DOCSLIB.ORG

Carbon Isotopes in Photosynthesis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Carbon Isotopes in Photosynthesis Carbon Isotopesin Photosynthesis Fractionation techniques may reveal new aspects of carbon dynamics in plants Marion H. O'Leary he efficiencyof photosynthesis Other materials must be converted to continues to interest biochem- Currentstudies include CO2prior to analysis.Plants are ordi- ists, biologists, and plant narily converted to CO2 by combus- physiologists. Scientists interested in finely tuned, carefully tion. Individualcompounds isolated CO2 uptake are concerned about the from plants are sometimesconverted extent to which the uptake rate is controlled isotope to CO2 by chemical or enzymatic limited by such factors as stomatal fractionationsunder degradation. diffusion and the chemistry of the For naturalmaterials (plants, ani- CO2 absorption process. The frac- defined environmental mals, and minerals), R is approxi- tionation of carbon isotopes that oc- mately0.0112, andonly the lastdigit curs during photosynthesis is one of conditions in this ratio varies. For convenience, the most useful techniques for investi- R valuesare generallyconverted to gating the efficiency of CO2 uptake. valuesof 813C, Atmospheric carbon dioxide con- used to study mechanisms of chemical tains approximately 1.1% of the non- (Melander and Saunders 1980) and 1000 813C 3C [R(sample)R ] radioactive isotope carbon-13 and biochemical (Cleland 1982) process- = (standard)- 1 x 1000 98.9% of carbon-12. During photo- es. Isotopes are used in ecology to synthesis, plants discriminate against establish food chains and biological The standard is carbon dioxide ob- C because of small differences in pathways (Fritz and Fontes 1980, tained from a limestone, called PDB, chemical and physical properties im- 1986, Rounick and Winterbourn from the Pee Dee formation in South parted by the difference in mass. This 1986), and isotope studies of tree Carolina (Craig 1957). The units of discrimination can be used to assign are used to recreate cli- 813C are called mil," or A rings past "per 0/0o. plants to various photosynthetic mates (Hughes et al. 1982). Isotope more negative 8 C means more groups. The isotope fractionation studies of plants are related to all or lighter in mass; a more positive also reflects limitations on photosyn- these areas, because their basis is in 813C means more 13C, or heavier. thetic efficiency imposed by the vari- fundamental chemical processes, and Most natural materials have negative ous diffusional and chemical compo- many of their applications are in the 813C values because they contain less nents of CO2 uptake. When analyzed area of ecology (O'Leary 1981, 13C than the standard. The precision in detail, this fractionation provides Troughton 1979, Vogel 1980). Re- of modern mass spectrometers is at information .about water use efficien- cently developed methods are allow- least ?i0.02 %o0, but sample prepara- cy and indicates that different strate- ing biologists to examine in greater tion errors may bring the total repro- gies are needed for improving water- detail the carbon flow in plants. ducibility of measurements on plant use efficiency in different kinds of materials to 10.2 0/0o. Thus, interpre- plants. Measurement of carbon tations based on differences smaller fractionation in than 1 should be made with Isotope simple isotopes o/ physical and chemical processes is caution. well understood and is commonly The "3C content of carbon dioxide is In the absence of industrial activity, usually determined with a mass spec- the 813C value of atmospheric CO2 is This value for the atmo- Marion H. is a in the trometer specially designed for high- -8 0/oo. O'Leary professor measurement of the ratio is more of Chemistryand Biochem- precision R, sphere slowly becoming nega- Departments combustion of fossil istry at the University of Wisconsin in defined by tive due to the Madison 53706. ? 1988 AmericanInsti- fuel (813C for fossil fuel is approxi- R = -30 tute of BiologicalSciences. 3CO2/12CO2 mately %/oo) (Hoefs 1980). 328 BioScience Vol. 38 No. 5 This content downloaded from 129.236.31.165 on Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:33:03 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Isotopevalues of plants In the 1950s, Craig (1953, 1954) and Baertschi(1953) measured813C val- ues of a variety of natural materials, including plants (reviewed by O'Leary1981). They found that most plants had 813Cvalues in the range -25 to -35 0o/0. They failed to find large species or environmentaleffects on thesevalues. The plants in these initial studies were C3 plants, which fix principally .. !!i CO2 by the action of the enzyme .... ..... .. .. ..... .. ii . ! .iiiii~•iiii:i. ..........".. i i ?iY :ii•: . ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. ii iil! iii iii.. :.... The C4 photosynthetic pathway, in ..... xt.::::I : . .i ??'?'':ii ::: :ii: ?::::N which CO2 is initially taken up N ... .... i~•?••,•.,,=•iiiiN ii. .i.:. -? .. through carboxylation of phospho- }.ii= X:': ........ was discovered in the ......... .. enolpyruvate, i??? ? ....: .. ,~i;:;~,:l~...il..i..i..........=i 1960s. Following this discovery, .. ?. Bender see also Smith (1968, 1971; -0 -!1_ -14 -16 -18 -20 -i2 -2.4 -26 -2•8 -30 -32• -34 and Epstein1971) discoveredthat C4 AE13r plants are isotopically distinct from C3 plants. C3 plants have 813Cvalues Figure1. Histogramshowing the distributionof 813Cvalues of plantmaterials. This of approximately -28 0/0o, whereas figureis basedon about1000 analysesperformed in fivedifferent laboratories. C4 plants are approximately -14 0/o In subsequentyears, a number of laboratoriesaround the world made fractionationhas a positive sign when boxylation step itself. Severalmathe- similar measurementson thousands 13Cis transformedmore slowly than matical models have been suggested of plants species and established a 12C (as is the case in most physical (Deleens et al. 1983, Farquharet al. clear distinction between C3 and C4 and chemicalprocesses).1 1982, O'Leary 1981, Peisker 1982, plants (Figure 1), with little overlap Many physical, chemical, and bio- 1984, 1985), all of which are based betweenthe two distributions.There- chemical processes have significant on the componentfractionations giv- fore, 13Canalysis has become a stan- isotope fractionations(Cleland 1982, en in Table 1. The overall fraction- dardtest for determiningthe pathway Melanderand Saunders1980). Frac- ation in such a complex system is a of CO2 fixation. What is the bio- tionations can occur both in time- combination of these components, chemicalsource of this difference? dependent processes (chemical reac- but it is not simply the sum of a series tions and transport) and in of individualfractionations-instead, Fractionationsin chemical and equilibriumprocesses (chemical equi- the fractionation mostly reflects the libria, dissolution, and phase rate-limitingstep or steps (i.e., those physicalprocesses changes), and both are importantin with the highest resistivity).As a step Plantscontain less '3Cthan the atmo- plants. Table 1 shows isotope frac- becomes more limiting, the observed sphere because the physical and tionations for processes of impor- fractionation approaches the frac- chemical processes involved in CO2 tance in photosynthesis. tionation for that step. uptakediscriminate against 13C. This The importantsteps in CO2 uptake discriminationoccurs because '3C is Theory of isotope in C3plants are shown in Figure2. In heavier than 12C and forms slightly fractionationin the first step, external CO2 is trans- strongerchemical bonds. In addition, plants ported through the boundary layer diffusionof '3CO2 is slower than that The principalfactor affectingthe iso- and the stomata into the internalgas of 12CO2because of this difference in topic compositions of leaves is the space. This process is always to some mass. For the conversion of com- isotope fractionation accompanying extent reversible.Internal CO2 then pound A into compound B, the iso CO2uptake. Followinginitial sugges- dissolvesin the cell sap and diffusesto tope fractionation is defined by tions of Craig (1953), Smith and Ep- the chloroplast,where carboxylation stein (1971), and others occurs. Because the - (O'Leary carboxylation [813C(A) 8'3C(B)] 1981), models for plant isotope frac- step is irreversible,steps subsequent 1 + 813C(A)/1000 tionation have focused on the physi- to carboxylationare not importantin cal and chemicalprocesses accompa- determiningthe isotope fractionation. This fractionation has units of o. nying CO2 uptake, including Both dissolving and diffusion show To avoid confusion with ordinary diffusion, dissolution, and the car- small isotope fractionations(Table 1), 813C values (which represent isotopic but the largest fractionation is that compositions, rather than fraction- 'However,note that some workersin the field connectedwith carboxylation (29 o/o). ations), we call this value A8. The use the opposite sign convention. It is generallyassumed that dissolu- May 1988 329 This content downloaded from 129.236.31.165 on Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:33:03 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Table 1. Carbon isotope fractions associated with photosynthesis. photorespiration), then we could breeda that would take up CO2 Reference plant Process A, 0/00oo* more rapidly without sacrificingwa- ter-useefficiency. The alternativepos- Equilibria diffusive resist- Solubilityof CO2 in water 1.1 O'Leary1984 sibility, decreasing Hydrationof CO2 -9.0 Mook et al. 1974 ance, has only a very limitedpotential for increasing CO2 uptake, and this Transportprocessest increasewould come at a substantial CO2diffusion in air 4.4 O'Leary1981
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Agronomy of Medicinal Plants: Amburana Cearensis, an Interdisciplinary Study
    17 Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Agronomy of Medicinal Plants: Amburana cearensis, an Interdisciplinary Study Kirley M. Canuto, Edilberto R. Silveira, Antonio Marcos E. Bezerra, Luzia Kalyne A. M. Leal and Glauce Socorro B. Viana Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil 1. Introduction Plants are an important source of biologically active substances, therefore they have been used for medicinal purposes, since ancient times. Plant materials are used as home remedies, in over-the-counter drug products, dietary supplements and as raw material for obtention of phytochemicals. The use of medicinal plants is usually based on traditional knowledge, from which their therapeutic properties are oftenly ratified in pharmacological studies. Nowadays, a considerable amount of prescribed drug is still originated from botanical sources and they are associated with several pharmacological activities, such as morphine (I) (analgesic), scopolamine (II) atropine (III) (anticholinergics), galantamine (IV) (Alzheimer's disease), quinine (V) (antimalarial), paclitaxel (VI), vincristine (VII) and vinblastine (VIII) (anticancer drugs), as well as with digitalis glycosides (IX) (heart failure) (Fig. 1). The versatility of biological actions can be attributed to the huge amount and wide variety of secondary metabolites in plant organisms, belonging to several chemical classes as alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, xanthones, etc. The large consumption of herbal drugs, in spite of the efficiency of
    [Show full text]
  • The Descent of the Flowering Plants in the Light of New Evidence from Phytochemistry and from Other Sources
    The descent of the flowering plants in the light of new evidence from phytochemistry and from other sources. I. General discussion A.D.J. Meeuse Hugo de Vries-laboratorium en Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam SUMMARY Accumulated phytochemical data partially compiled by Kubitzki in 1969, and evidence from various other sources point to a fundamental heterogeneity of the Flowering Plants, which is interpretedby the present author as an unmistakable indication of a multiple descent of the Angiosperms. The consequences of this viewpoint for taxonomic classifications and for phy- In logenetic speculations must be faced. view of the possible misunderstandingof some poin- ters, and in order to avoid erroneous interpretations of the accumulated evidence, a survey of the relevant data be indicated. Some tentative future appears to proposals concerning a classification of the will be made in the second of this Angiosperms part paper. 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Recently, Kubitzki (1969) pointed out that cogent phytochemical evidence renders a close relationship between the Polycarpicae or Ranales(s.l.) and sever- The of his discus- al other groups of the Dicotyledons most unlikely. corollary sion is that the Dicots (and, by inference, the Angiosperms) are rather hetero- geneous and did not all arise from a ranalean ancestral group, and that, in point kind of of fact, the ranalean alliance is more likely to represent a phylogenetic cul-de-sac. Most hesitatingly, Kubitzki admits the possibility of a multiple to statement descent of the Flowering Plants, referring a made over fifteenyears ago by Metcalfe (who suggested that the assumption of a polyphyletic origin of the Angiosperms may well provide the best explanation of the great diversity of their anatomicalfeatures) but, strangely enough, not mentioning more recent contributions dealing with the question of a single versus a multiple descent.
    [Show full text]
  • Anatomical and Phytochemical Studies of the Leaves and Roots of Urginea Grandiflora Bak
    Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 826-35. 2010. Anatomical and Phytochemical Studies of the Leaves and Roots of Urginea grandiflora Bak. and Pancratium tortuosum Herbert H. A. S. Sultan, B. I. Abu Elreish and S. M. Yagi* Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 321, Khartoum, Sudan *Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected] Issued: July 1, 2010 Abstract Urginea grandiflora Bak. and Pancratium tortuosum Herbert are bulbous, medicinal plants endemic to the Sudan. The aim of this study was to provide information on the anatomical properties of the leaves and roots of these two bulbous plants. Anatomical studies include cross sections of the leaves and roots. In addition, phytochemical screening methods were applied for identifying the major chemical groups in these species. This study provides referential botanical and phytochemical information for correct identification of these plants. Key words: bulbous plants; Urginea grandiflora; Pancratium tortuosum anatomy; phytochemistry. Introduction To ensure reproducible quality of herbal products, proper control of starting material is utmost essential. Thus in recent years there have been an emphasis in standardization of medicinal plants of therapeutic potential. According to World Health Organization (WHO) the macroscopic and microscopic description of a medicinal plant is the first step towards establishing its identity and purity and should be carried out before any tests are undertaken (Anonymous. 1996). Correct botanical identity based on the external morphology is possible when a complete plant specimen is available. Anatomical characters can also help the identification when morphological features are indistinct (David et al., 2008). Urginea grandiflora Bak. (Hyacinthaceae) and Pancratium tortuosum Herbert (Amaryllidaceae) are perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants, distributed in the Red Sea Hills in Eastern Sudan (Andrews, 1956).
    [Show full text]
  • Proposal for Revival of the Phytochemistry Section at BSA
    Proposal for revival of the Phytochemistry section at BSA Phytochemistry is a broad field encompassing the molecular biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, evolution, and applications of plant-associated compounds and their biosynthetic pathways. This area has become an integral part of organismal studies in plant science, as plant chemical diversity plays a central role in ecology and evolution. Moreover, advances in metabolomics and genomics have allowed plant biochemistry to expand into many non-model species. Many of these advances have come in the last decade, during which time the Phytochemistry section of BSA has been inactive. We propose to reinstate the Phytochemistry section to recognize and support the growth in biochemical research across the diversity of plant lineages. The various existing sections of BSA house many areas of expertise that can synergistically function with a new, rejuvenated phytochemistry section. We are especially excited about the cross-pollination of ideas that would be made possible when a greater number of phytochemists attend the BSA meetings, interact with students and faculty from existing sections, and help generate innovative research projects and grant proposal ideas. We thus strongly believe that a revived Phytochemistry section would be timely and very useful for the botanical community moving forward. We imagine the new Phytochemistry section as a home for a broad array of researchers interested in plant physiology, biochemistry, biochemical genomics, metabolic evolution, biotic interactions, chemical ecology and medical ethnobotany. Having this section at BSA would not only provide a home to many existing society members and entice more phytochemists to join BSA, but also provide networking and recognition opportunities for students working in this field.
    [Show full text]
  • An Update Review on Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis Phytochemistry and Wounds
    Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine 2018; 4(3): 135-146 Review Article An update review on Hibiscus rosa sinensis phytochemistry ISSN: 2454-5023 and medicinal uses J. Ayu. Herb. Med. 2018; 4(3): 135-146 Asmaa Missoum © 2018, All rights reserved Department of Biological and Environmemntal Sciences, College of Arts and sciences, Qatar University (QU), Doha, www.ayurvedjournal.com Qatar Received: 14-08-2018 Accepted: 10-10-2018 ABSTRACT Hibiscus rosa sinensis is known as China rose belonging to the Malvaceae family. This plant has various important medicinal uses for treating wounds, inflamation, fever and coughs, diabetes, infections caused by bacteria and fungi, hair loss, and gastric ulcers in several tropical countries. Phytochemical analysis documented that the main bioactive compounds responsible for its medicinal effects are namely flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Experiment from recent studies showed that various types of extracts from all H. rosa sinensis parts exhibited a wide range of beneficial effects such as hypotensive, anti-pyritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, wound healing, and abortifacient activities. The few studies on toxicity exhibited that most extracts from all parts of this plant did not show any signs of toxicity at higher doses according to histological analysis. However, some of the extracts did alter biochemical and hematological parameters. Therefore, further research must be conducted to isolate the phytochemicals and explore their specific mechanism of action. This review summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmocology, and medicinal uses of this flower with the purpose of finding gaps demanding for future research and investigating its therapeutic potential through clinical trials.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Hormone Conjugation
    Plant Molecular Biology 26: 1459-1481, 1994. © 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in Belgium. 1459 Plant hormone conjugation Gtlnther Sembdner*, Rainer Atzorn and Gernot Schneider Institut far Pflanzenbiochemie, Weinberg 3, D-06018 Halle, Germany (* author for correspondence) Received and accepted 11 October 1994 Key words: plant hormone, conjugation, auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, jasmonate, brassinolide Introduction (including structural elucidation, synthesis etc.) and, more recently, their biochemistry (including Plant hormones are an unusual group of second- enzymes for conjugate formation or hydrolysis), ary plant constituents playing a regulatory role in and their genetical background. However, the plant growth and development. The regulating most important biological question concerning the properties appear in course of the biosynthetic physiological relevance of plant hormone conju- pathways and are followed by deactivation via gation can so far be answered in only a few cases catabolic processes. All these metabolic steps are (see Conjugation of auxins). There is evidence in principle irreversible, except for some processes that conjugates might act as reversible deactivated such as the formation of ester, glucoside and storage forms, important in hormone 'homeosta- amide conjugates, where the free parent com- sis' (i.e. regulation of physiologically active hor- pound can be liberated by enzymatic hydrolysis. mone levels). In other cases, conjugation might For each class of the plant hormones so-called accompany or introduce irreversible deactivation. 'bound' hormones have been found. In the early The difficulty in investigating these topics is, in literature this term was applied to hormones part, a consequence of inadequate analytical bound to other low-molecular-weight substances methodology.
    [Show full text]
  • Wood Contains a Cell-Wall Structural Protein (Immunocytolocalization/Loblolly Pine/Extensin/Xylem/Xylogenesis) WULI BAO*, DAVID M
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 89, pp. 6604-6608, July 1992 Plant Biology Wood contains a cell-wall structural protein (immunocytolocalization/loblolly pine/extensin/xylem/xylogenesis) WULI BAO*, DAVID M. O'MALLEY, AND RONALD R. SEDEROFF Department of Forestry, Box 8008, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 Communicated by Joseph E. Varner, April 20, 1992 (received for review February 17, 1992) ABSTRACT A pine extensin-like protein (PELP) has been the proteins themselves (7-10) demonstrate tissue-specific localized in metabolically active cells of differentiating xylem expression in several different species of plants. Some struc- and in mature wood of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). This tural proteins are associated with vascular systems (7, 9, 10). proline-rich glycosylated protein was purified from cell walls of For example, proline-rich proteins are found by immunocy- differentiating xylem by differential solubility and gel electro- tochemical localization to be associated with xylem vessel phoresis. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies were raised against the elements in soybean (7). Glycine-rich proteins in bean are deglycosylated purified protein (dPELP) and purified antibody located specifically in the tracheary elements of the protox- was used for immunolocalization. Immunogold and alkaline ylem (9). However, there have been no reports of cell-wall phosphatase secondary antibody staining both show antigen in structural proteins in wood cell walls (1). secondary cell walls ofearlywood and less staining in latewood. Hydroxyproline, the major amino acid of extensin, has Immunoassays of milled dry wood were developed and used to been measured in cell walls of cultured cells from Gingko show increased availability of antigen after hydrogen fluoride biloba, Cupressus sp., and Ephedra sp., suggesting the or cellulase treatment and decreased antigen after chlorite presence of extensin-like proteins in gymnosperms (11).
    [Show full text]
  • Lannea Discolor: Its Botany, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties
    Online - 2455-3891 Vol 11, Issue 10, 2018 Print - 0974-2441 Review Article LANNEA DISCOLOR: ITS BOTANY, ETHNOMEDICINAL USES, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES ALFRED MAROYI* Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa. Email: [email protected] Received: 25 May 2018, Revised and Accepted: 25 June 2018 ABSTRACT Lannea discolor is an important component of the traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine health-care systems in several countries. This study is aimed at reviewing the botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical and biological activities of L. discolor. Information on its botany, medicinal uses, chemistry and pharmacological properties was undertaken using electronic databases such as Pubmed, SCOPUS, Medline, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, EThOS, ProQuest, OATD and Open-thesis. Pre-electronic literature was sourced from the University Library. The species is used as herbal medicine for 24 human diseases. The major diseases and ailments treated using concoctions prepared from L. discolor include gastrointestinal problems, gonorrhea, infertility in women, convulsions, dizziness, injury, and wounds. Different aqueous and organic extracts of L. discolor exhibited anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, and nematicidal activities. Detailed studies on the phytochemistry, pharmacological, and toxicological properties of L. discolor are required
    [Show full text]
  • Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
    antioxidants Review Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review Meenakshi Sharma 1, Inderpreet Dhaliwal 2, Kusum Rana 3 , Anil Kumar Delta 1 and Prashant Kaushik 4,5,* 1 Department of Chemistry, Ranchi University, Ranchi 834001, India; [email protected] (M.S.); [email protected] (A.K.D.) 2 Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India; [email protected] 3 Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Sector 25, Chandigarh 160014, India; [email protected] 4 Kikugawa Research Station, Yokohama Ueki, 2265 Kamo, Kikugawa City 439-0031, Japan 5 Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] Abstract: Datura, a genus of medicinal herb from the Solanaceae family, is credited with toxic as well as medicinal properties. The different plant parts of Datura sp., mainly D. stramonium L., commonly known as Datura or Jimson Weed, exhibit potent analgesic, antiviral, anti-diarrheal, and anti-inflammatory activities, owing to the wide range of bioactive constituents. With these pharmacological activities, D. stramonium is potentially used to treat numerous human diseases, including ulcers, inflammation, wounds, rheumatism, gout, bruises and swellings, sciatica, fever, toothache, asthma, and bronchitis. The primary phytochemicals investigation on plant extract of Citation: Sharma, M.; Dhaliwal, I.; Datura showed alkaloids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, amino acids, and Rana, K.; Delta, A.K.; Kaushik, P. phenolic compounds. It also contains toxic tropane alkaloids, including atropine, scopolamine, and Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and hyoscamine. Although some studies on D. stramonium have reported potential pharmacological Toxicology of Datura Species—A effects, information about the toxicity remains almost uncertain.
    [Show full text]
  • Cotyledon Orbiculata
    Alfred Maroyi /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 11(10), 2019, 3491-3496 A review of botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of Cotyledon orbiculata Alfred Maroyi Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa. Abstract Cotyledon orbiculata is a succulent shrub widely used as herbal medicine throughout its distributional range in southern Africa. This study is aimed at providing a critical review of the botany, biological activities, phytochemistry and medicinal uses of C. orbiculata. Documented information on the botany, biological activities, medicinal uses and phytochemistry of C. orbiculata was collected from several online sources which included BMC, Scopus, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Pubmed and Web of Science. Additional information on the botany, biological activities, phytochemistry and medicinal uses of C. orbiculata was obtained from pre-electronic sources such as book chapters, books, journal articles and scientific publications sourced from the University library. This study showed that the leaves, leaf sap and roots of C. orbiculata are mainly used as herbal medicines for earache, epilepsy, infertility, respiratory problems, sexually transmitted infections, skin problems, sores and wounds, toothache, ulcers and worms. Phytochemical compounds identified from C. orbiculata include cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, gallotannin, phenols, reducing sugar, saponins, tannins and triterpene steroids. Pharmacological research revealed that C.
    [Show full text]
  • PHYTOCHEMISTRY the International Journal of Plant Chemistry, Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    PHYTOCHEMISTRY The International Journal of Plant Chemistry, Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. AUTHOR INFORMATION PACK TABLE OF CONTENTS XXX . • Description p.1 • Audience p.2 • Impact Factor p.2 • Abstracting and Indexing p.3 • Editorial Board p.3 • Guide for Authors p.5 ISSN: 0031-9422 DESCRIPTION . Phytochemistry is a leading international journal publishing studies of plant chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, structure and bioactivities of phytochemicals, including '-omics' and bioinformatics/computational biology approaches. Phytochemistry is a primary source for papers dealing with phytochemicals, especially reports concerning their biosynthesis, regulation, and biological properties both in planta and as bioactive principles. Articles are published online as soon as possible as Articles-in-Press and in 12 volumes per year. Occasional topic-focussed special issues are published composed of papers from invited authors. Article types Full papers are original research papers reporting new discoveries that lead to a deeper understanding of any aspect of plants covered by the journal. Full papers are invited in the following sections, but these are not exclusive. Molecular Genetics and Genomics contains papers which demonstrate novelty and/or biological significance in relation to all aspects of gene structure and expression, and their role in plant function, regulation, comparative genomics, and reconstitution of biochemical pathways. This section may also contain studies of genetically modified plants that have been analysed for changes in their profiles of phytochemical production. Protein Biochemistry and Proteomics contains reports on plant proteins, including their purification directly from the organism or as a result of heterologous expression. This section includes studies of the macromolecular structure of proteins, protein function, enzyme mechanism, and proteomics, including in relation to changed genetics, environment or metabolism.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Tree Phytochemistry on the Interactions Among Endophloedic Fungi Associated with the Southern Pine Beetle
    Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol. 31, No. 3, March 2005 (C 2005) DOI: 10.1007/s10886-005-2035-4 EFFECTS OF TREE PHYTOCHEMISTRY ON THE INTERACTIONS AMONG ENDOPHLOEDIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE R. W. HOFSTETTER,1,∗ J. B. MAHFOUZ,2 K. D. KLEPZIG,2 and M. P. AYRES 1Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College Hanover NH 03755, USA 2Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service Pineville LA 71360, USA (Received July 8, 2004; accepted November 8, 2004) Abstract—We examined the interaction between host trees and fungi asso- ciated with a tree-killing bark beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis. We evaluated (1) the response of four Pinus species to fungal invasion and (2) the effects of plant secondary metabolites on primary growth of and secondary coloniza- tion of three consistent fungal associates. Two of these fungi, Entomocorticium sp. A and Ophiostoma ranaculosum, are obligate mutualists with D. frontalis, and the third associate is a blue-staining fungus, O. minus, that is commonly introduced by beetles and phoretic mites. O. minus negatively affects beetle larvae and in high abundance can impact D. frontalis population dynamics. Size of lesions formed and quantity of secondary metabolites produced in re- sponse to fungal inoculations varied significantly among Pinus species. How- ever, monoterpene composition within infected tissue did not significantly vary across treatments. While all eight tested metabolites negatively affected the growth rate of O. minus, only 4-allylanisole, p-cymene, and terpinene reduced the growth of the mycangial fungi. Surprisingly, growth rates of mycangial fungi increased in the presence of several secondary metabolite volatiles.
    [Show full text]