Sequences of the plastid DNA atpB/rbcL intergenic spacer and rps16 intron from 23 genera and 47 species of Rutaceae were used to resolve phylogenetic relationships in subfamily Aurantioideae. According to these, the subfamily is monophyletic, but its classical subdivision into tribes Clauseneae and Citreae is only justified if the genus Murraya s.s. (exclusive of the species segregated as Bergera, e.g., Murraya koenigii and M. siamensis) and Merrillia are transferred to Citreae s.l. This conclusion is also well supported by phytochemistry, demonstrating accumulation of carbazoles in Bergera and Clausena, and of 8-prenylated coumarins and polyoxygenated flavonoids in Murraya s.s. and Merrillia. Formation of both carbazoles, as well as 8-prenylated coumarins, and polyoxygenated flavonoids in Micromelum suggests relationships between Clauseneae s.s. and Citreae s.l. The monophyly of several larger genera in both tribes is supported by relatively high bootstrap percentages and specific chemical profiles for e.g., Clausena, Micromelum, Glycosmis and Atalantia. In contrast, molecular, chemical, and other data show that none of the subtribes recognized within Aurantioideae reflect phylogenetic relationships. Only the clades with Clausena+Bergera, Murraya s.s. +Merrillia, and Citrus+Clymenia+Eremocitrus+Fortunella+Poncirus (“true Citrus fruit trees”) are well supported by such data. Among the outgroup genera, Zanthoxylum (Rutoideae) and Toddalia (Toddalioideae) are much closer to each other than to Ruta (Rutoideae).

Phylogenetic Analyses of Aurantioideae (Rutaceae) Based on Non‐Coding Plastid DNA Sequences and Phytochemical Features

Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract from the stem bark of Erythrina fusca showed a antimalarial activity against the multi-drug-resistant strain (K1) of Plasmodium falciparum, and six flavonoids, lupinifolin (1), citflavanone (2), erythrisenegalone (3), lonchocarpol A (4), liquiritigenin (5), and 8-prenyldaidzein (6), were isolated from the extract. Diprenylated flavanone 4 showed a notable antimalarial activity (IC50; 1.6 μg/mL); however 1 and 3 did not show the activity, even though these compounds possessed prenylated substitution.

In vitro antimalarial activity of prenylated flavonoids from Erythrina fusca

Angiosperms, fungi (including lichens), and bacteria are the main sources of natural quinones. Small numbers are present in algae, ferns, conifers, sponges, echinoderms, other marine animals, and arthropods. In angiosperms quinones have some chemotaxonomic value at the genus and family level but more surveys are required.

Distribution of naturally occurring quinones.

Murraya paniculata (Linn) Jack, syn. M. exotica Linn., commonly known as orange jessamine, is grown in gardens for its large clusters of fragrant flowers. Distillation of the fresh flowers in water furnished the essential oil in 0.027% yield. Extraction of the fresh flowers with pentane afforded the concrete (0.78%). Precipitating the waxes from the concrete with methanol gave absolute (0.62%). The chemical composition of essential oil, concrete, absolute and wax were analysed by GC and GC–MS. The components of essential oil in significant amounts were δ-elemene (1.4%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.6%), germacrene D (2.7%), (E)-nerolidol (25.7%), benzyl benzoate (8.1%), phenyl ethyl benzoate (8.0%) and manool (18.7%). The major components in the concrete and absolute, respectively, were phenyl ethyl alcohol (2.9%, 3.0%), indole (0.8%, 1.0%), (E)-nerolidol (6.5%, 7.0%), benzyl benzoate (5.0%, 6.5%), phenyl ethyl benzoate (8.0%, 8.6%) and manool (25.2%, 27.9%). The methanol-insoluble wax contained (E)-nerolidol (2.6%), manool (9.4%) and most of the fatty acids/esters. The composition of the volatile components in the headspace emitted by flowers still on the branch (live flowers) and also by the picked flowers was determined by HS–SPME on a PDMS fibre and these results are also presented. The major components found in the headspace were linalool, indole, (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene and (E,E)-α-farnesene. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Composition of essential oil, concrete, absolute, wax and headspace volatiles of Murrarya paniculata (Linn.) Jack flowers

It has been estimated that plants are the most important source of medicine for more than 80% of the world’s population. Medicinal plants are a vital source of medication in developing countries. Despite the wealth of human experience and folklore concerning the medicinal uses of plants, proper scientific investigation has only been applied to a small fraction of the world’s plants. This is a cause of grave concern as plant species continue to disappear. A rapid response to this situation is urgently needed to prevent the disappearance of the plant species and the ethnopharmacological knowledge that accompanies them. In this review, recent work on the investigation of selected bioactive Thai medicinal plants is presented. Their biological activities against infectious diseases including antimalarial and anti-HIV, are highlighted, as well as their anticancer, antiulcer and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical transformations of some selected compounds are discussed.

Yao Jung Chen

Papers

Indole alkaloids and coumarins from the root bark of Murraya paniculata var. Omphalocarpa