New arbutin derivatives from the leaves of Heliciopsis lobata with cytotoxicity / 中国天然药物

Heliciopsis lobata is a medicinal plant, which is exclusively used to treat tumor in Li folk region. Two new arbutin derivatives, 6'-((E)2-methoxy-5-hydroxycinnamoyl) arbutin (1) and 2'-((E)2, 5-dihydroxycinnamoyl) arbutin (2) along with five known compounds (3-7), were isolated from the leaves of Heliciopsis lobata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretations. They were evaluated for their potential anticancer activity. Compounds 6 and 7 exhibited cytotoxicity against MGC-803 cells with IC values being 44.1 and 11.3 μg·mL, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1, 2 and 5-7 exhibited a moderate inhibition of MGC-803 cells invasion; compound 2 at 20 μg·mL inhibited the invasion of MGC-803 cells by 43.0%, compared with the controls.

Actividad antioxidante y antihiperglucemiante de la especie medicinal Oreocallis grandiflora (Lam.) R. Br., al sur del Ecuador / Antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activity of the medicinal specie Oreocallis grandiflora (Lam.) R. Br., in southern Ecuador

In this study we evaluated the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activity in vitro of the extracts obtained with solvents: hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol, of the medicinal plant Oreocallis grandiflora (cucharillo), collected in the Saraguro indian community of the province Loja, southern Ecuador. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the tests: DPPH, FOLIN-CIOCALTEU and beta-CLAMS, while the antihyperglycemic activity was determined by inhibition assay á-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. The samples were diluted to different concentrations and the reading was performed in a UV spectrophotometer, using as positive control á-tocopherol for DPPH and Folin-ciocalteu test, trolox for beta-CLAMS test, and Glucobay® for testing alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase.The results are expressed as IC50, these show that the methanol extract of Oreocallis grandiflora has inhibitory effect on alpha-amylase, the IC50 is 109 ug/ml, compared to 126 ug/ ml of Glucobay®. It also shows inhibitory effect on á-glucosidase, the IC50 is 3 ug/ml compared to 1316 ug/ml of Glucobay®. It also shows antioxidant activity, its IC50 is 15 ug/ml compared to 5 ug/ml of á-tocopherol.

En el presente trabajo se evaluó la actividad antioxidante y antihiperglucemiante in vitro de los extractos obtenidos con los solventes: hexano, acetato de etilo y metanol, de la planta medicinal Oreocallis grandiflora (cucharillo), recolectada en la comunidad indígena de Saraguro en la provincia de Loja, al sur del Ecuador. La actividad antioxidante fue evaluada a través de los ensayos: DPPH, FOLIN-CIOCALTEU y beta-CLAMS, mientras que la actividad antihiperglucemiante fue determinada por el ensayo de inhibición de alfa- amilasa y alfa-glucosidasa. El extracto metanólico de Oreocallis grandiflora presenta efecto inhibitorio sobre la enzima alfa-amilasa, su concentración inhibitoria (CI50) es de 109 ug/ml, frente a 126 ug/ml del control positivo Glucobay®. Además, muestra efecto inhibitorio sobre la enzima alfa-glucosidasa, su concentración inhibitoria (CI50) es de 3 ug/ml, frente a 1316 ug/ml del Glucobay®. Muestra también actividad antioxidante, su concentración inhibitoria (CI50) es de 15 ug/ml, frente a 5 ug/ml del alfa-tocoferol.

Seed predation by mammals in forest fragments in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Few studies have evaluated seed predation in fragmented landscapes, in which lower species diversity is expected to modifying ecological interactions. The rates of seed removal by mammals were investigated in a continuous forest and two fragmented patches of Premontane Tropical Moist Forest, in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The composition of mammalian seed-predators in each site was recorded during 16 months. The removal of four native tree species of experimental seeds: Ocotea valeriana and Ocotea whitei (Lauraceae), Panopsis costaricensis (Proteaceae) and Billia colombiana (Hippocastanaceae) in forest understories was followed during two annual fruiting seasons for each species. Results indicated similar species composition of seed-predators between continuous forest, the largest fragment (350 ha). However the smaller fragment (20 ha), had fewer seed predators. In this fragment, the specialized seed predator Heteromys desmarestianus (Rodentia) was more abundant. Unexpectedly, seed-predation in the two forest fragments and the continuous forest did not differ statistically for any of the seed species. Apparently, the higher abundance of small seed-predators in the fragments was compensated by the absence of medium and large seed-predators, like Agouti paca, Dasyprocta punctata (both Rodentia) and Pecari tajacu (Artiodactyla) recorded in continuous forest. Removal of experimentally-placed seeds was higher when the number of naturally occurring seeds in the sites was lower. This result could best be attributed to differential satiation of seed predators rather than differences in richness or abundance of seed predators. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (3): 865-877. Epub 2009 September 30.

Pocos estudios han evaluado la depredación de semillas en ambientes fragmentados, en éstos la menor diversidad de especies debe estar modificando las interacciones ecológicas. Se investigó la remoción de semillas por mamíferos en un bosque continuo y dos fragmentos en Monteverde, Costa Rica. Se registró la composición de mamíferos en cada sitio durante 16 meses y se observó la remoción de semillas experimentales del suelo del bosque. Se utilizó semillas de cuatro especies de árboles: Ocotea valeriana, Ocotea whitei, Panopsis costaricensis y Billia colombiana, durante dos periodos anuales de fructificación cada una. Los resultados indican una composición de depredadores de semillas similar entre el bosque continuo y el fragmento de 350 ha, más diversos que el fragmento de 20 ha, en el cual el especialista en semillas Heteromys desmarestianus fue más abundante. La depredación de semillas entre el bosque continuo y los fragmentos no fue estadísticamente diferente al considerar todas las especies de semillas, debido a la mayor abundancia de depredadores pequeños, que pudo compensar la ausencia de depredadores de talla mediana y grande que sí están presentes en el bosque continuo. La depredación sobre semillas fue mayor cuando la oferta de semillas no experimentales fue menor, indicando que la saciedad de los depredadores puede estar determinando la remoción de semillas en fragmentos, más que la riqueza o abundancia de especies depredadoras.

Studies on chemical constituents of Heliciopsis lobata II / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the constituents of the leaves of Heliciopsis lobata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, neutral aluminum oxide and Sephadex LH -20, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic and physicochemical data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven known compounds were isolated and identified as: myricetin (1), myricitrin (2), syringetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), medioresinol (4), D-1-O-methyl-myo-inositol (5), hydroquinone (6), and beta-sitosterol (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of these compounds were isolated from genus Heliciopsis for the first time.</p>

Lepidópteros folívoros em Roupala montana Aubl. (Proteaceae) no Cerrado Sensu Stricto / Folivore caterpillars on Roupala montana Aubl. (Proteaceae) in Cerrado Sensu Stricto

No cerrado a riqueza de espécies de lepidópteros é alta e confirmada por registros de adultos, mas o conhecimento sobre as interações das lagartas com suas plantas hospedeiras ainda é incipiente. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram conhecer a riqueza de espécies de lepidópteros folívoros em Roupala montana Abl., a idade relativa das folhas consumidas pelas espécies e suas amplitudes de dietas. Os dados foram coletados em áreas de cerrado sensu stricto de Brasília de 1991 a 2004. As lagartas encontradas foram coletadas e criadas no laboratório. Foram registradas 62 espécies de lepidópteros de 22 famílias, consumindo folhas jovens (8 por cento) e maduras (92 por cento) de R. montana. Cerconota sciaphilina (Zeller) (Elachistidae), duas espécies de Gracillariidae e uma de Gelechiidae consumiram somente folhas jovens e, apresentaram ciclo de vida curto e sincronizado com a fenologia foliar da planta hospedeira. Das espécies que consomem folhas maduras, 36 foram consideradas polífagas e mostraram variação muito grande na utilização do recurso. Vinte e seis espécies foram encontradas somente em R. montana, sendo que 58 por cento delas são bastante raras, o que dificulta análise de amplitude de dieta. As espécies monófagas em R. montana foram Chlamydastis platyspora (Meyrick) (Elachistidae), Stenoma cathosiota Meyrick (Elachistidae), Idalus prop. sublineata (Rothschild) (Arctiidae) e Eomichla sp. (Oecophoridae).

Study on chemical constituents in seeds of Helicia nilagirica (II) / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents in seeds of Helicia nilagirica.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The ethanol extract was seperated by petroleum ether, dichloromethane, n-butanol in sequence, then isolated by silica gel column chromatography. The structures were identified and elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane and n-butanol extracts, identified as p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), gallic acid (3), helicide (4), 4-formylpymyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the compounds except IV were isolated from the plant for the first time. The compounds I, II and III were isolated from the genus Helicia for the first time.</p>

Structure identification of two new cerebrosides from Helicia nilagirica Beed / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the bioactive components from Helicia nilagirica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Compounds were separated with a combination of multi-chromatography. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two compounds were isolated from the leaves of Helicia nilagirica. Compound 1 was elucidated as 1-O-3-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hyd roxylignocenoyl-amino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol. Compound 2 was an analogue of 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The two compounds are new cerebrosides.</p>