Adventitious roots support population expansion of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha Kunth.

Mikania micrantha Kunth is a serious invasive alien plant characterized by the formation of an adventitious root system in its prostrate growth form. Unlike the initial roots from seed germination, adventitious roots gradually appear above the stem and branch nodes. Little is known about adventitious roots play on plant growth and population expansion of M.

Potential use of Helianthus tuberosus to suppress the invasive alien plant Ageratina adenophora under different shade levels.

Background: An ecological approach for managing biological invasions in agroecosystems is the selection of alternative crop species to manage the infestation of invasive alien plants through competition. In the current study, plant growth, photosynthesis, and competitive ability of the crop Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem artichoke) and the invasive alien plant Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.

Characterization and simultaneous quantification of biological aporphine alkaloids in Litsea cubeba by HPLC with hybrid ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry and HPLC with diode array detection.

The root and rhizome of Litsea cubeba (Lour) Pers., named 'Dou-chi-jiang' in Chinese, has been traditionally used for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatic arthralgia, and other diseases in China. Aporphine alkaloids are its characteristic ingredients and responsible for its bioactivities, especially anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

[Alkaloids from roots and stems of Litsea cubeba].

A phytochemical investigation on the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba led to the isolation of seven isoquinolone alkaloids. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, these alkaloids were identified as (+)-norboldine (1), (+)-boldine (2), (+)-reticuline (3), (+)-laurotetanine (4), (+)-isoboldine (5), (+)-N-methyl-laurotetanine (6), and berberine (7), respectively. Among them, 7 was isolated from the genus for the first time.

Chemical constituents with NO production inhibitory and cytotoxic activities from Litsea cubeba.

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba led to the isolation of 14 constituents, including three new compounds, cubebanone (1), N-cis-3,4-methylenedioxycinnamoyl-3-methoxytyramine (2), and 9,9'-O-di-(E)-feruloyl-(+)-secoisolariciresinol (3), together with 11 known ones (4-14). Compounds 1, 4, and 8-11 showed obvious in vitro anti-inflammatory activities against NO production in LPS-induced murine microglial (BV-2) cell line and RAW 264.7 macrophages.

[A phytochemical and pharmacological advance on medicinal plant Litsea cubeba (Lauraceae)].

Litsea cubeba is one of aromatic medicinal plant belonging to family Lauraceae. The roots, stems and fruits of L. cubeba have been widely applied as folk medicines in some districts in China for relieving rheumatism and cold, regulating Qi (meridian) to alleviate pain.

[Chemical constituents from a Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula].

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of a Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula, by solvent extraction, repeated chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative TLC techniques, led to the isolation of 9 compounds. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of its 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, their structures were identified as oleracein E(1), N-( trans-p-coumaroyl) tyramine (2), chrysoeriol (3), apigenin (4), hydnocarpin (5), p-coumaric acid glucosyl ester (6), stigmast-5-ene-3beta-ylformate (7), 3beta-hydroxy-7alpha-ethoxy-24beta-ethylcholest-5-ene (8), and beta-sitosterol (9), respectively, among which compounds 6-8 were isolated from the genus for the first time,and 1,3 were isolated from the species for the first time. A MTT method was applied to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of compounds 14 against the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2), and compound 1 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2,with its inhibitory rate of 52.

Chemical investigation of the roots of Polygala sibirica L.

Aim: To investigate the chemical constituents of the roots of Polygala sibirica L. (Polygalaceae)

Method: The isolation was performed by solvent extraction and various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, semi-preparative HPLC, and preparative TLC. The chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HR-ESI-MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data.

[Research progress of Ypsilandra thibetica, a medicinal plant of Liliaceae].

Ypsilandra thibetica belongs to the family Liliaceae. Its whole plant has the medicinal functions of heat-clearing and detoxifying, relieving congestion and other effects, and is used as the folk medicine to cure scrofula, dysuria embolism and other symptoms. Previous chemical studies revealed that its major and active ingredient is steroidal saponin.