Innocuité d'une recette médicinale traditionnelle utilisée pour l'infertilité masculine en Côte d'Ivoire / Safety of a traditional medicinal recipe used for male infertility in Ivory Coast

L'infertilité masculine est incriminée dans 50% des cas d'infertilité du couple. C'estun réel problème de santé publique en Afrique.Le présent travail avaitpour objectif d'évaluer l'innocuité et la tolérabilitéd'une recette médicinaletraditionnelle utilisée pour la prise en charge del'infertilité masculine dans le District Autonome d'Abidjan/Côte d'Ivoire. Cette étude a été réalisée dans le cadre de la valorisation de la pharmacopée africaine.Le matériel végétal était constitué de la recette médicinale et le matériel biologiquede 42 volontaires de sexe masculinsélectionnés sur une base raisonnée à postériori.Les volontaires ont été soumis à un traitement sur troismois. Lesvariables étudiées étaient: la glycémie,l'urée, la créatinine, les transaminases, les triglycérides et le cholestérol total. Leseffets secondaireset indésirablesont été notifiés.L'âge moyen de la populationd'étudeétait de 41,78 ans (± 7,73). Aux termes des trois mois d'utilisation de la recette médicinale, l'analyse statistiquedes variables biochimiquesa révélé: la glycémiep = 0,12; les transaminases p = 0,75; la créatinine p = 0,26; l'urée p = 0,04; les triglycérides p =0,95et le cholestérol total p = 0,64contre p< 0,05.Le principal effet secondaire notifié était la polyurie (97,5%).Ces résultatsaffirmentla sécurité de la recette médicinalepourl'utilisateur. Ils encouragentson utilisation chez les hommes infertileset un suivimédicaldespersonnes sous antihypertenseur.La recette médicinale présente une bonne innocuité et une bonne tolérabilité

Male infertility is incriminated in 50% of cases of couple infertility. This is a real public health problem in Africa.The present work aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a traditional medicinal recipe used to treatmale infertilitMale infertility is incriminated in 50% of cases of couple infertility. This is a real public health problem in Africa.The present work aimed aimed to the safety and tMale infertility is incriminated in 50% of cases of couple infertility. This is a real public health problem in Africa.The present work aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a traditional medicinal recipe used to treatmale infertility in the Autonomous District of Abidjan/Côte d'Ivoire. This study was carried out as part of the promotion of the African pharmacopoeia.The plant material consisted of the medicinal recipe and the biological material of 42 male volunteers selected purposively asposteriori. The volunteers underwent treatment over three months. The variables studied wereblood sugar, urea, creatinine, transaminases, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Side effects and undesirable effects were reported.The average age of the study population was 41.78 years (± 7.73). After three months of use of the medicinal recipe, the statistical analysis ofbiochemical variables revealedblood sugar p = 0.12; transaminases p = 0.75; creatinine p = 0.26; urea p = 0.04; triglycerides p = 0.95 and total cholesterol p = 0.64 versus p < 0.05. The main side effect reported was polyuria (97.5%).These results affirm the safety of the medicinal recipe for the user. They encourage its use in infertile men and medical monitoring of people on antihypertensive medication.The medicinal recipe isgood safety and tolerability.

Genomic, spatial and morphometric data for discrimination of four species in the Mediterranean Tamus clade of yams (Dioscorea, Dioscoreaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Among the numerous pantropical species of the yam genus, Dioscorea, only a small group occurs in the Mediterranean basin, including two narrow Pyrenean endemics (Borderea clade) and two Mediterranean-wide species (D. communis and D. orientalis, Tamus clade). However, several currently unrecognized species and infraspecific taxa have been described in the Tamus clade due to significant morphological variation associated with D. communis. Our overarching aim was to investigate taxon delimitation in the Tamus clade using an integrative approach combining phylogenomic, spatial and morphological data. METHODS: We analysed 76 herbarium samples using Hyb-Seq genomic capture to sequence 260 low-copy nuclear genes and plastomes, together with morphometric and environmental modelling approaches. KEY RESULTS: Phylogenomic reconstructions confirmed that the two previously accepted species of the Tamus clade, D. communis and D. orientalis, are monophyletic and form sister clades. Three subclades showing distinctive geographic patterns were identified within D. communis. These subclades were also identifiable from morphometric and climatic data, and introgression patterns were inferred between subclades in the eastern part of the distribution of D. communis. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a taxonomy that maintains D. orientalis, endemic to the eastern Mediterranean region, and splits D. communis sensu lato into three species: D. edulis, endemic to Macaronesia (Canary Islands and Madeira); D. cretica, endemic to the eastern Mediterranean region; and D. communis sensu stricto, widespread across western and central Europe. Introgression inferred between D. communis s.s. and D. cretica is likely to be explained by their relatively recent speciation at the end of the Miocene, disjunct isolation in eastern and western Mediterranean glacial refugia and a subsequent westward recolonization of D. communis s.s. Our study shows that the use of integrated genomic, spatial and morphological approaches allows a more robust definition of species boundaries and the identification of species that previous systematic studies failed to uncover.

In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Tacca Tubers (Tacca leontopetaloides) from Banyak Island, Aceh Singkil Regency, Indonesia, as Antihypercholesterolemia Agents.

Tacca leontopetaloides (T. leontopetaloides) contain a number of active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, steroids, and alkaloids. The active compounds from plants have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzym A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. This study aims to investigate the potential active compounds in the ethanolic extract of Tacca tubers (T. leontopetaloides) from the Banyak Islands, Aceh Singkil Regency, Aceh Province both in vitro and in silico. Tacca tubers contain secondary metabolites including flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids and saponins, according to phytochemical screening. In vitro investigation of ethanolic extract of Tacca tuber revealed inhibitory activity of HMG Co-A reductase with an IC50 value of 4.92 ppm. Based on the in silico study, active compound from the extract, namely Stigmasterol with the highest binding affinities with HMG Co-A reductase (-7.2 kcal/mol). As a comparison, the inhibition of HMG Co-A reductase activity by simvastatin with an IC50 4.62 ppm and binding affinity -8.0 Kcal/mol. Our findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of Tacca tuber (T. leontopetaloides) from Banyak Islands, Aceh Province has the potential to inhibit the activity of HMG Co-A reductase.

Acaricidal Activities of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae) Extract and its Constituents Against the Two-spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae).

The acaricidal activities of 86 plant extracts were investigated under laboratory conditions. The ethanol extract of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. root showed the strongest acaricidal activity, with 89.3% mortality against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch adults at a 2 mg/ml concentration. Bioassay-guided isolation of D. japonica root extract using silica gel open column chromatography, gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified palmitic acid as the primary active compound. The acaricidal activities of palmitic acid against T. urticae were 91.2% and 69.7% at concentrations of 1 and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. Among nine saturated fatty acids with carbon chains ranging from C8 to C26, the most vigorous acaricidal activity was observed with octanoic acid, followed by palmitic acid, and decanoic acid at a 1 mg/ml concentration. The acaricidal activity of the other fatty acids was less than 40% mortality at a 1 mg/ml concentration. These results indicate that a suitable carbon length is essential for fatty acids to exhibit acaricidal activity. The acaricidal efficacy of Eungjinssag (EJSG), an organic agricultural material authorized for the management of mites in the Republic of Korea, was compared to D. japonica root extract. At concentrations above 1 mg/ml, the acaricidal activity of D. japonica root extract was stronger than that of EJSG. The results of this study show that D. japonica root extract and palmitic acid are promising candidates as new environmentally-friendly control agents against two-spotted spider mite, which is one of the most severely damaging agricultural arthropod pests.

High-throughput serum metabolomics analysis of gouty arthritis rat treated by total saponins of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Makino by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Makino (RDM) is effective in treating gouty arthritis (GA) and hyperuricacidemia, especially in promoting uric acid excretion and reducing the inflammatory reaction. Bioactive constituents in RDM are mainly steroidal saponins such as dioscin, trillin, protodioscin and protogracillin. However, the mechanism of its anti-GA action is still unclear, owing to the complex pathological and physiological characteristics of GA, and integration of RDM with multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways. Herein, a GA rat model was induced with monosodium urate (MSU), and RDM reduced inflammation of rat synovium tissue. Through metabolomics analysis, 35 potential biomarkers with significant changes involved in the pathogenesis of GA induced by MSU were identified, and perturbations were restored after RDM treatment. The most correlated pathways involved in d-galactose, d-mannose, d-glucose, myoinositol, Phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0/16:0), LysoPC (15:0), phosphatidic acid (PA) [18:1(9Z)/18:1(11Z)] and glutathione induced by MSU were galactose metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and glutathione metabolism, and the derivations of all those biomarkers could be regulated by RDM treatment. RDM has a therapeutic effect on GA by intervening in changes in endogenous metabolisms and the related metabolic pathways.

Integrative Analysis of Expression Profiles of MicroRNAs and mRNAs in Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction with Compound Longmaining Decoction.

BACKGROUND This study identified microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs associated with Compound Longmaining (CLMN) treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our results provide a theoretical framework to guide AMI treatment and improve myocardial injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS The myocardial tissues of the sham operation group (S), the model group (M), and the CLMN treatment group (T) were obtained. The mRNA and miRNA expression profiles were identified using RNA-sequencing analysis. The sequencing results were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics was used to predict the function of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and related signal transduction pathways. The target genes of miRNAs were predicted by software analysis, and the relationship between miRNA and mRNA was studied by network analysis. RESULTS RNA-sequencing revealed 22 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 76 DEGs in myocardial tissue. Six DEMs and 9 DEGs were randomly selected for qRT-PCR validation, and corroborating results were obtained. The results of Gene ontology (GO) showed that DEGs participated in different biological processes. Through the combined analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs expression, it was confirmed that a single miRNA is involved in the regulation of multiple genes, and also multiple miRNAs can target one gene. CONCLUSIONS The analysis based on the miRNA-mRNA network can not only help to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of CLMN treatment of AMI, but can also help in identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Pollen morphology of Aletris L. (Nartheciaceae) and its systematic significance.

In this paper, we studied pollen morphologies of seven species in genus Aletris in detail by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Of these, six species were reported for the first time. The palynological characteristics do not support the infrageneric classification into two clades. The results indicated that pollen grains of Aletris are small or medium with the P/E ratio of 0.36-0.59. They are elliptic or long-elliptic in the polar view with blunt, round or acute ends and bilateral symmetric with a monosulcate, narrow or wide, deep colpus that has length extending to the ends of pollen grains, obvious or absent colpus membranes. The pollen ornamentation is gemmate, perforated, or reticulate. The sexine is slightly or quite thicker than the nexine.

Saponins isolated from Schizocapsa plantaginea inhibit human hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth in vivo and in vitro via mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.

The underground cane of Schizocapsa plantaginea (Hance) has long been used by Chinese ethnic minority as a constituent of anti-cancer formulae. Saponins are abundant secondary metabolic products located in the underground cane of this plant. The potential therapeutic effects of total saponins isolated from Schizocapsa plantaginea (Hance) (SSPH) on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were tested in vitro in human liver cancer cell lines, SMMC-7721 and Bel-7404. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were determined using flow cytometry, caspase activation was determined by ELISA, and PARP, cleaved PARP, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression and phosphorylation were measured using Western blotting analysis. In vivo anti-HCC effects of SSPH were verified in nude mouse xenograft model. SSPH exerted markedly inhibitory effect on HCC cell proliferation in time- and concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, SSPH significantly induced apoptosis through caspase-dependent signaling and arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase. These anti-proliferation effects of SSPH were associated with up-regulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (Erk1/2) and c-jun-NH2-kinase-1/2 (JNK1/2) and reduced phosphorylation of p38MAPK. Furthermore, inhibitors of ERK, UO126, and JNK, SP600125 inhibited the anti-proliferation effects by SSPH, suggesting that Erk and JNK were the effector molecules in SSPH induced anti-proliferative action. During in vivo experiments, SSPH was found to inhibit xenograft tumor growth in nude mice, with a similar mechanism in vitro. Our study confirmed that SSPH exerted antagonistic effects on human liver cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular mechanisms underlying SSPH action might be closely associated with MAPK signaling pathways. These results indicated that SSPH has potential therapeutic effects on HCC.

Taccaoside induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Objective Taccaoside, a steroidal saponin, has been shown to be cytotoxic, although the mechanism of cytotoxicity remains unclear. This study examined the effect of taccaoside on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines SMMC-7721 and Bel-7404. Methods The antiproliferative effect of taccaoside were measured using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cells were stained with Hoechst 33258 to observe morphology. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed by flow cytometry. Caspase activation was detected using specific assays, and PARP, Bax and Bcl-2 expression were analysed using western blotting. Results Taccaoside showed antiproliferative effect on HCC cell lines growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Taccaoside arrested cell cycle in the G2/M phase and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Western blotting indicated that taccaoside upregulated Bax expression and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. PARP cleavage was observed following taccaoside treatment. Conclusions This study showed that taccaoside may inhibit HCC cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis.

Antitrypanosomal Activity of a Novel Taccalonolide from the Tubers of Tacca leontopetaloides.

INTRODUCTION: Several taccalonolides with various bioactivities have been isolated from Tacca species but no studies to isolate taccalonolides with anti-trypanosomal activity from Tacca leontopetaloides have been reported. OBJECTIVES: To analyse extracts of the roots of Tacca leontopetaloides, purify the extracts by column chromatography and identify isolated compounds by spectroscopic methods. The compounds and fractions will be tested for antitrypanosomal activity in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dried roots or tubers of Tacca leontopetaloides, chromatographic separation and spectroscopic identification. RESULTS: A novel taccalonolide A propanoate and some known taccalonolides were isolated and their structures were determined by NMR and mass spectrometry CONCLUSION: Several taccalonolides were isolated from Tacca leontopetaloides and were found to have in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and EC50 values for the isolated compounds were from 0.79 µg/mL. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Steroidal Glucosides from the Rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri and Their Inhibitory Activities of NO Production in BV2 Cells.

Two new steroidal glucosides, chantriolides D and E (1 and 2), along with four known compounds, chantriolide A (3), chantriolide B (4), chantriolide C (5), and (25S)-spirost-5-en-3-ol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6) were isolated from the rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HR-ESI-MS data, as well as by comparison with reported data. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to show strong inhibitory NO effect in BV2 cells, with IC50 values of 12.45 and 59.03 µM, respectively.

Comparative analysis of steroidal saponins in four Dioscoreae herbs by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Steroidal saponins, which exhibit multiple pharmacological effects, are the major bioactive constituents in herbal medicines from Dioscoreae species. In this study, a sensitive method based on high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was established and validated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins in four Dioscoreae herbs including Dioscoreae Nipponica Rhizome (DNR) and Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizome (DHR), Dioscoreae Spongiosae Rhizome (DSR) and Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR). A total of eleven steroidal saponins were identified by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF/MS). Furthermore, seven major steroidal saponins was simultaneous quantified using a high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ/MS). The qualitative and quantitative analysis results indicated that the chemical composition of DNR, DHR and DSR samples exhibited a high level of global similarity, while the ingredients in DR varied greatly from the other three herbs. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were performed to compare and discriminate the Dioscoreae herbs based on the quantitative data. The results demonstrated the qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins based on HPLC-MS is a feasible method for quality control of Dioscoreae herbs.

The protective effect of Trillin LPS-induced acute lung injury by the regulations of inflammation and oxidative state.

Inflammation response and oxidative stress have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). Accordingly, anti-inflammatory treatment is proposed to be a possible efficient therapeutic strategy for ALI. The purpose of our present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of trillin (Tr) on ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice and explore the underlying mechanism. BALB/c mice received Tr (50, 100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 1 h prior to the intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Pretreatment with Tr at the dose of 50, 100 mg/kg markedly ameliorated lung wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and pulmonary histopathological conditions. In addition, the protective efficacy of Tr might be attributed to the down-regulations of neutrophil infiltration, malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory cytokines and the up-regulations of super-oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), Glutathione Peroxidase(GSH-Px) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Meanwhile, our study revealed some correlations between (NF-E2-related factor 2) Nrf2/heme oxygenase (HO)-1/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and the beneficial effect of Tr, as evidenced by the significant up-regulations of HO-1 and Nrf2 protein expressions as well as the down-regulations of p-NF-κB and p-inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) in lung tissues. Taken together, our results indicated that Tr exhibited protective effect on LPS-induced ALI by the regulations of related inflammatory events via the activations of Nrf2, HO-1 and NF-κB pathway. The current study indicated that Tr could be a potentially effective candidate medicine for the treatment of ALI.

[Discovery of Novel Biologically Active Compounds of Natural Origin, with a Focus on Anti-tumor Activity].

Numerous clinically valuable medicines, including anticancer drugs, have been developed from biologically active natural compounds and their structurally related derivatives. This review discusses novel natural compounds with promising biological activities and those with novel chemical structures. Glaziovianin A, an isoflavone isolated from the leaves of Ateleia glazioviana (Legminosae), inhibited cell cycle progression at the M-phase with an abnormal spindle structure. AU-1 and YG-1, 5ß-steroidal glycosides isolated from the whole plants of Agave utahensis and the underground parts of Yucca glauca (Agavaceae), induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells via caspase-3 activation. Lycolicidinol, an alkaloid isolated from the bulbs of Lycoris albiflora (Amaryllidaceae), induced transient autophagy and morphological changes in mitochondria in the early stage of the apoptotic cell death process in HSC-2 cells. Taccasterosides isolated from the rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae) and stryphnosides isolated from the pericarps of Stryphnodendron fissuratum (Legminosae) are steroidal and triterpene glycosides with unique chemical structures having novel sugar sequences.

Plantagiolides K-N, three new withanolides and one withanolide glucoside from Tacca plantaginea.

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Tacca plantaginea led to the isolation of 3 new withanolides and one new withanolide glucoside, named plantagiolides K-N (1-4), together with one known withanolide, 4 known withanolide glucosides, and 2 known taccalonolides. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 4 is the first withanolide glycoside which the sugar moiety is attached at C-7. The effects of the some of isolates on TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated.

Cytotoxic taccalonolides and withanolides from Tacca chantrieri.

Six new taccalonolides, taccalonolides AT-AY (1-6), and two new withanolides, chantriolides D and E (7 and 8), together with ten known compounds (9-18), have been isolated from whole plants of Tacca chantrieri. The structures, including the absolute configurations of some of the compounds, were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines. Compounds 9, 10, 13-15, and 17 exhibited cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values of 1.13-5.71 µM, while compound 7 showed selective cytotoxicity. The results indicated that taccalonolides with a six-membered lactone moiety located at C-15 and C-24 were devoid of cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines (> 10 µM).

Plantagiolides I and J, two new withanolide glucosides from Tacca plantaginea with nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitory and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor transactivational activities.

A novel withanolide glucoside, plantagiolide I (1), a new withanolide glucoside, plantagiolide J (2), and six known compounds (3-8) were isolated from the whole plant of Tacca plantaginea. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compound 3 significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values of 9.0 µM. Compounds 1-8 enhanced the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in a dose-dependent manner, with EC(50) values ranging from 1.6 to 49.7 µM. In addition, the transactivational effects of compounds 1-8 on three individual PPAR subtypes, including PPARα, ß(δ), and γ were evaluated. Compounds 1-8 significantly activated the transcriptional activity of PPARß(δ), with EC(50) values in a ranging from 4.1 to 29.6 µM. These results provide scientific support for the use of T. plantaginea and its components for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Diarylheptanoid glycosides from Tacca plantaginea and their effects on NF-κB activation and PPAR transcriptional activity.

In the screening search for NF-κB inhibitory and PPAR transactivational agents from medicinal plants, a methanol extract of the whole plant of Tacca plantaginea and its aqueous fraction showed the significant activities. Bioassay-guided fractionation combined with repeated chromatographic separation of the aqueous fraction of the methanol extract of T. plantaginea resulted in the isolation of two new diarylheptanoid glycosides, plantagineosides A (1) and B (2), an unusual new cyclic diarylheptanoid glycoside, plantagineoside C (3), and three known compounds (4-6). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 3-6 significantly inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.9 to 9.4 µM. Compounds 1-6 significantly activated the transcriptional activity of PPARs in a dose-dependent manner, with EC(50) values ranging from 0.30 to 10.4 µM. In addition, the transactivational effects of compounds 1-6 were evaluated on three individual PPAR subtypes, including PPARα, γ, and ß(δ). Compounds 1-6 significantly enhanced the transcriptional activity of PPARß(δ), with EC(50) values in a range of 11.0-30.1 µM. These data provide the rationale for using T. plantaginea and its components for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Extreme reproduction and survival of a true cliffhanger: the endangered Plant Borderea chouardii (Dioscoreaceae).

Cliff sides are extreme habitats, often sheltering a rich and unique flora. One example is the dioecious herb Borderea chouardii (Dioscoreaceae), which is a Tertiary, tropical relict, occurring only on two adjacent vertical cliffs in the world. We studied its reproductive biology, which in some aspects is extreme, especially the unusual double mutualistic role of ants as both pollinators and dispersers. We made a 2-year pollination census and four years of seed-dispersal experiments, recording flower visitors and dispersal rates. Fruit and seed set, self-sowing of seeds, seedling recruitment, and fate of seedlings from seeds sowed by different agents were scored over a period of 17 years. The ants Lasius grandis and L. cinereus were the main pollinators, whereas another ant Pheidole pallidula dispersed seeds. Thus ants functioned as double mutualists. Two thirds of all new seedlings came from self-sown seeds, and 1/3 was dispersed by ants, which gathered the seeds with their oil-rich elaiosome. Gravity played a minor role to dispersal. Both ant dispersal and self-sowing resulted in the same survival rate of seedlings. A double mutualism is a risky reproductive strategy, but B. chouardii buffers that by an unusual long-term demographic stability (some individuals exceed 300 years in lifespan) and its presence in a climatically very stable habitat, inaccessible to large herbivores. Such a combination of traits and habitat properties may explain the persistence of this relict species.

Naturally occurring diarylheptanoids.

Diarylheptanoids, natural products with a 1,7-diphenylheptane structural skeleton, are mainly distributed in the roots, rhizomes and bark of Alpinia, Zingiber, Curcuma and Alnus species. They have become of interest in natural product research over the past twenty years because of their remarkable anti-cancer, anti-emetic, estrogenic, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activity. This paper compiles all 307 naturally occurring diarylheptanoids from 46 plants as reported in 137 references with their distributions, physiological activities and 13C-NMR spectral data.