Cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory metabolites from twigs and leaves of Phyllanthus mirabilis, a species endemic to limestone mountains.

The first investigation of Phyllanthus mirabilis Müll.Arg. led to the isolation of six undescribed compounds including two tyramine derivatives: phyllatyramines A and B; three butenolide analogues, phyllantenolide, phyllantenocoside-O-gallate and epi-phyllantenocoside-O-gallate; and a flavanonol gallate, (-)-taxifolin-3-O-gallate; as well as two first isolated natural products, phyllatyramine C and phyllantenocoside; together with twenty-three known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means. ECD spectra of all isolated butenolides were compared and assigned the configurations. Phyllatyramine A displayed weak cytotoxicity against the KB cell line, while phyllatyramines B and C showed weak cytotoxicity against KB and HeLa cell lines. In addition, phyllatyramine B and (-)-taxifolin-3-O-gallate showed more potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the standard acarbose 3.4 and 5.8 fold, respectively.

Three new species of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from Thailand.

Three new species of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from Thailand, E.kaweesakii Triyutth. & L.F.Fu, sp. nov., E.rubricaule Triyutth. & L.F.Fu, sp. nov. and E.saxatile Triyutth. & L.F.Fu, sp. nov., are newly described and illustrated. These new species can be distinguished by the presence of rhizome. Elatostemakaweesakii is similar to E.atroviride. Elatostemakaweesakii is a lithophyte growing in limestone crevices. It differs from E.atroviride by its large swollen rhizome, glabrous stem, glabrous receptacle, number of tepal in staminate flower, absence of tepal in pistillate flower, presence of staminodes in pistillate flower and smooth achene. Elatostemarubricaule and E.saxatile are found on sandstone habitats. They have distinct flattened and disk-like rhizome. Elatostemarubricaule is distinguished by its distinct sulcate and reddish stem with flattened and disc-like rhizome and chartaceous leaves with entire margin. Elatostemasaxatile resembles E.bulbiferum but differs by its flattened and disc-like rhizome, acute leaf apex, glabrous receptacle in pistillate inflorescences, presence of staminodes in pistillate flower, and its sandstone habitat. Descriptions, distribution, ecological and phenological data are provided.

Two new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) from Thailand.

Two Phyllanthus species are newly described from a limestone mountain in the north of Thailand. The first species, P. huamotensis Pornp., Chantar. & J.Parn., sp. nov., is one of the most distinct Phyllanthus species easily distinguished by its reddish branchlets and stem, conspicuous reddish venation, especially on the lower leaf surface, red sepals with long fimbriate margin and red capsule with papillose-puberulous surface. The second species, P. chantaranothaii Pornp., J.Parn. & Hodk., sp. nov., is similar to P. pulcher Wall. ex Müll.Arg., but it is distinguished by its puberulous upper leaf surface and pistillate flowers which have red, narrowly lanceolate sepals with a white, long fimbriate margin, puberulous outer side as well as puberulous pedicel.

Phylogenetic relationships and generic delimitation in Inuleae subtribe Inulinae (Asteraceae) based on ITS and cpDNA sequence data.

Phylogenetic relationships in Inuleae subtribe Inulinae (Asteraceae) were investigated. DNA sequence data from three chloroplast regions (ndhF, trnL-F and psbA-trnH) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were analysed separately and in combination using parsimony and Bayesian inference. A total of 163 ingroup taxa were included, of which 60 were sampled for all four markers. Conflicts between chloroplast and nuclear data were assessed using partitioned Bremer support (PBS). Rather than averaging PBS over several trees from constrained searches, individual trees were considered by evaluating PBS ranges. Criteria to be used in the detection of a significant conflict between data partitions are proposed. Three nodes in the total data tree were found to encompass significant conflict that could result from ancient hybridization. Neither of the large, heterogeneous and widespread genera Inula and Pulicaria is monophyletic. A monophyletic group ("the Inula complex") that comprises all species of Inula includes also Telekia, Carpesium, Chrysophthalmum, Rhanteriopsis, Amblyocarpum, and Pentanema sensu stricto. Two species of Pentanema were found to be closer to Blumea (including Blumeopsis and Merrittia) and Caesulia. The monophyletic "Pulicaria complex" includes all taxa with heteromorphic pappus. Within this group, Francoeuria is distinct from Pulicaria and merits recognition as a separate genus. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.