Search

Children from southern and northern Brazil have a basic knowledge of plants, which they observe during their everyday life. Children ages between 3 to 10 years old (kindergarten & primary school), but the majority of them in the age group of 4-5 (total 145) were asked to draw what they think is a plant (total sample = 332). Afterwards, a equal number of boys and girls randomly chosen were interviewed individually (mix ability) to list plants they said they knew and where they had seen them. Then they were asked to give exemplars of the local plants which they had seen. These data from the exploratory study show that pupils are in touch with their environment and recognize plants that are part of it. The everyday experiences of these children in school and out of school, at home and in leisure activities with family and friends, contribute to their knowledge about plants and such knowledge is complemented in the preschool and primary school classes by appropriate teaching. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.

The chemical investigation of the fresh flowers of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) led to the isolation of two new echinocystic acid saponins. They were isolated by using chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by detailed 1H and 13C NMR spectral data including 2 D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and APT) spectroscopic techniques, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and acid hydrolysis. Their structures were established as 16-hydroxy-3-[[O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-2-(acetylamino)-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-(3β,16α)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid O-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 16-hydroxy-3-[[O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-2-(acetylamino)-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-(3β,16α)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 6-O-[(2S,3R,4R)-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furanyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2). Additionally, the permeability property and the capacity of interaction with biological membranes of compounds 1 and 2 were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new complex triterpenoid saponin was isolated from the stem bark of Samanea saman by using chromatographic methods. Its structure was established as 3-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-2,23-dihydroxy-(2β,3β,4α)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-[O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-6-deoxy-α-l-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-6-O-[4-O-[(2E,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-1-oxo-2,7-octadienyl]-6-deoxy-α-l-mannopyranosyl)oxy]-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1). Structural elucidation was performed using detailed analyses of 1H and 13C NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and chemical conversions. The haemolytic activity of the saponin was evaluated using in vitro assays, and its adjuvant potential on the cellular immune response against ovalbumin antigen was investigated using in vivo models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new steroidal saponin was isolated from the bulbs of Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum. On the basis of chemical conversions and detailed analyses of 1H and 13C NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, its structure was established as 3-[(O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-galactopyranosyl)oxy]-2,6-dihydroxy-(2α,3β,5α,6β,25R)-spirostane. Results of the present study indicated that the steroidal saponin showed haemolytic effects in the in vitro assays and demonstrated antiinflammatory activity and gastroprotective property using in vivo models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A galactomannoglucan (GMG) with an estimated weight-average molar mass of 1.5×105 was obtained from an aqueous extract of the mesocarp of fruits of Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc. by fractionation by Sephacryl S-300 HR and Sephadex G-25. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that GMG has a chain of (1→4)-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl residues, a chain of (1→3)-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl residues, a chain of (1→4)-linked α-d-glucopyranosyl residues, repeating units of β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-mannopyranosyl and β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-d-glucopyranosyl and terminal residues of d-galactopyranosyl and d-glucopyranosyl which comprised galactose, mannose and glucose in the molar ratio of 10:37:53. The polysaccharide exhibited significant antiinflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A polysaccharide, an alpha-D-glucan with an apparent molecular weight of 6.85 x 10(4), called PSa glucan, was isolated from fresh seeds of Sorghum arundinaceum by fractionation on Sephacryl S-300 HR and Sephadex G-25. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that it has a highly branched glucan type structure composed of alpha-(1-->4) linked D-glucopyranose residues with (1-->3), (1-->6) branching points, and a significant amount of alpha-(1-->6) branching to alpha-(1-->3) linked D-glucopyranose residues. The anti-inflammatory activity of the polysaccharide was performed using the capillary permeability assay.

A new steroidal saponin was isolated from the leaves of Agave attenuata Salm-Dyck. Its structure was established as (3beta,5beta,22alpha,25S)-26-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-22-methoxyfurostan-3-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The structural identification was performed using detailed analyses of 1H and 13C NMR spectra including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (COSY, HETCOR and COLOC) and chemical conversions. The haemolytic potential of the steroidal saponin was evaluated and the anti-inflammatory activity was performed using the capillary permeability assay.