Triterpenoid saponins from Anagallis monelli ssp. linifolia (L.) Maire and their chemotaxonomic significance.

Thirteen undescribed triterpenoid saponins named monellosides A-M, were isolated from the aerial parts of Anagallis monelli ssp. linifolia (L.) Maire, together with ten known oleanane-type glycosides. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY) as well as high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and acid hydrolysis. Monellosides A-M have a carbohydrate chain linked on the C-3 of the aglycone with a common ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 4)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl sequence which was further glycosylated by a glucose and/or a xylose. The sequence ß-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 4)-[ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-]α-l-arabinopyranosyl was common to all the 13,28-epoxy-oleanane core skeleton except one compound. In order to discuss the reclassification of Anagallis in Primulaceae, we compared saponins from species of Myrsinaceae and Primulaceae families and showed that these species were characterized by a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin with a 13,28-epoxy bridge skeleton. Our phytochemical results increase the knowledge of saponins of the genus Anagallis, their chemotaxonomy and stimulate the evaluation of the biological activities of these saponins.

Phytochemicals mitigation of Brassica napus by IAA grown under Cd and Pb toxicity and its impact on growth responses of Anagallis arvensis.

Beginning of industrialization accelerates the heavy metal pollution in the biosphere. Plant being the immovable entity utilizes different mechanisms to flee from unfavourable conditions. To alleviate toxic impact of metals like cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), phytohormones such as indole acetic acid (IAA) has been applied exogenously. This manuscript aims to evaluate the significant change occurring in biochemical parameters of Indian mustard (Brassica napus) grown under individual and combined treatments of IAA with Cd and Pb. Herbicidal potential of treated Brassica extracts were evaluated on growth and development of Anagallis arvensis. Quantum yield parameters were more sensitive to Cd than Pb stress resulted in reduced photosynthetic pigments. However, exogenously applied IAA together with Cd and Pb considerably improved the level of photosynthetic attributes along with reduced accumulation of Cd and Pb in Brassica plant. Cd and Pb enhanced the activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant machinery. However, addition of IAA with Cd and Pb mitigated the effect of heavy metals on antioxidant system. Moreover, activity of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme and the defensive metabolites (phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin compounds) were boosted under individual treatments of Cd and Pb responsible for increasing herbicidal potential of Brassica plant. Our results exhibited essentiality of IAA in mitigating Cd and Pb stress in Brassica through up-regulated mechanisms of the antioxidant system for balancing ROS related injuries. Increased metabolites enhancing herbicidal potential of Brassica napus against Anagallis weed were also observed.

Investigation of phytochemical composition and enzyme inhibitory potential of Anagallis arvensis L.

Anagallis arvensis L. commonly known as 'Scarlet Pimpernel' has been used in folklore as natural remedy for treating common ailments. The present research is aimed to explore the phytochemical composition and enzyme inhibition potential of methanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of A. arvensis aerial and root parts. The phytochemical composition was established via HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification and UHPLC-MS analysis, while the inhibition potential against amylase and tyrosinase enzymes were assessed using standard in vitro protocols. The HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification revealed the presence of important compounds including catechin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid, whereas 34 different secondary metabolites were tentatively identified by UHPLC-MS of both the DCM extracts. All the extracts showed moderate tyrosinase and a weak amylase inhibition activity. The aerial-DCM extract showed comparatively higher tyrosinase and amylase enzyme inhibition potential, which may be due to the presence of secondary metabolites as tentatively identified by its UHPLC-MS profiling.

Anagallis arvensis Induces Apoptosis in HL-60 Cells Through ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial Pathway.

The present study was taken up to evaluate the apoptosis inducing ability of alcoholic extract of whole plant of Anagallis arvensis (AAE) in HL-60 cells. We observed time and concentration dependent decrease in cell viability after treatment with AAE. Fluorescent staining and scanning electron micrographs of treated HL-60 cells demonstrated chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and formation of apoptotic blebs. There was a marked increase in hypodiploid population of cells as observed by cell cycle analysis. Annexin V-FITC/PI also depicted the presence of apoptotic cells. Anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was observed to be decreased by 62% at 20 µg/ml concentration and a significant increase in ROS production up to 6.9-fold was observed in time dependent manner. In addition, alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential was observed, which was followed by cytochrome c release to cytoplasm. Activated levels of mitochondrial downstream pathway protein namely Caspase-3 and 9, were detected in treated HL-60 cells by colorimetric analysis. DNA ladder formation, a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis was also observed in treated HL-60 cells. The results of the present study support the apoptotic potential of AAE and probability of its promising role in development as effective anticancer agent against leukemia cells.

Ethnopharmacological basis for folkloric claims of Anagallis arvensis Linn. (Scarlet Pimpernel) as prokinetic, spasmolytic and hypotensive in province of Punjab, Pakistan.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The conventional naturopaths of Punjab Province (Pakistan) have trivial usage of Anagallis arvensis Linn.(Primulaceae) for cure of diarrhea, constipation, asthma as well as hypertension. AIM: Present research was focused to discover comprehensive mechanism of spasmogenic, spasmolytic, bronchorelaxant and hypotensive folkloric usage of Anagallis arvensis Linn.. METHODOLOGY: The crude extract of Anagallis arvensis Linn. (Aa.Cr) & its (aqueous & organic) portions tested in-vitro on isolated jejunum, ileum, trachea, aorta, paired atria preparations as well as in-vivo in mice & normotensive anaesthetized rats. The responses have been noted by transducers (isotonic & isometric) coupled to Power Lab. RESULT: Anagallis arvensis Linn. (Aa.Cr; crude aqueous-alcoholic extract) produced contractile action at low concentrations but relaxant action was observed by increasing concentrations on spontaneous contractions of isolated jejunum of rabbit. But, pre-treatment of tissue with atropine prior extract caused suppression of contractile effect indicating presence of cholinergic muscarinic response of Aa.Cr. It also triggered relaxation of high Potassium -stimulated contractions of jejunum with subsequent non-parallel right move in Ca++ CRCs. Moreover, Aa.Cr relaxed carbachol - & high Potassium - stimulated contractions in trachea of rabbit but observed relaxant effect was powerful against CCh (1 µM)- stimulated contractions with rightside parallel move of CCh-curves succeeded by non-parallel move, like Dicyclomine, having dual activities. The Aa.Cr also showed relaxant result on Phenylephrine and High Potassium -prompted contractions in endothelium intact aorta. The fractionation revealed segregations of contractile & relaxant effects in relevant aqueous & organic portions. The Intravenous administration of Aa.Cr to ketamine-diazepam anaesthetized normo-tensive albino rats resulted in decreased MABP, SBP & DBP. The Aa.Cr applied negative (-) inotropic & chronotropic action on paired atria. The Aa.Cr also exhibited anti-diarrheal action in mice against castor oil prompted diarrhea and also mitigated distance covered by charcoal meal in gastrointestinal tract in a manner comparable with loperamide. CONCLUSION: These results revealed presence of CCB and selective muscarinic agonist activity in Aa.Cr, hence validating folkloric practice of Anagallis arvensis Linn. in diarrhea, constipation, asthma & hypertension.

Therapeutic propensities, phytochemical composition, and toxicological evaluation of Anagallis arvensis (L.): A wild edible medicinal food plant.

Anagallis arvensis (L.) is a wild edible food plant that has been used in folklore as a natural remedy for treating common ailments. This study aimed to explore the biochemical properties and toxicity of methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of A. arvensis (aerial and root parts). Bioactive contents were assessed spectrophotometrically, and the secondary metabolites were identified by UHPLC-MS analysis. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays were employed to assess antioxidant activity. Inhibitory potential against key enzymes (α-glucosidase, urease, lipoxygenase (LOX), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)) were also assessed. MTT assay was employed to test toxicity against SW-480, MDA-MB-231, CaSki, MCF-7, and DU-145 cancer cell lines. Methanolic extracts showed highest phenolic (aerial-MeOH: 27.5 mg GAE/g extract; root-MeOH: 21.17 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (aerial-MeOH: 26.15 mg QE/g extract; root-MeOH: 19.07 mg QE/g extract) contents, and potent antioxidant activities. The aerial-MeOH extract was most potent for DPPH (IC50: 231 ug/mL), ABTS (131.12 mg TE/g extract), FRAP (82.97 mg TE/g extract), and CUPRAC (137.15 mg TE/g extract) antioxidant assays. All extracts were cytotoxic towards tested cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 12.57 to 294.5 µg/mL and conferred a comparatively strong inhibition against α-glucosidase (aerial-DCM extract showed the highest inhibition against α-glucosidase with IC50 value of 20.97 µg /mL), while aerial extracts were also considerably active against BChE (aerial-MeOH IC50: 224.63 µg /mL), LOX (aerial-DCM IC50: 385.7 µg /mL). Likewise, aerial-MeOH extract was most active against urease enzyme (IC50: 129.72 µg /mL). UHPLC-MS investigation of methanolic extracts showed the existence of important phenolics, flavonoids, and saponins, including methyl gallte, quercetin, lanceoletin, and balanitesin, amongst others. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted the correlation amongst bioactive contents and observed biological activities. A. arvensis extracts could be regarded as a natural source of bioactive antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors and anticancer agents and can be further investigated as a lead source for food and pharmaceutical products. However, further studies to isolate, purify, and to characterize its bioactive phytochemicals are needed.

Evaluation of Enydra anagallis remediation at a contaminated watercourse in south Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytoremediation potential promoted by Enydra anagallis at anthropogenic polluted area - Santa Bárbara Stream, south Brazil. The watercourse was selected considering it is the main source of water to Pelotas city and the presence of high levels of nutrients and toxic metals. The phytoremediation indexes as bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and plant effective number (PEN) were estimated. The results highlighted the possibility of application of E. anagallis in phytoextraction of Ca, K, Mg and P, showing the ability of maintaining high levels of elements in aerial parts of the plant. It was also detected the rhizofiltration mechanism (BCF > 1.0 and TF < 1.0), with possible application for the removal of aluminum, arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, sodium, nickel, lead, sulfur, vanadium and zinc. Regarding the Plant Effective Number (PEN), it can be highlighted the values found for Al (55 plants), P (38 plants) and S (56 plants), being the number of plants needed for removal of 1 g. Thus, E. anagallis showed natural potential for removing contaminants from the aquatic environment and along with further studies, it could be a good recovery alternative for other contaminated watercourses.

Biological activities of three medicinal plants from district Mirpur, AJK, Pakistan.

Present research work was aimed to investigate the biological activities i.e. antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antitumor activities of crude methanolic extract of Anagallis arvensis L., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze and Coronopus didymus (L.) Pers. against Gram positive strains (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative strains (Vibrio cholera, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Escherichia coli) were screened. Best activity was observed against K. pneumonia and S. aureus by A. arvensis compared with other strains. Butea monosperma exhibited considerable activity against S. aureus, V. cholera, E. aerogenes and K. pneumonia compared with other strains. Methanolic extract of A. arvensis L. inhibited fungal growth against A. niger up to 30.2%. B. monosperma inhibited the growth of A. niger up to 43.5% and against A. fumigatus 27.3%. C. didymus inhibited the A. fumigates up to 27.3% and against A. niger, it inhibited 48%. Brine shrimps lethality bioassay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity and LD50 value was calculated by using probit analysis. Potato disc bioassay was designed to screen antitumor activity and data was analyzed by one way ANOVA.

Molluscicidal impacts of Anagallis arvensis aqueous extract on biological, hormonal, histological and molecular aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

Controlling of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails by plant molluscicides is the cornerstone in treating schistosomiasis in Egypt. The objective of this study is, to evaluate the molluscicidal activity of the aqueous leaves extract of Anagallis arvensis against B. alexandrina snails. The present results showed that this aqueous extract was lethal for B. alexandrina snails at (LC50 37.9 mg/l; LC90 48.3 mg/l), and caused reduction in survival; reproductive rates and hormonal activity (testosterone (T) and 17ß-estradiol (E)) of these snails. Histopathological changes occurred in the hermaphrodite glands of snails exposed to the sub lethal concentrations of this aqueous extract are detected, where, there were degeneration in both eggs and sperms and there were losses of connective tissues between acini. The present investigation revealed that this plant had a genotoxic effect especially with its concentration (LC10 and LC25), where, the length of olive tail moment was significantly increased than control group. These observations prove the potent molluscicidal activity of aqueous leaves extract of A. arvensis against the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and provide natural biodegradable resources for snails' molluscicidal agents.

Antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of extracts and triterpenoid saponins obtained from the aerial parts of Anagallis arvensis L.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anagallis arvensis L. (Primulaceae) is used in argentinean northwestern traditional medicine to treat fungal infections. We are reporting the isolation and identification of compounds with antifungal activity against human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, and toxicity evaluation. AIM OF THE STUDY: to study the antifungal activity of extracts and purified compounds obtained form A. arvensis aerial parts, alone and in combinations with fluconazole (FLU), and to study the toxicity of the active compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disk diffusion assays were used to perform an activity-guided isolation of antifungal compounds from the aerial parts of A. arvensis. Broth dilution checkerboard and viable cell count assays were employed to determine the effects of samples and combinations of FLU + samples against Candida albicans. The chemical structures of active compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Genotoxic and haemolytic effects of the isolated compounds were determined. RESULTS: Four triterpenoid saponins (1-4) were identified. Anagallisin C (AnC), exerted the highest inhibitory activity among the assayed compounds against C. albicans reference strain (ATCC 10231), with MIC-0 =1µg/mL. The Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI=0.129) indicated a synergistic effect between AnC (0.125µg/mL) and FLU (0.031µg/mL) against C. albicans ATCC 10231. AnC inhibited C. albicans 12-99 FLU resistant strain (MIC-0 =1µg/mL), and the FICI=0.188 indicated a synergistic effect between AnC (0.125µg/mL) and fluconazole (16µg/mL). The combination AnC+ FLU exerted fungicidal activity against both C. albicans strains. AnC exerted inhibitory activity against C. albicans ATCC 10231 sessile cells (MIC50=0.5µg/mL and MIC80=1µg/mL) and against C. albicans 12-99 sessile cells (MIC50=0.75µg/mL and MIC80=1.25µg/mL). AnC exerted haemolytic effect against human red blood cells at 15µg/mL and did not exerted genotoxic effect on Bacillus subtilis rec strains. CONCLUSIONS: The antifungal activity and lack of genotoxic effects of AnC give support to the traditional use of A. arvensis as antifungal and makes AnC a compound of interest to expand the available antifungal drugs.

Enhanced phytoremediation of cadmium polluted water through two aquatic plants Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Epilobium laxum.

Toxic metal-contaminated water is a major threat to sustainable agriculture and environment. Plants have the natural ability to absorb and concentrate essential elements in its tissues from water solution, and this ability of plants can be exploited to remove heavy/toxic metals from the contaminated water. For this purpose, two plants Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Epilobium laxum were hydroponically studied. The effect of different fertilizers (NPK) and plant growth regulators (GA3 and IAA) were evaluated on growth, biomass, free proline, phenolics, and chlorophyll contents, and their role in Cd phytoaccumulation was investigated. Results showed that in both plants, fertilizer addition to media (treatment T4) produced the highest significant increase in growth, biomass (fresh and dry), cadmium concentration, proline, phenolics, and chlorophyll concentrations. The significant effect of GA3 in combination with NPK foliar spray (treatment T12) was observed on most of the growth parameters, Cd concentration, and proline and phenolic contents of the plants. The free proline and total phenolics showed positive correlation with cadmium concentration within plant tissues. Proline showed significantly positive correlation with phenolic contents of root and shoot. Veronica plant demonstrated the hyperaccumulator potential for cadmium as bioconcentration factor (BCF >1) which was much higher than 1, while Epilobium plant showed non-hyperaccumulator potential. It is recommended for further study to investigate the role of Veronica plant for other metals and to study the role of phenolics and proline contents in heavy metal phytoextraction by various plant species.

Ex situ cultivation affects genetic structure and diversity in arable plants.

Worldwide, botanical gardens cultivate around 80,000 taxa, corresponding to approximately one-quarter of all vascular plants. Most cultivated taxa are, however, held in a small number of collections, and mostly only in small populations. Lack of genetic exchange and stochastic processes in small populations make them susceptible to detrimental genetic effects, which should be most severe in annual species, as sowing cycles are often short. In order to assess whether ex situ cultivation affects genetic diversity of annuals, five annual arable species with similar breeding systems were assessed with 42 in situ populations being compared to 20 ex situ populations using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis approach. Population sizes tended to be lower under ex situ cultivation and levels of genetic diversity also tended to be lower in four of the five species, with differences being significant in only two. Ex situ populations showed incomplete representation of alleles found in the wild. The duration of cultivation did not indicate any effect on genetic diversity. This implies that cultivation strategies resulted in different genetic structures in the garden populations. Although not unequivocally pronounced, differences nonetheless imply that conservation strategies in the involved gardens may need improvement. One option is cold storage of seeds, a practice that is not currently followed in the studied ex situ collections. This may reflect that the respective gardens focus on displaying living plant populations.

Suspected poisoning of cattle by scarlet pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis L.).

The ingestion of scarlet pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis L.), also known as red chickweed, has been reported as a cause of death of cattle in Uruguay, and as the suspected cause of deaths of sheep in Australia. It has not previously been reported in association with deaths of cattle in Australia. We report the clinical and pathological findings from four cattle in western Victoria that died with a nephrosis suspected to be secondary to intoxication with scarlet pimpernel.

Pharmacological properties of Anagallis arvensis L. ("scarlet pimpernel") and Anagallis foemina Mill. ("blue pimpernel") traditionally used as wound healing remedies in Navarra (Spain).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anagallis arvensis and Anagallis foemina are traditionally used in Navarra (Spain) for dermatological purposes regarding wound healing properties. In some cases they are also used to threat internal infections although they are known to be toxic at high doses. AIM OF STUDY: Due to lack of studies, we decided to evaluate the potential of the plants as wound healing remedies measuring antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties using in vitro procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial effects were studied against four bacteria and one fungus. Anti-inflammatory properties were measured in terms of COX-1 and -2 inhibition as well as superoxide radical scavenging capacity. RESULTS: Both species exerted antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The methanolic extract obtained from Anagallis arvensis seemed to produce the highest inhibition in Candida albicans (MIC=0.31 mg/ml). Inhibition of COX-1 and -2 was also stronger for methanolic extracts whereas aqueous were revealed as better free radical scavengers. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that both species possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities related to their ethnomedicinal uses.

Morphogenesis at the inflorescence shoot apex of Anagallis arvensis: surface geometry and growth in comparison with the vegetative shoot.

Quantitative analysis of geometry and surface growth based on the sequential replica method is used to compare morphogenesis at the shoot apex of Anagallis arvensis in the reproductive and vegetative phases of development. Formation of three types of lateral organs takes place at the Anagallis shoot apical meristem (SAM): vegetative leaf primordia are formed during the vegetative phase and leaf-like bracts and flower primordia during the reproductive phase. Although the shapes of all the three types of primordia are very similar during their early developmental stages, areal growth rates and anisotropy of apex surface growth accompanying formation of leaf or bract primordia are profoundly different from those during formation of flower primordia. This provides an example of different modes of de novo formation of a given shape. Moreover, growth accompanying the formation of the boundary between the SAM and flower primordium is entirely different from growth at the adaxial leaf or bract primordium boundary. In the latter, areal growth rates at the future boundary are the lowest of all the apex surface, while in the former they are relatively very high. The direction of maximal growth rate is latitudinal (along the future boundary) in the case of leaf or bract primordium but meridional (across the boundary) in the case of flower. The replica method does not enable direct analysis of growth in the direction perpendicular to the apex surface (anticlinal direction). Nevertheless, the reconstructed surfaces of consecutive replicas taken from an individual apex allow general directions of SAM surface bulging accompanying primordium formation to be recognized. Precise alignment of consecutive reconstructions shows that the direction of initial bulging during the leaf or bract formation is nearly parallel to the shoot axis (upward bulging), while in the case of flower it is perpendicular to the axis (lateral bulging). In future, such 3D reconstructions can be used to assess displacement velocity fields so that growth in the anticlinal direction can be assessed. In terms of self-perpetuation, the inflorescence SAM of Anagallis differs from the SAM in the vegetative phase in that the centrally located region of slow growth is less distinct in the inflorescence SAM. Moreover, the position of this slowly growing zone with respect to cells is not stable in the course of the meristem ontogeny.

Modeling and inferring cleavage patterns in proliferating epithelia.

The regulation of cleavage plane orientation is one of the key mechanisms driving epithelial morphogenesis. Still, many aspects of the relationship between local cleavage patterns and tissue-level properties remain poorly understood. Here we develop a topological model that simulates the dynamics of a 2D proliferating epithelium from generation to generation, enabling the exploration of a wide variety of biologically plausible cleavage patterns. We investigate a spectrum of models that incorporate the spatial impact of neighboring cells and the temporal influence of parent cells on the choice of cleavage plane. Our findings show that cleavage patterns generate "signature" equilibrium distributions of polygonal cell shapes. These signatures enable the inference of local cleavage parameters such as neighbor impact, maternal influence, and division symmetry from global observations of the distribution of cell shape. Applying these insights to the proliferating epithelia of five diverse organisms, we find that strong division symmetry and moderate neighbor/maternal influence are required to reproduce the predominance of hexagonal cells and low variability in cell shape seen empirically. Furthermore, we present two distinct cleavage pattern models, one stochastic and one deterministic, that can reproduce the empirical distribution of cell shapes. Although the proliferating epithelia of the five diverse organisms show a highly conserved cell shape distribution, there are multiple plausible cleavage patterns that can generate this distribution, and experimental evidence suggests that indeed plants and fruitflies use distinct division mechanisms.

Mutagenic, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of a new polyphenolic and a flavonoid substances isolated from Anagallis monelli.

A new polyphenolic natural substance: 2,5-dihydroxy-benzoic acid 3'-formyl-5'-hydroxy-phenyl ester (1), Anamighrinal and 3-(O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl) quercetin (2) have been isolated from the methanolic aerial part extract of the plant Anagallis monelli by chromatographic separation. Their structures have been deduced essentially by one and two NMR spectroscopic procedures and mass spectrometry. Antioxidant, mutagenic, antimutagenic activities, of the natural products were realised and positive results were recorded.

Relationships of Anagallis foemina and A. arvensis (Myrsinaceae): new insights inferred from DNA sequence data.

We investigated the relationship between Anagallis arvensis and A. foemina using nuclear and plastid molecular data. Information from the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and four different chloroplast loci; ndhF, trnL-F, rpl16, and rps16 was analysed using both parsimony and Bayesian inference. Anagallis foemina was found to be most closely related to the perennial A. monelli, and not to A. arvensis. The existence of two different cpDNA haplotypes was revealed; one shared by Anagallis foemina, A. monelli, A. platyphylla, and one A. arvensis individual, while all other investigated A. arvensis individuals shared the second haplotype. Ancestral cpDNA polymorphism within Anagallis arvensis or hybridization are possible explanations, however, information in ITS data is too scarce to falsify any of these hypotheses.

Mutagenic, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of a new class of beta-glucoside hydroxyhydroquinone from Anagallis monelli growing in Tunisia.

A new skeleton of an O-heteroside natural substance named zinolol, the first representative of a new class of aminated hydroxyhydroquinone, has been isolated from the whole plant Anagallis monelli. Its structure has been established by one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic procedures. Antioxidant, mutagenic, antimutagenic activities were realised and positive results were recorded.