Bioactivity evaluation of least explored traditionally acclaimed medicinally potent herb Nanorrhinum ramosissimum(Wall. ) Betsche

Abstract Present study analysed the therapeutic potential of traditionally acclaimed medicinal herb Nanorrhinum ramosissimum, using plant parts extracted with different solvents (10 mg/mL). Shoot extracts exhibited comparatively better antimicrobial properties, in comparison to root extracts. Total phenolic content was estimated, to ascertain its dependency on antioxidant properties of plant extracts. Antioxidant assay revealed promising results in comparison to IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid (52.2±0.07 µg/mL), for methanolic extracts of shoot (61.07±0.53 µg/mL and 64.33±0.33 µg/mL) and root (76.705±0.12 µg/mL and 89.73±0.28 µg/ mL) for in vivo and in vitro regenerants respectively. Correlation coefficient R2 values ranged between 0.90-0.95, indicating a positive correlation between phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. Plant extracts were also able to inhibit DNA oxidative damage again indicating their antioxidative potential. Antidiabetic potential was confirmed by alpha amylase inhibition assay where shoot methanolic extracts (invivo, in vitro) exhibited the best IC50 values (54.42±0.16 µg/mL, 66.09±0.12 µg/mL) in comparison to standard metformin (41.92±0.08 µg/mL). Ethanolic extracts of roots (in vitro, invivo) exhibited the relative IC50 values (88.97±0.32µg/mL,96.63±0.44 µg/mL) indicating that shoot parts had a better alpha amylase inhibition property; thus proving the herb's bioactive potential and its prospective therapeutic source for curing various ailments.

Iridoid glucosides in the genus Sutera (Scrophulariaceae) as chemotaxonomic markers in tribe Limoselleae.

From two species of Sutera (S. foetida and S. cordata) (Scrophulariaceae tribe Limoselleae) were isolated three known secoiridoid glucosides (12-14) as well as four iridoid congeners (8-11), all biosynthetically derived from iridodial glucoside (and/or deoxyloganic acid). In addition, two previously unknown compounds were found, namely a terpenoid glucoside lactone (suterolide, 21) and the phenylethanoid glycoside 2''''-O-acetyl-angoroside A (19) as well as verbascoside, echinacoside and tubuloside A(15-17, respectively). Two other species, Jamesbrittenia dissecta and Lyperia antirrhinoides, previously considered to belong to the same genus (Sutera) were shown to be members of two different genera, respectively. Significantly, these two species contained iridoids derived from 8-epi-iridodial (and 8-epideoxyloganic acid), namely aucubin (2), melittoside (3) and acetylharpagide (4). In addition we investigated Melanospermum transvaalense, Lyperia tristis and Microdon dubius likewise from Limoselleae and all of these contained iridoid glucosides from the 8-epi-pathway. Thus, secoiridoid distribution confirms the DNA-based circumscription of Sutera and its sister-group relationship with Manulea. In addition, the results show that the clade including these two genera has a biosynthetic pathway to iridoids fundamentally different from the rest of the tribe and from the whole family Scrophulariaceae.

A reassessment of the phylogeny and circumscription of Zaluzianskya (Scrophulariaceae).

The genus Zaluzianskya (Scrophulariaceae s.s.) encompasses a diversity of floral and ecological traits. However, this diversity, as described by the current taxonomic circumscription of Zaluzianskya, is an underestimate. We present molecular data suggesting that this genus requires expansion via incorporation of species from other genera and recognition of unnamed cryptic species. This study advances prior molecular phylogenies of the southern African genus through the addition of DNA regions and 51 populations that had not previously been sampled in a published phylogeny. A total of 82 species of Zaluzianskya and related genera are included, adding 48 to those previously sampled. Results are presented from analyses of five DNA regions, including nuclear ITS and four rapidly evolving chloroplast regions (trnL-trnF, rpl16, rps16, and trnS-trnfM). Our primary finding is that the genus Phyllopodium is polyphyletic as currently circumscribed, with some species placed within Zaluzianskya and others grouping with Polycarena, indicating the need for further phylogenetic work on these genera. Preliminary support for the incorporation of Reyemia into Zaluzianskya is reinforced here by the first molecular analysis to include both species of Reyemia and a strong sampling of species across Zaluzianskya and major clades of tribe Limoselleae. The two disjunct, tropical African species of Zaluzianskya are also confirmed as members of this genus. Finally, a broad sampling of 21 populations of Z. microsiphon establishes their phylogenetic division into two to five separate lineages. Hybridization, coevolution, and cryptic speciation may each play a role in the evolution of Z. microsiphon. Further resolution within a clade comprising sections Nycterinia and Macrocalyx is needed to better understand their relationships.

[Analysis of varieties and standards of Scrophulariaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine].

In this paper, the popular domestic varieties and quality standard of Scrophulariaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine were analyzed. The results showed that there were 11 genera and 99 species (including varieties), as well as 28 medicinal materials varieties of Scrophulariaceae plants were recorded in the relevant literatures. In relevant Tibetan standards arid literatures, there are great differences in varieties, sources, parts, and efficacies of medicinal plant. Among them, about 41.4% (including 41 species) of endemic plants, about 15.2% (including 15 species) of the original plants have medicinal standard legal records, except the medicinal materials of Scrophalaria ningpoensis, Lagotis brevituba, Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Veronica eriogyne general, most varieties have not completed quality standard. Consequently it is necessary to reinforce the herbal textual, resources and the use present situation investigation, the effects of the species resources material foundation and biological activity, quality standard, specification the medical terms of the plants, and promote Tibetan medicinal vareties-terminologies-sources such as the criterion and quality standard system for enriching the varieties of Tibetan medicinal materials and Chinese medicinal resources.

Spatio-temporal evolution of Leucophyllum pringlei and allies (Scrophulariaceae): a group endemic to North American xeric regions.

The taxa of the Leucophyllum pringlei clade were used to understand the influence of the Neogene orogenesis and the Quaternary climate cycles on the diversification of the flora of the xeric regions of North America. This clade includes the five southernmost species of the genus: L. ambiguum, L. flyrii, L. pruinosum and L. ultramonticola, which are distributed throughout the Chihuahuan Desert north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and L. pringlei in the region of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán south of this mountain range. Here we test whether these species diverged during the pluvial periods of the Pleistocene, and whether L. pringlei diverged earlier from the other species during the uplift of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Using three plastid regions (psbA-trnH, psbK-psbI, trnL-F) and a nuclear (ITS) marker, phylogenetic analyses were carried out, along with a reconstruction of their ancestral area. Trees retrieved the five species in a monophyletic group with the most recent common ancestor distributed in the Sinaloan dry forest during the Late Miocene (8.08Ma), from where it dispersed to the Chihuahuan Desert during the Late Miocene (6.35Ma). The secondary uplift of the Sierra Madre Occidental during the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene influenced a vicariance event. Divergence between L. pringlei and the species from north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt occurred during the second volcanic episode in the Late Miocene (7.5-3Ma). The most recent common ancestor of L. ambiguum, L. pruinosum and L. ultramonticola was widely distributed in the southern part of the Chihuahuan Desert during the Early to Late Pliocene (3.50Ma). The diversification of these three species occurred in the Middle Pleistocene (0.9Ma) during the pluvial and inter-pluvial cycles.

Microsatellite markers in Paulownia kawakamii (Scrophulariaceae) and cross-amplification in other Paulownia species.

Paulownia kawakamii is a fast-growing timber tree. In this study, 21 primer sets were developed using an enriched genomic library. The genetic diversity was measured in one P. kawakamii population. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 19. The observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.158 to 0.842 (mean = 0.421) and from 0.376 to 0.952 (mean = 0.771), respectively. All 21 loci were also polymorphic in closely related species (P. tomentosa, P. elongata, and P. fortunei). The described markers will be useful in future population genetic studies and molecular breeding of these Paulownia species.

The Linderniaceae and Gratiolaceae are further lineages distinct from the Scrophulariaceae (Lamiales).

The Lamiales are one of the largest orders of angiosperms, with about 22,000 species. The Scrophulariaceae, as one of their most important families, has recently been shown to be polyphyletic. As a consequence, this family was re-classified and several groups of former scrophulariaceous genera now belong to different families, such as the Calceolariaceae, Plantaginaceae, or Phrymaceae. In the present study, relationships of the genera Craterostigma, Lindernia and its allies, hitherto classified within the Scrophulariaceae, were analyzed. Sequences of the chloroplast trnK intron and the matK gene (approximately 2.5 kb) were generated for representatives of all major lineages of the Lamiales and the former Scrophulariaceae. Bayesian and parsimony analyses revealed two isolated lineages, one of which consists of Lindernia and its allies, the other of Gratiola and allies. Gratiola was previously assumed to be related to Lindernia and was therefore included here. It is proposed to treat the two clades as separate families, Linderniaceae and Gratiolaceae. For the Linderniaceae, several morphological synapomorphies exist in addition to molecular data, such as conspicuous club-shaped stamen appendages.

Calceolaria (Scrophulariaceae): las especies del Dpto. de Cajamarca, Perú / Calceolaria (Scrophulariaceae): the species of the Dpto. of Cajamarca, Peru

The genus Calceolaria L. reaches its bighest species diversity in northern Peru. 45 species are known to occur inthe departament of Cajamarca, many of which are narrow endemics. Keys and short descriptions are provided, including some species just outside the studied area.

El género Calceolaria L. alcanza su más alta diversidad específica en el norte del Perú. En el departamento de Cajamarca se distribuyeron 43 especies, muchas e las cuales son endémicas e áreas reducidas. Se incluyen claves y cortas descripciones de todos los taxa, incluyendo algunas especies que habitan muy cerca del área estudiada.