A new ent-kauranoid from Isodon lophanthoides var. geradianus.

A new ent-kaurane diterpenoid, lophanthodin G (1) and one known abietanoid, 6alpha-hydroxyferruginol (2), were isolated from the leaves of Isodon lophanthoides var. geradianus. The structure of the new compound 1 was established using spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis.

Identification of kinetin and kinetin riboside in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water using a combined approach of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Kinetin (free base and riboside), which was assumed by many scientists to be a synthetic cytokinin plant growth hormone, has been detected for the first time in the endosperm liquid of fresh young coconut fruits ("coconut water"). To facilitate the study, we developed a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the identification and quantification of kinetin and kinetin riboside in purified coconut water extract sample. Following a solid-phase extraction of cytokinins in coconut water using C18 columns, the samples were further purified by Oasis MCX columns and analyzed by LC-MS/MS for kinetin and kinetin riboside. Detection by mass spectrometry was carried out using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, by identifying the putative kinetin and kinetin riboside based on their characteristic fragments. Based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, the limits of detection in SRM mode were 0.02 microM and 0.005 microM for kinetin and kinetin riboside, respectively. Furthermore, optimal conditions for a baseline chromatographic separation of 18 cytokinin standards by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were developed. The HPLC method had been employed for the confirmation and further fractionation of kinetin in coconut water extracts. The confirmation and fractionation of kinetin riboside was carried out using a further modified HPLC program due to the presence of other interfering material(s) in the sample matrix. Finally, fractions of putative kinetin and kinetin riboside collected from HPLC eluate of coconut water sample were further authenticated by independent capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) experiment.

Carnivorous pitcher plant uses free radicals in the digestion of prey.

A study of the involvement of free oxygen radicals in trapping and digestion of insects by carnivorous plants was the main goal of the present investigation. We showed that the generation of oxygen free radicals by pitcher fluid of Nepenthes is the first step of the digestion process, as seen by EPR spin trapping assay and gel-electrophoresis. The EPR spectrum of N. gracilis fluid in the presence of DMPO spin trap showed the superposition of the hydroxyl radical spin adduct signal and of the ascorbyl radical signal. Catalase addition decreased the generation of hydroxyl radicals showing that hydroxyl radicals are generated from hydrogen peroxide, which can be derived from superoxide radicals. Gel-electrophoresis data showed that myosin, an abundant protein component of insects, can be rapidly broken down by free radicals and protease inhibitors do not inhibit this process. Addition of myoglobin to the pitcher plant fluid decreased the concentration of detectable radicals. Based on these observations, we conclude that oxygen free radicals produced by the pitcher plant aid in the digestion of the insect prey.

Analysis and biological activities of anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring compounds that impart color to fruits, vegetables, and plants. They are probably the most important group of visible plant pigments besides chlorophyll. Apart from imparting color to plants, anthocyanins also have an array of health-promoting benefits, as they can protect against a variety of oxidants through a various number of mechanisms. However, anthocyanins have received less attention than other flavonoids, despite this. This article reviews their biological functions and pre-clinical studies, as well as the most recent analytical techniques concerning anthocyanin isolation and identification.

Recent advances in traditional plant drugs and orchids.

The main objective of this paper is to review recent advances in plant drug research and developments in orchid study, in an attempt to provide useful references for plant drug studies. Plants have been used as medicine for millennia. Out of estimated 250 000 to 350 000 plant species identified so far, about 35 000 are used worldwide for medicinal purposes. It has been confirmed by WHO that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80 percent of the world's population; especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries. Meanwhile, consumers in developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modern healthcare and are seeking alternatives. The recent resurgence of plant remedies results from several factors: 1) the effectiveness of plant medicines; 2) the side effect of most modern drugs; and 3) the development of science and technology. It has been estimated that in the mid-1990s over 200 companies and research organizations worldwide are screening plant and animal compounds for medicinal properties. Actually, several important drugs used in modern medicine have come from medicinal plant studies, eg, taxol/paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, topotecan, irinotecan, etoposide, teniposide, etc. As for drugs derived from orchids, some novel discoveries, both in phytochemical and pharmacological properties, were reported by some universities. However, studies on plants are very limited. Only about a third of the million or so species of higher plants have been identified and named by scientists. Of those named, only a tiny fraction has been studied. Nowadays the linking of the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants to modern research activities provides a new approach, which makes the rate of discovery of drugs much more effective than with random collection.

Antioxidant flavonoids from leaves of Polygonum hydropiper L.

Ten flavonoid compounds were isolated from the dried leaves of Polygonum hydropiper L. (Laksa leaves), and identified as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy-3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone; 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone; 6-hydroxyapigenin; 6"-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl) 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3', 4', 5, 7-tetrahydroxyflavone; scutillarein; 6-hydroxyluteolin; 3',4',5,6,7-pentahydroxyflavone; 6-hydroxyluteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside; quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide; 2"-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl) quercitrin; quercetin. Evaluation of the antioxidative activity, conducted in vitro, by using electron spin resonance (ESR) and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric assays, showed that these isolated flavonoids possess strong antioxidative capabilities. Measurement of the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values, against ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzo-thiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radicals and phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) azo initiator (AI) also showed strong anti-oxidative activity. The most powerful of the antioxidants was 2"-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl) quercitrin (galloyl quercitrin). A combination of two flavonoid compounds was tested for synergistic anti-oxidative capacity, but no significant improvement was observed.