Enteromorpha flexuosa (Wulfen) J. Agardh (Chlorophyta: Ulvales)--evaluation as an indicator of heavy metal contamination in a tropical estuary.

The use of bioindicators for contaminant monitoring is popular in all sectors of the environment but quite often bioindicators are utilised without rigorous evaluation of their viability as an indicator. We report field and laboratory investigations into the value of a commonly found macroalga, Enteromorpha flexuosa (Wulfen) J. Agardh (Chlorophyta: Ulvales) as an indicator of copper, zinc and lead contamination in a tropical estuary in Fiji. In the laboratory, metal content of E. flexuosa after 60 days of growth in seawater containing increasing concentrations of the metals showed almost perfect correlation with metal concentrations in water for all three metals, and concentration factors obtained were generally higher than values reported for other species of Enteromorpha. Performance in the field was evaluated by a one-year monitoring of metals in E. flexuosa, water and sediments from a contaminated estuary. Metal concentrations in water were always below detection limits and field concentration factors could not be determined but the concentration of lead in E. flexuosa showed a high correlation with the lead content of sediments. Lack of such correlation for copper and zinc in the field suggests that other environmental factors besides metal load in the physical environment could be controlling the bioaccumulation of these two metals. Whilst demonstrating E. flexuosa to be a viable bioindicator for lead, these results also highlight the need for proper assessment before an organism is considered for environmental monitoring.

Benzophenones of Garcinia pseudoguttifera (Clusiaceae).

Four biogenetically related benzophenones have been isolated from the Fijian Garcinia pseudoguttifera. They are: 6-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-3,5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzophenone (myrtiaphenone-A); 2,2-dimethyl-8-benzoyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzopy ran (myrtiaphenone-B); 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-3,5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzophenone (vismiaphenone-C) and a new benzophenone, 2,2-dimethyl-8-benzoyl-3,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxy- 6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzopyran (pseudoguttiaphenone-A). Pseudoguttiaphenone-A could be biogenetically derived from vismiaphenone-C. The major component of G. pseudoguttifera was identified as eupha-8,24-dien-3 beta-ol.

Anti-HIV coumarins from Calophyllum seed oil.

The seeds of Calophyllum cerasiferum Vesque (Family-Clusiaceae), and Calophyllum inophyllum Linn. (Family-Clusiaceae) contain several known coumarins, among which were the potent HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors costatolide and inophyllum P. Calophyllum cerasiferum contained (-)-calanolide B as its major coumarin constituent in significant amount and thus constitute a renewable source of this compound.

Triterpenoidal Constituents of Diploclisia glaucescens.

The pentacyclic triterpenoids serjanic acid and phytolaccagenic acid as well as a new glycoside, 3- O-beta- D-glucopyranosylphytolaccagenic acid have been isolated from the stem of DIPLOCLISIA GLAUCESCENS (Bl.) Diels (Menispermaceae). New spectroscopic data are furnished for serjanic acid and phytolaccagenic acid.

Potential long-acting contraceptive agents: esters of testosterone with alkoxy- and halogeno-substituted carboxylic acids.

The chemical synthesis and physical data of several new esters of testosterone (17 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one), which contain either a halogeno or an alkoxy substituent in the acid chain, are reported.

Potential long-acting contraceptive agents: esters and ethers of testosterone with alpha- and/or beta-chain branching.

The synthesis of ten esters and two ethers of testosterone (17 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) is described. All these possess some form of alpha - and/or beta - substitution in the ester/ether side-chain. The work was undertaken in order to evaluate the long-acting antifertility effect of such compounds in males.

Long-acting contraceptive agents: esters of norethisterone with alkoxy- and halogeno-substituted carboxylic acids.

The chemical synthesis and physical data of several new esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one) are reported, which contain either a chloro- or an alkoxy-group as a substituent in the acid side-chain.