[Electron dense substance of thylakoids in chloroplasts of tansy Tanacetum vulgare L].

An intrathylakoid electron opaque substance, further referred to as loculin, is found in 80-90 % of thylakoids of tansy leaf mesophyll chloroplasts at the stage of flower bud formation and flowering. Upon conventional isolation of chloroplasts in aqueous solution, and fixation in osmium solution alone, loculin is not retained in thylakoids. Preliminary fixation of leaves in glutaraldehyde makes it possible to isolate chloroplasts without injuring the envelope and stroma (glutar chloroplasts), and loculin is retained in thylakoids under these conditions. Upon prolonged incubation of glutar chloroplasts (for 24 h), loculin leaves thylakoids in the form of drops concentrating on the chloroplast envelope. Upon crossing the thylakoid membrane and chloroplast, loculin properties remain unchanged. It is assumed that loculin is an important metabolite necessary for active growth.

Micromorphology of glandular hairs, biological activity and composition of the essential oil of Tanacetum fisherae (Asteraceae-Anthemideae) from Iran.

The essential oil was obtained from the aerial flowering parts of Tanacetum fisherae, a new record from Iran, by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Eleven components representing 99.9% of the total oil were identified. 1,8-Cineole (79.9%) was characterized as the principal compound. The essential oil and its main component were tested against nine microbial strains. The result of the bioassays revealed that the oil possess potent antimicrobial property. This may be associated due to the presence of 1,8-cineole in the oil which tested individually and its high activity was observed. Micromorphological studies of hairs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited the presence of abundant sessile capitate glandular and medifixed T-shaped eglandular trichomes on the leaves, flowers and achene, giving useful diagnostic characters for identification of this medicinal plant.