Phylogenetic relationships in Ephedra (Ephedraceae) inferred from chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences.

Sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region 1 and the chloroplast-encoded genes maturase K and ribulose-1,5 biphosphate carboxylase large subunit were obtained from species of Ephedra (Ephedraceae) representing the geographic range and morphological diversity of the genus. Phylogenetic analyses of the DNA data indicate that relationships within the genus are better predicted by geographic region of origin than by ovulate cone characters. The sampled species with dry, winged (versus fleshy) ovulate cone bracts or single-seeded cones do not form monophyletic groups and therefore the previous classification systems of Ephedra based on these aspects of bract morphology appear to be largely unnatural.

Association of carbon disulfide with plants in the family Fabaceae.

We examined 40 taxa from nine genera within the subfamily Mimosoideae; 29 (73%) from six genera produced carbon disulfide (CS2). In addition, 19 of 40 taxa (48%) produced carbonyl sulfide (OCS). Of nine mimosoid taxa that produced CS2, all possessed a djenkolic acid and a cysteine lyase.

Flavonoids and the taxonomy of Cercis.

Flavonoids of 11 samples of Cercis, comprising seven species, were isolated and identified. Only 3-O-monoglycosides of kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin were obtained. Bauhinia (the largest genus in tribe Cercideae) is akin to Cercis because flavones are rarely found in the former.

New hydrophilic polyesters and related polymers as bioerodible polymeric matrices.

A survey is reported on our activity performed in the last few years on the preparation of new synthetic and semisynthetic polymeric materials endowed with bioerodible-biodegradable characteristics and designed for applications in the practice of controlled release of active principles of pharmaceutical and agrochemical significance. The presentation of the results will be arranged into the following sections: (1) hydroxyl containing polyesters, that comprise polymerization products based on racemic and optically active glyceric acid, or attained by polyaddition reactions among cyclic anhydrides, including also carbon dioxide, with monoglycidyl ethers of reversibly protected polyols. In this class are also presented the related polyhydroxylated systems obtained by selective grafting functional epoxides on cyclodextrins.

Chemical composition of North American bee propolis and biological activity towards larvae of greater wax moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Bee propolis is a sticky amalgamation of plant resins collected by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and used in the hive for filling cracks and repairing combs. Propolis contains a diversity of compounds of plant origin, and is reported to have medicinal, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and phytotoxic properties.

Chloroplast DNA sequence from a miocene Magnolia species.

DNA has been successfully extracted from several samples of preserved tissue, the oldest so far reported originating from a 13,000-year-old ground sloth. Both severe damage to the preserved DNA, primarily due to oxidation of the pyrimidines, has prevented the acquisition of sequence data from ancient samples except in a few cases. We report here the extraction of DNA from fossil leaf samples from the Miocene Clarkia deposit (17-20 Myr old), the amplification of an 820-base pair (bp) DNA fragment from the chloroplast gene rbcL from a fossil of the genus Magnolia, and its subsequent sequencing.

Geochemistry and thermolysis of flavonoids.

The thermal and pH stability of selected flavonoids has been determined under simulated geologic conditions. Thermolytic rates and products for various regimes, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, indicate the potential usefulness of flavonoids as thermometric indicators in sediments. The parametric factors affecting flavonoid stability are used to geochemically characterize angiosperm "green leaves" (36 to 25 x 10(6) years old) from Succor Creek and indicate that these sediments have not experienced temperatures higher than 80 degrees C or extreme pH shifts (beyond the range 6.

Flavonoids and other chemical constituents of fossil miocene zelkova (ulmaceae).

Organic solvent extractions of Zelkova oregoniana, a Miocene angiosperm compression fossil, indicate the chemical preservation of kaempferol, dihydrokaempferol, an n-alkane chain length range of 10 to 32 carbons, hydroxy acids, steranes, triterpenoids, and methyl pheophorbide a. This appears to be the oldest occurrence of flavonoids in fossil sediments reported.