. METHODS: 20 batches of D. asperoides were collected from different place with the HPLC fingerprints method. Chromatographic column: Welchrom-C18 (250 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase: acetonitrile and water (gradient elution), flow rate: 1.0 mL/min, detection wavelength: 212 nm, column temperature: 35 degrees C. RESULTS: The common mode of HPLC fingerprint was established and similar degrees to D. asperoides from different areas were compared. CONCLUSION: The method is stable, reliable, and with full information which can be used for quality evaluation, quality control item and crude drug identification of D. asperoides.

An improved formal approach to demographic loop analysis.

Loop analysis is introduced to demographic analysis as a tool to compare relative contributions of different life-history types to population growth rate. In 1998, G. M. Wardle brought in basic concepts of the graph theory to demographic loop analysis and proposed a methodology to determine the loops from any life-cycle graph based on these concepts. However, the mathematics behind Wardle's methodology cannot readily be used by most population ecologists. A new methodology that is also based on graph theory concepts but both makes ecological sense in its application and is simpler to implement is proposed. Three rules of thumb serve as the basis of the proposed methodology that brings a more systematic approach to loop selection: it identifies only those loops that are ecologically meaningful (i.e., loops that are forward-flowing and with positive elasticity values). Thus, it produces a loop set that is more amenable to answer questions on comparison of different lifehistory types. It is tested on several life-cycle graphs from the literature. Three of these are presented: Vouacapoua americana, Dipsacus sylvestris, and Alcyonium sp. In each case, the methodology successfully produced a loop set that makes sense in terms of the ecology of the species. The methodology is also implemented as a couple of open-source computer codes. It is hoped that the proposed methodology will lead to wider use of loop analysis in demographic population studies.

Understanding the unique flowering sequence in Dipsacus fullonum: Evidence from geometrical changes during head development.

The genus Dipsacus is characterized by a remarkable bidirectional flowering sequence and a rare phyllotactic pattern. Considering that flower initiation and flowering sequence may be interconnected, we document the development of the head meristem in Dipsacus fullonum. Our results indicate a gradual change in the geometry of the head meristem beginning with a dome shaped stage, continuing with a remarkable widening in the middle part of the head meristem and ending in a spindle-like form. Quantitative data confirm that meristem expansion is higher in the middle part than at the base of the meristem. Likewise, the size of the flower primordia in the middle part of the young head is significantly larger than at the base soon after initiation. We conclude that the change in the geometry of the meristem and the availability of newly generated space result in the promotion of the middle flowers and the bidirectional flowering sequence at anthesis. Our investigation on phyllotactic patterns reveals a high tendency (30%) of the head meristem to insert or lose parastichies. This finding can also be attributed to changes in the expansion rate of the meristem. Dependent on the spatio-temporal relation between meristem expansion and primordia initiation, either flower primordia are promoted or additional parastichies appear. Our results emphasize the important role of geometry in flower development and phyllotactic pattern formation.

Cephalaria transsylvanica-based flower strips as potential food source for bees during dry periods in European Mediterranean basin countries.

The introduction of sown wildflower strips favours the establishment of pollinator communities, with special reference to social Apoidea. Here, we evaluated the late summer flowering Cephalaria transsylvanica as suitable species for strips providing food for pollinators in paucity periods. C. transsylvanica showed no particular requirements in terms of seed germination and growth during summer. This plant had an excellent potential of self-seeding and competitiveness towards weed competitors. C. transsylvanica prevented from entomophilous pollination showed inbreeding depression, with a decrease in seed-set and accumulation of seed energy reserves. However, C. transsylvanica did not appear to be vulnerable in terms of pollination biology since it had a wide range of pollinators including bees, hoverflies and Lepidoptera. C. transsylvanica was visited mainly by honeybees and bumblebees and these latter pollinators increased their visits on C. transsylvanica flowers during early autumn. This plant may be useful as an abundant source of pollen during food paucity periods, such as autumn. We proposed C. transsylvanica for incorporation into flower strips to be planted in non-cropped farmlands in intensively managed agricultural areas as well as in proximity of beehives. The latter option may facilitate the honeybees collecting pollen and nectar for the colony, thereby ensuring robustness to overcome the winter season.

Graph decompositions for demographic loop analysis.

A new approach to loop analysis is presented in which decompositions of the total elasticity of a population projection matrix over a set of life history pathways are obtained as solutions of a constrained system of linear equations. In loop analysis, life history pathways are represented by loops in the life cycle graph, and the elasticity of the loop is interpreted as a measure of the contribution of the life history pathway to the population growth rate. Associated with the life cycle graph is a vector space -- the cycle space of the graph -- which is spanned by the loops. The elasticities of the transitions in the life cycle graph can be represented by a vector in the cycle space, and a loop decomposition of the life cycle graph is then defined to be any nonnegative linear combination of the loops which sum to the vector of elasticities. In contrast to previously published algorithms for carrying out loop analysis, we show that a given life cycle graph admits of either a unique loop decomposition or an infinite set of loop decompositions which can be characterized as a bounded convex set of nonnegative vectors. Using this approach, loop decompositions which minimize or maximize a linear objective function can be obtained as solutions of a linear programming problem, allowing us to place lower and upper bounds on the contributions of life history pathways to the population growth rate. Another consequence of our approach to loop analysis is that it allows us to identify the exact tradeoffs in contributions to the population growth rate that must exist between life history pathways.