Post-seminal structure and development of the hemiparasitic plant Escobedia grandiflora (Orobanchaceae)

Escobedia grandiflora(L.f.) Kuntze is a wild hemiparasitic plant with orange roots. Little is known about the development of initial parasitism with the host, despite the significant value of roots for Central and South American communities. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize post-seminal structure and development of E. grandiflorain Pennisetum purpureumhost. To analyze the structure and development of E. grandiflora, seedlings, stems and roots samples were processed and examined underlight, confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Escobedia grandifloraseeds are composed of seed coat, perisperm, and embryo. Emergence of the radicle began eleven days after imbibition. Seedlings showed a root hair collar encircling the axis at the root-hypocotyl junction with elongation of internal cortical cells. Seedlings formed haustoria and successfully reached of the host roots 22 days following root emergence. In the root many starch grains were observed, albeit more scarce in the hypocotyl. After 43 days of root emergence, the seedling stage was finished with the formation of the definitive leaves, and star of the plant stage. After 64 days, root ramification, amount of starch, and orange pigmentation increased with formation of haustoria. The developmental pattern of E. grandiflora plants was slow, but the roots grew faster than the stem. Escobedia grandifloraseeds were not endospermic and have limited nutritional value. After root emergence, the young seedling must develop roots and starch storage towards to haustorium formation and attachment to host roots.

Pharmacophylogenetic study of genus Orobanche, Cistanche and Boschniakia / 中国中药杂志

The genus Orobanche, Cistanche and Boschniakia are taxonomically classified as members of Orobanchaceae. The medicinal plants of these three genera are closely related, and their traditional curative effects are similar. As representative compounds, phenethyl glycosides are predominantly dominant type both in amount and in chemical structural varieties, which are considered to be the important bioactive material basis of these genera. In this paper, phenethyl glycosides and their pharmacological activities are described in a single list. In addition, the other compounds were also reviewed in order to better compare the difference of the bioactive substances. These findings have important reference value for effective development and rational utilization of resources of medicinal plants in the family Orobanchaceae.

Investigation of ethnic medicinal plants Orobanche, Cistanche and Boschniakia / 中国中药杂志

In this paper the species of ethnic medicinal plants Orobanche, Cistanche and Boschniakia, and their ethnopharmaceutical uses were comprehensively summarized by field investigation, systematical data analysis and comparison of relevant specimen and references. The results showed that six plants belonging to Orobanche were used as seven kinds of ethnic medicinal plants, two plants attributing Boschniakia were used as ten kinds of ethnic medicinal plants, two plants of Cistanche were used as three ethnic medicinal plants. The same plant was often used as different ethnic medicine in varied ethnic minorities. The effects of the ethnic medicines included yang-tonifying, hemostasis and analgesic activities. Hence, it is necessary to develop the rich plant resource of Orobanche for alleviation of Cistanche resources shortage.

Intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica (BRAF) on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The experimental mice were randomly assigned into the normal control group, the model group, the silymarin (positive control) group, as well as high and low dose BRAF groups. Mice were treated intragastrically with silymarin or BRAF once every day for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, CCl4 was injected intraperitoneally into the mice to establish the acute liver injury model. The pathological changes was detected with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, and the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by the colorimetric method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>BRAF significantly reduced ALT, AST and ALP activities in serum, alleviated hepatic injury induced by CCl4, increased SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels in liver, and SOD, Na + -K + -ATPase and Ca2+ -Mg2 + -ATPase activities in liver mitochondria, and decreased the MDA content in liver and liver mitochondria.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BRAF reduces hepatic oxidative stress in mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4, thereby showing the protective effect on mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4.</p>

Genetic diversity in two variants of Orobanche gracilis Sm. [var. gracilis and var. deludens (Beck) A. Pujadas] (Orobanchaceae) from different regions of Spain

The pattern of genetic variation among populations of two Orobanche gracilis Sm. taxa (var. gracilis and var. deludens (Beck) A. Pujadas) from Northern and Southern Spain growing on different hosts was analysed using RAPD markers. The diversity analysis within populations revealed a higher level of diversity in the populations from the North when compared to the Southern ones. The results of principal co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Dice distances among samples clearly established the separation of samples according to the taxonomical variety and the geographical origin of each population. The Southern populations of both var. gracilis and var. deludens were more differentiated among them than those of var. gracilis from the North. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the lowest level of population differentiation was found in O. gracilis var. gracilis from the North, whereas in the case of O. gracilis var. deludens from the South most of the genetic diversity was attributable to differences among populations. Possible explanations for the distribution of variation in these populations are discussed.