Eriothecapaganuccii (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae), a new endangered species from montane forests in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Eriotheca (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae) from montane wet forests in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. It is known from only three populations situated between 750 m and 850 m in elevation on mountain summits and categorized as Endangered (EN) based on IUCN criteria. Eriothecapaganuccii is distinct from all congeners by the combination of coriaceous to strongly coriaceous leaves and remarkable few-seeded, globose to subglobose woody capsules that contain scanty kapok and the largest seeds known in the genus to date. The affinities of E.paganuccii to morphologically similar species as well as the importance of obtaining phenologically complete collections are discussed.

Secondary metabolites from the fruit peels of Durio zibethinus L. and their cytotoxic activity.

Three new glucosides, ziberthinosides A-C (1-3), and six known compounds, cleomiscosins A-D (4-7), sporogen AO-2 (8) and sapinofuranone A (9), were isolated from a methanol extract of Durio zibethinus fruit peels. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of their 1 D/2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data as well as by comparison with the literature values. The absolute configuration of sporogen AO-2 (8) was confirmed by ECD calculation. Of the isolates, compounds 8 and 9 were cytotoxic toward all MCF7, HepG2 and SK-LU-1 cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 10.7 to 34.9 µM. Our results contribute to better understanding of the chemical constituents of the high valued durian fruit and their pharmacological effect, such as cytotoxicity.

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in the northeastern Brazilian states of Alagoas and Bahia is described and illustrated. Eriotheca alversonii inhabits Atlantic coastal forest and is found principally on sandy soils in restinga vegetation. It is most similar morphologically to E. parvifolia. Both species have 3-foliolate leaves and short petioles on fertile branches, but the new species has smaller flowers, truncate to crenulate calyces, and smaller globose to subglobose capsules. The affinities of E. alversonii to morphologically similar species and its phenology are discussed. A distribution map and preliminary assessment of its conservation status are provided.

Anti-Alzheimer's flavanolignans from Ceiba pentandra aerial parts.

Four flavanolignans, ceibapentains A (1) and B (2) and cinchonains Ia (3) and Ib (4), were isolated for the first time from an ethyl acetate extract of Ceiba pentandra (L) (Bombacaceae) aerial parts. The ceibapentains A (1) and B (2) are new compounds and their structures, including the absolute configurations, were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and electronic circular dichroism analyses, then compared with reported data. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their anti-Alzheimer's activity via an assessment of their inhibitory effect on amyloid ß42 aggregation using a thioflavin T assay. The results revealed that cinchonain Ia (3) showed a higher inhibitory effect (91%) than the standard curcumin (70%). Compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited moderate activity, with inhibition ratios of 43%, 47%, and 58%, respectively. A molecular docking study on the binding mode of 3 and curcumin with an amyloid ß1-40 peptide fibril structure indicated a high affinity of cinchonain 1a (3) towards amyloid ß1-40 peptide, in agreement with the experimental results.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of the red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba).

Bombax ceiba L. is a beautiful and deciduous tree with great ecological and economic importance. The third generation sequencing of chloroplast genome of B. ceiba was conducted on the PacBio sequencing platform (Pacific Biosciences). The complete chloroplast genome was 158,997 bp, which contains a large single-copy (LSC) region (89,021 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (21,110 bp), and two inverted repeats (IRs) (24,433 bp). In total, 116 genes were annotated, including 81 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 27 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic tree showed that B. ceiba was closely clustered with one clade of Malvaceae.

Naphthofuranone derivatives and other constituents from Pachira aquatica with inhibitory activity on superoxide anion generation by neutrophils.

Two new naphthofuranone derivatives, 11-hydroxy-2-O-methylhibiscolactone A (1) and O-methylhibiscone D (2), have been isolated from the stems of Pachira aquatica, together with 18 known compounds (3-20). The structures of two new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolated compounds, 11-hydroxy-2-O-methylhibiscolactone A (1), isohemigossylic acid lactone-7-methyl ether (4), gmelofuran (6), and 5-hydroxyauranetin (8) exhibited inhibition (IC50≤28.84µM) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP).

Chodatiionosides A and B: two new megastigmane glycosides from Chorisia chodatii leaves.

Phytochemical investigation of Chorisia chodatii Hassl. leaves led to the isolation of an unusual rearranged megastigmane glycoside; chodatiionoside A (1) and another new megastigmane glycoside; chodatiionoside B (2), together with three known megastigmane glycosides (3-5) and one known flavonoid glycoside (6). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC and HMBC) in combination with HR-ESI-MS, CD and modified Mosher's method. As a result, chodatiionoside A has been elucidated as a first example of an unusual rearranged form of megastigmane.

Chemical constituents of the stem bark of Bombax ceiba L / 中国药科大学学报

@#Thirteen compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Bombax ceiba L. by silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis as: lupeol(1), lupeone(2), betulinic acid(3), zeorin(4), oleanolic acid(5), 3-oxooleanolic acid(6), cleomiscosin A(7), (±)-lyoniresinol(8), desmosterol(9), stigma-3, 6-dione(10), (+)-lasiodiploidin(11), aurantiamide acetate(12), and(2S, 3S, 4R, 10E)-2-［(2R)-2-hydroxytetracosanoylamino］-10-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol(13). Among them, compounds 3, 4, 6, 7-13 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Long-term effects of habitat fragmentation on mating patterns and gene flow of a tropical dry forest tree, Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Tropical forest loss and fragmentation isolate and reduce the size of remnant populations with negative consequences for mating patterns and genetic structure of plant species. In a 4-yr study, we determined the effect of fragmentation on mating patterns and pollen pool genetic structure of the tropical tree Ceiba aesculifolia in two habitat conditions: isolated trees in disturbed areas (≤3 trees/ha), and trees (≥6 trees/ha) in undisturbed mature forest. • METHODS: Using six allozyme loci, we estimated the outcrossing rate (tm), the mean relatedness of progeny (rp) within and between fruits, the degree of genetic structure of pollen pools (Φft), and the effective number of pollen donors (Nep). • KEY RESULTS: The outcrossing rates reflected a strict self-incompatible species. Relatedness of progeny within fruits was similar for all populations, revealing single sires within fruits. However, relatedness of progeny between fruits within trees was consistently greater for trees in fragmented conditions across 4 yr. We found high levels of genetic structure of pollen pools in all populations with more structure in isolated trees. The effective number of pollen donors was greater for trees in undisturbed forest than in disturbed conditions. • CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the progeny produced by isolated trees in disturbed habitats are sired by a fraction of the diversity of pollen donors found in conserved forests. The foraging behavior of bats limits the exchange of pollen between trees, causing higher levels of progeny relatedness in isolated trees.

Diversidad florsstica de dos zonas de bosque trpical húmedo en el municipio dee alto baudó, chocó Cloombia / Floristic Diversity of Two Zones of Humid Tropical Forest at Alto Baudó, Chocó, Colombia

Entre junio y agosto de 2005 se determinó la composición florística de las plantas ≥1 cm de DAP en un área de 0,2 ha de bosque húmedo tropical en los corregimientos de Pie de Pató (05º 30' 56" N y 76º 58' 26" W) y Nauca (5º 41' 6" N y 77º 00' 36" W), Alto Baudó, Chocó Colombia. En cada sitio se muestreó un área de 0,1 ha, la cual se dividió en diez transecto de 2 x 50 m cada uno. Se registraron 1.618 individuos, representados en 257 especies, 156 géneros y 56 familias botánicas de los cuales 842 individuos, 161 especies, 108 géneros y 46 familias fueron encontrados en Pie de Pató, y 776 individuos, 161 especies, 98 géneros y 45 familias en Nauca. En Pie de Pató las familias mejor representadas en lo que se refiere a géneros y especies fueron: Rubiaceae (doce géneros y 27 especies), Arecaceae (ocho géneros y ocho especies) y Bombacaceae (siete géneros y diez especies). En Nauca fueron Rubiaceae (once géneros y 25 especies), Moraceae (ocho géneros y trece especies) y Arecaceae (ocho géneros y ocho especies). El índice de riqueza arrojó valores de 23,75 y 24,05 para Pie de Pató y Nauca, en cambio la diversidad fue de 4,43 para ambos sitios. Los resultados indican que los bosques del Alto Baudó son muy diversos y de gran importancia para estudios de la diversidad florística, debido a su ubicación estratégica en el departamento del Chocó.

Between June and August of 2005 the floristic composition ≥1 cm of DAP was determined in an area of ? 0.2 ha of humid tropical forest at the localities of Pie de >Pató (05º 30' 56" N and 76º 58' 26" W) and Nauca (5º 41' 6" N and 77º 00' 36" W), Alto Baudó, Chocó Colombia . En each locality an area of 0.1 ha was sampled which was divided into smaller areas of 2 x 50 cm each. A total of 1618 inidivduals were recorded represented by 257 species, 156 genres and 56 botanical families from which 842 individuals, 161 species, 108 genres and 46 families where found at Pie de Pató, and 776 individuals, 161 species, 98 genres and 45 families at Nauca. At Pie de Pató the families best represented in terms of genres were Rubiaceae (12 genres and 27 species), Arecaceae (eight genres and eight species) and Bombacaceae (seven genres and ten species). At Nauca they were Rubiaceae (eleven genres and 25 species), Moraceae (eight genera and 13 species) and Arecaceae (eigth genres and eight species). The richness index was of 23,75 and 24,05 for Pie de Pató and Nauca respectively. Diversity change was stimated as 4,43 for both localities. These results indicate high diversity of these forests at Alto Baudó.

Dinámica de crecimiento de tubos polínicos en poblaciones de Pachira quinata (Jacq.) W. Alverson (Bombacaceae) / Dynamics of pollen tube growth in Pachira quinata W. Alverson (Bombacaceae) populations

La dinámica de crecimiento de tubos polínicos fue estudiada en dos poblaciones de Pachira quinata, incluyendo los factores que la afectan como: el tipo de cruce, autopolinización y polinización cruzada intra e interprocedencia. El tiempo de cosecha de las flores afecta el número de óvulos penetrados, pero no afecta la distancia máxima alcanzada por los tubos, ni el número de tubos polínicos a lo largo del estilo. El número de tubos polínicos y la proporción de óvulos penetrados fue significativamente mayor cuando el polen fue almacenado a temperatura ambiente, comparado con los valores de polen refrigerado. El número de tubos polínicos a lo largo del estilo es independiente del tipo de cruce utilizado, asi mismo, la proporción de óvulos penetrados es menor en las polinizaciones interprocedencia que en cruces intraprocedencia y autopolinización. La alta proporción de óvulos penetrados en autopolinización indica que la incompatibilidad en Pachira quinata es una reacción de acción tardía y ocurre a nivel del ovario. El mayor número de óvulos penetrados en cruces intraprocedencia comparado con cruces interprocedencia, sugieren un efecto de depresión en la fecundación entre individuos de distintas áreas geográficas.

The dynamics of pollen tube growth was studied in populations of Pachira quinata, as well as the factors that affect it, such as: the type off crossing, self-pollination and cross-pollination among and inside populations. It was found that the time ofgathering of the flowers determines the number of penetrated ovules, but it does not determine the maximum distance reached by the tubes, neither the number of pollen tubes along the style. The number of pollen tubes and the proportion of ovules penetrated were significantly bigger when the pollen was stored at environment temperature, compared with the values of refrigerated pollen. The number of pollen tubes along the style is independent of the type of crossing used; likewise, the proportion of penetrated ovules is smaller in the pollinations among populations than in crossing among populations and self-pollination. The high proportion of ovules penetrated in self-pollination indicates that the incompatibility in Pachira quinata is an auto-incompatibility of late action that occurs at the ovary zone. The biggest number of ovules penetrated throughout crossing inside populations compared with crossing among populations suggests the existence of an out-breeding depression effect among individuals from different geographical areas.

Mating systems of two Bombacaceous trees of a neotropical moist forest.

A multilocus mixed mating model was used to analyze the mating systems of two tropical canopy trees in the Bombacaceae that differ in successional status and overall abundance. One population of each species was studied on Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panama. Population outcrossing estimates of 0.57 and 0.35 from two years indicate a mixed-mating system with intermediate outcrossing levels for the gap-specialist Cavanillesia platanifolia, a relatively rare component of the island flora. Population and individual outcrossing estimates were associated with flowering tree density or degree of spatial isolation. Trees within clusters of flowering individuals have a higher degree of outcrossing than isolated trees. Annual estimates of individual tree outcrossing rates varied greatly as a function of flowering in its nearest neighbors. In contrast to C. platanifolia, Quararibea asterolepis was completely outcrossed and may be self incompatible. Maternal trees of both species had significantly heterogeneous pollen pools indicating non-random outcrossing. Apomixis by sporophytic agamospermy was rejected in C. platanifolia as contributing to the apparent selfing rate.