Plastomes resolve generic limits within tribe Clusieae (Clusiaceae) and reveal the new genus Arawakia.

Clusieae is an exclusively Neotropical tribe in the family Clusiaceae sensu stricto. Although tribes within Clusiaceae are morphologically and phylogenetically well-delimited, resolution among genera within these tribes remains elusive. The tribe Clusieae includes an estimated ∼500 species distributed among five genera: Chrysochlamys, Clusia, Dystovomita, Tovomita, and Tovomitopsis. In this study, we used nearly complete plastid genomes from 30 exemplar Clusieae species representing all genera recognized, plus two outgroups to infer the phylogeny of the tribe using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. For comparison, we also inferred a phylogeny from the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region using the same methods. Our study corroborates earlier findings that Clusia is monophyletic while Tovomita is not. It also provides additional support to the hypothesis that Chrysochlamys and Tovomitopsis are not closely related despite gross morphological similarity. Tovomita is divided into three distantly related clades: (i) core Tovomita (including the type T. guianensis), (ii) T. croatii, and (iii) the T. weddelliana species complex. Members of the T. weddelliana complex are isolated from the core Tovomita, and placed in a well-supported clade that is sister to a clade composed of Chrysochlamys plus Clusia. Tovomita croatii is nested within Chrysochlamys. We propose taxonomic revisions to accommodate our phylogenetic findings, including the description of the new genus Arawakia, which includes the 18 species formerly recognized in the T. weddelliana species complex. Lectotypes are also designated for nine species (i.e., Arawakia angustata, A. lanceolata, A. lingulata, A. longicuneata, A. macrocarpa, A. oblanceolata, A. pithecobia, A. rhizophoroides, and A. weddelliana), and a taxonomic key for the identification of the six genera of Clusieae recognized is presented.

Allanblackia Oil: Phytochemistry and Use as a Functional Food.

The consumption and commercial exploitation of Allanblackia (Clusiaceae) seed oils is of current interest. The favorable physicochemical characteristics of Allanblackia oil (solid at room temperature; high stearic acid content) lend food products that contain it (i.e., vegetable-based dairy products, ice cream, spreads) health advantages over others that contain higher levels of lauric, myristic, and/or palmitic acids, which can increase blood cholesterol levels. Such considerations are important for individuals prone to cardiovascular disease or with hypercholesterolemia. Domestication projects of several Allanblackia species in tropical Africa are underway, but wildcrafting of fruits to meet the seed demand still occurs. Proper species authentication is important, since only authenticated oil can be deemed safe for human consumption. The chemical constituency of Allanblackia seed oils, and potential roles of these phytochemicals in preventive strategies (e.g., as part of a healthy diet) and as pharmacological agents used to treat chronic disease were examined in this review. The primary and secondary metabolite constituency of the seed oils of nearly all Allanblackia species is still poorly known. The presence, identity, and quantity of potentially bioactive secondary metabolites in the seed oils, and pharmacological testing of isolated compounds were identified as important directions for future research.

Antimalarial and cytotoxic phenolic compounds from Cratoxylum maingayi and Cratoxylum cochinchinense.

Nine phenolic compounds isolated from Cratoxylum maingayi and C. cochinchinense were evaluated for anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, and for cytotoxic activity against the NCI-H187 (human small cell lung cancer) cancer cell line. Formoxanthone C (3) was found to be the most active against the NCI-H187 cancer cell line, with an IC(50) of 0.22 microg/mL, while vismione B (7) had the highest activity against Plasmodium falciparum, with an IC(50) of 0.66 microg/mL.

[Identification on Herba Hyperici Japonici and its adulterant].

OBJECTIVE: To study the identification of Herba Hyperici Japonici and its adulterant. METHODS: Herba Hyperici Japonici and Herba Hyperici graminei were identified by traditional and modern identification. RESULTS: Both of them showed difference in exterior character, microscope characteristic, TLC, UV and HPLC fingerprint graphics. CONCLUSION: The distinct characteristic features reveal this study can serve as evidence for the identification of Herba Hyperici Japonici.

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. (Clusiaceae).

Morphological, structural and developmental features of fruits and seeds of Mammea americana L. are here studied, with the purpose to give a proper classification of their fruit and embryo type and to contribute to future taxonomical and ecological studies. The fruit is a berry and the "rind" consists of the exocarp, represented by a periderm with lenticels, and by the parenchymatic mesocarp, with branched secretory ducts and vascular bundles. The edible pulpy is formed by the endocarp, destituted of secretory ducts, and derived from the activity of a ventral meristem, which emerges early in the fruit development. The inner endocarp cell layers undergo a radial elongation and become firmly attached to the testal outer layers. At maturation the endocarp may be released from the rest of the pericarp. The ovules are unitegmic and they turn into unitegmic and exalbuminous seeds. The multiseriate testa consists of thick-walled cells and sclerenchymatous fibers. This last features have carried out to a wrong interpretation that the fruit of this species is a drupe. The embryo is pseudo-conferruminate, with two massive foodstoring cotyledons, rich in starch, firmly attached.

Morphology and anatomy of the seedling and the tirodendro of Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae) / Morfoanatomia da plântula e do tirodendro de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. (Clusiaceae)

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. is a tree species that is presented as an alternative to replace endangered species of hardwood. The morphology and anatomy of the seedling of this species is the object of the present study. Seedlings at different stages of development were obtained in greenhouse and analyzed fresh and fixed in FAA (Formalin- Acetic-Alcohol) 50. The anatomical analysis was done by the freehand and microtome sections, according to standard techniques in plant anatomy. The seedling and/or tirodendro is cryptocotylar and hypogeal, has cataphylls, and presents eophylls and metaphylls simple with venation pinnate craspedodromous simple. The root is polyarch, the hypocotyl is very short, the cotyledons have an oily and starchy reserve, the epicotyl has stem structure, and eophylls and metaphylls are dorsiventral. The seedling may be classified in the Horsfieldia type/subtype.

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. é uma planta arbórea que se apresenta como possível alternativa para substituir espécies em extinção com madeira nobre. A morfologia e anatomia da plântula desta espécie é objeto do presente trabalho. As plântulas, em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento, foram obtidas em casa de vegetação e analisadas a fresco e fixadas em FAA 50. A análise anatômica foi feita mediante seções a mão livre e microtômicas, de acordo com técnicas usuais em anatomia vegetal. A plântula e/ou tirodendro é criptocotiledonar e hipogeia, possui catafilos, e apresenta eófilos e metafilos simples de venação pinada craspedódroma simples. A raiz é poliarca, o hipocótilo é muito reduzido, os cotilédones possuem reserva amilácea e oleaginosa, o epicótilo tem natureza caulinar e os eofilos e metafilos são dorsiventrais. A plântula enquadra-se no tipo e subtipo Horsfieldia.

Caracterização anatômica foliar de espécimes de Platonia insignis Mart. (Clusiaceae) em diferentes períodos sazonais / Characterization of anatomical specimens of leaf Platonia insignis Mart. (Clusiaceae) in different seasonal periods

Platonia insignis Mart. (Clusiaceae) é conhecida na Amazônia brasileira como "bacuri" e apresenta grande importância econômica no Estado do Pará, especialmente na zona do Salgado, onde o extrativismo vegetal é considerado uma das principais fontes de renda da população. Para complementar o conhecimento biológico da espécie, foi realizado o estudo de caracterização anatômica das folhas de quinze espécimes procedentes de três áreas de floresta secundária do nordeste do Pará, Município de Bragança, na localidade de Benjamin Constant; do Município de São Caetano de Odivelas e da ilha do estuário guajarino de Mosqueiro. Foram aplicadas técnicas histológicas de dissociação de epidermes, secções histológicas, testes microquímicos e análise em microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados mostram cutícula espessa, cera epicuticular em crosta, raros tricomas, folhas anfiestomáticas com estômatos paracíticos, presença de colênquima angular e de estruturas secretoras. No estudo não foram observadas diferenças na estrutura foliar dos espécimes, porém foi constatada a existência de plasticidade fenotípica.

Platonia insignis Mart. is known in the Brazilian Amazon as "bacuri" and has great economic importance in the State of Pará, especially in the zona do Salgado, where the extraction of plants is considered a major source of income to the population. To complement the biological knowledge of the species, the study was conducted to characterize leaf anatomical fifteen specimens from three areas of secondary forest in northeastern Pará, Municipality of Bragança, in the town of Benjamin Constant, in São Caetano de Odivelas island estuary Guajarina Mosqueiro. Histological techniques were applied to dissociation of epidermis, the histological sections, microchemical tests and analysis in scanning electron microscopy. The results show a thick cuticle, epicuticular wax crust, rare trichomes, leaves with amphistomatic paracytic stomata, presence of collenchyma and secretory structures. In the study there were no differences in leaf structure of the specimens, however, was found to contain phenotypic plasticity.