Search

Couple of ethnopharmacological surveys in the Indian Ladakh and Pakistani Shigar valleys has reported the medicinal use of Acantholimon lycopodioides against cardiac and gastric disorders that however, remains without scientific rationale or experimental validations. Here, we assess the in vitro bio/therapeutic activities of A. lycopodioides extracts as well as chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions. The in vitro β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching and DPPH radical scavenging methods demonstrated a very high anti-oxidative property of chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions compared to others. Cell viability assay (MTT) on human cervical (HeLa), breast (MDA-MB321) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells revealed their differential cytotoxicity, except the chloroform fraction. Of these, the precipitate exerted highest cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells followed by aqueous fraction on MDA-MB321 cells. Notably, the non-cytotoxicity of chloroform fraction coincided with its highest anti-oxidative activity. Further, the chloroform fraction showed marked hepatoprotection (up to 84%) against 3′7′dichlorofluorescin triggered free radicals induced oxidative damage. Also, the hepatoprotective chloroform fraction mildly activated CYP3A4 in HepG2 cells (dual-luciferase assay). Moreover, the A. lycopodioides extracts and fractions showed differential anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Of these, while S. aureus was more sensitive to the water-insoluble extract, ethyl acetate fraction showed moderate activity against E. coli and C. albicans. On the other hand, the chloroform fraction showed promising activity against S. Aureus , C. albicans, P. vulgaris and E. faecalis. In conclusion, our data for the first time, demonstrated promising anti-oxidative, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and CYP3A4 activating salutations of A. lycopodioides. This warrants further studies towards isolation and identification of its therapeutically active principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apomixis is a form of asexual reproduction that consists in cloning through seeds. In Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) species present a pollen-stigma dimorphism linked to a sporophytic self-incompatibility system associated with sexual and/or apomictic reproductive modes. Previous work in other genera suggests that the emergence of apomixis is associated with hybridization and/or polyploidy. In this study, our goal was to test the ability of diploid and tetraploid species to hybridize and to evaluate the variate outcomes from these crosses. To achieve this, sexual diploid (L. nydeggeri, L. ovalifolium) and facultative apomict tetraploid (L. binervosum, L. dodartii) plants from cultivated material, previously cytogenetically and reproductively characterized, were used for experimental intra- and interspecific crosses. Genome sizes, ploidy levels and morphology were examined in the resulting progenies. Results showed a high production of viable seeds in particular in plants from tetraploid × diploid (heteroploid) crosses. In these crosses, some seedlings exhibited pleiocotyly (tricotyl, tetracotyl), while others showed polyembryony. In both homoploid (diploid × diploid) and heteroploid (tetraploid × diploid) crosses, most of the offspring plants were morphologically and in their ploidy similar to the female receiver, although some morphological abnormalities were found. Molecular progeny tests using the nrDNA ITS1-ITS2 sequence demonstrated an astounding range of diploid offspring plants originated from diploid × diploid crosses that were either genetically similar or distinct from parental plants. Although in intraspecific crosses most of the resulting progeny was diploid, one triploid plant was formed. Moreover, in homoploid interspecific crosses, neopolyploids (two tetraploid plants) were produced. Progeny plants from heteroploid crosses always showed nrDNA ITS1-ITS2 sequences identical to the parental plant used as female receiver. In conclusion, diploid homoploid crosses presented genetically diverse offspring arising from sexual reproduction. By contrast, heteroploid crosses generated clonal, maternal (apomictic) offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Limonium (sea lavenders) is characterized by various taxonomically challenging complexes with great karyological diversity, and chromosomes ranging in size from diminutive to large. In this biosystematic study, our goal was to investigate cytogenetic features of twelve sexual and asexual taxa in a particular part of their distribution range. Genome size, chromosome number variation, and other cytological features were investigated in a representative set of sea lavenders with distinct leaf venation, present in the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, France, and the Channel Islands. Flow cytometric genome size determinations were made in plants from natural populations. Cell and nuclear areas of epidermal cells, as well as, chromosome numbers and length were measured in plants from ex situ collections. Our findings revealed positive and significant correlations between holoploid genome size and cell size, nuclei area and chromosome total length. Tetraploid taxa with pinnately veined leaves had significant lower holoploid and monoploid genome sizes along with lower cell and nuclei areas and chromosome sizes than tetraploid taxa with parallel-veined leaves. The results obtained are discussed in the context of breeding relationships known or suspected among these taxa. In conclusion, our results provide a basis for future evolutionary studies, and support that pollen-stigma dimorphisms and genome size allied with chromosome counts might be important taxonomic traits in Limonium in apomictic/sexual groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typification of the Linnaean name Statice limonium (≡Limonium vulgare) is discussed. Original material preserved at BM, LINN and UPS is heterogeneous and belongs to several species. The specimen at LINN (No. 395.3) is designated as the lectotype to preserve the current usage of the name. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original circumscription and nomenclatural history of Statice minuta are discussed. The taxon nowadays indicated by this name is endemic to the Baleares (Spain, western Mediterranean), but neither the lectotype nor the Linnaean protologue support this usage. The paper clarifies the origin of this mistake and preludes to a formal proposal to conserve the name with a conserved type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The halophytic shrub genus Limoniastrum has recently been recircumscribed to include only two Mediterranean-Saharan species, Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. (= Statice monopetala L.) and L. guyonianum Boiss. Protologues of both species are briefly discussed and lectotypes are designated using material at BM (Herb. Clifford) and G (Herb. Boissier). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To assess the effect of plumbagin-free alcohol extract (PFAE) of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Plumbaginaceae) (P. zeylanica) root, on female reproductive system and fertility of adult female wistar rats. Methods: After the oral acute toxicity study, the PFAE was administered at two dose levels to perform the estrous cycle study, anti-implantation and abortifacient activity and hormonal analysis. However, the estrogenic/antiestrogenic activity was evaluated at only one most effective dose. Results: LD50 cut-off was 5 000 mg/kg body weight. The extract exhibited significant anti-implantation and abortifacient activity at the tested dose levels (300 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) (P<0.01). The extract dose-dependently decreased the levels of serum progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, while a dose-dependent increase was observed in the concentration of serum prolactin. The extract did not show any significant changes in structure and function of uterus when given alone, but when given along with ethinyl estradiol, it exhibited significant antiestrogenic activity in immature overiectomized female rats(P<0.001). Biochemical parameters in the serum/blood and haematological parameters did not show appreciable changes throughout and after the course of investigation. However, all the altered parameters returned to normalcy within 30 days following withdrawal of treatment. Conclusions: All findings suggest that the antifertility activity of extract could possibly be through the changes in the implantation site, altered hormonal levels, prolonged estrous cycle and anti-estrogenic activity. Hence, the extract possesses reversible antifertility activity without adverse toxicity in female rats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The naphthoquinones, lapachol (1), plumbagin (2), 2-isopropenyl-9-methoxy-1,8-di-oxa-dicyclopenta[b,g]naphthalene-4,10-dione (3), 9-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-1,8-dioxa-dicyclopenta[b,g]naphthalene-4,10-dione (4), 2-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-9-methoxy-1,8-dioxa-dicyclopenta[b,g]naphthalene-4,10-dione (5) and 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (6) were isolated isolated from roots of Plumbago zeylanica. The new constituents (3–5) in addition to known compounds (1, 2 and 6) were characterized by spectral analysis (UV, IR, 1D & 2D NMR and MS). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the taxonomic features of Myriolepsis, a novel genus segregated from Limonium. Comparison with other taxa in Plumbaginaceae; Morphological, karybiological and phytochemical characteristics of Myriolepis.

Provides information on Myriolepis (Plumbaginaceae). Use of the name Myriolepis at the sectional and subgeneric rank in Limonium; Meaning of Myriolepis; Ratification of the proposed name, Myriolimon, to replace the evidently illegitimate Myriolepis during the 17th International Botanical Congress in Vienna, Austria in July 2005.