AChE inhibitory activity of N-substituted natural galanthamine derivatives.

Galanthamine derivatives are known for their AChE inhibitory activity. Among them, galanthamine has been approved for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. N-Acetylnorgalanthamine (narcisine) and N-(2'-methyl)allylnorgalanthamine (the most potent natural AChE inhibitor of galanthamine type) were synthetized using N-norgalanthamine as a precursor.

Metabolite profiling and histochemical localization of alkaloids in Hippeastrum papilio (Ravena) van Scheepen.

Hippeastrum papilio (Amaryllidaceae) is a promising new source of galanthamine - an alkaloid used for the cognitive treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The biosynthesis and accumulation of alkaloids are tissue - and organ-specific. In the present study, histochemical localization of alkaloids in H.

Important underground roosts for bats in Bulgaria: current state and priorities for conservation.

Bulgaria has a very rich bat fauna and large colonies of bats can be found in caves, mines and other underground roosts. Respectively, there are more than 107 underground roosts that are listed as important bat sites, most of which are protected by statutory laws and are of national or international importance. Despite the existence of formal protection, many roosts face anthropogenic disturbances due to the popularity of outdoor activities, such as caving and the lack of actual regulation.

Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov.the first European record of the genus Catamicrophyllum Verhoeff, 1901 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae).

A new species of Catamicrophyllum Verhoeff, 1901, Catamicrophyllum beroni sp. nov., is described from Rila Mts, southwest Bulgaria.

Eucosma subvittana (Staudinger 1892) stat. rev., a Mediterranean species resurrected by DNA barcodes and morphology (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae).

Eucosma subvittana is resurrected from synonymy with E. cana (Haworth, 1811) and redescribed from extensive material collected in Greece (Crete) and Tunisia. It is distinguished from the similar E.

Chemical and Biological Aspects of Different Species of the Genus Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) from South America.

The genus Herb. is found in the Andes Region (South America), mainly in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. These plants belong to the Amaryllidaceae family, specifically the Amaryllidoideae subfamily, which presents an exclusive group of alkaloids known as Amaryllidaceae alkaloids that show important structural diversity and pharmacological properties.

A review of the genus Micropachyiulus Verhoeff, 1899 and description of the related Armeniopachyiulus gen. nov. (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae: Pachyiulini).

The European millipede genus Micropachyiulus Verhoeff, 1899 is revised based on type and non-type material, and on the available literature. The genus Hylopachyiulus Attems, 1904 is established as a junior subjective synonym of Micropachyiulus, syn. nov.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of some homolycorine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.

Rationale: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the most frequently applied technique for analyzing Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in plant extracts. Having these compounds, known for their potent bioactivities, is a distinctive chemotaxonomic feature of the Amaryllidoideae subfamily (Amaryllidaceae). The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of homolycorine type with a C3-C4 double bond generally show molecular and diagnostic ions at the high-mass region with low intensity in the EIMS mode, leading to problematic identification in complex plant extracts.

Rise and fall: Results of a multidisciplinary study and 5-year long monitoring of conservation translocation of the European ground squirrel.

The current publication gives a detailed assessment of the results from a population reinforcement of a European ground squirrel's () colony in south-eastern Bulgaria. The reinforcement was planned and implemented along with multidisciplinary research of the adaptation process (including radiotelemetry, parasitological study and assessment of the stress in the animals) and regular monitoring (yearly burrow counting). Although the donor and recipient populations were genetically similar, morphometrical data indicated variations in the body size probably due to the difference in population densities in the two sites.

Two new (Bacillariophyta) species from the marine coasts off Livingston Island, Antarctica.

During a survey of the marine benthic diatom flora on the coasts off Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctic Region), two species that could not be identified based on the currently available literature, were observed. Detailed light and scanning electron microscopy observations and thorough comparison with similar taxa in the literature revealed that both taxa should be described as new species. The first taxon, , was most likely misidentified in past Antarctic studies, and included within the range of another taxon, .

Morphological, cariological, and phytochemical studies of diploid and autotetraploid Hippeastrum papilio plants.

The polyploidization of Hippeastrum papilio influences its primary and secondary metabolism including the biosynthesis of bioactive alkaloids. Hippeastrum papilio is an ornamental plant that has advantages in comparison to the currently used plants for the extraction of galanthamine, a natural compound used for the cognitive treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, an autotetraploid line of H.

Chemical Survey of Three Species of the Genus Traub (Amaryllidaceae).

Plant biodiversity is an important source of compounds with medicinal properties. The alkaloid galanthamine, first isolated from (Amaryllidaceae), is approved by the FDA for the palliative treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease due to its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. Obtaining this active pharmaceutical ingredient, still sourced on an industrial scale from the Amaryllidaceae species, is a challenge for pharmaceutical companies due to its low natural yield and the high cost of its synthesis.

A new millipede genus and species of the tribe Pachyiulini from the Caucasus (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae).

A new genus and species of the millipede tribe Pachyiulini, , is described from the Lesser Caucasus, Azerbaijan. Cybertypes of the new species are created from the physical holotype male and from a paratype female. The distribution and ecological features of the new species, and the position of the new genus within Pachyiulini are discussed.

A review of the cavernicolous Trichopolydesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida) from the Carpathian-Balkan arch and the Rhodope Mountains, with descriptions of two new genera and three new species.

All cavernicolous species of the millipede family Trichopolydesmidae from the Carpathian-Balkan arch and the Rhodope Mountains have been reviewed. At present the family has been shown to comprise five or six genera with eight or nine species. Two new genera have been described, viz.

Rhodopotyphlus mitovi gen. et sp. nov., a new endogean millipede from the Western Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae).

A new genus and species, Rhodopotyphlus mitovi gen. et sp. nov.

The millipede tribe Brachyiulini in the Caucasus (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae).

The diplopod tribe Brachyiulini is represented in the fauna of the Caucasus by eight genera and 32 species, of which one genus and 14 species are described as new: Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , Vagalinski, , , and Vagalinski, , Colchiobrachyiulus Lohmander, 1936, a former subgenus of Megaphyllum, is here elevated to a full genus, and the genus Grusiniulus Lohmander, 1936 is downgraded to a subgenus of the genus Cyphobrachyiulus Verhoeff, 1900, both , with their previously described species, (Lignau, 1915) and (Lohmander, 1936), respectively, listed as (Attems, 1899) is formally established as a junior subjective synonym of (Karsch, 1881), , and (Golovatch, 1981) is formally synonymised with the typical (Lohmander, 1936), (Lohmander, 1932), originally described in the genus , is here transferred to the former genus, The diagnoses and descriptions of some genera and subgenera are refined and complemented. A key is given to all genera and species of Brachyiulini that occur in the Caucasus, and their distributions are mapped. Several species are recorded as new to the faunas of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, or Russia.

GC-MS analysis of Amaryllidaceae and Sceletium-type alkaloids in bioactive fractions from Narcissus cv. Hawera.

Rationale: Narcissus cv. Hawera has been found to biosynthesize some Sceletium-type alkaloids with antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. This ornamental plant has been poorly studied as a source of bioactive alkaloids including some contraversive reports on in vitro and intact plants.

Ecosystem restoration in Europe: Can analogies to Traditional Chinese Medicine facilitate the cross-policy harmonization on managing socio-ecological systems?

EU's Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 sets a 15% restoration target. However, the understanding of restoration as a management tool remains ambiguous at EU and Member State levels. As a country with rich biodiversity but low GDP, a well-defined priority setting approach is key for Bulgaria.

Revision of the millipede tribe Brachyiulini Verhoeff, 1909 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), with descriptions of new taxa.

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the circum-Mediterranean julid tribe Brachyiulini is undertaken. A total of 13 genera and 103 species are assigned to the tribe. One new genus, one new subgenus, and 10 new species are described from Greece, Turkey or Iran: Byzantorhopalum (Byzantorhopalum) elephantum sp.

Two new species of the millipede genus Attems, 1937 from the Balkan Peninsula (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae).

In addition to the eleven previously known species of the Mediterranean genus , two more species are described: , from the Rhodopi Mts. and Bunardzhik Hill in Bulgaria, and ., from the island of Mljet in Croatia.

Detecting local transmission of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (Apicomlexa, Haemosporida) at a Special Protection Area of Natura 2000 network.

Avian haemosporidian parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread pathogens that cause malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and other haemosporidioses (Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp.

Sediment Properties as Important Predictors of Carbon Storage in Zostera marina Meadows: A Comparison of Four European Areas.

Seagrass ecosystems are important natural carbon sinks but their efficiency varies greatly depending on species composition and environmental conditions. What causes this variation is not fully known and could have important implications for management and protection of the seagrass habitat to continue to act as a natural carbon sink. Here, we assessed sedimentary organic carbon in Zostera marina meadows (and adjacent unvegetated sediment) in four distinct areas of Europe (Gullmar Fjord on the Swedish Skagerrak coast, Askö in the Baltic Sea, Sozopol in the Black Sea and Ria Formosa in southern Portugal) down to ~35 cm depth.

Co-infections and environmental conditions drive the distributions of blood parasites in wild birds.

Experimental work increasingly suggests that non-random pathogen associations can affect the spread or severity of disease. Yet due to difficulties distinguishing and interpreting co-infections, evidence for the presence and directionality of pathogen co-occurrences in wildlife is rudimentary. We provide empirical evidence for pathogen co-occurrences by analysing infection matrices for avian malaria (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium spp.

Terrestrial gastropods of Srebarna Nature Reserve, North-Eastern Bulgaria (Gastropoda).

We give the results from the first investigation focused on the land snail fauna in Srebarna Nature Reserve in Bulgaria. A total of 23 localities were studied and 27 species of terrestrial gastropods were found, 23 of which were new observations for the Reserve.