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Abstract: The phospholipids of two moss samples Oreoweisia laxifolia (Hookf.) Kindb. (family‐Dicranaceae Schimp.) and Leptodontium viticulosoides (P. Beauv.) Wijk & Margad (family‐Pottiaceae Schimp.) of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot were investigated to find out any peculiarity in their fatty acid profiles. Detailed analysis of phospholipid classes and the respective fatty acids was performed using high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. An array of different saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were detected in both the samples. Although it has been proposed previously that acetylenic fatty acids are associated only with triacylglycerol of storage lipids, the most striking observation of the present investigation is the abundance of an acetylenic fatty acid, octadeca‐6‐yn‐9,12,15‐trienoic acid (18:4a), or Dicranin, in the phospholipids of both the mosses. The position of the triple bond in the hydrocarbon chain of the fatty acids was confirmed by dimethyloxazoline derivatization of fatty acids and their characteristic mass fragmentation pattern. The occurrence of Dicranin in phospholipids and in the Pottiaceae family is reported for the first time, with substantial explanations of the observed results. This may raise the issue of rethinking “Dicranin” as a chemotaxonomic marker of Dicranaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ContextThe underground edible tuber ofDioscorea alataL. (Dioscoreaceae) is a functional food with high nutritive value and therapeutic potential. The tuber is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties in traditional medicine. ObjectiveThe present study explores the anti-inflammatory activity and standardisation ofD. alatatuber hydromethanol extract. Materials and methodsHydromethanol extract (70%) ofD. alatatuber was chemically characterised using HPLC and GC-MS techniques. Murine lymphocytes were cultured for 48 h with six different concentrations (0–80 μg/mL) of the extract. The expression of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, COX-1, COX-2, and PGE2were evaluated using colorimetric and ELISA methods. ResultsDioscorea alataextract inhibited the expression of NO and TNF-α with an IC50value of 134.51 ± 6.75 and 113.30 ± 7.44 μg/mL, respectively. The IC50values for inhibition of total COX, COX-1, COX-2 activities and PGE2level were 41.96 ± 3.07, 141.41 ± 8.99, 32.50 ± 1.69, and 186.34 ± 15.36 μg/mL, respectively. Inhibition of PGE2level and COX-2 activity was positively correlated (R2 = 0.9393). Gallic acid (GA), 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4HBA), syringic acid (SYA),p-coumaric acid (PCA), and myricetin (MY) were identified and quantified using HPLC. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 13 different phytocompounds such as hexadecanoic acid, methyl stearate, cinnamyl cinnamate, and squalene. ConclusionTheD. alataextract significantly down-regulated the pro-inflammatory signals in a gradual manner compared with control (0 μg/mL). Different bioactive phytocompounds individually possessing anti-inflammatory activities contributed to the overall bioactivity of theD. alatatuber extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]