[Standardization of the sour orange flower and leaf]

Dried flowers (1 batch) and leaves (6 batches) of sour orange Citrus aurantium L. had a similar flavonoid pattern. But the flavonoid levels of flowers were higher than those of leaves. The mean levels of the principal flavonoid compounds were respectively: total flavonoids 12.35 and 1.06%, neohesperidin 5.44 and 0.08%, naringin 1.93 and 0.06%, eriocitrin 0.38 and 0.25%. 18 batches of commercial origine were also examined for a comparative study. Specifications were proposed for a revision of the monographs "Sour orange flower" and "Sour orange leaf" of the French Pharmacopoeia.

A novel two-chain proteinase inhibitor generated by circularization of a multidomain precursor protein

Female reproductive tissues of the ornamental tobacco amass high levels of serine proteinase inhibitors (PIs) for protection against pests and pathogens. These PIs are produced from a precursor protein composed of six repeats each with a protease reactive site. Here we show that proteolytic processing of the precursor generates five single-chain PIs and a remarkable two-chain inhibitor formed by disulfide-bond linkage of N- and C-terminal peptide fragments. Surprisingly, PI precursors adopt this circular structure regardless of the number of inhibitor domains, suggesting this bracelet-like conformation is characteristic of the widespread potato inhibitor II (Pot II) protein family.

Postharvest changes in glycoalkaloid content of potatoes

Potatoes contain antinutritional and potentially toxic compounds including inhibitors of digestive enzymes, hemagglutinins, and glycoalkaloids. Solanum glycoalkaloids are reported to inhibit cholinesterase, disrupt cell membranes, and induce teratogenicity. In this overview, we describe the role of potatoes in the human diet, reported changes in glycoalkaloid content of fresh and processed potatoes during storage, under the influence of light and radiation, following mechanical damage, and as a result of food processing. Also covered are safety aspects and suggested research needs to develop a protocol that can be adopted by the potato producers and processors to minimize post-harvest synthesis of glycoalkaloids in potatoes. Reducing the glycoalkaloid content of potatoes will provide a variety of benefits extending from the farm to processing, shipping, marketing, and consumption of potatoes and potato products. A commercially available ELISA kit is described which permits rapid assay of glycoalkaloid content of parts of the potato plant including leaves, tubers, and peel, as well as processed potato products including french fries, chips, and skins. Understanding the multiple overlapping aspects of glycoalkaloids in the plant and in the diet will permit controlling postharvest glycoalkaloid production for the benefit of the producer and consumer.

Localization of a centrin-like protein to higher plant plasmodesmata

Antibodies against centrin, the ubiquitous calcium-binding contractile protein, recognized a 17 kDa protein in extracts of onion root tips and cauliflower florets. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, anti-centrin antibodies were localized to the developing cell plate of onion and cauliflower root tip cells. In cauliflower florets, these antibodies localized to the walls in a punctate manner, consistent with the distribution of plasmodesmata as shown by colocalization with callose. Anti-centrin antibodies were localized to plasmodesmata of onion root tips and cauliflower florets with immunogold electron microscopy. Furthermore, this label was concentrated around the necks of plasmodesmata. In contrast, an antibody against calmodulin, which is a closely related calcium-binding protein, did not label plasmodesmata. We propose that centrin is a component of calcium-sensitive contractile nanofilaments in the neck region of plasmodesmata and facilitates the calcium-induced regulation of intercellular transport.

Essential oils from dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis l.): variations among individuals, plant parts, seasons, and sites

The factors affecting oil yield and quality of essential oils from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) are analyzed. Distillations of oils from individual plants and GC analyses revealed the presence of three chemotypes with different proportions of alpha- and beta-thujone (alpha/beta 10:1, 1.5:1, and 1:10). Different accessions could also be classified as having high (39-44%), medium (22-28%), or low (9%) total thujone contents. Flowering parts of S. officinalis had higher oil contents (1.6 versus 1.1%) and beta-pinene levels (27 versus 10%) than leaves and lower thujone levels (16 versus 31%). Major seasonal changes were found in the composition of oil distilled from a flowering type of Dalmatian sage, but oil yields from healthy, established plants did not vary greatly. Total thujone levels were lowest (25%) around flowering in spring and summer, so autumn or winter was the best harvest time to obtain oils with high thujone levels.

Strategies for bioengineering the development and metabolism of glandular tissues in plants

Glandular tissues in plants produce a wide variety of commercially important chemicals. We review specific model systems that can be exploited for bioengineering the development and metabolism of these specialized structures, and the economic considerations that must be satisfied to permit commercially viable bioengineering approaches to specific chemicals and that constrain the choice of production systems.

Structural analogues of cumambrin B from the flower of Chrysanthemum boreale

The structural analogues of cumambrin B (1, 2, 3, 4) were isolated from the flower of Chrysanthemum boreale Makino. The structures of compounds were determined by two-dimensional 1H-1H COSY and 13C-1H COSY spectra with the aid of homonuclear and heteronuclear double resonance experiment. The stereochemistry of compounds has been verified from single crystal X-ray diffraction of cumambrin A (2). The antimicrobial activities of these guaianolides have been studied.

[Analysis of phenolic acids in cultured cells and in Penstemon Serrulatus Menz]

Qualitative and quantitative content of aromatic acids in callus tissues, cells in suspension cultures and intact plants of Penstemon serrulatus was determined by paper and gas chromatography. It has been observed that these acids occur in the investigated material mainly in bounded form. The largest quantities of phenolic acids were produced by callus tissues grown on Schenk and Hildebrandt's medium. The total content of aromatic acids found in the cells from suspension cultures was similar to the content of these compounds in intact plants, but twice lower than in callus tissue grown on the same medium.