Fusiform cells in the cambium of Kalopanax pictus are exclusively mononucleate. (1/23)

While it is generally accepted that most plant cells are mononucleate, it has been argued with some vehemence that fusiform cambial cells can be multinucleate. The controversy has not been resolved since to date, studies by conventional microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have failed to confirm unambiguously whether cambial cells are mononucleate or multinucleate. In this study, semi-thin sections of epoxy-embedded specimens and thick slices of cambial tissues from the hardwood Kalopanax pictus were analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Tangential sections of cambium, regardless of the thickness of the section, are likely to contain portions of cells in several adjacent layers of cells and, at the lower resolution of conventional microscopy, several adjacent cells can appear to be a single cell with more than one nucleus. The higher resolution in the third dimension of confocal microscopy allowed clearly adjacent layers of cells in the cambium to be distinguished and the number of nuclei per cell to be determined. In this tree, the cambial cells were mononucleate in all cases.  (+info)

Ent-kaurane diterpenoid glycosides from the leaves of Cussonia racemosa, a Malagasy endemic plant. (2/23)

Six new ent-kaurane diterpenoid glycosides, cussoracosides A (3), B (4), C (5), D (6), E (7), and F (8) were isolated from the dried leaves of Cussonia racemosa, along with two known compounds identified as beta-D-glucopyranosyl ent-16beta,17-dihydroxykauran-19-oate (1) and paniculoside IV (2). The structures of these new compounds were deduced on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.  (+info)

In vitro antiinflammatory activity of kalopanaxsaponin A isolated from Kalopanax pictus in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. (3/23)

In the present study, effects of various hederagenin monodesmosides isolated from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus Nakai, such as hederagenin, 5-hederin, kalopanaxsaponin A, kalopanaxsaponin 1, and sapindoside C, have been evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release by the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Among the tested monodesmosides, kalopanxsaponin A was the most potent inhibitor of NO production, and it also significantly decreased PGE2 and TNF-alpha release. Consistent with these observations, the expression level of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme was inhibited by kalopanxsaponin A in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, this study suggests that kalopanaxsaponin A-mediated inhibition of iNOS, COX-2 expression, and TNF-alpha release may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus Nakai.  (+info)

A new ent-kaurane diterpenoid glycoside from the leaves of Cussonia bojeri, a Malagasy endemic plant. (4/23)

A new ent-kaurane diterpene glycoside, beta-D-glucopyranosyl 17-hydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oate-16-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4) was isolated from the dried leaves of Cussonia bojeri SEEM., together with four known compounds identified as 16beta,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid (1), beta-D-glucopyranosyl 16beta,17-dihydroxy-(-)-kauran-19-oate (2), paniculoside IV (3), and rutin (5). The structure of 4 was deduced on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.  (+info)

Cussosaponins A-E, triterpene saponins from the leaves of Cussonia racemosa, a Malagasy endemic plant. (5/23)

Five new triterpene saponins, cussosaponins A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), and E (6), were isolated from the dried leaves of Cussonia racemosa BAKER. The structures of these new compounds were deduced on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.  (+info)

High-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography assays for Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus). (6/23)

Devil's root, Oplopanax horridus, is a widely used folk medicine in Alaska and British Columbia. The inner bark of the root and stem has been used to treat colds, cough, fever, and diabetes. The present study involves the development of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods to detect the presence of trans-nerolidol and sterols in the root bark. The HPLC and TLC analytical methods presented are suitable for the characterization and identification of Oplopanax horridus.  (+info)

Effect of Polyscias filicifolia Bailey biomass on protein synthesis process in isolated pig heart. (7/23)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of Polyscias filicifolia Bailey biomass on protein synthesis process in normoxic and anoxic pig heart. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experiments were done on isolated pig hearts weighing 100-150 g. Effects of anoxia were evaluated after 20 and 90 min of anoxic perfusion. Control hearts were perfused under aerobic conditions. Investigating action of Polyscias filicifolia Bailey, pig heart was perfused under normoxic and anoxic condition with buffer, which contains tincture Polyscias filicifolia Bailey. For the determination of protein synthesis rate (time of incubation was 15 min) and level (time of incubation was 60 min), incorporation of [14C]-leucine into translational products in a cell-free system was measured. RESULTS: Protein synthesis rate and level in cell-free system decreased by 30% and 20% respectively after 20 min anoxic perfusion and by 48% and 45% respectively after 90 min anoxic perfusion in comparison to the control. Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture did not affect the protein synthesis rate and level in cell-free translation system from control pig heart. Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture has protective effect on protein synthesis system from pig hearts after 20 min and 90 min anoxic perfusion. Protein synthesis rate and level after 20 min anoxic perfusion with Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture was the same as at a control level. However, after 90 min anoxic perfusion with Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture protein synthesis rate and level did not reach control level and represented 81% and 76% respectively of control values. Spectrum of newly synthesized polypeptides in cell-free protein synthesis system under anoxic conditions and after treatment with Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Protein synthesis rate and level decreased under long and short-term anoxia. Polyscias filicifolia Bailey biomass restore protein synthesis system under anoxia. Neither anoxia, nor Polyscias filicifolia Bailey tincture did not influence spectrum of newly synthesized proteins.  (+info)

Novel plant substances acting as beta subunit isoform-selective positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors. (8/23)

GABAA receptors are modulated by a large variety of compounds. A common chemical characteristic of most of these modulators is that they contain a cyclic entity. Three linear molecules of a polyacetylene structure were isolated from the East African medicinal plant Cussonia zimmermannii Harms and shown to allosterically stimulate GABAA receptors. Stimulation was not abolished by the absence of the gamma2 subunit, the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro15-1788 (8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carbo xylic acid ethyl ester), or the point mutation beta2N265S that abolishes effects by loreclezole. At a concentration of 30 microM, the substances by themselves elicited only tiny currents. Maximal stimulation at alpha1beta2gamma2 amounted to 110 to 450% for the three substances, and half-maximal stimulation was observed at concentrations of 1 to 2 muM. Stimulation was subunit composition-dependent and was for the substance MS-1, alpha1beta2gamma2 approximately alpha1beta2 approximately alpha3beta2gamma2 > alpha2beta2gamma2 > alpha5beta2gamma2 approximately alpha1beta3gamma2 approximately alpha6beta2gamma2 > alpha1beta1gamma2, for MS-2 alpha1beta2gamma2 approximately alpha3beta2gamma2 approximately alpha1beta2 > alpha2beta2gamma2 approximately alpha6beta2gamma2 approximately alpha5beta2gamma2 > alpha1beta1gamma2, and for MS-4, alpha1beta2gamma2 approximately alpha1beta2 approximately alpha5beta2gamma2 approximately alpha3beta2gamma2 approximately alpha2beta2gamma2 > alpha6beta2gamma2 >> alpha1beta1gamma2. Maximal stimulation by MS-1 was 450% at alpha1beta2gamma2, 80% at alpha1beta1gamma2, and 150% at alpha1beta3gamma2. MS-1 was thus specific for receptors containing the beta2 subunit. The reversal potential was unaffected by 10 microM MS-1, whereas apparent picrotoxin affinity for current inhibition was increased approximately 3-fold. In summary, these positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors of plant origin have a novel unusual chemical structure and act at a site independent of that of benzodiazepines and loreclezole.  (+info)

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