Fossile Relikte der ?Wasserbl�te? im Messeler �lschiefer

Steroids and Sesquiterpenes From Cultures of the Fungus Phellinus igniarius

Two new steroids, 3α,17α,19,20-tetrahydroxy-4α-methylpregn-8-ene (1) and 3α,12α,17α,20-tetrahydroxy-4α-methylpregn-8-ene (2) and three new sesquiterpenoids, 12-hydroxy-α-cadinol (3), 3α,12-dihydroxy-δ-cadinol (4), and 3α,6α-dihydroxyspiroax-4-ene (5), have been isolated from cultures of the fungus Phellinus igniarius. Their structures were characterized based on extensive spectroscopic data. In preliminary in vitro assays, compounds 3 and 4 exhibited the vascular-activities against phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction with the relaxing rates of 11.0 % and 7.0 % at 3 × 10-4 M, respectively.

Homo- and heptanor-sterols and tremulane sesquiterpenes from cultures of Phellinus igniarius

Four steroids, a homopregnene (1) and three heptanorergosterane derivatives (2-4), nine tremulane sesquiterpenes (5-13), and 18 known compounds have been isolated from cultures of the fungus Phellinus igniarius. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. In preliminary in vitro assays, at 10(-5) M, compounds 8, 9, 13, and 3beta-hydroxy-11,12-O-isopropyldrimene (14) showed significant vascular-relaxing activities against phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction with relaxing rates of 35.7%, 45.4%, 46.6%, and 32.1%, respectively, as compared with the blank control.

Taxonomy and palaeoecology of dinoflagellate cysts from Upper Oligocene freshwater sediments of Lake Enspel, Westerwald area, Germany

Freshwater dinoflagellates play an important role as primary producers in the lacustrine environment. A new species of dinoflagellates, Cleistosphaeridium lacustre, is described from Upper Oligocene sediments of palaeo-lake Enspel. They are associated with other phytoplankton, such as diatoms, chrysophytes, green algae and benthic cyanobacteria. Mass occurrences of this species are interpreted as algal blooms and may partly reflect seasonal successions. This phenomenon was controlled by volcanic activities in the depositional area, which led to an increase in nutrient supply.