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Four new homoisoflavonoids, 7-O-methyl-8-demethoxy-3′-hydroxy-3,9-dihydropunctatin (4), 6-hydroxy-8-demethoxy-4′-O-methyl-3,9-dihydropunctatin (8), 7,4′-O-dimethyl-8-demethoxy-3,3′-dihydroxy-3,9-dihydropunctatin (13), and 7-O-methyl-3-hyroxy-3,9-dihydropunctatin (14) were identified from a chloroform extract of the bulbs of Bellevalia flexuosa, along with 13 known analogues. The structures were determined by analysis of HRMS and NMR data, while ECD spectroscopy enabled the assignment of the absolute configurations of the new compounds 4, 8, 13 and 16. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds (1–17) were evaluated using a panel of human cancer cell lines. Compounds 2 and 7 were the most potent against the MDA-MB-435 (melanoma) cancer cell line with IC50 values of 1.6 and 2.0 μM, respectively, and were essentially equipotent against the OVCAR3 (ovarian) cancer cell line with IC50 values of 9.5 and 10.8 μM, respectively. However, compound 7, with an IC50 value of 3.6 μM, was the most potent against the MDA-MB-231 (breast) cancer cell line. This research was supported, in part, by the Deanship of Research, Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid, Jordan (Grant No. 284/2017 ) and via program project grant P01 CA125066 from the National Cancer Institute / National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, USA. Appendix A Scopus

Seven homoisoflavonoids and one stilbenoid, 3-(4′-methoxybenzyl)-6,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxychroman-4-one (1) which is new; 3-(4′-methoxybenzyl)-6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxychroman-4-one (2); 3-(4′-methoxybenzyl)-5,7-dimethoxychroman-4-one (3); 3-(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxybenzyl)-5,7-dimethoxychroman-4-one (4); 3-(4′-methoxybenzylidene)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxychroman-4-one (5); 3-(4′-hydroxybenzylidene)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxychroman-4-one (6); 3-(4′-hydroxybenzylidene)-5,7-dihydroxychroman-4-one (7) and 4,3′,5′-trihydroxy-3-methoxystilbene (8), were isolated from the yellow inter-bulb deposits from Scilla nervosa. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry. A number of extracts, fractions and compounds tested displayed bacterostatic activity with MICs ranging between 0.156 and 1.250 mg/ml. Two extracts displayed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and a number of extracts, fractions and compounds showed strong antioxidant activity with, compounds 1, 2 and 8 displaying lower MECs than the positive control ascorbic acid (0.0156 mg/ml).

Ammocharis coranica (Ker-Gawl.) Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) is used in southern Africa for the treatment of mental illnesses. The ethanol extracts of the bulb of A. coranica and its total alkaloids rich fractions were screened for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE), which is implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. The ethanolic extracts significantly inhibited AChE with IC 50 value of 14.3 ± 0.50 μg/ml. The basic ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the crude extracts were the most active against AChE with IC 50 values of 43.1 ± 1.22 and 0.05 ± 0.02 μg/ml respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the basic fractions led to the isolation of lycorine and 24-methylenecycloartan-3β-ol. Lycorine which was isolated from both butanol and ethyl acetate fractions had IC 50 of 29.3 ± 3.15 μg/ml, while 24-methylenecycloartan-3β-ol was not active.

Turkey is one of the major garlic producing country in the World and the significant amount of Turkey's production has been made using a garlic variety called Kastamonu garlic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess genetic relationship of Kastamonu garlic with 20 previously characterized garlic clones collected from different regions of the world using AFLP and locus specific DNA markers. One putative Kastamonu garlic genotype was obtained from Taskopru district of Kastamonu province while another putative Kastamonu garlic genotype was collected from a local farmers’ market in Bursa province and called as Kast-Taskopru and Kast-Bursa in this study, respectively. In the UPGMA dendrogram developed by using 120 AFLP markers, Kast-Taskopru was clustered closely over 97% similarity with other non-bolting garlic clones, PI493112, PI493118 and PI383824. This cluster was also supported by bootstrap analysis with 100% bootstrap value. All clones in this cluster also shared same alleles of gene specific DNA markers. However, Kast-Bursa shared 100% polymorphic AFLP markers and gene specific markers with a different garlic clone, PI497951 in another distinct cluster of UPGMA dendrogram and this clustering has also bootstrap value of 100%. These results suggest that Kastamonu garlic is not unique and garlic production in Turkey has been made using several garlic clones, even though most of this production has been sold as Kastamonu garlic due to its high popularity. Therefore, a standard Kastamonu garlic genotype needs to be determined by fingerprinting all available garlic clones cultivated in Kastamonu province and other regions of Turkey.

Commercial harvesting of perennial herbs and geophytes for the medicinal plant trade has resulted in significant levels of resource depletion for several of the species concerned. One way to quantify the impacts is to estimate the number of bulbs harvested annually. Using records of bulb diameters sold in the Witwatersrand traditional medicinal plant markets between 1995 and 2001, the diameter size-classes most prevalent in the markets were ascertained. Thereafter, the number of ‘individual equivalents’ was estimated, i.e. the number of individual bulbs harvested annually equivalent in size to the mean diameter of the bulbs known to be traded. The estimates obtained include scenarios for bulbs of different diameters (reflecting the modal frequencies). The results showed there to be a significant decrease in the modal diameter of Eucomis autumnalis bulbs prevalent in the markets between 1995 and 2001 from 8 cm to 4 cm respectively. The diameters of Drimia spp. bulbs, the most popular species in the Witwatersrand markets, were also decreasing, but the differences were not significant by 2001. Scenarios for the number of Drimia spp. bulbs estimated to be sold to the Witwatersrand TM shops in 1995 ranged from 270 618 to 552 022 bulbs per annum. Gatherers are harvesting smaller and smaller bulbs over time and this is not sustainable at current rates, especially if more smaller bulbs are sold. It is thus clear that cultivation is necessary to mitigate the effects of further exploitation.

The regeneration ability of bulb scales of the Asiatic hybrid lily (Lilium hybrids L.) ‘Enchantment’ was monitored for bulbs stored for 0 to 5 years at −2°C in moist peat. Regeneration ability decreased after more than 1 year of storage and was completely lost after 5 years. Possible involvement of oxidative stress in the loss of regeneration capacity was tested. In this study we used white (i.e. with no visual damage) scales to test whether breakdown of membranes by oxidative stress was an early event in this storage-induced viability loss of lily bulbs. The content of reduced glutathione, which was the main nonprotein thiol in the bulb scales, remained nearly constant, while that of oxidized glutathione was slightly increased after 3.3 years of storage. Significant changes in the content of phospholipids, neutral lipids and free fatty acids were not detected during storage. The degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in phospholipids increased during the first 3 years of storage. Ion leakage of bulb scales was not increased in bulbs that were stored for less than 4 years. No indication was found that oxidative stress is a major factor associated with the loss of regeneration capacity of lily bulbs during cold storage.

Regulations around the world are forbidding incandescence bulbs in an attempt to curb electricity consumption. However, lighting occupies a very small share in the total electricity consumption. The replacement technology, mostly fluorescent bulbs count among drawbacks a negative impact on human health and increasing issues for their ecological elimination. Consumers feel attached to the incandescent bulbs but gradually moving to low consumption bulbs. In this paper, we list the disadvantages of fluorescent bulbs and examine some consumers' relationships with light bulbs. This is to add further elements to shift the debate away from electricity savings towards ecological and health concerns.