Chemotaxonomy

In taxonomy, polyphasic approach is based on the principle of combining and evaluating different types of data obtained from microorganisms. While, during characterization and identification of a microorganism, in the direction of polyphasic studies, chemotaxonomic analysis has of paramount importance for the determination of the most important differences between the family, genus and species comparatively. It is beyond doubt that, in recent years significant developments have been achieved in systematics by the aid of molecular biological studies. Phylogenetic data have revealed the hierarchical arrangement of the kinship relations between the given bacteria, however, this information cannot provide reliable data on the level of genus. At this stage, chemical markers play an important role in regulating inter-taxa relationships. Chemotaxonomy; is the whole of the characterizations made by using the similarities and differences of the biochemical properties of bacteria. In bacteria...

ABSTRACT The alkane pattern of leaf waxes from 24 tropical Ficus species in Nigeria was determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Of the 12 alkanes identified, hentriacontane and tritriacontane were the major components in all the species studied. The chemosystematic significance of leaf alkanes is discussed in Ficus for the first time. There is an indication that alkane occurrence in Ficus could provide useful information to the understanding of species variability.

The two morphologically similar microalgae NMBluh014 and NMBluh-X belong to two different strains of Nannochloropsis oceanica. They possess obviously different feeding effects on bivalves, but are indistinguishable by 18S rRNA and morphological features. In this work, lipidomic analysis followed by principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis provided a clear distinction between these strains. Metabolites that definitively contribute to the classification were selected as potential biomarkers. The most important difference in polar lipids were sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (containing 18:1/16:0 and 18:3/16:0) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (containing 18:3/16:3 and 20:5/14:0), which were detected only in NMBluh-X. Additionally, an exhaustive qualitative and quantitative profiling of the neutral lipid triacylglycerol (TAG) in the two strains was carried out. The predominant species of TAG containing 16:1/16:1/16:1 acyl groups was detected only in NMBluh-X with a content of~93.67 AE 11.85 nmol Á mg À1 dry algae at the onset of stationary phase. Meanwhile, TAG containing 16:0/16:0/16:0 was the main TAG in NMBluh014 with a content of 40.25 AE 3.92 nmol Á mg À1 . These results provided the most straightforward evidence for differentiating the two species. The metabolomic profiling indicated that NMBluh-X underwent significant chemical and physiological changes during the growth process, whereas NMBluh014 did not show such noticeable time-dependent metabolite change. This study is the first using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Electrospray ionization-Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) for lipidomic profiling with multivariate statistical analysis to explore lipidomic differences of plesiomorphous microalgae. Our results demonstrate that lipidomic profiling is a valid chemotaxonomic tool in the study of microalgal systematics.

mThe fatty acid compositions of the seed oils from ten pine species have been established by capillary gasliquid chromatography of the methyl esters. With regard to either normal fatty acids or D5-olefinic acids, the general pattern of fatty acids did not differ from that of other pine seed oils reported previously. The main fatty acid was linoleic (9,12±18:2) acid (44.4±57.1%), followed by either oleic (9±18:1) acid (13.4±24.5%) or pinolenic (5,9,12±18:3) acid (1.5±25.2%). When applying multivariate analyses to the chemometric data (13 variables) of 49 pine species (ca. 40% of the living pine species), it was possible to distinguish between several sections: Pinea, Longifolia, Halepensis, Ponderosa-Banksiana, Sylvestris, and Cembra. The latter section was clearly divided into two subgroups. A few species that presented a low overall content of D5olefinic acids, and that grow in warm-temperate regions, were isolated from the bulk of other pine species. It is hypothesized that D5-olefinic acids might be related to cold-acclimation.

Five anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-(2 with five known anthocyanins have been identified in flowers of Cleome hassleriana Queen line. One monoacylated and four diacylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides were identified as the main anthocyanins in flowers with mauve colouration, while a homologous glycosidic pattern based on pelargonidin was found in the five main anthocyanins from flowers with pink colouration. The anthocyanins identified in C. hassleriana share the same glycosidic pattern as anthocyanins isolated from the genera Raphanus, Brassica and Iberis in the sister family Brassicaceae.

Sixteen accessions of Ocimum basilicum L. belonging to different cultivars and varieties, and one accession each of O. × citriodorum Vis. and O. minimum L., were examined for their external leaf flavonoids. The O. basilicum samples showed the presence of one or two major flavone aglycones, which were identified as salvigenin and nevadensin, and up to 10 minor ones: cirsileol, cirsilineol, eupatorin, apigenin, acacetin, genkwanin, apigenin 7,4'-dimethyl ether, cirsimaritin, ladanein and gardenin B. No trace was found of xanthomicrol, the only lipophilic flavone so far reported from O. basilicum. There were appreciable differences amongst the accessions in total flavonoid concentration and in their nevadensin / salvigenin ratios, which, on the whole, were not correlated with morphological characters. The surface flavonoid profile of O. × citriodorum was very similar to those of the O. basilicum plants studied, but that of O. minimum was significantly different. Only 4'-methyl ethers of apigenin derivatives were detected in the latter taxon, whereas apigenin and luteolin derivatives in which the 4'-hydroxyls are free were absent. Furthermore, the ratio of nevadensin / salvigenin was much higher in O. minimum than in O. basilicum or O. × citriodorum. These differences support the treatment of O. minimum as a separate species rather than as a variety of O. basilicum.

Jacquemontia reclinata House (Convolvulaceae) is a federally listed endangered species endemic to coastal strand habitat of south-eastern Florida. In order to identify the closest relatives of J. reclinata, a phylogenetic reconstruction was performed based on nucleotide sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and from the trnH-psbA intergenic spacer of chloroplast DNA. The three putative relatives of J. reclinata and the majority of Jacquemontia Choicy species known to occur in the Caribbean Islands were included. The strict consensus tree concurs with previous morphological studies, indicating that J. reclinata is closely related to the Caribbean species J. cayensis Britton, J. curtisii Hallier f., and J. havanensis (Jacq.) Urb. These three species and J. reclinata form an unresolved clade. Nucleotide divergence within this clade is low, suggesting that the group is recent, perhaps diversifying after the latest glacial period. These taxa need to be studied further using population-level DNA markers. Most species endemic to the Caribbean Basin form a strongly supported clade. Our phylogeny supports Convolvulus nodiflorus Desr. as part of Jacquemontia. In addition, J. ovalifolia (West) Hallier f. ssp. sandwicensis (A. Gray) K.R. Robertson is sister to the Antillean endemic J. solanifolia (L.) Hallier f. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 154, 443–454.

Nematine larvae possess ventral glands which contain compounds that protect the larvae from predation. More than 50 volatile compounds have been identified in secretions from the glands of 13 Nematus species. Monoterpenes constitute the major part of the secretion of five species in which long-chain aliphatic compounds (LCAC; CVj.n) are also detected. In fotir other species, short-chain aliphatic compounds (SCAC; Ce 8) and aromatic compounds are predominant, LCAC are also present, but monoterpenes are absent. In the four remaining species, the secretion is composed basically of LCAC. The diversity of chemotypes within the genus is discussed.

Castanospermine, a physIologIcally active polyhydroxylated mdohzldme alkaloid first isolated from seeds of Castanospermum australe, has been isolated from the dried pod of Alexa lelopetala and tentatively identified m seven other species of the same genus

The maJor sterols m the marine diatoms 7'halass~osu~1 pseudonana and Thalassiosm eccentrtca have been ldentlfied as 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3jI-ol (24-methylenecholesterol), 24ethylcholesta-5,24(28)E-dlen-3P-ol (fucosterol) and 24-ethylcholesta-5,24(28)Z-dien-3~-ol(28-lsofucosterol) There are no previous reports of fucosterol and isofucosterol occurring together m diatom species Small amounts of cholesterol, 24-methylcholesterol and 24-ethylcholesterol were also detected. The only abundant sterol m Thalassiosm oceanm (CS-67) was 24-methylenecholesterol;

The surface flavonoid profiles of four plants each of 15 cultivars or varieties of basil species, Ocimum americanum, O. basilicum, O: Â citriodorum and O. minimum, were studied by HPLC with diode array detection. Up to 14 different exudate flavones were detected in the different genotypes, the highest number and largest amounts in specimens of O. americanum var. americanum, and the lowest number and smallest amounts in specimens of O. minimum. The percentage of every flavone in each extract was calculated and principal component analysis was applied to the results. The flavonoid profiles of the two genotypes of O. americanum var. americanum investigated were very similar and typical of the main flavonoid chemotype of the species. The profiles of the three cultivars of O. minimum studied were also very similar to each other. However, only some of the cultivars of O. basilicum clustered together, whereas others showed considerable differences and sometimes grouped together with O: Â citriodorum cultivars. The profiles found for O: Â citriodorum cultivars were also not homogeneous. Therefore it may not be possible to identify a sample to species level by using surface flavone profiles. Within each cultivar of O. basilicum and O: Â citriodorum, on the other hand, there was little chemical variation, as the profiles in the four samples of each accession studied were generally very similar. Therefore, surface flavone profiles could be used together with essential oil and morphological features for the delimitation and characterization of different cultivars of Ocimum species. #

The seeds of Trichilia welwitschii C.DC. (Meliaceae) yielded three limonoids, dregeanin DM4 (1), reported here from a natural source for the first time, the known rohituka 3 (2) and trichilia lactone D5 (3). The bark yielded 28,29-dinorcycloart-24-ene-3,4,6-triol (4), sitosterol-3-O-b-D-glucoside, 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-L-proline, stigmasterol and sitosterol.

Four European Pulicaria species, P. odora, P. paludosa, P. sicula and P. vulgare, were analysed for their surface and vacuolar constituents for comparison with previous data obtained for P. dysenterica. Each species had a distinct flavonoid pattern with notable differences between leaf and inflorescence. 6-Hydroxyflavonols were the major lipophilic components in all of the species and tissues except in the leaves of P. paludosa and P. vulgare, where scutellarein 6-methyl ether was the main constituent. In the leaves of P. sicula a more unusual flavone, 6-hydroxyluteolin 5,6,7,3 0 ,4 0 -pentamethyl ether, was a major component. Pulicaria odora was distinguished by the presence of a series of methylated 6-hydroxykaempferol derivatives including a 3,5,6,7,4 0 -pentamethyl ether. Quercetagetin hexamethyl ether occurred in both tissues of P. sicula together with the 3,7,3,4 0 -tetra methyl ether and other quercetagetin derivatives, which were 5-methylated. Quercetagetin 3,7,3 0 -methyl ether was present in all species except P. odora. Flavonol glucuronides were characteristic vacuolar constituents of all the taxa studied. Two rare glycosides, patuletin and 6-hydroxykaempferol 6-methyl ether 7-glucuronides were identified in the inflorescence of P. odora. Pulicaria vulgaris, a rare plant of southern England, had the vacuolar flavonoid profile most similar to the other more abundant British plant, P. dysenterica. #

Glucosinolate content of leaves and roots, diversity in leaf pubescence, and resistance to two near-isogenic lines of the flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum with or without an R-gene, were determined for 27 accessions of 7 Barbarea taxa, i.e. B. stricta, B. orthoceras, B. intermedia, B. verna, B. vulgaris var. vulgaris, the G-type of B. vulgaris var. arcuata and the P-type of B. vulgaris var. arcuata. Four variable glucosinolate biosynthetic characters were deduced. For (formally) homophenylalanine-derived glucosinolates: (1) Presence or absence of 2-hydroxylation, and if present, R-or S-configuration of 2-hydroxylation; (2) presence or absence of p-hydroxylation; and for tryptophan-derived glucosinolates: (3) presence or absence of N-methoxyglucobrassicin; and (4) presence or absence of 1,4-dimethoxyglucobrassicin. Three phenotypes of leaf-pubescence were observed; (1) glabrous to glabrate leaves;

Chemosystematics has been used to distinguish plants and other organisms that are useful for food and those best avoided. Originally unwritten, this knowledge has been progressively formalized with useful, harmful and inactive chemical constituents from relevant taxa now identified and recorded. This knowledge has led to insights into taxonomy of these plants, animals and microorganisms. Advances in analytical instrumentation, in particular chromatography, followed by electronic detection methods, have speeded these studies, culminating in metabolic profiling, (''metabolomics''). The huge array of chemical constituents isolated from plants combined with morphological and cytological data take their place as part of the overall Natural History of the organism in its environment. The study of, DNA (genomics) and to a certain extent m-RNA (transcriptomics) and proteins (proteomics), has led to the immense subject of molecular biology which relates the phenotype of a taxon to its genome. This type of chemosystematics on its own does not of course describe the small molecules in plants, often called, perhaps misguidedly, ''secondary compounds'', or how they relate to each other, to the plant containing them or to the environment. Economic uses flow from this knowledge, such as the topic of non-protein amino acids and amines, which from 1958 to the present has produced information from the chemotaxonomic to the severely practical. Literature on the subject from 1909 to the present charts developments in the discovery of new compounds and their use in systematics. Often a mere catalogue, a list of plant constituents is nevertheless part of the overall description of a plant.

Fungi were isolated from selected areas of two medieval wall paintings in the chapel of the castle of Herberstein and the parish church of St Georgen (Styria, Austria), in different states of conservation. The aim of this study is a contribution to the knowledge of mycoflora that occurs on frescoes. The fungal colonies were characterized using a chemotaxonomical approach based on the analysis of ubiquinone systems, comparison of protein patterns and classical morphological methods following identification keys. The results show that the mycoflora can vary from each sampling site even when the environmental conditions are similar. The majority of fungal colonies were isolated from the paintings in Herberstein. Since the last restoration of the paintings in 1950, the chapel of Herberstein has been neglected and the walls have been significantly affected by the accumulation of moisture. In St Georgen, prolonged dampness and salts were responsible for the main damage to the paintings. Fungi were mainly found to grow on the remaining fibers of the cellulose pulp used during restoration. Twenty different fungal forms were isolated, the most common belonging to the genera Acremonium, Engyodontium, Cladosporium, Blastobotrys, Verticillium Mortierella, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Some of them are known to occur on frescoes, but a few species have not been isolated before on this substrate. An inventory of fungi isolated in Herberstein and St Georgen was undertaken to give measures for restoration in order to prevent further damage. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

The anthocyanin content of 23 grass species (Poaceae) belonging to five subfamilies has been determined. Altogether 11 anthocyanins were identified; the 3-(6Љ-malonylglucosides) and 3-glucosides of cyanidin, peonidin and delphinidin, the 3-(3Љ,6Љ-dimalonylglucoside), 3-(6Љ-rhamnosylglucoside) and 3-(6Љ-glucosylglucoside) of cyanidin, in addition to peonidin 3-(dimalonylglucoside) and delphinidin 3-(6Љ-rhamnosylglucoside). Anthocyanins acylated with one and/or two malonic acid moieties dominated the anthocyanin profiles of all the species in the subfamilies Pooideae and Panicoideae. On the other hand, the 3-glucoside and 3-rutinoside of cyanidin were the major anthocyanins in Sinarundinaria murielae (subfamily Bambusoideae) and Molinia caerulea (subfamily Arundinoideae), while the 3-glucosides of cyanidin and peonidin were the principal anthocyanins in rice, Oryza sativum (subfamily Oryzoideae). Pelargonidin derivatives and free anthocyanidins have previously been reported to occur in several Poaceae species, however, not identified in any of the species included in this survey. 

The species which grow wild and are used as oregano in Greece are Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. fil., Satureja thymbra L., Origanum onites L. and 0. vulgare L. Because of their economic importance, we studied their distribution in Greece and their essential oils. By examining various populations from all over the country, intraspecific variability was detected as to essential oil contents and to the carvacrol content of the oils, the main component responsible for their use as oregano. The species were evaluated on the basis of their oil and carvacrol contents. 0. onites proved to be the most stable species, that was always rich in carvacrol, whereas 0. vulgare was the most variable one. 0. vulgare subsp. hirtum (Link) letswaart was very rich in essential oil; in some cases a content of about 8% was found and a carvacrol content ranging from 2.4% to 95%. 0. vulgure subsp. vulgare contained only small amounts of essential oil ( 4 . 3 % ) and amounts of carvacrol below 0.1%. For these reasons the latter subspecies should not be used as oregano, although it belongs to the genus Origanum. K w WORDS Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. fil.

This study describes some characteristics of the Rubiaceae family pertaining to the occurrence and distribution of secondary metabolites in the main genera of this family. It reports the review of phytochemical studies addressing all species of Rubiaceae, published between 1990 and 2014. Iridoids, anthraquinones, triterpenes, indole alkaloids as well as other varying alkaloid subclasses, have shown to be the most common. These compounds have been mostly isolated from the genera Uncaria, Psychotria, Hedyotis, Ophiorrhiza and Morinda. The occurrence and distribution of iridoids, alkaloids and anthraquinones point out their chemotaxonomic correlation among tribes and subfamilies. From an evolutionary point of view, Rubioideae is the most ancient subfamily, followed by Ixoroideae and finally Cinchonoideae. The chemical biosynthetic pathway, which is not so specific in Rubioideae, can explain this and large amounts of both iridoids and indole alkaloids are produced. In Ixoroideae, the most active biosysthetic pathway is the one that produces iridoids; while in Cinchonoideae, it produces indole alkaloids together with other alkaloids. The chemical biosynthetic pathway now supports this botanical conclusion.

The leaf essential oils of Cistus monspeliensis plants growing wild on calcareous and siliceous soils in Provence (South of France) were analysed by GC and GC-MS. Qualitative and quantitative differences are noted in the essential oil composition between the Cistus populations from the two soil types. For chemotaxonomic purposes, a characterisation of the two types of oil is proposed.

The alkaloid patterns of two occasionally sympatric Galanthus nivalis and Galanthus elwesii populations were studied by GC/MS. Thirty-seven alkaloids were detected, 25 for G. nivalis and 17 for G. elwesii. Only five alkaloids were found to occur in both species. The populations of Galanthus differed in their alkaloid biosynthetic pathways. Thus, the alkaloid pattern of G. nivalis was dominated by compounds coming from a para-para 0 oxidative coupling of O-methylnorbelladine. The predominant alkaloids in the roots of this species were found to belong to the lycorine and tazettine structural types; bulbs were dominated by tazettine, leaves by lycorine and flowers by haemanthamine type alkaloids. In contrast, the alkaloid pattern of G. elwesii was dominated mainly by compounds coming from an ortho-para 0 oxidative coupling. The predominant alkaloids in G. elwesii roots, bulbs and leaves were those of homolycorine type, whereas the flowers accumulated mainly tyramine type compounds. The chemotaxonomical value of the alkaloids found in the studied species is discussed.

This review summarizes all reports on sesquiterpene lactones and their immediate precursors from the Cichorieae (Lactuceae) tribe of the Asteraceae. A total of 360 compounds have been reported from this tribe. The reported substances belong to three classes of sesquiterpenoids: guaianolides (243 compounds), eudesmanolides (73 compounds), and germacranolides (44 compounds). Sources of these compounds encompass 139 taxa from 31 different genera. The distribution of these lactones within the tribe Cichorieae is discussed in a chemosystematic context. Moreover, some general ideas about the interpretation of chemosystematic data are discussed.

The book contains a collection of coloured images of plates obtained by thin layer chromatography of many lichen substances as an aid for their determination. The images show mounted runs obtained in solvents A, B/B’ and C commonly used in lichenology. They show results obtained using 5 x 5 cm HPTLC plates in daylight and under UV light, before and after treating with sulfuric acid. The origin of each lichen substance (or substances) is recorded.

A As ss so oc ci ia at ti io on n f fo or r M Me ed di ic ci in na al l a an nd d A Ar ro om ma at ti ic c P Pl la an nt ts s o of f S So ou ut th h--E Ea as st t E Eu ur ro op pe ea an n C Co ou un nt tr ri ie es s O Or rg ga an ni is se er rs s: : U Un ni iv ve er rs si it ty y o of f M Me ed di ic ci in ne e a an nd d P Ph ha ar rm ma ac cy y '

Actinomycetes is bacterial group that have similarity to Fungi. Actinomycetes contribute around 45% secondary metabolite that has been found or around 10000 secondary metabolite. Even though information about actinomycetes such as unique trait or the benefit of it is known already but chemotaxonomy analysis and molecular analysis still need to be learn. This thing happen because classification of actinomycetes always changing following the research and study that has been done. The aim for this research is to studying diversity  until genus level actinomycetes Indonesia LIPI Cibinong culture collection using chemotaxonomy and molecular methods.  This research was done in the LIPI Cibinong Bogor for 6 months. 10 isolate actinomycetes that was used in this research are being prepare for chemotaxonomy and molecular analysis. Isolate ID04-1019,ID04-1052, ID04-1066, ID04-1067, ID04-1071, ID04-1088, ID04-1093, ID04-1103 was isolated from leaves in Jambi, Isolate ID05-0653 was from soil in Timor and isolate ID06-0464 was from soil in Lombok. This research using chemotaxonomy method that is Diamino pimelic acid analysis, cell sugar analysis, fatty acid analysis, menaquinone analysis, phospholipid analysis also molecular method that is gen sequencing of 16S rRNA and G+C Content determination. Analysis result using phylogenic tree showed that isolate ID04-1071 related to species Actinoplanes rectilleneatus, isolate ID04-1066, ID04-1052 dan ID04-1033 related to species Actinoplanes ferrugineus and isolate ID04-1067, ID04-1093 and ID04-1088 related to species Actinoplanes globisporus. Result showed isolate ID04-1052, ID04-1066, ID04-1067, ID04-1071, ID04-1088, ID04-1093, ID04-1103 are genus member of Actinoplanes. Isolate ID05-0653 and ID-0464 are genus member of Actinophytocola.

For a monograph based on a polythetic concept, several thousands of herbarium specimens, and several hundreds of freshly collected and cultured specimens of Daldinia and allied Xylariaceae, originating from around the world, were studied for morphological traits, including by SEM, and chemically by HPLC profiles using UVvisible and mass spectrometric detection. Emphasis was given to tropical material, and importantly, ancient specimens, including as many types as possible, were tracked and studied to review earlier taxonomic concepts. An epitype of D. eschscholtzii was selected as representative of the morphochemotype that is most widely distributed in the tropics. Six new species of Daldinia from the tropics and the southern Hemisphere are described. Daldinia asphalatum is resurrected, and D. cudonia is regarded as its synonym. In addition, the following binomials are epi-, iso-, neo-and/or lectotypified: Daldinia asphalatum, D. caldariorum, D. clavata, D. cuprea, D. durissima, D. eschscholtzii, D. grandis, D. loculata, and D. vernicosa. Annellosporium and Versiomyces are regarded as synonyms of Daldinia. Many new synonymies in Daldinia are proposed, and some previously published names are rejected. In total, 47 taxa in Daldinia are recognised and a key is provided. Their biogeography, chorology, and ecology, as well as the importance of their secondary metabolites, are also discussed. The previous definition of the genus is emended. The species concept is based mainly on morphological and other phenotype-derived characters because, despite diligent search, no molecular data or cultures of several of the accepted species could be obtained. Daldinia is segregated into five major groups, based on phenotypic characteristics. Some unnamed but aberrant specimens were not found in good condition and are therefore not formally described as new species. However, they are illustrated in detail in a hope that this will facilitate the discovery of fresh material in future. A preliminary molecular phylogeny based on 5.8S/ITS nrDNA including numerous representatives of all hitherto described taxa for which cultures are extant, was found basically in agreement with the above mentioned segregation of the genus, based on morphological and chemotaxonomic evidence. In the rDNA based phylogenetic tree, Daldinia appears clearly distinct from members of the genera Annulohypoxylon and Hypoxylon; nevertheless, representatives of small genera of predominantly tropical origin (Entonaema, Phylacia, Ruwenzoria, Rhopalostroma, Thamnomyces) appear to have evolved from daldinioid ancestors and are nested inside the Daldinia clade. Interestingly, these findings correlate with chemotaxonomic characters to a great extent, especially regarding the distribution of marker metabolites in their mycelial cultures. Hence, the current study revealed for the first time that fungal secondary metabolite profiles can have taxonomic value beyond the species rank and even coincide with phylogenetic data.

Lauraceae, an aromatic plant family has many medicinal uses which include antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The study was planned to investigate the phytochemical components present in the bark extracts of eight economically important plants of Terai and Duars region of North Bengal, India by thin layer chromatography. The results of the work revealed the occurrence of phytochemical constituents such as essential oil, anthrax quinones, bitter principle, flavonoids and phenolics in the bark of these plants. Further, the thin layer chromatographic profiles may also provide the fingerprint characteristics as well as the relation between them by cladogram which is prepared by XLSTAT 2009 software. It could be concluded that as the plants contained rich variety of phytochemicals and the study of phytochemicals itself through TLC-based separation profile and fingerprint thus appears to be much helpful in taxonomic study of the genus Cinnamomum and Litsea.

The ubiquitous compound 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, also known as ferulic acid (FA), constitutes a bioactive ingredient of many foods that may offer beneficial effects against disorders related to oxidative stress, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review discusses the antioxidant properties of FA, establishing relationships to several biological activities already described for this natural product. Next, 387 naturally occurring compounds, all isolated from plants and published between 1990 and 2015, the structures of which bear 1 or more feruloyl moieties, are covered in this review along with their structural formulas, botanical sources, and bioactivities. The compounds' distribution, structural patterns, bioactivities, and perspectives on food research are also succinctly discussed.

To improve our understanding of the floral biology, pollination, and systematics of the genus Narcissus, a comparative study was made of flower volatiles from nine species native to southern Spain using headspace collection and GC-MS analysis. The species fell into three fragrance types based on the identity o! their major volatiles. In all but one species the fragrances consisted mainly of monoterpene isoprenoids mixed with benzenoids: in six species trans-~-ocimene occurred in high proportions, in two others it was lacking; the last species had a fragrance dominated by fatty acid derivatives, mixed with terpenoids. Two of the species showed marked intraspecific variation in many of their volatiles. When the volatile data matrix of all species was subjected to cluster analyses and the resulting phenetic trees compared with currently recognized taxonomic groups, there was no congruence at the subgeneric level. However, there was considerable agreement at the sectional level, although in most sections we studied only a single species. This apparent agreement was stronger when the volatiles were analyzed according to shared biosynthetic pathways rather than treated individually, pointing to the higher value of using biosynthetic pathways for uncovering and confirming phenetic, and probable evolutionary, relationships among species. In terms of possible selective pressures from pollinators in shaping fragrance chemistry, available information on the pollination of our species suggested an association between fragrance and types of pollinators. Two pollinator-fragrance groups were apparent: (1) species pollinated by insects that include butterflies and moths displayed fragrances containing volatiles typical of moth-pollinated flowers, most particularly indole combined with high amounts of esters, and (21 species visited exclusively by insects other than butterflies and moths, especially by bees and flies, had fragrances lacking this combination of volatiles. Narcissus assoanus was unusual among our species in having both fragrance chemotypes. Future pollination studies of Narcissus in the field are needed to test the reliability and predictability of the proposed fragrance-pollinator associations.

Samples of the essential oil from Baccharis salicifolia, four samples from B. latifolia, and one sample from B. dracunculifolia collected in the high valleys of Bolivia in the province of Cochabamba were analysed by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The identified products may be divided into four different groups: monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and various oxygenated sesquiterpenes such as germacrone and ledol. The latter compounds are characteristic constituents of the essential oils of Ledum ffroenlanicum. Rather unusual monooxygenated compounds with a eadinane structure were also detected, including verboccidentafuran, chromoleanin and related compounds.

Medicinal plants are potential sources of natural compounds with biological activities and therefore attract the attention of researchers worldwide. The objective of this research was to determine the chemical composition of methanolic flowers extract. The phytochemical compound screened by GC-MS method. Forty nine bioactive phytochemical compounds were identified in the methanolic extract of Artemisia annua. The identification of phytochemical compounds is based on the peak area, retention time molecular weight, molecular formula, MS Fragment-ions and pharmacological actions. GC-MS analysis of Artemisia annua revealed the existence of the 1,2-15,16,(+)-y-Tocopherol,O-methyl-and 1-Phenanthrenecarboxylic acid ,tetradecahydro-7-(2-methoxy-2-oxoe. The FTIR analysis of Artemisia annua flowers proved the presence of alkenes, aliphatic fluoro compounds, alcohols, ethers, carboxlic acids, esters, nitro compounds, alkanes, H-bonded H-X group, hydrogen bonded alcohols and phenols. Methanolic extract of bioactive compounds of Artemisia annua was assayed for in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia by using the diffusion method in agar. The diameters of inhibition zones ranged from 5.01±0.200 to 0.700±0.106 mm for all treatments.

A molecular and morphological investigation of 35 collections of Daldinia from 11 plant species revealed five taxonomic entities of Daldinia in northern Europe. These include Daldinia concentrica, D. cf. fissa, D. grandis, D. loculata and D. cf. petriniae. D. cf. fissa, D. grandis and D. loculata were found exclusively on burnt wood, but they do not form a monophyletic unit in a phylogenetic tree derived from analysis of the ITS sequence of the ribosomal DNA.

A molecular phylogeographic study of Paragonimus mexicanus collected from Guatemala and Ecuador was performed. Genomic DNA was extracted from individual metacercariae, and two gene regions (partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and the second internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal gene repeat (ITS2)) were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequences segregated in a phylogenetic tree according to their geographic origins. ITS2 sequences from Ecuador and Guatemala differed at only one site. Pairwise distances among CO1 sequences within a country were always lower than between countries. Nevertheless, genetic distances between countries were less than between geographical forms of P. westermani that have been suggested to be distinct species. This result suggests that populations from Guatemala and Ecuador are genetically differentiated perhaps at the level of subspecies.

The composition of Lippia dulcis, an intensely sweet herb endemic to tropical America, was investigated using plants collected in Puerto Rico. Contrary to previous reports, it is characterized by the presence of a high percentage of sesquiterpenoids (79%). Isolation experiments and gas chromatographic characterization using direct injection, show that the intensely sweet sesquiterpenoid (+)-hernandulcin (36%) and its epimer (-)-epi-hernandulcin (22%) are the main constituents of these herbs. The oil contains, if any, undetectable amounts of camphor (<<0.01%). These findings are in sharp contrast with the composition reported earlier for 'Hierba dulce', a pungent Mexican plant identified as L. dulcis. Only trace amounts of hernandulcin (40 ppm wt/wt, dry weight) were reported in the plants from Mexico. The volatile oil isolated from these plants by steam distillation consisted mainly of monoterpenoids (86%). A bitter monoterpenoid, camphor, made up as much as 53% of the essential oil of the Mexican plants. If the identity of the Mexican plants is confirmed, these results may reveal the existence of two chemotypes of this herb, i.e. an hernandulcin type and a camphor type.

Essential oil compositions of fresh and freeze-dried leaves were determined for 16 accessions of Ocimum basilicum belonging to different varieties to see whether they could be used as infraspecific taxonomic characters. One accession of O. × citriodorum was also studied. Some 30 monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and phenylpropanoids were identified, the major components (more than 20% of the total essential oil composition in one or more accessions) being geranial and neral in O. x citriodorum, and linalool, methyl chavicol, eugenol, methyl eugenol and geraniol in O. basilicum. Based on a combination of the latter compounds, five major essential oil profiles could be distinguished in the accessions studied for O. basilicum. These profiles were largely the same for fresh and freeze-dried material of the same plant, although in dried leaves, methyl chavicol and eugenol concentrations had generally declined in comparison to those of linalool. There appeared to be little correlation between essential oil patterns and varietal classification within O. basilicum. In view of the chemical heterogeneity of O. basilicum and its use as an essential oil-producing crop, culinary herb, medicinal plant and insect-controlling agent, in all of which chemicals play an important role, the infraspecific classification of this taxon should take chemical characters into consideration. A system for the classification of essential oil chemotypes in O. basilicum is proposed.

The morphological features, phytochemical
composition and biological activities of Pteris vittata
L., growing rarely in Egypt were investgated. The
morphological features of P. vittata including pale
brown scales, short creeping rhizome and different
features of fronds and spores were investigated. A
number of chemical compounds related to different
families were screened for the first time in the hexane
extract of P. vittata by the GC-MS method. Fourteen
phenolic compounds including pyrogallol, coumaric
acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid
were identified by HPLC on methanol: acetone: H2O
(2:2:1) extract of P. vittata.
The polar extracts of P. vittata possess proper
antioxidant activity using DPPH˙, ABTS˙⁺ and
reducing power activity assays . The cytotoxic effects
of different extracts of P. vittata towards lung (A549),
liver (HePG-2), prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7)
cancer cell lines are also reported for the first time.