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Two new rare trachylobane euphoratones A-B (1-2), together with five known diterpenoids (compounds 3-7), were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia atoto. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated through HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis. Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 7 showed weak anti-inflammatory activities (IC50 77.49 ± 6.34, 41.61 ± 14.49, 16.00 ± 1.71 and 33.41 ± 4.52 μM, respectively), compared to the positive control quercetin (IC50 15.23 ± 0.65 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine jatrophane diterpenoids, including six previously undescribed compounds, were extracted and purified from whole plants of Jatropha curcas L. Their structures including absolute configurations were characterized by spectroscopic, quantum chemical Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Electronic Circular Dichroism calculation, and Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction methods. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to reverse multidrug resistance. Among the above compounds, compound 6 showed significant potential as a multidrug resistance modulator, exhibiting higher chemo reversal effects and lower toxicity compared to the positive control verapamil. These findings suggest that compound 6 has promising anticancer properties. Jatrophane diterpenoids from Jatropha curcas, collected from Hainan Province, China. [Display omitted] • Nine jatrophane diterpenoids were isolated from Jatropha curcas, including six undescribed ones. • Their absolute configurations were elucidated by X-ray and ECD analyses. • These compounds exhibited P-gp-mediated MDR reversal activity ranging from 54.4 to 158.1. • The contents of the structure–activity relationship (SAR) was described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Euphorbia plants are famous for their diterpenoid constituents with diverse structures and broad biological activities. Herein, the discovery of 15 ingenane diterpenoids including 10 previously unreported ones (1-10) from Euphorbia antiquorum was presented. Structures of the undescribed compounds were established via detailed spectroscopic analyses. Meanwhile, a preliminary anti-inflammatory screening revealed that compound 6 showed significant inhibitory activity against the production of nitric oxide, as well as downregulated the expression of COX-2 and IL-6, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further mechanistical exploration revealed that compound 6 could exert its anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-κB and activating Nrf2 signaling pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the mechanisms that drive community assembly in species‐rich tropical forest remains a fundamental challenge in ecology. Here, we integrated multivariate functional trait dimensions, phylogeny and metabolomics to test fundamental predictions concerning the role of differentiation with respect to abiotic and biotic niche axes in the maintenance of high local diversity of woody plants in the Euphorbiaceae.We measured 40 functional traits related to resource acquisition, photosynthetic capacity, hydraulic efficiency and secondary‐metabolite profiles generated using untargeted metabolomics in all 26 Euphorbiaceae species in a 20‐ha forest dynamics plot in tropical southwestern China. We examined the correlation structure of 40 traits using a trait networking approach. We coupled these traits with variation in soil nutrients, light environment, soil water content and herbivore pressure within the plot to assess niche differentiation in space. We compared phylogenetic signal among multivariate trait dimensions and secondary metabolites to assess niche differentiation in evolutionary time.Network analysis revealed that a small number of traits with high network centrality reflected variation in ecological strategy among the Euphorbiaceae. Using these high‐centrality traits, we observed significant functional turnover along environmental gradients defined by light, soil moisture, soil nutrients and leaf herbivory, respectively. Most resource utilization traits showed significant phylogenetic signal, whereas almost all defensive traits lacked phylogenetic signal, including species similarity with respect to plant secondary metabolites.Synthesis. Our results suggest that resource‐utilization traits and the habitat associations play a significant role in the niche segregation of co‐occurring woody plants in the Euphorbiaceae. Secondary metabolites, however, may enhance diversity at a finer spatial scale by allowing closely related species with similar functional traits to partition biotic niche space within shared habitats in tropical rainforest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia xiangxiui, a new species of Euphorbiaceae from Eastern China, supported by morphological and molecular evidence, is illustrated and described here. It can be distinguished from its closest relatives by the combination of several characters, including taller stature (up to 1.6 m), leaves of 5–18 × 0.6–3 cm in size, color of primary involucral leaves and cyathophylls changing from pink to rose, fading to green after fruiting, and four to six reniform-rounded concave glands. The molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on combined nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid ndhF sequences, further supports that E. xiangxiui should be placed in the East Asian Clade of Euphorbia subg. Esula sect. Helioscopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton laui (Euphorbiaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant used by the Li ethnic group in China to treat headaches, stomachaches, and diphtheria. To understand the pharmacological basis of its medicinal use, an extensive investigation of the ethanolic extract of the bark of C. laui was performed. After repeated chromatography, twenty-four undescribed labdane-type diterpenoids, lauinoids A–X (1 – 24), and five known analogs (25 – 29) were isolated. Their structures and absolute configurations were established using a combination of spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Among them, compounds 1 – 3 exhibited an 11(12 → 13)- abeo -16- nor -labdane skeleton, which originated putatively from 9 through a plausible pathway that involves a semipinacol rearrangement process. Compounds 11 and 12 belong to the rare class of 14,15- dinor -labdane diterpenoids. Compounds 18 and 28 exhibited substantial inhibitory effects by suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC 50 values of 3.37 ± 0.23 and 5.82 ± 0.28 μM, respectively. This study has greatly expanded the chemical diversity of labdane diterpenoids from C. laui and will guide future research on this ethnomedicinal plant. Twenty-four undescribed labdane-type diterpenoids, including three unusual 11(12 → 13)- abeo -16- nor -labdanes, and five known analogs were isolated from the bark of Croton laui. Some of them exhibited moderate anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. [Display omitted] • Twenty-four undescribed labdane-type diterpenoids were determined in Croton laui. • Compounds 1 – 3 were confirmed with an 11(12. → 13)- abeo -16- nor -labdane skeleton. • Compounds 18 and 28 showed anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptopus chinensis (Bunge) Pojark is a medicinal herb endemic to China. In this study, its complete chloroplast (cp) genome was characterized with a discussion of its phylogenetic placement. The cp genome of L. chinensis was 154,600 bp long, with a double-stranded circular tetrad structure containing a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,717 bp), a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,159 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,862 bp each). The overall GC content of the genome was 36.8% (LSC, 34.7%; SSC, 29.8%; IR, 42.3%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that L. chinensis is a sister species to L. cordifolius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr. 1859 is a medicinal herb endemic to China and distributed throughout the country, particularly across the northern part of the mainland. However, the systematic classification of Euphorbiaceae remains controversial. Therefore, studying the chloroplast genome of E. pekinensis is crucial for the resolution of this taxonomic dispute, clarification of the systematic status of Euphorbia, and establishment of an accurate classification system for Euphorbiaceae. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of E. pekinensis using Illumina sequencing technology and annotated it using GeSeq. The complete chloroplast genome was 162,002-bp-long with a guanine–cytosine (GC) content of 35.7%. It included one large single-copy (LSC), one small single-copy (SSC), and two inverted repeat sequence regions (IRa and IRb), which were 90,225 bp, 18,067 bp, and 26,855 bp in length, respectively, and are indicative of a typical tetrad structure. The genome encoded 129 functional genes, comprising 85 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. According to the maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree that was constructed using 16 complete chloroplast genomes, E. pekinensis was found to be closely related to E. ebracteolata. Therefore, the complete chloroplast genome of E. pekinensis provides a better understanding of Euphorbia genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) in maintaining biodiversity for northern China has rarely been shown, as previous phylogeographic studies are mostly woody species and they have revealed that Quaternary refugia are mainly located in mountain regions. We selected a drought-enduring endemic herb, Speranskia tuberculata (Euphorbiaceae), to determine its glacial refugia and postglacial demographic history. To this end, we sampled 423 individuals from 38 populations covering its entire geographic distribution. Three chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments, two low-copy nuclear genes, and six nuclear microsatellites (nSSRs) were used and supplemented with ecological niche modeling (ENM) to infer the phylogeographic history of this species. Populations with private haplotypes and high haplotype diversity of cpDNA are mainly located in the CLP or scattered around northeastern China and the coastal region. Spatial expansion, detected using a neutrality test and mismatch distribution, may have resulted in a widely distributed ancestral cpDNA haplotype, especially outside of the CLP. For nuclear DNA, private haplotypes are also distributed mainly in the CLP. In nSSRs, STRUCTURE clustering identified two genetic clusters, which are distributed in the west (western cluster) and east (eastern cluster), respectively. Many populations belonged, with little to no admixture, to the western cluster while (hardly) pure populations of the eastern cluster were barely found. Genetic differentiation is significantly correlated with geographic distance, although genetic diversity is uniformly distributed. ENM suggests that the distribution of S. tuberculata has recently expanded northwards from the southern CLP, whereas it has experienced habitat loss in the south. Thus, S. tuberculata populations probably survived the last glacial maximum (LGM) in the southern CLP and experienced post-glacial expansion. Wind-dispersed pollen could bring the majority of genotypes to the front during spatial expansion, resulting in uniformly distributed genetic diversity. Based on evidence from molecular data and vegetation and climate changes since the LGM, we conclude that drought-enduring species, especially herbaceous species, are likely to have persisted in the CLP during the LGM and to have experienced expansion to other regions in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine pollen types from four representative subfamilies of Euphorbiaceae in southern China, including 34 species (21 genera) of Crotonoideae, Euphorbioideae, Acalyphoideae and Phyllanthoideae. The morphology of the investigated species is described and illustrated with high-resolution photographs observed by transmitted light microscope. These descriptions and illustrations are presented at the species level, and pollen types and identifying features are also noted. This study is a complementary contribution to Quaternary pollen analysis, and should aid in the identification of pollen types assigned to Euphorbiaceae, especially in Southern China, as well as elsewhere in the tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new natural product, 3α,19-dihydroxyl-ent-pimara-8(14),15-diene (1), which possesses an α-orientation hydroxymethyl at C-4 and ∆8,14 groups, as well as eight known compounds, was isolated from the rhizomes of Ricinus communis. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and its absolute configurations were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The inhibitory rate of 1 against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) was 49.49% at the concentration of 6.58 × 10−5 mol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in the genus Euphorbia have been widely used as herbal medicine, and for ornamental horticulture and biofuel production. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome of Euphorbia hirta which is known as the 'asthma-plant' due to its medicinal use. The chloroplast genome of this species is 164,340 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) (27,354 bp) that are divided by a large single-copy region (LSC) (91,373 bp) and a small single-copy region (SSC) (18,259 bp). The chloroplast genome of E. hirta contains 111 unique genes (77 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and four rRNA), 19 of which are duplicated in the IR regions. The overall GC content is 35.4%. Phylogenetic analysis fully resolved E. hirta groups with other species of Euphorbia. The complete chloroplast genome of E. hirta provides useful information that can be used to distinguish related species and reconstruct evolutionary relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia ebracteolata is a perennial medicinal plant and widely used in China for thousands of years. The complete chloroplast genome reported here is 163,090 bp in length, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,699 bp, which are separated by a large single-copy (LSC) and a small single-copy (SSC) of 91,943 and 17,749 bp, respectively. The whole chloroplast genome of E. ebracteolata contains 112 genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosome RNA. Phylogenetic analysis result strongly indicated that E. ebracteolata is closely related to E. helioscopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new diterpenoids named 1-epi-9-hydroxydepressin (1), 1-epi-8-hydroxydepressin (2), 2,13,9-trihydroxy-labda-8(17),12(E),14-triene (3) and tagalsin I (4) were isolated fromEuphorbia rapulum.The structures of these compounds were elucidated by means of various spectroscopic methods. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against HepG2, MCF-7, and C6 cell lines, and compound4showed moderate selective activity against MCF-7 cell line with an IC50value of 31.8 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Croton kongensis Gagnepain. belongs to the genus Croton , the Euphorbiaceae family, mainly distributed in Hainan and southern Yunnan, China. The aim of present study was to acquire secondary metabolites of the ethanol extract obtained from the leaves and twigs of C. kongensis. Three new abietane-type diterpenoids, crokongenolides A-C (1 – 3), together with seven known diterpenoids (4 – 10), were isolated from the leaves and twigs of C. kongensis. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, IR, and HRESIMS), and their absolute configurations were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis or electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The absolute configuration of 4 was determined for the first time by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis with Cu-Kα irradiation. Some compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties by assessing their inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus , Candida albicans , and Escherichia coli. Compound 10 showed significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus with MIC value of 1.56 μg/ml. [Display omitted] • Three new abietane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Croton kongensis. • The structures of three new compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. • Some compounds showed significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Homonoia riparia Lour. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) is an important medicinal plant in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine used in the treatment of various medical conditions like urolithiasis, renal problems, and inflammation. This is the first report on the pharmacognostical standardisation and phytochemical evaluation of whole plant of Homonoia riparia Lour. Objective: To establish the pharmacognostical and physicochemical standardisation parameters of whole plant of Homonoia riparia Lour. Materials and Methods: The plant was studied for the morpho-anatomical characters, standardisation parameters such as ash value, extractive value, fluorescence analysis, loss on drying, swelling index, foaming index according to Indian Pharmacopoeia and WHO guidelines. Phytochemical analysis was also performed by standard methods. Quantification of gallic acid in Homonoia riparia was carried out using HPTLC technique. Results: The detailed microscopy of root revealed the presence of cork, cork cambium, pericyclic fibres, thick walled parenchyma and starch granules. The distinguishing characters of stem are presence of sclereids, xylem, phloem, fibres. Leaf microscopy showed the presence of anomocytic stomata, bicollateral vascular bundles ensheathed by fibres. Rosette crystals are present in all the parts of the plant. Starch grains are abundantly present in root and stem but absent in leaves. Various physicochemical parameters were also determined. Phytochemical screening of the extract and HPTLC quantification of gallic acid was also performed. Conclusion: The present study provides pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical details of the whole plant of Homonoia riparia which are useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopoeia parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new prenylated flavonoids, macarindicins A–C ( 1–3 ), as well as seven known compounds ( 4–10 ) were isolated from the twigs of Macaranga indica . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation. Compounds 2 and 3 enriched the diversity of prenyl moiety in genus Macaranga especially in the aspect of various lengths of prenyl chain. All the known compounds were isolated from M. indica for the first time and this plant was found to contain large number of ellagic acid. Compounds 1–10 were tested for their cytotoxicity against four cancer cell lines (MCF-7, Hep G2, Hela and P388) and showed IC 50 values in the range of 2.61–20.35 μ g/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One rare flavonoid–diterpene heterodimer, denticulatain C ( 1 ), one modified geranyl-type side chain substituted flavonoid, denticulatain D ( 2 ) and one geranylated flavonoid, denticulatain E ( 3 ), as well as 11 known compounds ( 4 – 14 ) were isolated from the fronds of Macaranga denticulata . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation. Compounds 4 and 8 inhibited the proliferation of A-549 cell line with IC 50 values of 48.6 and 20.2 μ g/mL, respectively. Compounds 3 , 6 , and 8 exhibited significant antiangiogenic activity on a zebrafish model with IC 50 values of 9.78, 0.34, and 2.55 μ g/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytochemical study on Euphorbia fischeriana , a folk medicinal plant in China, led to the isolation of eight undescribed glycosides, including two diterpene glycosides, three acetophenone glycosides and three tannins together with eight known ones. Their planar structures were elucidated by extensive analyses of 1D, 2D NMR experiments and HRESIMS. The absolute configurations were determined by NOESY experiments, ECD calculations. All undescribed compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities in vitro. Two diterpene glycosides (1–2) showed cytotoxic activity with IC 50 values ranging from 5.4 to 16.2 μM toward Hep-G2, Hep-3B, A549, NCI–H460 and AGS cells. Tannins (6–8) showed the significant antibacterial activity with MIC values in the range of 1.56–6.25 μg/mL. [Display omitted] • Eight undescribed glycosides were isolated from the Euphorbia fischeriana. • The absolute configuration of 1 and 2 was determined by ECD calculation. • Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of compounds 1–8 was tested in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Prostratin, a tigliane phorbol ester with promise for the treatment of HIV, was identified and quantified in Euphorbia fischeriana root extracts obtained from several different sites in China. The greatest yield was recovered from root samples collected from Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia (63.54μg/g dry weight, or 0.00635% by mass). Prostratin was not detected in extracts of Euphorbia sp., E. esula, E. lucorum or Stellera chamaejasme. The presence of prostratin was verified by 1H and 13C NMR. Major fragmentation products were identified from ESI MS n spectra after HPLC separation, providing a reproducible fingerprint for unambiguously recognizing the compound in plant extracts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study presents an analysis of floristic composition patterns for limestone tropical forests in Xishuangbanna, which is located in the northern edge of tropical Asia. All trees in four 50 x 50 m plots with diameter at breast height (dbh, 1.3 m) ≥ 5 cm were measured and identified. A total of 998 individuals belonging to 100 species, 74 genera and 31 families were recorded in these plots. Species richness ranged from 18 to 46 species per plot. The most ecologically significant family as determined by basal area and stem density was Euphorbiaceae. Cleistanthus sumatranus and Lasiococca comberi were the dominant species. Total basal area was 33.5 m² in the four plots, ranging from 7.0 to 10.5 m² per plot. Comparing tropical forests in this area, this limestone forest showed lower species diversity and higher dominance by Euphorbiaceae. Results from this study will improve our understanding of the community composition of tropical limestone forests in the northern edge of tropical Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Euphorbia lathyris (Caper spurge) is a toxic and potent Chinese materia medica (T/PCMM). This study sought a method for identifying five diterpenoids (Euphorbia factors L1−L3, L7a and L8) with the spectra of UV and mass, quantifying three diterpenoids L1, L2, and L8 in crude extracts of unprocessed and processed E. lathyris seeds by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS). The analysis was achieved on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4.6mm×150mm i.d., 5μm) with an isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.25mL/min at column temperature of 30°C and UV detection was set at 272nm. An ESI source was used with a positive ionization mode. The calibration curve was linear in the ranges of 9.9–79μg/mL for Euphorbia factor L1, 3.8–30.5μg/mL for Euphorbia factor L2, and 1.0–20.6μg/mL for Euphorbia factor L8. The average recoveries (n=6) of three diterpenoids were 98.39%, 91.10% and 96.94%, respectively, with RSD of 2.5%, 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. The contents of the three diterpenoids in processed E. lathyris seeds were 3.435, 1.367 and 0.286mg/g, respectively, which decreased more sharply than those in unprocessed E. lathyris seeds which were 4.915, 1.944 and 0.425mg/g, respectively. The method is simple, accurate, reliable and reproducible, and it can be applied to control the quality of unprocessed and processed E. lathyris seeds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Jatropha curcas (jatropha) is a potential biodiesel crop. A major limitation in production is that jatropha remains wild with low genetic variation. Related species/genera in the Euphorbiaceae can potentially be used for its genetic improvement. In this study, we employed inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) to assess genetic variation among 30 accessions of jatropha, two accessions of bellyache bush ( Jatropha gossypifolia), two accessions of spicy jatropha ( Jatropha integerrima), two accessions of bottleplant shrub ( Jatropha podagrica), and three accessions of castor bean hybrids. Genetic relationships were evaluated using 27 of 86 ISSR markers, yielding 307 polymorphic bands with polymorphism contents ranging from 0.76 to 0.95 for IMPN 1 and UBC 807 markers, respectively. Dice's genetic similarity coefficient ranged from 0.39 to 0.99, which clearly separated the plant samples into seven groups at the coefficient of 0.48. The first group comprised J. curcas from Mexico, the second group comprised J. curcas from China and Vietnam, the third group comprised J. curcas from Thailand, the fourth group was J. integerrima, the fifth group was J. gossypifolia, the sixth group was J. podagrica, and the last and most distinct group was Ricinus communis. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 63% of the variability was attributable to variation among groups, while 37% was due to variation within groups. Based on Nei's genetic distance, the population from G2 ( J. curcas from China) and G4 ( J. curcas from Vietnam) had the least ISSR variability (0.0668), whereas G8 ( R. communis) and Jatropha spp. displayed the highest distance (0.6005-0.7211). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species and new record of gracillariid moths from China are reported: Conopomorpha flueggella Li, sp. n. and Epicephala relictella Kuznetzov, 1979. Specimens were collected on flowers or leaves of Flueggea suff ruticosa (Pall.) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) at night, and reared from fruits in captivity. Larvae of both species feed on the seeds of F. suff ruticosa, but they can be diff erentiated externally by the position of the red pattern on the thorax and abdomen. Morphology of the eggs, larvae, pupae and the life history of the two species are described and compared. Images of the life history and figures of the genital structures are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introdution: Jatropha curcas L.(Euphorbiaceae) distributes in many parts of China with abundant resources. The seed (Jatrophae curcatis semen) of this plant is used to produce biodiesel, and the extract also has strong molluseicidal effect on Oncomelania. But few researches have been done about the pharmacognostic and phytochemical nature of the seed. Methods: The macroscopic and microscopic characters were observed by conventional methods and optical microscope. Moisture content, the alcohol soluble extractive and the fatty oil content were determined respectively. The identification and ingredient analysis were conducted by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The main microscopic characteristics are palisade sclereids, pillar stone cells and filiform sclereids. Moisture content should be not more than 8.0%, alcohol soluble extractive value not less than 14.0%, and content of fatty oil not less than 35.0% according to sample analysis. TLC fingerprinting of the seed extracts was developed. Conclusion: The results presented can provide some references for authenticity and quality control of Jatrophae curcatis semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species and one new record of eriophyoid mites from Hainan Province, China are described and illustrated. They are Hainanarus longusolanidion n. gen. & n. sp. on Antidesma montanum (Euphorbiaceae), Criotacus homalium n. sp. on Homalium ceylanicum (Flacourtiaceae), Diptilomiopus melastomae (Boczek and Chandrapatya, 2002), n. rec. on Melastoma malabathricum (Melastomaceae). All eriophyoid mite species described here are vagrants on the undersurface of host leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native to China, Chinese tallow, Triadica sebifera L. Small (Euphorbiaceae), is an invasive plant in the southeastern United States. The leaf-rolling weevil, HeterapoderopsLs bicallosicollis Voss, is a common herbivore attacking this plant in China. To evaluate its potential as a biological control agent of T. sebifera, biology and host specificity of this weevil were studied in China. H. bicallosicollis occurs over a wide, native, geographic range and its immatures successfully develop at 15-35°C, indicating its physiological potential to establish and persist throughout the range of climatic conditions where the target plant grows in the United States. Adults make feeding holes on leaves. Before oviposition, the female makes a sealed leaf roll called a nidus and then lays one to two eggs inside. Eggs, larvae, and pupae develop within nidi, and larvae survive only when they develop inside the nidi. This requirement makes the weevil highly host specific to T. sebifera. In laboratory no-choice tests of 54 species from eight families, adults fed on only 3 plant species, T. sebifera, Sapiuin chihsinianum S. K. Lee, and Phyllanthus urinaria L. and only oviposited on T. sebifera. These results were confirmed where, in multiple-choice tests, adults only oviposited on T. sebifera. Given that T. sebifera is the only species in the genus Triadica in the United States, the results of this study suggest that H. bicallosicollis is a potential biological control agent of T. sebifera and should be considered to be imported into quarantine in the United States for further tests on native North American species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to examine the functional coordination among hydraulic traits, xylem characteristics and gas exchange rates across three deciduous Euphorbiaceae tree species ( Hevea brasiliensis, Macaranga denticulata and Bischofia javanica) and three evergreen Euphorbiaceae tree species ( Drypetes indica, Aleurites moluccana and Codiaeum variegatum) from a seasonally tropical forest in south-western China. The deciduous tree species were more vulnerable to water stress-induced embolism than the evergreen tree species. However, the deciduous tree species generally had higher maximal rates of sapwood and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity ( K S and K L), respectively. Compared with the evergreen tree species, the deciduous tree species, however, possessed a lower density of sapwood and a wider diameter of xylem vessels. Regardless of leaf phenology, the hydraulic vulnerability and conductivity were significantly correlated with sapwood density and mean vessel diameter. Furthermore, the hydraulic vulnerability was positively correlated with water transport efficiency. In addition, the deciduous tree species exhibited higher maximal photosynthetic rates ( A max) and stomatal conductance ( g max), but lower water use efficiency (WUE). Interestingly, the A max, g max and WUE were strongly correlated with K S and K L across the deciduous and evergreen tree species. These results suggest that xylem structure, rather than leaf phenology, accounts for the difference in hydraulic traits between the deciduous tree species and the evergreen tree species. Meanwhile, our results show that there is a significant trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety, and a strong functional correlation between the hydraulic capacity and gas exchange rates across the deciduous and evergreen tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia lathyris is a biennial herb plant in China. The seed is commonly used in well-known traditional Chinese medicine, and it has anti-tumor, p-glycoprotein and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The length of circular chloroplast genome was 162,571 bp, containing a large single-copy region of 91,946 bp, a small single-copy region of 17,301 bp and two inverted repeat regions of 26,662 bp. The chloroplast genome contained 128 genes, including 85 protein-coding, 8 rRNA, and 35 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that E. lathyris, E. kansui and E. esulaare are closely related to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton laevigatus grows as an evergreen tree or shrub with 15 meters height. It is distributed in the dense or open forests of Hainan province, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of C. laevigatus in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its systematics research. The plastome of C. laevigatus is found to possess a total length 162,515 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,866 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 90,234 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,549 bp. The plastome contains 113 genes, consisting of 79 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of C. laevigatus is 64.10%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. laevigatus is close to C. tiglium within Euphorbiaceae in this study. The complete plastome sequence of C. laevigatus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Euphorbiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six substances were isolated from the branches and leaves of the Chinese herb Leptopus Chinensis (Bunge) Pojark. by column chromatography for the first time. Their structures were elucidated as 3α-hydroxyfriedelan-2-one, saccharose, triacontanol, friedelane-2α,3β-diols, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside, and β -sitosterol on the basis of x-ray, chemical, and spectroscopic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study conducted to know chemical composition of Drypetes congestiflora, a tree widely distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan Provinces in China. Topics discused include presence of pentacyclic triterpenoids, flavonoids, xanthone and other phenoids in the plant that possess various pharmacological properties, evaluation of cytotoxicity of extracts of stems of D. congestiflora against K-562 and diverse constituents and biological activities of the species.

Euphorbiaceae is one of the largest families of higher plants, including 7500 species, and many of them are used as medicines in China. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 455 previously undescribed diterpenoids were isolated from 53 species of Euphorbia, and some skeleton types were first discovered from the genus Euphorbia. Most of the diterpenoids isolated from Euphorbia spp. have been tested for their biological activity, and some of them were first reported for Euphorbia diterpenoids in recent years, such as neuroprotection, antimalarial activity and inhibition of osteoclast formation. In this review, we summarize all the isolated diterpenoids from the genus Euphorbia according to their skeleton types, classify all these diterpenoids into 26 normal classes and 37 novel skeleton types, and summarize their biological activity. [Display omitted] • 455 previously undescribed diterpenoids isolated from Euphorbia in recent years are summarized. • All diterpenoids are classified according to their skeletons. • The biological activities of diterpenoids are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia hainanensis is a rare cliff top boskage, which has an important ecological and economic value. In this study, we sequenced its complete chloroplast (cp) genome using Illumina sequencing platform. The cp genome of E. hainanensis is a typical quadripartite structure with a length of 163,977 bp, which contained inverted repeats (IR) of 26,717 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 92,771 bp and 17,772 bp, respectively. A total of 131 genes, 82 of which are protein coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes were identified. The overall GC content of the plastome is 35.4% while the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 32.4%, 30.0%, and 42.4%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that E. hainanensis was closely related to the species of E. esula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deutzianthus tonkinensis (Euphorbiaceae) is an endangered but commercially popular oil-producing tree, whose populations in China are now fragmented, with the total number of individuals decreasing steadily. Here, we characterized the chloroplast (cp) genome of D. tonkinensis using the genome skimming approach. The whole cp genome is 163,481 bp and comprises 134 genes, including eight unique rRNAs, 36 tRNAs, 84 protein-coding genes, and two pseudo-genes (ycf15 and rps16). The overall guanine-cytosine content of D. tonkinensis cp genome is 35.7%. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that D. tonkinensis is closely related to the Vernicia genus. This study will be useful for future studies on endangered oil-producing tree species, and provide a basis for conservation of this important resource plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: The Euphorbiaceae family, which contains about 300 genera and more than 5000 species, is widely distributed in different regions. Trigonostemon genus comprises a wide group of tropical and temperate plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. This genus includes at least 50 species throughout tropical Asia, extending from India and Sri Lanka to New Guinea. They have been employed by local populations for the treatment of asthma, poisonous snake bites, and food poisoning., Aim of the Review: The main aim of the review is to critically analyze the reported traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Trigonostemon species., Materials and Methods: Scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, CNKI, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library and SciFinder, were searched using keywords such as "Trigonostemon", "South China", "chemical constituents", or "traditional use". Thus, available articles from 2000 to 2020 were collected and analyzed., Results and Discussion: This paper provides systematic data that Trigonostemon species possess a diverse phytochemical composition, (including diterpenes, alkaloids, coumarins, lignins, sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols) found in different plant organs. Research on Trigonostemon plants has revealed critical therapeutic properties, such as antiviral, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and insecticidal activities., Conclusions: It is envisaged that the current review will add value to more scientific research on Trigonostemon species and enhance/promote the increased interest in the sustainable use of Trigonostemon species as well as lead to the validation of unverified ethnobotanical claims. Future studies on Trigonostemon species would focus on establishing the links between the traditional uses, active compounds and reported pharmacological activities., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Euphorbia helioscopia L. which is called " Zeqi " in China, is a medicinal plant extensively distributed worldwide, especially in China, and has been widely used for decades to treat various diseases including edema, phlegm and cough, malaria, dysentery, scab, tuberculous fistula, osteomyelitis, and cancer. The present review aims to provide up-to-date information on E. helioscopia , including its traditional uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacological research, toxicology, and human studies in exploring future scientific and therapeutic potentials in disease treatment. So far, a total of 173 terpenoids, as well as polyphenols, steroids, lipids, and volatile oils have been isolated and identified from E. helioscopia. Among them, diterpenoids and flavonoids are the most important and abundant bioactive constituents. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that E. helioscopia has outstanding bioactivities especially on antiproliferative and multidrug resistance modulating. Nevertheless, most of these studies were carried out in vitro. The quality control, metabolites identification, in-depth in-vivo studies as well as toxicology and human studies for the crude extracts and active components are still very limited. Consequently, more well-designed pre-clinical and clinical studies are required to justify their reported therapeutic potential. [Display omitted] • The medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical application of E. helioscopia are summarized. • Terpenoids are the major chemical constituents of E. helioscopia. • Biological activities and mechanism of both crude extract and isolates compounds are discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of Euphorbia fischeriana known as "Langdu" in traditional Chinese medicine have been used for the treatment of tuberculosis in China. Through a bioactive phytochemical investigation of the roots of E. fischeriana , 15 diterpenoids were obtained by various chromatographic techniques. On the basis of wide spectroscopic data, including NMR, UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD and X-ray crystallography, all of the isolated compounds were elucidated to be ent -abietane diterpenoid analogs, including undescribed eupholides A−H and seven known diterpenoids. In the bioassay for anti-tuberculosis, eupholides F–H moderately inhibited the proliferation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, with the MIC determined to be 50 μM. Furthermore, eupholides G, ent -11 α -hydroxyabieta-8(14), 13(15)-dien-16,12 α -olide, and jolkinolide F significantly inhibited the lyase activity of human carboxylesterase 2 (HCE 2), with IC 50 values of 7.3, 150, and 34.5 nM, respectively. Image 1 • Fifteen ent -abietane diterpenoids were obtained from the roots of E. fischeriana. • Eight undescribed ent -abietanes were elucidated using NMR, ECD, and X-ray crystallography. • Some diterpenoids inhibited the proliferation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis moderately. • Some diterpenoids significantly inhibited the lyase activity of HCE 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves and twigs of Croton yanhuii led to the isolation of seven highly modified nor-clerodane diterpenoids (1-7), including three new ones, croyanoids A-C (1-3), along with four known analogues (4-7). Compound 1 incorporates a 5,12-epoxy ring, forming a unique cage-like, 6/6/6/5-fused tetracyclic ring system. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1-4 were determined by a combination of circular dichroism (CD) analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds were tested in an array of bioassays, but were inactive. Crotoeurin A (7), a nor-clerodane dimer with a high yield of 0.2‰ isolated in current study, was considered as a chemotaxonomic marker for this species., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Euphorboside A (1), an unusual meroterpenoid glycoside featuring the incorporation of an acylphloroglucinol moiety into a humulene skeleton to form a 6/6/11 ring system, was isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansuensis. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical methods, and ECD calculations. Compound 1 was screened for the cytotoxicity against nine cancer cell lines, and 1 showed marked inhibitory activities against human colon cancer RKO and human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines with IC 50 values of 3.70 and 4.15 μM, respectively., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Four new tetracyclic triterpenoids (1 – 4) were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Jatropha gossypiifolia. Their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR data analysis, together with the Mo 2 (OAc) 4 -induced CD data. Jagabeoeuphols A-C (1 – 3) are rare 19(10 → 9) abeo -euphane-type triterpenoids possessing a Δ5(10) group and a 7,8-epoxide moiety, and jagoseuphone A (4) is a typical euphane-type triterpenoid. The inhibitory effects of 1 – 4 on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW264.7 cells were evaluated, and 4 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity with an IC 50 value of 20.1 μM. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata, as a traditional medicine, is widely distributed in China, Korea and Japan. In China, the dried root of this plant is named 'langdu'. It is traditionally used to treat oedema, skin ulcers, abdominal distension, cough, asthma, tuberculosis swelling and other diseases. Previous studies have found that the chemical constituents of E. ebracteolata are mainly concentrated in terpenoids, acetophenones, and flavonoids. Both extracts and pure compounds from E. ebracteolata were found to possess many pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects. In addition, it was reported that E. ebracteolata shows toxicity. To provide inspiration for further in-depth studies on this plant, this review will provide a timely and systematic summary of E. ebracteolata in traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology toxicology, and quality control., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two new lignans ( 1 - 2 ), along with five known compounds ( 3 - 7 ) with different structures were isolated from leaves and twigs of Cleistanthus concinnus Croizat. The new lignans were elucidated as (7'R,8'S)-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxy-7-en-7',9- epoxy-8,8'-lignan ( 1 ) and (7'R,8'S)-3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxy-7-en-7',9-epoxy-8, 8'-lignan ( 2 ) by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR as well as HREIMS and comparing their NMR data with known compounds in the literature. Among these isolated compounds, compound 1 , 2 , 3 , and 6 were tested for anti- inflammatory effects by inhibiting NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compound 1 , 2 , and 6 exhibit NO inhibitory activity.[Formula: see text].

Invasive plant environments differ along latitudes and between native and introduced ranges. In response to herbivory and abiotic stresses that vary with latitudes and between ranges, invasive plants may shift their secondary chemicals to facilitate invasion success. However, it remains unclear whether and how invasive plant chemical responses to herbivory and chemical responses to abiotic environments are associated. We conducted large scale field surveys of herbivory on the invasive tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) along latitudes in both its native (China) and introduced ranges (United States) and collected leaf samples for analyses of tannins and flavonoids. We used data on climate and solar radiation to examine these chemical responses to abiotic environments and their variations along these latitudes and between ranges. We also re-analyzed previously published data from multiple common garden experiments on tallow tree to investigate genetic divergence of secondary chemical concentrations between introduced and native populations. We found foliar tannins and herbivory (chewing, sucking) were higher in the native range compared to the invasive range. Allocation to tannins versus flavonoids decreased with latitude in the native range but did not vary in the invasive range. Analyses of previously published common garden experimental data indicated genetic divergence contributes to chemical concentration differences between ranges. Our field data further indicated that the latitudinal patterns were primarily phenotypic responses to herbivory in China while in US they were primarily phenotypic responses to abiotic environments. The variation of tannins may be linked to flavonoids, given tannins and flavonoids share a biosynthesis pathway. Together, our results suggest that invasive plants adjust their secondary metabolism to decrease chemicals that primarily defend against herbivory and increase those that help them to respond to their abiotic environment. These findings deepen our understanding of how invasive plants adapt to biogeographically heterogeneous environments through trade-offs between secondary chemical responses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The plants of the Trigonostemon sp. genus(Euphorbiaceae family) comprising about 50 species worldwide are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia, 10 species of which can be found in southern of China. Phytochemical studies on the plants in the genus have demonstrated a large amount of terpenoids and alkaloids. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated cytotoxicity, antivirus, antibacterial, anti-inflammation and other pharmacological activities. In this paper, chemical compositions and biological activities of Trigonostemon genus at home and abroad over the past decade were summarized, in order to provide scientific basis for the further development and utilization of Trigonostemon plants.

Six new diterpenes Euphonoids A-F including one ingenol (1), three lathyrane (2-5), one ent-abietane (6) and fifteen known derivatives (7-21) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia antiquorum L. Their structures were elucidated by physical data analysis. Compounds 1, 12, and 16 improve the melanogenesis in B16 cells in vitro., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Author's declares that they are no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The tung tree, Vernicia fordii (Herbert Kenneth Airy Shaw), is a woody species native to South-East Asia (from Central and Southwest China to North Vietnam), which is also cultivated in China for the production of industrial oil. It is listed as a Category II invasive plant species in Florida, USA. During the introduction period of the tung tree from China to other countries in the last century, its low invasion feature led to its successful establishment in only a few countries. However, the genetic consideration for the population in its widespread native environment remains lacking. In this study, a set of 95 accessions covering most of the tung tree distribution areas in China were collected. Fifty simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs were selected for the genotyping of the germplasm. Population genetics analysis indicated a medium level of genetic variation within the collected samples. The genetic diversity of the tung tree from the main production region was obviously higher than those from the marginal regions. A significant genetic differentiation occurred between the two regions, as well as among the 12 regional groups of administration. The dendrogram based on Nei's gene diversity showed that the clustering pattern for the germplasm collections basically coincided with their geographic distribution. In their native environment, human activities have had a significant impact on the gene flow via seed movement among the production areas of the tung tree in history. This study will be helpful for molecular breeding and germplasm preservation of the tung tree, and for understanding the tung tree as a biodiesel plant species with a low invasion risk when introduced into foreign countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been found that Blachia chunii Y. T. Chang & P. T. Li described from Guangdong Province, China was not validly published because two collections were designated as type. The name is validated here, with the flowering specimen designated as holotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]