Oldriska Ceska

Photoactive furocoumarins in fruits of some umbellifers

Abstract Fruits of Anethum graveolens, Angelica archangelica, Anthriscus cerefolium, Apium graveolens, Carum carvi, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Daucus carota, Foeniculum vulgare, Heracleum sphondylium, Levisticum officinale, Pastinaca sativa, Petroselinum crispum and Pimpinella anisum were analysed for photoactive furocoumarins using HPLC analysis and photobiological bioassay. These sensitive methods revealed furocoumarins not previously detected.

Flavonoids from Zea mays pollen

Abstract The flavonol glycosides of quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol were isolated from Zea mays pollen. The most prominent flavonols were diglycosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin. Flavonol 3-O-glucosides of quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol, and triglucosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin, were minor components. The flavonoid pattern of maize pollen is characterized by the accumulation of quercetin and isorhamnetin diglycosides and by the absence of flavones, which are common in other maize tissues.

Flavonoid pigments in genetic strains of maize

Abstract Cyanidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, luteolinidin and five unidentified purple pigments have been isolated from hydrolyzed extracts of maize plants. Luteolinidin may be present in extracts from plants recessive for genes controlling visible anthocyanin production, but plants of a1 a1 genotype yield no anthocyanidins at all. The luteolinidin is probably originally present as the leuco substance luteoforol. Luteoforol appears to be the precursor of the bronze pigment found in bz1 bz1 plants.

Furocoumarins in the cultivated carrot, Daucus carota

Abstract A combination of ultrasensitive bioassay and HPLC analysis was employed to analyse the garden carrot for furocoumarins. The earlier reported negative findings were due to the relatively insensitive methods of detection. Low levels of two furocoumarins, 8-MOP and 5-MOP were detected in all parts of fresh carrot plants for the first time. Occasionally one or two other unknown photoactive compounds were also present. Diseased carrot displayed increased levels of 8-MOP and 5-MOP; psoralen was also detected. In this respect carrot is capable of a phytoalexin response similar to celery.

Genetic control of 3-hydroxy- and 3-deoxy- flavonoids in Zea mays

Abstract Genetic strains of maize have been derived that have strong concentrations of 3-deoxyanthocyanins, flavan-4-ols and C -glycosyl-flavones in silks and cob. The gene Pr controls the B-ring hydroxylation pattern of both 3-deoxy- and 3-hydroxy-flavonoids in these plants. Cob phlobaphenes are red in Pr plants and orange in pr plants, corresponding to the presence of the probable precursors luteoforol and aniforol.

Naturally-occurring crystals of photocarcinogenic furocoumarins on the surface of parsnip roots sold as food

Normal levels of total furocoumarins in fresh parsnip roots are as high as 96 ppm (wet weight). In older ‘spoiled’ and diseased parsnips freely available in grocery stores these values may be increased by 2500%. So high are the amounts in some instances, that mixed crystals of furocoumarins can be detected on the surfaces of the parsnip roots by both conventional low powered microscopy and SEM. The principal crystal form was angelicin but the presence of psoralen, 5-MOP and 8-MOP was confirmed by HPLC, TLC, photobiological assay and analysis of mass spectra.

Coriandrin, a novel highly photoactive compound isolated from Coriandrum sativum

Abstract Extracts of Coriandrum sativum L. were analysed for photoactive constituents using HPLC analysis and photobiological assay. Two new photoactive furoisocoumarins, named coriandrin and dihydrocoriandrin, were isolated, and their structures determined by 1 H and 13 C NMR and X-ray crystallography.

Myriophyllum quitense and myriophyllum ussuriense (Haloragaceae) in British Columbia, Canada

Myriophyllum quitense andM. ussuriense are added to the flora of British Columbia, Canada.Myriophyllum quitense has not been previously reported in Canada, and this is the first report ofM. ussuriense for the North American continent. Problems with the identification of these species, and their distributions and habitats are discussed. The somatic chromosome numbers of 2n=42 forM. quitense and 2n=21 forM. ussuriense were found. A key for the identification ofMyriophyllum taxa growing in British Columbia is given.

Detection of furocoumarins in plants and plant products with an ultrasensitive biological photoassay employing a DNA-repair-deficient bacterium

The application of an ultrasensitive photobiological assay which detects photosensitizing furocoumarins with sensitivities as high as 1 × 10−11 g is discussed in relation to these molecules as phytoalexins. Examples of the utilization of this technique, verified by both HPLC and TLC, are the analyses of healthy and diseased celery and carrots, dry seeds, plant extracts and oils, and whole plants and leaves. The usefulness of this method in following the metabolic detoxification of furocoumarins is also illustrated. The extreme sensitivity of the test has permitted the detection, for the first time, of both 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen in fresh carrot roots.

Isopimpinellin is photobiologically inactive

Pure isopimpinellin is photobiologically inactive. Samples of isopimpinellin obtained by extraction of plants often contain small amounts of the active furocoumarin, 5‐methoxypsoralen, as an impurity. Thus the conflicting accounts of the photobiological activity of isopimpinellin are probably related to this impurity.