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Abstract: The investigation of the ethanol extract of fresh aerial parts of the Patagonian shrub Nardophyllum bryoides collected in the province of Chubut, Argentina, yielded eleven terpenoids. These include: three seco-ent-halimane diterpenoids (1–3), two ent-halimanes (4–5) and six pentacyclic oleanane and ursane triterpenoids (6–11). Four of these compounds (2, 6, 8 and 11) are hitherto unknown, while two others (1 and 4) have been previously reported but only as synthetic products. Several of these compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity against a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line while compounds 4 and 5 were active at micromolar concentrations. The main component, seco-chiliolidic acid (1), could be isolated from this extract in large amounts, turning N. bryoides into a sustainable source of this bioactive compound. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nardophyllum cabrerae (Asteraceae: Astereae), a new species from western Argentina is described. The new species differs from its closest relative, Nardophyllum lanatum (Meyen) Cabrera, in its non-revolute margins, white corollas, and pappus of unequal scabrid bristles. Two names, Nardophyllum obtusifolium Hook. et Arn. and N. bracteolatum Hauman, were shown not to represent distinct species and accordingly placed in the synonymy of Nardophyllum bryoides (Lam.) Cabrera and Nardophyllum chiliotrichioides (J. Rémy in Gay) A. Gray, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Baccharis is represented in Argentina by 96 species, the infrageneric classification of which is presented in this paper. A succinct summary of the history of Baccharis infrageneric taxonomy is provided. The 96 Argentine species are placed into 15 sections: Angustifoliae, Aristidentes, Baccharis, Caulopterae, Cuneifoliae, Cylindricae, Discolores, Molinae, Nitidae, Oblongifoliae, Paniculatae, Pedicellatae, Pseudobaccharis, Subliguliflorae -sect. nov.- and Trinervatae. These sections are briefly described, and a key to differentiate them is given. Twelve out of the 96 species are positioned into the infrageneric classification system for the first time, whereas 42 species which had been previously classified are here relocated to other sections. Twenty-two generic, subgeneric, sectional and subsectional names are considered as new synonyms. The relationships among the sections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]