Investigation of the tuber constituents of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.)

Lepidium meyenii, known in South America as maca, has received attention worldwide as a powerful energizer that improves physical and mental conditions and increases fertility. Because of these reports, we investigated the secondary metabolites of the tuber of maca. The methanol extract of the tuber of maca contained, in addition to free sugars and amino acids, the following: uridine, malic acid and its benzoyl derivative, and the glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin. Because glucosinolates and their derived products have received increasing attention due to their biological activities, the occurrence of glucosinolate degradation products in the hexane extract was also investigated, and benzylisothiocyanate and its m-methoxy derivative were isolated. The two glucosinolates were semiquantified by HPLC, and benzylisothiocyanate was semiquantified by GC/MS. The methanol extract of maca tuber also contained (1R,3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, a molecule which is reported to exert many activities on the central nervous system.     

Characterization of rhizosphere microbial communities in continuous cropping maca (Lepidium meyenii) red soil,Yunnan, China

ABSTRACT

Continuous cropping maca systems are widespread in Yunan Province, China. However, the relationships between continuous cropping maca systems and microbes are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of continuous cropping maca systems (Maca with 0, 1, 2, and 3 years of continuous cultivation) on the soil microbial community. The results showed that the soil organic matter, total N, total P, and total K contents, as well as maca fresh and dry weight, decreased significantly with increased continuous cropping years. Interestingly, qPCR analysis showed that the bacterial and fungal abundance (DNA levels) decreased and active bacterial and fungal abundance (RNA levels) increased with cropping years from the first to the third cropping (p < 0.05). Moreover, the abundance of actinomycetes in the CK soil was significantly higher than that in the other maca soils. In addition, the continuous cropping system resulted in rich diversity in the fungal structure and had little effects on the bacterial and actinomycete communities. Acidobacteria (50%) and Ascomycota (58.3%) were detected in the continuous cropping maca soils. Based on the present results, continuous cropping of maca not exceeding two years could be optimal to maintain soil nutrition and microbial community.     

有机肥与氮磷钾配施对玛咖产量和质量的影响

探讨有机肥与氮磷钾配施对玛咖品质和产量的影响,为优质玛咖种植及合理施肥提供参考依据。以玛咖优良品种“乌蒙黑玛咖”为材料,田间试验设置6个处理:CK、M(有机肥)、F1(常规施肥)、F1+M、F2(50%常规施肥)、F2+M。施肥显著提高玛咖地上部和根农艺性状、产量和品质。在8—9月以促进地上部生长为主,而在10月以加快玛咖根生长为主;玛咖前期生长对磷钾需求较高,而对氮的需求在整个生育期都高;施肥显著提高玛咖酰胺类化合物、玛咖烯、芥子油苷类化合物和灰分的含量,其中F1+M处理在酰胺类化合物、玛咖烯和灰分含量上均表现出最高,分别为192.79、7.93和3.97 mg/100 g,而芥子油苷类化合物含量则在F1处理最高,为2.47 mg/100 g;所有施肥处理中表现为F1+M处理产量最高,为11708 kg/hm²。试验结果表明,F1+M处理下,即每公顷施用化肥N 120 kg、P2O5 90 kg、K2O 120 kg,同时配施精制有机肥7500 kg,可使玛咖产量和品质达到最佳。     

Echinacea species and alkamides inhibit prostaglandin E(2) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells

Inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells was assessed with an enzyme immunoassay following treatments with Echinacea extracts or synthesized alkamides. Results indicated that ethanol extracts diluted in media to a concentration of 15 microg/mL from E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. simulata, and E. sanguinea significantly inhibited PGE2 production. In further studies, PGE2 production was significantly reduced by all synthesized alkamides assayed at 50 microM, by Bauer alkamides 8, 12A analogue, and 14, Chen alkamide 2, and Chen alkamide 2 analogue at 25 microM and by Bauer alkamide 14 at 10 microM. Cytotoxicity did not play a role in the noted reduction of PGE2 production in either the Echinacea extracts or synthesized alkamides. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified individual alkamides present at concentrations below 2.8 microM in the extracts from the six Echinacea species (15 microg/mL crude extract). Because active extracts contained <2.8 microM of specific alkamide and the results showed that synthetic alkamides must have a minimum concentration of 10 microM to inhibit PGE2, it is likely that alkamides may contribute toward the anti-inflammatory activity of Echinacea in a synergistic or additive manner.     

氮磷钾配施对玛咖产量和品质的影响及肥料效应

为探究玛咖优质高效种植的合理施肥量和施肥配方,本研究采用“3414”随机区组设计开展田间小区试验,测定玛咖植株农艺性状、产量和品质性状等指标,通过拟合肥料效应函数方程并结合品质性状确定氮、磷、钾施肥量。结果表明,氮磷钾的合理配施能不同程度促进玛咖地上部和地下部的生长,提高其产量和品质,其中N₂P₂K₂(N:P₂O₅:K₂O=8:6:8)的玛咖地下部农艺性状、产量、玛咖烯、芥子油苷和灰分含量最高;氮、磷、钾3种元素对玛咖产量存在明显的互作效应,表现为N₂P₂K₂施肥水平有利于氮、磷、钾肥效的发挥;通过田间小区试验得出玛咖最高理论产量为9 346.95 kg·hm^-2。综合肥料三因素、产量和品质分析得出,N₂P₂K₂的玛咖产量最高、品质最好。最高产量的氮磷钾施肥用量为N:P₂O₅:K₂O=120.71:92.16:144.22 kg·hm^-2,产量达到8 577.35 kg·hm^-2;经济最佳产量的氮磷钾施肥用量为N:P₂O₅:K₂O=120.58:91.76:143.35 kg·hm^-2,产量达到8 577.29 kg·hm^-2。本研究结果为指导和规范玛咖的施肥技术提供了理论依据。     

Fungistatic and bacteriostatic activities of alkamides from Heliopsis longipes roots: affinin and reduced amides

This work demonstrates the fungistatic and bacteriostatic activities of affinin, the main alkamide of Heliopsis longipes (Gray) Blake (Asteraceae) roots and two alkamides obtained by catalytic reduction of affinin: N-isobutyl-2E-decenamide and N-isobutyl-decanamide. The bioactivity was tested against Rhizoctonia solani groups AG3 and AG5, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotium cepivorum, Fusarium sp., Vertcillium sp., phytopathogenic fungi; Phytophthora infestans, a phytopathogenic Chromista; Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a nonphytopathogenic ascomycete; and Escherichia coli, Erwinia carotovora, and Bacillus subtilis, bacteria. Affinin, being the primary component of the lipidic fraction, is expected to be responsible for the fungitoxic activity observed in roots of this plant species. Four of the assayed fungi showed an important sensitivity to the presence of affinin: S. rolfsii, S. cepivorum, P. infestans, and R. solani AG-3 and AG-5, displaying a growth inhibition of 100%. S. cerevisiaeshowed a similar growth inhibition with affinin. None of the alkamides obtained by catalytic reduction of affinin showed a fungitoxic activity. Affinin had a definite negative effect on the growth of E. coli and B. subtilis, but E. carotovora carotovora was not sensitive to the highest dose of affinin assayed. N-Isobutyl-2E-decenamide displayed a higher bacteriostatic activity against E. coli and E. carotovora carotovora. In both cases, this alkamide was more potent than affinin. On the other hand, only N-isobutyl-decanamide displayed a significant activity on the growth of B. subtilis.     

Inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase by alkamides isolated from the fruits of Piper longum and Piper nigrum

Pharmacological inhibition of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) has emerged as a potential therapy for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Bioassay-guided isolation of CHCl3 extracts of the fruits of Piper longum and Piper nigum (Piperaceae), using an in vitro DGAT inhibitory assay, lead to isolation of a new alkamide named (2E,4Z,8E)-N-[9-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2,4,8-nonatrienoyl]piperidine (2), together with four known alkamides: retrofractamide C (1), pipernonaline (3), piperrolein B (4), and dehydropipernonaline (5). Compounds 2-5 inhibited DGAT with IC50 values of 29.8 (2), 37.2 (3), 20.1 (4), and 21.2 (5) microM, respectively, but the IC50 value for 1 was more than 900 microM. This finding indicates that compounds possessing piperidine groups (2-5) can be potential DGAT inhibitors.     

New constituents from noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit juice

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), known as noni, has a long history of traditional use in the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands. More recently, an array of commercial noni fruit juice products are gaining popularity as dietary supplements, with claims of anticancer and immunostimulant activities. The biologically active principles of noni are not fully known. In continuation of work on the isolation of markers from dietary supplements, this paper reports the isolation of three new markers, namely, 1-O-(3'-methylbut-3'-enyl)-beta-D-glucopyranose (1), 1-n-butyl-4-(5'-formyl-2'-furanyl)methyl succinate (2), and 4-epi-borreriagenin (3), together with the known iridoid glycosides asperulosidic acid (4) and deacetylasperulosidic acid (5) and a mixture of 1-n-butyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxysuccinate (6a) and 1-n-butyl-4-methyl-3-hydroxysuccinate (6b), as well as a mixture of alpha- and beta-glucopyranose from noni fruit juice obtained from Puerto Rico. The structures of compounds were based on 1H and 13C NMR, mainly 2D NMR COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments, and HRMS. Furthermore, samples from fresh-squeezed noni fruit juice from Japan revealed the presence of scopoletin (7), in addition to compounds 1-6, indicating no significant differences in the marker constituents of noni collected from Atlantic and Pacific regions.     

New spirostanol saponins from Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum)

Three new spirostanol saponins have been isolated from the seeds of Allium tuberosum. On the basis of acid hydrolysis and comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, their structures were established as tuberoside J, (25R)-5alpha-spirostan-2alpha,3beta,27-triol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside; tuberoside K, (25R)-5alpha-spirostan-2alpha,3beta,27-triol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; and tuberoside L, 27-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5alpha-spirostan-2alpha,3beta,27-triol 3-O-alpha-D-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside.     

Variation in seed oil composition of species from the genera Barbarea and Lepidium

The seed oil composition and content in a number of accessions from species of the genera Barbarea and Lepidium were analysed. The oil from most accessions of B. verna contained more than 50% erucic acid, while the oil from B. vulgaris contained ～ 30% erucic acid, and 22% each of oleic and linoleic acid. The oil from B. intermedia resembled that of B. verna. The oil content was ～ 30% in all three species. The oil composition of L. campestre and L. heterophyllum is ～ 35% linolenic acid and 23% erucic acid. Other Lepidium species had up to 47% linolenic acid in the oil. The oil content of L. campestre and L. heterophylhim was just below 20%, but other species had more than 30% oil in their seeds. The variation in oil composition found within and between species is considered sufficient for the breeding of valuable oil qualities in both genera.     

New data on the Zygentoma (Insecta, Apterygota) from Italy

The fauna of Zygentoma from Italy is reviewed and extended by new data. Ctenolepisma guadianica and Allacrotelsa kraepelini are new to Italy (the second one is also a new genus for this country). Neoasterolepisma crassipes is new to continental Italy and Atelura formicaria is new to Sicily. Neoasterolepisma angustothoracica (Grassi & Rovelli, 1890) n. comb., is redescribed.The Zygentoma fauna of Italy is composed of 24 species, 2 of Ateluridae (Atelura formicaria and Proatelurina pseudolepisma), 16 of Lepismatidae (Allacrotelsa kraepelini, Ctenolepisma algharbica, C. ciliata, C. guadianica, C. lineata, C. longicaudata, C. targionii, Lepisma chlorosoma, L. saccharina, Neoasterolepisma angustothoracica, N. balcanica, N. crassipes, N. wasmanni, Thermobia domestica, Tricholepisma aurea and T. gyriniformis) and 6 of Nicoletiidae (Coletinia maggi, C. setosula, C. subterranea, Coletinia sp. III, Lepidospora sp. and Nicoletia phytophila). A key to the identification of all these species is given.     

中国螯蜂科二新纪录种(膜翅目:螯蜂科)

本文报道了采自广西稻田的两种中国新纪录螯蜂：安松单爪螯蜂ＡｎｔｅｏｎｙａｓｕｍａｔｓｕｉＯｌｍｉ和马来亚常足螯蜂ＡｐｈｅｌｏｐｕｓｍａｌａｙａｎｕｓＯｌｍｉ。黑尾叶蝉Ｎｅｐｈｏｔｅｔｉｘｃｉｎｃｔｉｃｅｐｓ（Ｕｈｌｅｒ）和白翅叶蝉ＴｈａｉａｒｕｂｉｇｉｎｏｓａＫｕｏｈ分别为它们的寄主首次纪录     

New monascus metabolite isolated from red yeast rice (angkak,red koji)

Red yeast rice (angkak, red koji) obtained as cultures of Monascus purpureus on rice was extracted and analyzed by HPLC. In addition to the known red, orange, and yellow pigments and the mycotoxin citrinin, a new Monascus metabolite was detected. It is present in the original red yeast rice and formed in higher amounts when red yeast rice is heated. High-resolution mass spectrometry indicated the molecular formula C(15)H(12)O(4). The chemical structure was elucidated by analysis of NMR data. The new compound, named monascodilone, is characterized by a propenyl group on a pyrone ring, an aromatic ring, and a gamma-lactone group.     

Separation of Ag(I) Ions from Lepidium draba L. Plant and Water and Standard Samples by Carrier Element-Free Coprecipitation Method Prior to their Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination

In this work, silver iodide (Ag(I)) ions were separated via the carrier element-free coprecipitation (CEFC) method using an organic coprecipitating agent, 1,6-diamino-4-(4-chlornphenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile [DCODD] prior to its determination by ?ame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Analytical parameters including pH of aqueous solution, amount of DCODD, standing time, centrifugation rate and time, and sample volume were studied and optimized. Under the best experimental conditions, it was found that extraction can be performed from the sample volume of 500.0 for silver ion (preconcentration factor of 100.0). Linearity was maintained between 0.006 and 1.50 µg.mL^?1 for silver. Detection limit for silver based on 3Sb was 1.60 ng.mL^?1. The relative standard deviation of eight replicate measurements of 0.20 µg.mL^?1of silver was 2.10%. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to extraction and determination of the silver ions in the Lepidium draba L plant, water and standard samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Synergistic antioxidative effects of alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives, and polysaccharide fractions from Echinacea purpurea on in vitro oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins

Preparations of Echinacea are widely used as alternative remedies to prevent the common cold and infections in the upper respiratory tract. After extraction, fractionation, and isolation, the antioxidant activity of three extracts, one alkamide fraction, four polysaccharide-containing fractions, and three caffeic acid derivatives from Echinacea purpurea root was evaluated by measuring their inhibition of in vitro Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The antioxidant activities of the isolated caffeic acid derivatives were compared to those of echinacoside, caffeic acid, and rosmarinic acid for reference. The order of antioxidant activity of the tested substances was cichoric acid > echinacoside > or = derivative II > or = caffeic acid > or = rosmarinic acid > derivative I. Among the extracts the 80% aqueous ethanolic extract exhibited a 10 times longer lag phase prolongation (LPP) than the 50% ethanolic extract, which in turn exhibited a longer LPP than the water extract. Following ion-exchange chromatography of the water extract, the majority of its antioxidant activity was found in the latest eluted fraction (H2O-acidic 3). The antioxidant activity of the tested Echinacea extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds was dose dependent. Synergistic antioxidant effects of Echinacea constituents were found when cichoric acid (major caffeic acid derivative in E. purpurea) or echinacoside (major caffeic acid derivative in Echinacea pallida and Echinacea angustifolia) were combined with a natural mixture of alkamides and/or a water extract containing the high molecular weight compounds. This contributes to the hypothesis that the physiologically beneficial effects of Echinacea are exerted by the multitude of constituents present in the preparations.     

New mannose-binding lectin isolated from the rhizome of Sarsaparilla Smilax glabra Roxb. (Liliaceae)

A new mannose-binding lectin, designated SGM2, was isolated from the rhizome of a Chinese medicinal herb Smilax glabra (also known as sarsaparilla in general) by saline extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitation and fractionation, and affinity chromatography on fetuin- and mannose-agarose. SGM2 is shown to have a molecular mass of 37 kDa on gel filtration and 12.5 kDa on SDS-PAGE, indicating that it is a trimeric protein composed of three identical subunits. When the first 30 amino acid residues at the N-terminal were compared, SGM2 had approximately 40% homology with those of some other monocots. SGM2 had the property of hemagglutinating activity toward rabbit erythrocytes, which could be reversed by mannose and mannose polymers. SGM2 exhibited antiviral activities against both herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with the same EC(50) of 8.1 microM.     

RAPD variation in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) cultivars from South America and Papua New Guinea

The island of New Guinea is considered a secondary center on diversity for sweetpotato, because of its range of isolated ecological niches and large number of cultivars found within a small area. Information of genetic diversity in Papua New Guinea (PNG) sweetpotato is essential for rationalizing the global sweetpotato germplasm collection. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), we compared the genetic variation and genetic diversity in 18 PNG cultivars versus 18 cultivars from South America. The analysis of molecular variance revealed large genetic diversity in both groups of cultivars. The within-group (among individuals) variation accounted for 90.6% of the total molecular variance. However, the difference between PNG and South American groups is statistically significant, although it explained only 9.4% of the total molecular variance. The PNG cultivars are also less divergent than their South American ancestors as the mean genetic distance in PNG group is significantly smaller than that of South American group. The lower level of genetic diversity in PNG cultivars was also reflected by multidimensional scaling. This study shows that PNG cultivars, after many years of isolated evolution in an unique agro-ecological environment are substantially divergent from their ancestors in South America. The genetic diversity level in PNG cultivars is significantly lower than that in South American cultivars. It thus provides a baseline for continuing studies of genetic diversity in different sweetpotato gene pools.     

New records of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) from the Bahama Islands

The first positive sighting of a manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the Bahama Islands in more than 70 years was made on 12 September 1975 at West End, Grand Bahama Island. The only previous record was from the Bimini Island group in 1904. A dead manatee was found near Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, in November 1975. The skull, which was preserved, had a condylobasal length of 36·8 cm. Speculation concerning the origin of these animals is offered: a local population; immigration from Florida or other islands in the Bahamas; and importation by man. The manatee population in the Bahamas might be limited by freshwater sources. An aerial survey should be conducted to assess the manatee population, if any, in the Bahama Islands.     

New Citrate-Bicarbonate-Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CBE) Method for Chemical Extraction of Hydrous Iron Oxides from Plant Root Surfaces

In the present study, the sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CBE) method was evaluated for iron (Fe) extraction from plant root surfaces and compared with the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) method. Iron plaque on root surfaces was induced by growing rice seedlings in soil with 1.8 mM Fe²⁺. Iron plaque was extracted following CBE and DCB methods. The effects of pH, temperature, and incubation time of these methods on Fe extraction from root surfaces were also examined. Iron extraction of CBE and DCB methods did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) at pH between 6 and 8, whereas Fe extraction decreased substantially for further increase of the pH of CBE and DCB solution. In some instances, there were significant differences between CBE and DCB methods in extracellular Fe extraction for temperature and incubation time. The average Fe extraction of CBE and DCB methods were 94% and 81%, respectively, indicating that CBE method would be a better choice for Fe extraction from plant roots. The recommended optimal conditions for CBE method are pH 8, volume of the solution 30 mL, incubation time 30 min, and solution temperature 22 ± 2 °C.