Salvinia auriculata: chemical profile and biological activity against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis.

The aquatic plant Salvinia auriculata has been shown to possess promising properties for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bovine mastitis. The disease affects cattle health and compromises dairy cattle productivity, resulting in reduced milk production and higher mortality rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm activity, and toxicity of S. auriculata root extracts using bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T); determine the chemical composition of the most active extract; and develop an S. auriculata antiseptic solution for pre- and post-milking teat disinfection. Plants were collected during the four seasons of the year. The most active hexane extract was subjected to bioguided fractionation, which resulted in the isolation of six known compounds, stigmast-22-ene-3,6-dione, stigmasterol, friedelinol, ß-sitosterol, octadecyl alcohol, and octadecanoic acid. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the most active extract and isolated compounds were determined against nine S. aureus strains isolated from cows with mastitis. The efficacy of the S. auriculata teat dip formulation was tested using an excised teat model (ex vivo), and promising results were obtained. The S. auriculata extract formulation proved to be as effective as commercial antimicrobials in reducing log counts in excised teats.

The impact of the order of derivative spectra on the performance of pattern recognition methods. Classification of medicinal plants according to the phylum.

Data pre-processing is an important strategy in chemometrics and related fields because in many cases the transformation of data has a great effect on the performance of the method (model). However, a careful examination of the literature clearly points out that only very few systematic studies are dedicated to the effect of the derivative spectra on the performance of the pattern recognition methods. This comprehensive study compares the impact of the order of derivative spectra and other data pre-processing procedures (normalization and standardization) on the performance of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis applied for characterization and classification of medicinal plants according to their phylum using UV spectra. The efficiency of the pre-processing methods was estimated by comparing the accuracy of classification and prediction measured by internal cross-validation. Derivatization method (1st order) resulted in the best classification (100%) of medicinal plants according to their phylum (Pteridophyte, Magnoliophyte and Spermatophyte) as compared to other pre-processing methods (normalized spectra-71.4%, standardized spectra-76.2% and original spectra-78.6%).

[Diversity and distribution of the threatened medicinal vascular plants in Lancang].

The rich diversity in medicinal plants provides an important material basic for the development of Traditional Chinese medicine in China. It is important to explore the present situation of medicinal plants within special regions in order to provide scientific instructions for their sustainable protection and exploitation and utilization. In this study, we carried out the field survey according to the guideline of national survey of Chinese material medica resources and the guideline of plant species diversity survey and estimation at county level with the line transect method. With the field surveyed data, we explored the diversity and distribution of the threatened medicinal vascular plants in Lancang. We found that there were 33 species of the threatened medicinal vascular plants in this county. These species were from 23 genera and 17 families, and were composed of one critical endangered, 10 endangered and 22 vulnerable species. They were widely distributed across the whole county and were most concentrated in the town of Nuozhadu, Fazhanhe, Nuofu and Zhutang, which were located in the southeastern, southwestern and western of Lancang, respectively. We also found that the plant species richness followed a unimodal pattern along elevation. In addition, we found that the areas of Nuozhadu Nature Reserve in Lancang only covered six threatened medicinal vascular plants, while most of the regions with high species richness were not well protected. Therefore, we proposed to make more efforts to improve the protection measurements in order to better protect and utilize the medicinal plants in Lancang.

A Survey of Plant Iron Content-A Semi-Systematic Review.

Iron is an essential mineral nutrient for all living organisms, involved in a plurality of biological processes. Its deficit is the cause of the most common form of anemia in the world: iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This paper reviews iron content in various parts of 1228 plant species and its absorption from herbal products, based on data collected from the literature in a semi-systematic manner. Five hundred genera randomly selected from the Angiosperms group, 215 genera from the Pteridophytes groups and all 95 Gymnosperm genera as listed in the Plant List version 1.1 were used as keywords together with the word "iron" in computerized searches. Iron data about additional genera returned by those searches were extracted and included in the analysis. In total, iron content values for a number of 1228 species, 5 subspecies, and 5 varieties were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare iron contents in various plant parts (whole plant, roots, stems, shoots, leaves, aerial parts, flowers, fruits, seeds, wood, bark, other parts) and exploratory analyses by taxonomic groups and life-forms were carried out. The absorption and potential relevance of herbal iron for iron supplementation are discussed.

Avaliação do potencial antioxidante frente à oxidação lipídica e da toxicidade preliminar do extrato e frações obtidas das frondes de Dicksonia sellowiana (Presl. ) Hook / Evaluation of antioxidant potential against lipid oxidation and preliminary toxicity of extract and fractions obtained from the fronds of Dicksonia sellowiana (Presl. ) Hook

RESUMOA espécie Dicksonia sellowiana, conhecida popularmente como xaxim, é uma samambaia natural do continente americano e encontrada no Brasil na Mata Atlântica. Em 2001 foi inserida na lista do IBAMA como espécie ameaçada de extinção em decorrência da exploração para a confecção de vasos para a jardinagem. O presente trabalho descreve o potencial antioxidante lipídico (TBARS e Sistema β-caroteno/ácido linoleico) do extrato bruto e frações obtidos através de aparato de Soxhlet de frondes de Dicksonia sellowiana, além da atividade citotóxica e hemolítica in vitro. Pelo método TBARS, todas as amostras testadas apresentaram atividade, destacando a fração acetato de etila e extrato bruto cuja atividade foi comparável ao padrão ácido ascórbico. No sistema β-caroteno/ácido linoleico, a fração acetato de etila e extrato bruto apresentaram inibição da oxidação do ácido linoleico, destaque para a fração acetato de etila que não se diferenciou estatisticamente do padrão BHT. Na avaliação da toxicidade preliminar, não fora observado atividade citotóxica e hemolítica do extrato bruto e frações nos modelos testados. Os resultados demonstram o potencial antioxidante da espécie vegetal nos modelos de inibição da oxidação lipídica sem apresentar toxicidade.

ABSTRACTThe species Dicksonia sellowiana, popularly known as tree fern, are a natural fern from American continent found in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. In 2001 it was added to the list of IBAMA as endangered species due to its exploitation for pots craft for gardening species. This paper describes the antioxidant lipid potential (TBARS and System β-carotene / linoleic acid) of the crude extract and fractions obtained by Soxhlet apparatus of Dicksonia sellowianafronds, besides the cytotoxic and hemolytic activity in vitro. By the TBARS method, all samples tested showed activity, particularly the fraction ethyl acetate and the crude extract whose activity was comparable to standard ascorbic acid. In the system β-carotene / linoleic acid, the fraction of ethyl acetate and crude extract inhibited the oxidation of linoleic acid, especially the ethyl acetate fraction which did not differ statistically from the standard BHT. In a preliminary assessment of toxicity,cytotoxic and hemolytic activity of crude extracts and fractions in the tested models were not observed. The results of this study indicate the antioxidant potential of this plant species in models of inhibiting lipid oxidation without producing toxicity.

Genetic characterization and authentication of Dimocarpus longan Lour. using an improved RAPD technique.

Dimocarpus longan Lour. is an edible and traditional herb in China, commonly referred to as longon. An improved randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) protocol was here developed in order to determine the geographical origins of D. longan samples collected from 5 provinces in the southern and southwestern areas of China, including Sichuan, Hainan, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Generally, the improved RAPD method generated good fingerprinting of the 5 samples using the selected 17 primers. In particular, primers SBS-A5, SBS-A13, SBS-I9, SBS-I20, SBS-M1, and SBS-Q12 produced distinguishable bands that clearly separated all 5 cultivars, suggesting that there are variations in RAPD genetic sites among the samples. The similarity index ranged from 0.69 to 0.76. The Sichuan and Hainan clades clustered together with a 0.73 similarity index. The Guangxi and Fujian clades clustered together with a 0.76 similarity index, and they formed the sister clade to the Sichuan/Hainan clade with a 0.71 similarity index. The Guangdong clade was in a basal polytomy with a 0.70 similarity index. Based on the abundant DNA polymorphisms, these longan accessions are distinguishable using our improved RAPD technique. Therefore, RAPD analysis is an effective technique in distinguishing the geographical origins of D. longan. Moreover, the improved method could also be employed for a variety of applications including genetic diversity and fingerprinting analyses.

Studies on isozymic variation among the South Indian species of Sphaerostephanos.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the identity and phylogenetic relationships among the three medicinally important species of Sphaerostephanos from South India using isozymic profile. METHODS: The young fronds were homogenized with 3.5 mL of ice-cold homogenizing buffer in a pre-chilled pestle and mortar. The supernatant was subjected to electrophoresis as described by Anbalagan poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Staining solutions for isoperoxidase was prepared as per Smila method for the detection of isoenzymes. RESULTS: A total of six different bands in five different positions with different molecular weight/Rf values and four active zones have been observed in the isoperoxidase enzyme system of Sphaerostephanos. Only one band with MW/Rf 0.399 is common to two different species i.e. Sphaerostephanos arbuscula (S. arbuscula) and Sphaerostephanos unitus (S. unitus). Among the remaining four bands, two bands (Rf. 0.23, 0.47) are present in Sphaerostephanos subtruncatus (S. subtruncatus) and one distinct band has been observed individually in S. arbuscula (Rf. 0.507) and S. unitus (Rf. 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: The present preliminary molecular study through isozymic analysis shows the identity of all the three species and the present results confirm distinctness of these three species based on macro-micromorphology, phytochemistry and cytology.

Essential oil variability in natural populations of Picea omorika, a rare European conifer.

This study is the first report on the composition and variability of essential oil in the relic, endemic, and vulnerable tree species Serbian spruce, Picea omorika, in its natural populations. In the needles of 108 trees of four natural populations, 49 components of essential oils were identified. The main compounds were bornyl acetate (29.2%), camphene (18.7%), and alpha-pinene (12.9%). Fourteen additional components had the contents of up to 0.5%: alpha-cadinol (6.1%), limonene (5.8%), santene (3.5%), (E)-hex-2-enal (2.9%), T-cadinol (2.9%), delta-cadinene (2.3%), tricyclene (2.1%), myrcene (1.6%), beta-pinene (1.2%), borneol (0.9%), germacrene D (0.9%), alpha-muurolene (0.6%), and two unidentified compounds. Population IV from Milesevka Canyon had a much higher content of bornyl acetate (42.9%). Populations I-III from Mt. Tara were more abundant in sesquiterpenes (up to 18.2%). The content of bornyl acetate, the multi-variation analyses according to seven selected components, especially the cluster analysis and genetic analysis of alpha-cadinol, which suggested the monogenic type of heredity, showed a clear differentiation of the two geographic areas, the similarity of populations I-III from the area of Mt. Tara, and the separation of the population IV from Milesevka Canyon.

Morphology and structure of the pollen cone and pollen grain of the Araucaria species from Argentina.

The pollen cone and the pollen grain of the two Argentinean species of Araucaria are described with LM, SEM and TEM. Primordia of pollen cones are formed in April and May and reach maturity by mid-October in A. angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze and by mid-November in A. araucana. (Mol.) K. Koch. Characters of the mature pollen cones and microsporophylls between both taxa are clearly differentiated. Pollen grains are spheroidal-subspheroidal, inaperturate, and asaccate with granulate exine and a subequatorial annular area that corresponds to the sexine thickness. Sculpturing consists of irregularly dispersed granules that are sometimes fused to each other (A. angustifolia) or forming microrugulae (A. araucana). Microgranules and microspinules are also present. The pollen wall ultrastructure is formed by a granular ectexine and lamellated endexine. Granular elements in A. angustifolia are more loosely disposed, form more interstices, and are gradually smaller towards the endexine than in A. araucana. To asses the probable relationships within the family, we compared the pollen grains of the two Araucaria species with those of other extant genera (Agathis, Wollemia) and also with fossil pollen (Araucariacites, Balmeiopsis, Cyclusphaera, Dilwynites) attributed to Araucariaceae.

Morphology and structure of the pollen cone and pollen grain of the Araucaria species from Argentina

The pollen cone and the pollen grain of the two Argentinean species of Araucaria are described with LM, SEM and TEM. Primordia of pollen cones are formed in April and May and reach maturity by mid-October in A. angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze and by mid-November in A. araucana. (Mol.) K. Koch. Characters of the mature pollen cones and microsporophylls between both taxa are clearly differentiated.Pollen grains are spheroidal-subspheroidal, inaperturate, and asaccate with granulate exine and a subequatorial annular area that corresponds to the sexine thickness. Sculpturing consists of irregularly dispersed granules that are sometimes fused to each other (A. angustifolia) or forming microrugulae (A. araucana). Microgranules and microspinules are also present. The pollen wall ultrastructure is formed by a granular ect exine and lamellated endexine. Granular elements in A. angustifolia are more loosely disposed, form more interstices, and are gradually smaller towards the endexine than in A. araucana. To asses the probable relationships within the family, we compared the pollen grains of the two Araucaria species with those of other extant genera (Agathis, Wollemia) and also with fossil pollen (Araucariacites, Balmeiopsis, Cyclusphaera, Dilwynites) attributed to Araucariaceae.(AU)

Morphology and structure of the pollen cone and pollen grain of the Araucaria species from Argentina

The pollen cone and the pollen grain of the two Argentinean species of Araucaria are described with LM, SEM and TEM. Primordia of pollen cones are formed in April and May and reach maturity by mid-October in A. angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze and by mid-November in A. araucana. (Mol.) K. Koch. Characters of the mature pollen cones and microsporophylls between both taxa are clearly differentiated.Pollen grains are spheroidal-subspheroidal, inaperturate, and asaccate with granulate exine and a subequatorial annular area that corresponds to the sexine thickness. Sculpturing consists of irregularly dispersed granules that are sometimes fused to each other (A. angustifolia) or forming microrugulae (A. araucana). Microgranules and microspinules are also present. The pollen wall ultrastructure is formed by a granular ect exine and lamellated endexine. Granular elements in A. angustifolia are more loosely disposed, form more interstices, and are gradually smaller towards the endexine than in A. araucana. To asses the probable relationships within the family, we compared the pollen grains of the two Araucaria species with those of other extant genera (Agathis, Wollemia) and also with fossil pollen (Araucariacites, Balmeiopsis, Cyclusphaera, Dilwynites) attributed to Araucariaceae.