Classification of cassava into ‘bitter’ and ‘cool’ in Malawi: From farmers' perception to characterisation by molecular markers

Cassava roots, a major food in Africa, contain cyanogenic glucosides that may cause toxic effects. Malawian women farmers considered fields of seemingly similar cassava plants to be mixes of both ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars. They regard roots from ‘cool’ cultivars as non-toxic. Roots of ‘bitter’ were considered to require extensive traditional processing done by women to be safe for consumption. But curiously, these women farmers preferred ‘bitter’ cultivars since toxicity confers protection against theft, which was a serious threat to the food security of their families. We studied how well these farmers comprehend the effects of genetic variations in cassava when dealing with cyanogenesis in this complex system. Using molecular markers we show that most plants farmers identified as belonging to a particular named cultivar had a genotype typical of that cultivar. Farmers' ethno-classification into ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars corresponded to a genetic sub-division of the typical genotypes of the most common cultivars, with four-fold higher cyanogenic glucoside levels in the bitter cultivars. Examining morphology, farmers distinguished genotypes better than did the investigators when using a standard botanical key. Undoubtedly, these women farmers grasp sufficiently the genetic diversity of cassava with regard to cyanogenesis to simultaneously benefit from it and avoid its dangers. Consequently, acyanogenic cassava – the breeding of which is an announced good of some cassava genetic improvement programmes – is not a priority to these farmers. Advances in molecular genetics can help improve food supply in Africa by rapid micropropagation, marker assisted breeding and introduction of transgenic varieties, but can also help to elucidate tropical small-scale farmers' needs and skills. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Antioxidant lignans sesamin and sesamolin in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A comprehensive review and future prospects

Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) is a significantly lucrative cash crop for millions of small-holder farmers. Its seeds are an important source of a highly appreciated vegetable oil globally and two clinically essential antioxidant lignans, sesamin and sesamolin. Accordingly, many countries import millions of tons of sesame seed every year. The demand for lignan-rich sesame seeds has been increasing in recent years due to the continuous discovery of several pharmacological attributes of sesamin and se...     

南五味子木脂素复合涂膜液在草莓保鲜中的应用

草莓在采收和贮运中易受损伤和病原微生物侵染而腐烂变质,影响其商品价值。为研究南五味子木脂素复合涂膜液对草莓保鲜效果的影响,以南五味子为材料,采用超声辅助乙醇浸提法提取其木脂素。以抑菌圈直径为指标,南五味子木脂素对3种供试菌的抑菌效果从强到弱为大肠埃希氏菌>沙门氏菌>金黄色葡萄球菌。考察南五味子木脂素、叶绿素铜钠、魔芋葡甘聚糖、氯化钙4个组分对草莓失重率、可溶性固形物含量、Vc含量的影响。在单因素实验基础上进行响应面优化实验,得到南五味子木脂素复合涂膜液的最优配方为0.32%木脂素+0.0021%叶绿素铜钠+0.27%魔芋葡甘聚糖+1.0%氯化钙,将制备的复合涂膜液应用于草莓贮藏实验,使用复合涂膜液的草莓的失重率下降73.86%,可溶性固形物含量提高67.55%,Vc含量提高21.80%,与对照组相比保鲜效果显著提高,可以作为草莓保鲜的技术参考。     

亚麻籽中开环异落叶松树脂酚二葡萄糖苷的测定——高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测 电喷雾质谱法

    采用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测-电喷雾质谱(HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS)法对开环异落叶松树脂酚二葡萄糖苷(SDG)进行定性和定量检测,研究方法的精密度、稳定性、定量检测限及加样回收率,并考察样品制备方法对定量检测结果的影响.采用Sephadex LH-20柱色谱分离制备SDG对照品,并用1H-NMR与13C-NMR对其进行表征.HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS检测所得紫外及电喷雾质谱信息与SDG结构相符.以自制的SDG(纯度96.6%)为对照,采用HPLC绘制定量标准曲线,方法精密度较高(RSD为1.36%),稳定性好(1周后RSD为1.21%),定量检测限较低(LOQ为3.4 mg·L-1),加样回收率达(99.7±3.2)%.此外,制样时采用碱法水解与混合溶剂提取,不仅节省时间,还更充分地提取了SDG.说明用HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS法栓测亚麻籽中的SDG方便省时,准确可靠.     

Enantiomeric compositions and biosynthesis ofWikstroemia sikokiana lignans

Thymelaeaceae plants produce dextrorotatory dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans, which are opposite enantiomers to the lignans isolated from other plants (e.g.,Forsythia spp.). In our previous paper, (–)-pinoresinol (74% enantiomer excess), (+)-matairesinol (optically pure), and (+)-wikstromol (optically pure) were isolated fromWikstroemia sikokiana (Thymelaeaceae). In the present investigation, a survey of lignans and the determination of their enantiomeric compositions were continued. Four lignans, (–)-lariciresinol, (–)-secoisolariciresinol, (+)-kusunokinin, and (+)-methyltrachelogenin, were isolated from MeOH extracts ofW. sikokiana stem. To our knowledge, we have isolated (+)-methyltrachelogenin from plants for the first time. Chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis showed that (+)-kusunokinin and (+)-methyltrachelogenin were optically pure, whereas (–)-lariciresinol and (–)-secoisolariciresinol were not (39% and 45% enantiomer excess, respectively). Feeding experiments with deuterium-labeled substrates demonstrated conversion of coniferyl alcohol to the lignans and interconversion of lignans. These reaction sequences are similar to the sequence catalyzed byForsythia enzymes. However, predominant enantiomers of the lignans, except for secoisolariciresinol isolated fromW. sikokiana, have absolute configurations opposite to those of the corresponding lignans isolated fromForsythia spp. Based on the results of the isolation and the feeding experiments, several differences betweenW. sikokiana andForsythia spp. are pointed out regarding stereochemical mechanisms for lignan biosynthesis.Parts of this report were presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kumamoto, April 1996; and the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997     

Isolation and antifungal activity of lignans from Myristica fragrans against various plant pathogenic fungi

BACKGROUND: In a search for plant extracts with potent in vivo antifungal activity against various plant diseases, we found that treatment with a methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houttyn (nutmeg) seeds reduced the development of various plant diseases. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and determine antifungal substances from My. fragrans and to evaluate their antifungal activities. RESULTS: Three antifungal lignans were isolated from the methanol extract of My. fragrans seeds and identified as erythro-austrobailignan-6 (EA6), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDA) and nectandrin-B (NB). In vitro antimicrobial activity of the three lignans varied according to compound and target species. Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, C. gloeosporioides, Magnaporthe grisea, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Acidovorax konjaci and Burkholderia glumae were relatively sensitive to the three lignans. In vivo, all three compounds effectively suppressed the development of rice blast and wheat leaf rust. In addition, EA6 and NB were highly active against the development of barley powdery mildew and tomato late blight, respectively. Both MDA and NB also moderately inhibited the development of rice sheath blight. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the three lignans from My. fragrans against plant pathogenic fungi.     

Neuroprotective activity of galloylated cyanogenic glucosides and hydrolysable tannins isolated from leaves of Phyllagathis rotundifolia

The galloylated cyanogenic glucosides based on prunasin (1-7), gallotannins (8-14), ellagitannins (15-17), ellagic acid derivatives (18, 19) and gallic acid (20) isolated from the leaves of Phyllagathis rotundifolia (Melastomataceae) were investigated for their neuroprotective activity against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative damage in NG108-15 hybridoma cell line. Among these compounds, the gallotannins and ellagitannins exhibited remarkable neuroprotective activities against oxidative damage in vitro as compared to galloylated cyanogenic glucosides and ellagic acid derivatives in a dose-dependent manner. They could be explored further as potential natural neuroprotectors in various remedies of neurodegenerative diseases.     

五味子属药用植物木脂素的研究现状与展望

木脂素是五味子属药用植物的主要生物活性成分,其成分、含量与植物器官、部位、产地、生长季节、提取工艺及测定方法等有很大关系,本文中就其研究现状及展望进行探讨,为五味子属药用植物的木脂素类化合物开发利用及质量标准的制定提供参考。     

Metabolism of [14C]-2,4-dichlorophenol in edible plants

Several 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-sensitive plants have been modified by genetic engineering with tfdA gene to acquire 2,4-D tolerance. The expression product of this gene degrades 2,4-D to 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), which is less phytotoxic but could cause a problem of food safety. After a comparison of 2,4-D and DCP metabolism in transgenic 2,4-D-tolerant and wild cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a direct study of DCP metabolism in edible plants was performed. After petiolar uptake of a [U-phenyl-(14)C]-DCP solution followed by a 48 h water chase, aqueous extracts were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Metabolites were thereafter isolated and their structural identities were determined by enzymatic and chemical hydrolyses and mass spectrometry analyses. The metabolic fate of DCP was equivalent to 2,4-D metabolism in transgenic 2,4-D-tolerant cotton. In addition, DCP metabolism was similar in transgenic and wild cotton. The major terminal metabolites were DCP-saccharide conjugates in all species, essentially DCP-(6-O-malonyl)-glucoside or its precursor DCP-glucose. The significance of this metabolic pathway with regard to food safety is discussed.     

中国新育油用亚麻品种（系）木酚素含量研究

 【目的】研究中国新育油用亚麻品种（系）木酚素含量与基因型和地点的关系。【方法】用高效液相色谱（HPLC）测定11个油用亚麻品种（系）2005、2006年在4个代表性试点的木酚素含量。【结果】11个亚麻品种（系）88点次木酚素含量变幅为6.487～13.127 mg?g-1,以97047平均含量最高,伊04的最低;4个地点中以河北坝上点最高,新疆伊犁点最低。方差分析表明,基因型、地点以及基因型×地点互作效应对木酚素含量的影响均达到1%显著水平。不同品种（系）木酚素含量的稳定性存在明显差异,以97047和伊04的稳定性好。【结论】基因型是影响木酚素含量的首要因子,品种选育是提高木酚素含量的首选措施。不同品种有不同的适种地区,参试品种（系）中97047为木酚素含量高且适应性广泛的品种（系）。