Chunlin Long

Crop wild relatives—undervalued, underutilized and under threat?

The worlds wealth of plant genetic resources has much value for world food security, but these resources are under considerable threat. Crop improvement, particularly under climate change, depends on the genetic diversity of our plant genetic resources, which are arguably inadequately conserved and poorly used. There is wide recognition that the Convention on Biological Diversitys 2010 targets to reduce the loss of biodiversity have not been met. Biodiversity is at risk from multiple threats, including climate change, and the genetic diversity contained within plant genetic resources, particularly of species that are wild relatives of our crops, faces similar threats but is essential to our ability to respond to the new stresses in the agricultural environment resulting from climate change. It is important to consider the genetic value of these crop wild relatives, how they may be conserved, and what new technologies can be implemented to enhance their use.

Metabolite Profiling of Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) and Other Dark-Colored Fruit Juices

Many dark-colored fruit juices, rich in anthocyanins, are thought to be important for human health. Joboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) fruits, native to Brazil, have phenolics including anthocyanins and are processed into juice and other products. The phenolic constituents in the fruits of jaboticaba were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Twenty-two compounds were identified or tentatively determined by detailed analysis of their mass spectral fragmentation patterns; 11 compounds including 7 gallotannins, 2 ellagic acid derivatives, syringin, and its glucoside were detected for the first time in the fruit. The compositional differences among the fruit extracts and their commercial products were also compared by principal component analysis; two anthocyanins, delphinidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, as well as two depsides, jaboticabin and 2-O-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid, present in the fruit extracts were not detected unexpectedly in commercial jaboticaba juice or jam. Therefore, the stability of anthocyanins in jaboticaba fresh fruits and products has been compared directly with that of other dark-colored fruit products made from blueberry and Concord grape, and the same trend of decreasing amounts of anthocyanins was observed in all tested products. The antioxidant activities (DPPH(•) and ABTS(•+)) of jaboticaba fresh fruit extract and commercial samples were also compared. Principal component analysis proved to be a useful way to discern changes between fresh and processed fruits. Jaboticaba is a promising fruit with antioxidant capacity similar to those of other so-called superfruits; however, during processing the levels of some of anthocyanins and other polyphenols decrease significantly, and therefore the capacity of these products to affect human health may vary significantly from that of the fresh fruit.

Cytotoxic Amide Alkaloids from Piper boehmeriaefolium

Eight new amide alkaloids (1-8) and 19 known ones were isolated from the whole plant of Piper boehmeriaefolium. Their structures were determined through spectroscopic data analyses. Cytotoxic activity of these amides against human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells was evaluated, and 1-[(9E)-10-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-9-decenoyl]pyrrolidine (9) exhibited significant inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 2.7 μg/mL.

Pyrrolidinoindoline Alkaloids from Selaginella moellendorfii

Eight new pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids (1-8) were isolated from the whole plant of Selaginella moellendorfii. Their structures were determined by mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and chemical interconversions. These alkaloids have a 3-carboxybut-2-enyl group at C-3a and two methyl groups at N-8. The possible biogenetic route from selaginellic acid (1) to neoselaginellic acid (6) was postulated and chemically mimicked. Tautomerization between 6 and 6a was observed. Selected compounds were evaluated for antibacterial, cytotoxic, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.

Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

BackgroundLocally harvested wild edible plants (WEPs) provide food as well as cash income for indigenous people and are of great importance in ensuring global food security. Some also play a significant role in maintaining the productivity and stability of traditional agro-ecosystems. Shangri-la region of Yunnan Province, SW China, is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. People living there have accumulated traditional knowledge about plants. However, with economic development, WEPs are threatened and the associated traditional knowledge is in danger of being lost. Therefore, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted throughout this area to investigate and document the wild edible plants traditionally used by local Tibetan people.MethodsTwenty-nine villages were selected to carry out the field investigations. Information was collected using direct observation, semi-structured interviews, individual discussions, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and participatory rural appraisal (PRA).ResultsInformation about 168 wild edible plant species in 116 genera of 62 families was recorded and specimens were collected. Most species were edible greens (80 species) or fruits (78). These WEPs are sources for local people, especially those living in remote rural areas, to obtain mineral elements and vitamins. More than half of the species (70%) have multiple use(s) besides food value. Some are crop wild relatives that could be used for crop improvement. Several also have potential values for further commercial exploitation. However, the utilization of WEPs and related knowledge are eroding rapidly, especially in the areas with convenient transportation and booming tourism.ConclusionWild food plants species are abundant and diverse in Shangri-la region. They provide food and nutrients to local people and could also be a source of cash income. However, both WEPs and their associated indigenous knowledge are facing various threats. Thus, conservation and sustainable utilization of these plants in this area are of the utmost importance. Documentation of these species may provide basic information for conservation, possibly further exploitation, and will preserve local traditional knowledge.

Palhinine A, a Novel Alkaloid from Palhinhaea cernua

Palhinine A, a novel C(16)N-type Lycopodium alkaloid with a unique 5/6/6/9 tetracyclic ring system, was isolated from the whole plant of Palhinhaea cernua L. (Lycopodiaceae). Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis using the Flack parameter. Palhinine A is reported as the first example of Lycopodium alkaloids of which C-16 is fused to a new ring through a C-16-C-4 lingkage.

Bioactive and marker compounds from two edible dark-colored Myrciaria fruits and the synthesis of jaboticabin.

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) and false jaboticaba (Myrciaria vexator) fruits are two pleasant-tasting, dark-colored fruits, native to Brazil. They are rich sources of phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins, as well as less well known polyphenols such as depsides. These two fruits are very similar in morphology, but their taste profiles differ markedly. This study was focused on identifying the marker compounds between them using HPLC-PDA and LC-TOF-MS, combined with principal component analysis. As a result, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was found as the major anthocyanin in Myrciaria fruits. Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside was found to be the marker compound for jaboticaba, while cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinose were two marker compounds distinguishing false jaboticaba. In addition, two ellagitannins, iso-oenothein C and oenothein C, were isolated and identified from both of these fruits for the first time. Jaboticabin, a minor bioactive depside, occurred in both fruits and, because of its potential to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was successfully synthesized in the laboratory.

Compounds from Acorus tatarinowii: Determination of Absolute Configuration by Quantum Computations and cAMP Regulation Activity

A new cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid, tatarinowin A (1), two phenylpropanoids, tatarinoids A (2) and B (3), and a trinorlignan, tatarinoid C (4), along with 15 known compounds including two pairs of mixtures were isolated from the rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii. The absolute configurations of 1-4 were established by computation of specific rotation values. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cAMP regulatory activity by the AlphaScreen assay.

Medicinal plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la, Yunnan, China

BackgroundMedicinal plants used by the local people in Xizang (Tibet) have been investigated since the 1960s. The others out of Xizang, however, have been less understood, although they may be easily and strongly influenced by the various local herbal practices, diverse environments, local religious beliefs and different prevalent types of diseases. In 2006, two ethnobotanical surveys were organized in the county of Shangri-la, Yunnan Province, SW China, to document the traditional medicinal plants used by the Tibetan people.MethodsAfter literature surveying, four local townships were selected to carry out the field investigation. Three local healers were interviewed as key informants. The methods of ethnobotany, anthropology and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) were used in the field surveys. Plant taxonomic approach was adopted for voucher specimen identification.ResultsSixty-eight medicinal plant species in 64 genera of 40 families were recorded and collected. Among them, 23 species were found to have medicinal values that have not been recorded in any existing Tibetan literatures before, and 31 species were recorded to have traditional prescriptions. Moreover, the traditional preparations of each species and some folk medicinal knowledge were recorded and analyzed. These traditional prescriptions, preparations, new medicinal plants and folk medicinal knowledge and principles were discovered and summarized by local traditional Tibetan healers through times of treatment practices, and were passed down from generation to generation.ConclusionAs a part of the cultural diversity of Tibetan community, these traditional medicinal knowledge and experiences may provide data and information basis for the sustainable utilization and development of Tibetan medicine, and may contribute to the local economic development. However, for many reasons, they are disappearing gradually as time goes by. Our study showed that there were abundant traditional Tibetan medicinal prescriptions and using methods. It implies that more Tibetan medicinal plants and traditional knowledge can be discovered. Further research should be done to save the wealth of these traditional medicinal knowledge and experiences before they are dying out.

Clerodane diterpenoids and prenylated flavonoids from Dodonaea viscosa

Repeated column chromatography of the EtOAc-soluble fraction of the aerial parts of Dodonaea viscosa led to the isolation of two new modified clerodanes, methyl dodovisate A (1) and methyl dodovisate B (2), two new prenylated flavonoids, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-di(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,6-dimethoxyflavone (10) and 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-5′-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,6-dimethoxyflavone (11), together with eight known compounds, dodonic acid (3), hautriwaic acid (4), hautriwaic lactone (5), (+)-hardwickiic acid (6), 5α-hydroxy-1,2-dehydro-5,10-dihydroprintzianic acid methyl ester (7), strictic acid (8), dodonolide (9), and aliarin (12). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Compounds 1–9 and 11 were evaluated on larvicidal activity against the fourth-instar larvae of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipens quinquefasciatus.