A new ent-kauranoid from rhizomes of Canna generalis / 药学学报

Two ent-kauranoids were isolated from the ethanol extraction of rhizomes of Canna generalis (Cannaceae), and were purified by various technologies, including silica gel and high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were determined by modern spectroscopy techniques as (5R,8S,9S,10R,13R)-2-oxo-ent-kaur-15-en-17-oic acid (1) and (4R,5S,8S,9S,10S,13R)-19-hydroxy-ent-kaur-15-en-17-oic acid (2). Compound 1 is a new ent-kauranoid, and compound 2 is obtained from rhizomes of Canna generalis for the first time.

Canna indica-chitin-alginate composite beads for the treatment of textile dye effluent containing Rose Bengal dye

Aim: To study the adsorption of Rose Bengal dye used in textile industries by Canna indica-chitin-alginate beads. Methodology: C. indica-chitin-alginate composite beads were prepared using root tubers of Canna indica, chitin from shrimp shells and sodium alginate. Batch adsorption of Rose Bengal dye was carried out with optimized parameters like pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage and dye concentrations. Characterization studies like SEM, FTIR and TGA and reusability of composite beads were also studied. Results: The maximum adsorption of 97.9% was obtained at pH 6, 80 min contact time with the optimized ratio of 1:1:0.05 C. indica-chitin-alginate towards 100 mg l-1 dye concentration. The SEM analysis showed a porous surface morphology whereas FTIR results exhibited the functional groups of Rose Bengal dye and composite beads, proving successful adsorption. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the composite beads could withstand a maximum temperature of 300oC. Interpretation: It is inferred from the study that a biosorbent prepared from a commonly available plant and shells of shrimp, which is considered as a waste, can be effectively used in the adsorption of harmful textile dyes from the effluent in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way.

Effect of Canna edulis Type 3 Resistant Starch in Reducing Body Weight, Serum Lipid and Acute Toxicity / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To evaluate effect of Canna edulis type 3 resistant starch(RS3) on weight loss and lipid reduction in obese hyperlipidemia mice and acute toxicity in mice. Method: KKAy mice were fed with high-fat diet for 20 weeks to establish a hyperlipidemia model and then randomly divided into model group,positive group (4 mg·kg-1), high-dose resistant starch group and low-dose resistant starch group (2,1 g·kg-1).Mice in normal group were fed with standard diet. The medication groups received corresponding drugs by gavage. Normal group and high-fat model group were given equal volume of deionized water. After 8 weeks,mice were put to death. The levels of total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum of mice were measured,and weigh fat mass,fat/body ratio,body fat rate and Lee's index were calculated accurately. The pathological changes of liver and adipose tissue were observed byhematoxylin-eosin (HE). The acute toxicity of RS3 to mice was evaluated by limit test. The mice were continuously observed for 14 days, and the toxicity of mice was recorded. Result: The indicators of high-dose RS3 group were significantly reduced,such as body weight,fat mass,body fat rate,fat/body ratio,Lee's index,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT levels(P-1 was administered,no toxic reaction and death occurred in the animals. Conclusion: RS3-type Canna Edulis Resistant Starch has a good effect in reducing body weight and serum lipid,with a better effect in the high-dose group and no toxicity. And the commonly used clinical dose is safe and reliable.

Studies on antioxidant enzymes in Canna indica plant under copper stress.

Bright red-flowered Canna indica L. plants were subjected to grow in nutrient solution supplemented with five different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 30 and 50 µM) of CuCl2 to study antioxidant defense responses of the plant. Accumulation of Cu was dose-dependent and much higher in the roots (108- 191µg g-1 d. wt.) than in the leaves (23.36 - 40.43 µg g-1 d.wt.). Total ascorbate content did not changed in both tissues, but ascorbate redox state decreased (0.570-0.640) in Cu-treated Canna roots. In contrast, both total and reduced glutathione contents increased (387-591.9 nmol g-1 f. wt.) considerably in roots, accompanied with enhanced activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (153.3-160 nmol mg-1 protein) and glutathione reductase (67-87.5 nmol mg-1 protein). No significant change, however, was observed for monodehydroascorbate reductase activity in both tissues of the treated plant. The efficient scavenging of hydrogen peroxide was performed by normal (control level) activities of both ascorbate peroxidase and catalase in leaf and increased activity of only catalase in root, preventing its accumulation at toxic concentrations (despite high superoxide dismutase activity) and subsequent damage of membrane lipids by peroxidation. Together, these ensured normal dry weight of leaves and roots, indicating tolerance of Canna indica plant to Cu-induced oxidative stress.

Characterization of biominerals in species of Canna (Cannaceae)

Plant biominerals are not always well characterized, although this information is important for plant physiology and can be useful for taxonomic purposes. In this work, fresh plant material of seven wild neotropical species of genus Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. indica, C. glauca, C. plurituberosa, C. variegatifolia and C. fuchsina sp. ined., taken from different habitats, were studied to characterize the biominerals in their internal tissues. For the first time, samples from primary and secondary veins of leaves were investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy, complemented with X-ray powder diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The spectroscopic results, supported by X-ray powder diffractometry, suggest that the calcium oxalate is present in the form of whewellite (CaC2O4×H2O) in all the investigated samples. It is interesting to emphasize that all IR spectra obtained were strongly similar in all species studied, thus indicating an identical chemical composition in terms of the biominerals found. In this sense, the results suggest that the species of Canna show similar ability to produce biogenic silica and produce an identical type of calcium oxalate within their tissues. These results can be an additional trait to support the relationship among the families of Zingiberales. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1507-1515. Epub 2010 December 01.

Los biominerales de las plantas no siempre han sido bien caracterizados aunque esta información es importante en fisiología vegetal y puede ser de utilidad para fines taxonómicos. En este trabajo se estudió material vegetal fresco de siete especies silvestres neotropicales: Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. indica, C. glauca, C. plurituberosa, C. variegatifolia and C. fuchsina sp. ined., provenientes de diferentes localidades, con el fin de caracterizar los biominerales presentes en sus tejidos foliares internos. Por vez primera, muestras de venas primarias (ejes foliares) y secundarias de hojas de estas especies se investigaron por medio de espectroscopia de infarrojo, complementada con estudios por difracción de rayos X de polvos y microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los resultados indicaron la presencia de ópalo (sílice biogénica) y oxalato de calcio en los tejidos vegetales analizados. Además, se determinó que el oxalato de calcio está presente en forma de whewellita (CaC2O4×H2O), información nueva para el género. Tanto el ópalo como la whewellita están presentes en todas las especies analizadas, que representan aproximadamente un tercio de las especies silvestres del género. La capacidad de biomineralizar SiO2 en forma de ópalo en especies de Canna de diversos ambientes resulta también un rasgo altamente sugerente para futuros estudios.

Morfología del polen en especies de Canna (Cannaceae) y su implicancia sistemática

Pollen morphology in species of Canna (Cannaceae), and systematics implications. The morphology of pollen grains of eight taxa of Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. compacta, C. glauca, C. indica, C. paniculata, C. variegatifolia and C. fuchsina, an unpublished new species, were studied using light and scanning electronic microscopes. We used the Wodehouse technique on samples of 20 grains per specimen to measure the intine with a light microscope; and the density of spines (in 400μm2 fields) with scanning electronic microscopy. Pollen grains are spherical, echinate, omniaperturate. The sporoderm presents a very thin exine covering a thicker intine. Corrugate micro-perforate, sub-reticulate, rugate, rugulate, striate to folded, micro-striate, micro-granulate, and smooth types of the external surface of the sporoderm were found. The spines consist of exine, partially to completely covered by tryphine. The two-layered intine is the thicker part of the wall. Echinate ornamentation is a generic character in Canna, but size, surface and color of pollen walls, and density and shape of spines, are diagnostic for species. Pollen morphology supports the view of C. indica and C. coccinea as different species. Canna fuchsina grows in wild, dense colonies, in humid riverside forests from Buenos Aires and Santa Fe Provinces, Argentina; its characters suggest relationships with a not well known group of taxa, some of them hybrids, such as C. x generalis. However, as these plants showed normal, well formed grains, close to those of C. coccinea, that germinate over the stigmatic surfaces in fresh flowers, we decided to include their pollen in this study. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 63-79. Epub 2010 March 01.

Se estudió la morfología de los granos de polen de ocho táxones de Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. compacta, C. glauca, C. indica, C. paniculata, C. variegatifolia y C. fuchsina, nueva especie aún no descrita, que fueron estudiadas usando microscopio de luz y microscopio electrónico de barrido. Nosotros utilizamos la técnica de Wodehouse en muestras de 20 granos por espécimen para medir la intina con el microscopio de luz; y la densidad de espinas (en campos de 400μm2) con el microscopio electrσnico de barrido. Los granos de polen son esfιricos, equinados y omniaberturados. El esporodermo presenta una exina muy delgada cubriendo una intina gruesa. La superficie del esporodermo puede ser corrugada, microperforada, sub-reticulada, rugada, rugulada, plegada-estriada, micro-estriada, microgranulada o lisa. Las espinas están formadas por exina, cubiertas total o parcialmente por trifina. La intina esta formada por dos capas, es la parte más gruesa de la pared. La ornamentación equinada es un rasgo genérico en Canna, pero el tamaño, la superficie y el color del polen, y la densidad y forma de las espinas, son rasgos diagnósticos de las especies. La morfología del polen apoya el tratamiento de C. coccinea y C. indica como especies diferentes. Canna fuchsina crece formando densas colonias silvestres en selvas ribereñas húmedas de las provincias de Buenos Aires y Santa Fe, Argentina; sus características sugieren relaciones no muy bien entendidas en el grupo de taxones, algunos son híbridos tales como C. x generalis. Sin embargo, estas plantas muestran granos normales, bien formados, cercanos a los de C. coccinea, que germinan sobre el estigma de flores frescas, nosotros decidimos incluir su polen en este estudio.