Indonesian medicinal plants. XXIV. Stereochemical structure of perseitol x K+ complex isolated from the leaves of Scurrula fusca (Loranthaceae). (1/12)

A complex of perseitol (D-glycero-D-galacto-heptitol) and K+ ions in a molar ratio of 20:1 was isolated from the leaves of Scurrula fusca (Loranthaceae), which has been traditionally used for the treatment of cancer in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The stereochemical structure of the complex in H2O solution has been elucidated by use of several kinds of NMR techniques. Furthermore, it has been found that the complex exhibits a potent inhibitory effect on [3H]-leucine incorporation for protein synthesis in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in mice.  (+info)

Indonesian medicinal plants. XXV. Cancer cell invasion inhibitory effects of chemical constituents in the parasitic plant Scurrula atropurpurea (Loranthaceae). (2/12)

Six fatty acids (1-6), two xanthines (7, 8), two flavonol glycosides (9, 10), one monoterpene glucoside (11), one lignan glycoside (12), and four flavanes (13-16) were clarified by a bioassay-guided separation as chemical constituents of Scurrula atropurpurea (Loranthaceae), a parasitic plant of the tea plant Thea sinensis (Theaceae). Among these constituents, it was found that the alkynic fatty acid octadeca-8,10,12-triynoic acid (6) exhibits a more potent inhibitory effect on cancer cell invasion in vitro than flavanes [(+)-catechin (13), (-)-epicatechin (14), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (15) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (16)].  (+info)

Preparation and cancer cell invasion inhibitory effects of C16-alkynic fatty acids. (3/12)

Five C(16)-alkynic fatty acids (2-6) were prepared and examined their inhibitory effects on cancer cell invasion. It has been found that hexadeca-6,8,10-triynoic acid (5) and hexadeca-8,10,12-triynoic acid (6) exhibit similar potent inhibitory activities with that of octadeca-8,10,12-triynoic acid (1) which was isolated from Scurrula atropurpurea (Loranthaceae).  (+info)

Gene transfer from a parasitic flowering plant to a fern. (4/12)

The rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw.) is obligately mycotrophic and widely distributed across the northern hemisphere. Three mitochondrial gene regions place this species with other ferns in Ophioglossaceae, while two regions place it as a member of the largely parasitic angiosperm order Santalales (sandalwoods and mistletoes). These discordant phylogenetic placements suggest that part of the genome in B. virginianum was acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), perhaps from root-parasitic Loranthaceae. These transgenes are restricted to B. virginianum and occur across the range of the species. Molecular and life-history traits indicate that the transfer preceded the global expansion of B. virginianum, and that the latter may have happened very rapidly. This is the first report of HGT from an angiosperm to a fern, through either direct parasitism or the mediation of interconnecting fungal symbionts.  (+info)

Three new pentacyclic triterpenes and some flavonoids from the fruits of an Indian Ayurvedic plant Dendrophthoe falcata and their estrogen receptor binding activity. (5/12)

Extensive chromatographic screening of extracts of the fruits of the Indian Ayurvedic plant, Dendrophthoe falcata, resulted in the isolation of three new triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-1beta-(2-hydroxy-2-propoxy)-11alpha-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha-ethoxy-1beta-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (2) and 3beta-acetoxy-1beta-hydroxy-11alpha-methoxy-olean-12-ene (3) along with nine known compounds, 3beta-acetoxy-1beta,11alpha-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene (4), 3beta-acetoxy-1beta,11alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene (5), 3beta-acetoxy-urs-12-ene-11-one (6), 3beta-acetoxy-lup-20(29)-ene (7), 30-nor-lup-3beta-acetoxy-20-one (8), (20S)-3beta-acetoxy-lupan-29-oic acid (9), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (10), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (11), and gallic acid (12). The structures of these compounds were determined using 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry. These compounds were assayed for binding to estrogen receptors-alpha and beta and kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (10) was found to be a ligand for both receptors with greater affinity for beta. The triterpenes (1-9) are reported for the first time in the genus Dendrophthoe and assumes taxonomic significance.  (+info)

Hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van Tieghem (Loranthaceae) aqueous leaf extract in rats. (6/12)

The leaves of some mistletoes, specifically Loranthus micranthus Linn, Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (DC) Danser and Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van Tieghem (family: Loranthaceae), are used traditionally in Nigerian folk medicine to manage, control and/or treat a plethora of human ailments, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In order to scientifically appraise some of the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of Globimetula species, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kg po) in rat experimental paradigms. The hypoglycaemic effect of the plant extract was examined in normal (normoglycaemic) and diabetic (hyperglycaemic) rats using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model. Normotensive Wistar and hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats were used to investigate the hypotensive (antihypertensive) effect of the plant extract. Metformin (MFM, 500 mg/kg po) was used as the reference hypoglycaemic agent for comparison. Acute oral administrations of G cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kg po) caused dose-related, significant (p < 0.05-0.001) hypoglycaemia in normal and STZ-treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, acute intravenous administrations of GCE (50-800 mg/kg iv) produced dose-dependent, significant reductions (p < 0.05-0.001) in systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rates of the normotensive and hypertensive rats used. Although the exact hypoglycaemic and hypotensive mechanisms of action of the plant extract still remain speculative, it is unlikely that the extract induced hypotension in the mammalian experimental animal model via cholinergic mechanisms, since its cardiovascular effects were resistant to atropine pretreatment. However, the findings of this experimental study indicated that Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypotensive properties. This therefore lends pharmacological support to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant in the management and/ or control of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among the Yoruba-speaking people of western Nigeria.  (+info)

Cardiovascular activity of the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract of Loranthus ferrugineus Roxb. (7/12)

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Mistletoes and mutant albino shoots on woody plants as mineral nutrient traps. (8/12)

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