Chromenes and benzofurans of the asteraceae, their chemistry and biological significance

Acetylenes and related compounds in heliantheae

Prenylated cinnamate and stilbenes from Kangaroo Island propolis and their antioxidant activity

Plants were, and still are, widely used for a number of conditions affecting women in California. This article discusses traditional remedies of the Chumash for dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, feminine hygiene, heavy menstruation, urinary tract infections, parturition, lactation, infant care, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, fertility, contraception and abortions. Many plants are presented including Artemisia douglasiana, Paeonia californica, Trichostema lanatum, Salvia apiana, Ephedra viridis, Leymus condensatus, Vitis californica, Eschscholzia californica, Rosa californica, Scirpus acutus, Anemopsis californica and Phoradendron macrophyllum. By providing the specific uses of plants for specific diseases and discussing chemistry, efficacy and safety concerns for each plant, we hope that this article gives direction to women seeking to use plants in their health care.

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Women's Health Among the Chumash

Based on field observations of the effects of the resinous tarweedHemizonia fitchii A. Gray (Asteraceae) on mosquito populations in California, the volatile oil of this plant was investigated for insecticidal activity. Analysis of the oil by TLC and capillary GC-MS showed the presence of five major constituentś which were identified as the monoterpenoid 1,8-cineole, and the chromenes encecalin, eupatoriochromene (desmethylencecalin), 6-vinyl-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene, and desmethoxyencecalin. Trace amounts of several volatile fatty acids, alkanes,p-coumarate derivatives, additional chromene derivatives, and numerous mono- and sesquiterpenoids were also detected and identified by GC-MS. Fractionation of the oil by preparative TLC and column chromatography afforded the major chromenes, the identities of which were confirmed by NMR and IR spectral data. The chromenes exhibited weak to moderate toxicity againstCulex pipiens (house mosquito) larvae andOncopeltus fasciatus (large milkweed bug) nymphs. However, no antijuvenile hormone activity was observed for any of the compounds tested against these insect species.

Maniruddin Ahmed

Papers

Labdane derivatives from hemizonia species