Search

The genus Uvaria (Annonaceae) comprises of climbing or trailing shrubs and rarely trees. Its plant species are widely distributed across tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. The genus Uvaria is kno...

Dulcisenes C-E, undescribed polyoxygenated cyclohexenes and twenty-one known compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Uvaria dulcis Dunal. The structures of these undescribed compounds were determined by spectroscopic data analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and MS techniques; their absolute configurations were analyzed by NOESY and ECD spectra. Cytotoxicity of sixteen more abundant isolates was evaluated. Cherrevenone and 2',3'-dihydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone exhibited cytotoxic activity against some cancer cell lines with IC

Phytochemical study of Uvaria comperei afforded an alkaloid, 8,9-dimethoxy-5H-phenanthridin-6-one (1), isolated and characterised (assignment of 1H and 13C NMR) for the first time from a natural source along with two flavonoids, (2S)-5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone (2) and (2S)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavone (3). Clethric acid (4), oleanoic acid (5), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), β-sitosterol palmitate (6) and a mixture of stigmasterol (7) and β-sitosterol (8) were isolated from Oxyanthus unilocularis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using modern spectroscopic techniques including1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) and Mass Spectrometry. Some fractions and compounds from Uvaria comperei exhibited good antifungal activity against clinical isolates and standard strains of yeast species of Candida and Cryptococcus genera while extracts from Oxyanthus unilocularis displayed weak antifungal activity. The results obtained show that Uvaria comperei could be a potential source of antifungal drugs.

Two novel benzoquinones, uvarmicranones A (1) and B (2), along with 15 known compounds (3 - 17) were isolated from the stems of Uvaria micrantha (Annonaceae). Their structures were elucidated by analyses of NMR and high-resolution mass data. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of uvarmicranone A (1) via Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction was also proposed. Some isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities. Compounds 1, 14, and 15 showed moderate cytotoxic effects against T-cell acute lymphoblastic cells (MOLT-3), with IC50 values of 7.83 ± 0.83, 6.53 ± 1.01, and 4.20 ± 0.29 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 15 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) with an IC50 value of 7.00 ± 3.15 μM.

This paper presents a revision of Uvaria L. (Annonaceae) in continental Asia and outlying islands, north of the Thailand–Malaysia border, on the basis of a combination of new morphological analyses and recent phylogenetic data. Two new taxonomic groupings are defined within the genus in Asia on the basis of detailed morphological character analysis in ~1800 specimens. Stamen and carpel structure are shown to be significantly more informative than calyx and corolla characters for subgeneric differentiation, and reliably discriminate basal and derived radiations when mapped onto recent molecular phylogenies for the genus in Asia. Thirty-three species and species varieties are recognised within Uvaria in continental Asia, incorporating taxa formerly assigned to Anomianthus Zoll., Cyathostemma Griff., Ellipeia Hook.f. & Thomson, Ellipeiopsis R.E.Fr. and Dasoclema J.Sinclair. Four new combinations are proposed, and outstanding taxonomic, nomenclatural and typification issues are resolved for included taxa. Keys for both flowering and fruiting material are included, and distribution data are provided for all taxa.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Monodora minor Engl. & Diels (Annonaceae) stem bark yielded a new indole (E)-4-(1H-indol-5-yl)-but-3-en-2-one (1), a known indole 5-formyl-1H-indole (2) and an ubiquitous steroid sitosterol (3). The investigations of the methanolic extract of Uvaria tanzaniae Verdc. (Annonaceae) root bark yielded two previously reported C-benzylated dihydrochalcones namely uvaretin (4) and diuvaretin (5). Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopy and high resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS) data. All compounds were tested against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Plasmodium falciparum. At a single concentration (20 ��M) in the antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial assays, compound 4 exhibited remarkable activities against T. brucei brucei and P. falciparum with percentage inhibition of 97.3% and 83.0% respectively, whereas compounds 1, 2, 3 and 5 were inactive. In a dose response antiplasmodial assay compound 4 exhibited moderate activity against P. falciparum with an IC50 value of 7.20 ��M.

Floral anatomy of the monotypic Gabonese genus Pseudartabotrys Pellegrin was studied, in order to get a better understanding of the origin of pseudosyncarpy and its morphological context. Receptacle vasculature is moderately advanced with a partial perianth cortical vascular system, however much less developed than that of Annona L. Anther histology is complex, with a thick hypodermal sclerenchyma on the abaxial side, reminiscent of that previously recognized in Uvaria scabrida Oliver, whose fruit resembles a pseudosyncarp. Gynoecial anthotaxy, 1 (2)-ovulate carpels and an outer compitum foreshadow the pseudosyncarpous fruit. Androecial and gynoecial vasculatures are free and both trimerous and pentamerous, following the likely basal condition in Magnoliales. A new kind of food body for the Annonaceae, found at the adaxial concave base of the inner petals, epidermal in origin with a lipidic spongy frame and showing no direct connection with venation, is briefly described. We emphasized the significance of classical approaches in the study of endemic and possibly endangered taxa, which are often revealed to be critical in the understanding of biological evolution, both by the primary data obtained and by the field and experimental researches they further suggest, in comparison with more widely distributed taxa.

Uvaria narum has been used for gastrointestinal problems, jaundice, fever and skin diseases in traditional and ethnomedical practices. Our preliminary antifungal screening of various leaf extracts of U. narum revealed very good antifungal activity for its acetone extract. Active principle of U. narum leaf acetone extract was isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation and characterised as a new molecule, 2-E-(2″-oxo-5″-acetoxy cyclopent-3″-en-1″-ylidene) ethyl benzoate, by NMR, IR and mass spectroscopic analyses. This active isolate showed very good activity against the fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Four dimeric chalcone derivatives, 8″,9″-dihydrowelwitschin H, uvarins A-C, a naphthalene derivative, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-(4'- hydroxyphenyl)naphthalene, and the known dimeric chalcones, dependensin and welwitschin E, flavonoids, a cyclohexane oxide derivative, an aromatic aldehyde were isolated from the roots of Uvaria siamensis (Annonaceae). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds with a sufficient amount for biological assays were evaluated for their antimalarial, antimycobacterial, and cytotoxic activities. The dimeric chalcones 8″,9″-dihydrowelwitschin H, uvarins B and C, dependensin and welwitschin E showed strong antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values of 3.10, 3.02, 3.09, 4.21 and 3.99 μg/mL, respectively. A possible biosynthesis pathway of the dimeric chalcones is discussed.

Four species are transferred from Polyalthia to Huberantha. Four names are reduced to synonymy for the first time: Alphonsea sessiliflora to Meiogyne cylindrocarpa, Anaxagorea meyeriana to Marsypopetalum pallidum, Cyathostemma acuminatum to Uvaria wrayi and Polyalthia schefferi to Marsypopetalum littorale. Six names are lectotypified. A paper on Asian Annonaceae by Scheffer that appeared in volume 2 of the Annales du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg is shown to have been published in 1881 rather than 1885 as generally cited.

The phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Uvaria flexuosa (Annonaceae) leaves led to the isolation of seven compounds including, 3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-oxepine (flexuvaroxepine A), four polyoxygenated seco-cyclohexene (flexuvarin A-D) and two polyoxygenated cyclohexene (flexuvarol A-B) derivatives, together with four known flavones. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using different spectroscopic techniques. A plausible biogenetic route of the new compounds was discussed. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated by superoxide anion generation and elastase release assays. Among the tested compounds, flexuvarol B and chrysin showed the most potent anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting superoxide anion generation and elastase release from human neutrophils in response to fMLP with IC50 2.25-5.55μM. Moreover, 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxy-flavone showed selective inhibitory activity on superoxide anion generation (IC50=1.19±0.34μM).

The morphology of the pollen grains of 18 species representing nine genera of Annonaceae from China is described and illustrated based on observations from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pollen grains are small, medium-sized, large or very large, elliptic, spherical or subspherical in monads (Artabotrys, Fissistigma, Miliusa, Trivalvaria, Uvaria and most Polyalthia), tetrads (Annona, Goniothalamus, Mitrephora and Polyalthia rumphii) or octads (Disepalum). Tetragonal, tetrahedral or rhomboidal tetrads were observed in Polyalthia rumphii. Ornamentation is psilate, foveolate, perforate, rugulate, reticulate or verrucate. Most species have no visible aperture, while Miliusa balansae, Polyalthia cerasoides, Polyalthia laui, Polyalthia oblique and Trivalvaria costata have one sulcus or 1–3 pores on proximal side or globally distributed. Disepalum lagioneurum (former Polyalthia lagioneurum) bearing octads confirms its isolation from Polyalthia, which so far has been observed monad. While the iso...

A list of the Annonaceae taxa native to the Indo-Burmese Region is presented. Species are listed with synonyms and types, and the regional distribution is given by country (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma). In total, 195 species from 28 genera are listed. Two new combinations, Monoon nitidum (A. DC.) I. M. Turner and Polyalthia malabarica (Bedd.) I. M. Turner, are included. Polyalthia corticosa (Pierre) Finet & Gagnep. is considered the correct name for P. obliqua in India and Bangladesh. Artabotrys cubittii Chatterjee is reduced to a synonym of A. burmanicus A. DC. Two new records for Burma, Polyalthia bullata King and Uvaria hahnii (Finet & Gagnep.) J. Sinclair, are presented.

The application of the name Hexalobus jussiaeanus Baill. has remained unclear since its original publication in 1868. The type, and sole basis of the species, is a specimen in the Jussieu Herbarium in Paris that lacks any information on its origins. The Jussieu specimen is found to be a collection of Uvaria narum (Dunal) Blume (Annonaceae), a species from southern India and Sri Lanka. Hexalobus jussiaeanus should therefore be considered a junior synonym of Uvaria narum.

Reverse transcriptase (RT)-associated DNA polymerase (RDDP) and ribonucleaser H (RNase H) functions are both essential for HIV-1 genome replication, and the identification of new inhibitors to block both of them is a goal actively pursued by the scientific community. In this field, natural extracts have shown a great potential as source of new antivirals. In the present work, we investigated the effect of Uvaria angolensis extracts on the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-associated DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H activities. The U. angolensis stem bark methanol extract inhibit both HIV-1 RNase H function and RDDP activity with IC50 values of 1.0 ± 0.2 and 0.62 ± 0.15 μg/mL, respectively and, after been fractionated with different solvents, its solid residue showed an IC50 of 0.10 ± 0.03 and of 0.23 ± 0.04 μg/mL against RNase H and RDDP, respectively, hence laying the bases for further studies for identification of single active components.

The free-radical scavenging activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of leaves, stems and roots of Annona muricata, Monodora tenuifolia, Uvaria comperei, Uvaria muricata and Xylopia africana was evaluated using DPPH and ORAC assays. Further, phytochemical analysis, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were also determined. Moreover, the antifungal activity of extracts was studied. The findings indicated that A. muricata and U. comperei extracts own antiradical activities and moderate antifungal properties.

The genus Uvariastrum (Annonaceae) is restricted to continental Africa and is characterized by sepals with folded margins, few carpels and numerous stamens. The genus is mainly found in the tropical lowland rain forests of Africa, with one species growing in a drier woodland habitat. The species name U. pynaertii De Wild is reduced into synonymy with U. zenkeri Engl. & Diels. Uvaraistrum neglectum Paiva and U. modestum Diels are transferred to the genus Uvaria leading to two new combinations: Uvaria modesta (Diels) Couvreur, comb. nov. and Uvaria paivana Couvreur, nom. nov.. Five species are currently recognized in Uvariastrum. The present revision, the first of the genus for over 100 years, provides an overview of previously published information and discussions on morphology, taxonomy and palynology. Preliminary conservation status assessments are provided for each species, as well as diagnostic keys for fruiting and flowering material as well as detailed species descriptions. Furthermore, all species are illustrated by line drawings and all species are mapped.

A new species Uvaria rovumae Deroin & Lotter, sp. nov. is described, illustrated and mapped from Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique. Its morphology, as well as systematic affinities, habitat and conservation status are briefly discussed. Very similar to U. tanzaniae Verdc. by its habit, it differs mainly by its free sepals, inner petals slightly unguiculate and a high carpel number (>35). Uvaria rovumae Deroin & Lotter, sp. nov. is known only from a handful of individual plants in one location near Nangade, making it “Critically Endangered” (CR) following IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Chaowasku T.: Miliusa codonantha (Annonaceae), a new species from the Indian eastern Himalaya, with a new combination, M. dioeca.-Willdenowia 43: 101–105. June 2013. — Online ISSN 1868–6397; © 2013 BGBM BerlinDahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.43.43111 A new species from the Indian eastern Himalaya, Miliusa codonantha, is described and illustrated. It chiefly differs from M. macrocarpa, its most morphologically similar species, in having smaller flowers and considerably fewer stamens and carpels per flower. In addition, a new combination is made for another species of Miliusa also occurring on the Indian subcontinent: M. dioeca (basionym: Uvaria dioeca). The two species as well as M. macrocarpa are placed in the previously recognized M. campanulata group. The names U. dioeca and its heterotypic synonym M. wallichiana are lectotypified.

The pantropical flowering plant family Annonaceae is the most species-rich family of Magnoliales. Despite long-standing interest in the systematics of Annonaceae, no authoritative classification has yet been published in the light of recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Here, using the largest, most representative, molecular dataset compiled on Annonaceae to date, we present, for the first time, a robust family-wide phylogenetic tree and subsequent classification. We used a supermatrix of up to eight plastid markers sequenced from 193 ingroup and seven outgroup species. Some of the relationships at lower taxonomic levels are poorly resolved, but deeper nodes generally receive high support. Annonaceae comprises four major clades, which are here given the taxonomic rank of subfamily. The description of Annonoideae is amended, and three new subfamilies are described: Anaxagoreoideae, Ambavioideae and Malmeoideae. In Annonoideae, seven tribes are recognized, one of which, Duguetieae, is described as new. In Malmeoideae, seven tribes are recognized, six of which are newly described: Dendrokingstonieae, Fenerivieae, Maasieae, Malmeeae, Monocarpieae and Piptostigmateae. This new subfamilial and tribal classification is discussed against the background of previous classifications and characters to recognize subfamilies are reviewed. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 169, 5–40.

An attempt is made to discover the identity and correct name for Uvaria tripetala Roxb., Uvaria tripetala Blanco, Phaeanthus nutans Hook. f. & Thomson and Uvaria ophthalmica Roxb. ex G. Don (Annonaceae). It is concluded that all but one belong to what has been called Phaeanthus ebracteolatus (C. Presl) Merr., which must now be referred to correctly as Phaeanthus ophthalmicus (Roxb. ex G. Don) J. Sinclair. The correct name for the species that has generally been called Phaeanthus nutans or Phaeanthus ophthalmicus is Phaeanthus intermedius (P. Parm.) I. M. Turner & Veldkamp. Typification of these names and their known synonyms is presented. This includes four new lectotypifications and the designation of two new epitypes and one new neotype.

From the stem bark of Uvaria accuminata two new compounds, 5-methoxy-6,8,8-trimethyl-2-phenylchromene-4,7-dione (1) and a sesquiterpene-fused flavone, named acuminavone (2), were isolated together with a known flavone, desmosdomutin or dasytrichone, (5-hydroxy-6,8,8-trimethyl-2-phenylchromene-4,7-dione). The structure elucidation of compounds 1 and 2 in spectroscopic studies is described.

Two new species of Uvaria L. (Annona- ceae), U. beccarii Attanayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders and U. curvistipitata Attanayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders, are described and illustrated from Borneo. Uvaria beccarii is closely allied to a Peninsular Malaysian species, U. curtisii King, from which it differs in having distinctively nonapiculate, obovoid monocarps with a blunt, irregularly muricate surface and fewer seeds per monocarp. Uvaria curvistipitata closely resembles U. javana Dunal from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, as both species have a velutinous indument on many organs. Uvaria curvistipitata differs, however, in its red flowers and smaller, fewer-seeded globose to subglobose monocarps that are borne on longer, curved stipes. A new nomen- clatural combination, U. clementis (Merr.) Atta- nayake, I. M. Turner & R. M. K. Saunders, is furthermore validated, based on the previously overlooked name Artabotrys clementis Merr., provid- ing a legitimate name in Uvaria for the species. The names U. clementis and U. parviflora Hook. f. & Thomson are lectotypified here.

An extended molecular phylogenetic analysis of Uvaria (Annonaceae) is presented, using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, based on sequences of four plastid DNA regions (matK, psbA-trnH spacer, rbcL and trnL-F). The additional taxa include the monotypic West African genus Balonga, the monotypic South-East Asian genus Dasoclema and seven Australian representatives of the genus Melodorum. The results indicate that all of these taxa are nested within a well-supported clade otherwise consisting of Uvaria species, indicating that their taxonomic treatment needs to be reassessed. The distinguishing morphological characteristics of the taxa are re-evaluated and interpreted as specialized adaptations of the basic Uvaria structure. The genus Uvaria is accordingly extended following the transfer of these species, necessitating six new nomenclatural combinations and two replacement names. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 163, 33-43.

Uvaria (Annonaceae), a large palaeotropical genus of woody climbers, closely resembles several other smaller genera, including Anomianthus, Cyathostemma, Ellipeia, Ellipeiopsis and Rauwenhoffia. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of this group was undertaken using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods based on four chloroplast DNA regions (matK, psbA‐trnH spacer, rbcL and trnL‐F). The resultant trees were moderately well resolved with significant statistical support for most nodes. Uvaria is shown unequivocally to be paraphyletic, with all representatives of the other five genera nested within it. The distinguishing morphological characteristics of the related genera are re‐evaluated, and interpreted as no more than specialised adaptations of the basic Uvaria structure. The generic names Anomianthus, Cyathostemma, Ellipeia, Ellipeiopsis and Rauwenhoffia are accordingly reduced to synonymy with Uvaria, necessitating 11 new nomenclatural combinations and four replacement names.

Bioactivity-guided fractionations of chloromethylenic extract of the roots of U. afzelii (Annonaceae), using Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei brucei bioassay, resulted in the isolation of the two known compounds, emorydone (1) and demethoxymatteucinol (2), previously isolated from the stems, which were characterised from this source. In addition, the novel 1-indanone, afzeliindanone (3), was also isolated. The structure determination of afzeliindanone (3) was elucidated on the basis of spectral data as 4-[4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-indan-1-one. This compound is the first 1-indanone derivative isolated from plants.

The anti-fungal activity of schefflone, a mixture of dimmer, 3,5 dimethoxy carvacrol and annonaceous acetogenin, extracted from stem-bark and root of Uvaria scheffleri and Artabotrys bruchypetalus against Fusarium solani, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Asperillus niger and Aspergillus flavus was determined. An in-vitro bioassay showed that the minimum inhibitory effect of the compounds to the fungal pathogens occurred at 200 ppm in both radial growth and mycelia dry weight measurements. Acetogenin from A brachypetalus had a very strong anti-fungal effect on all the test fungi. The effects of the compounds were more pronounced on F solani than on the other. The bioassay methods also play a significant role in the sensitivity of the samples on the pathogens. .

Robert Elias Fries wrote a short paper entitled Verstreute Beobachtungen hinsichtlich der Familie Annonaceae presenting a variety of taxonomic novelties and changes in the Annonaceae, including two new genera. This was published in Arkiv for Botanik in 1955. However a preprint version of the paper was circulated in 1953. While this earlier date for publication of Fries’s new taxa seems to have been known and accepted by the contemporary community of specialists, it was not picked up by the standard indices and is in danger of being overlooked. Another omission is that some of Fries’s new combinations are invalid in the paper. In looking for places where these combinations have been validly made, it became clear that further combinations proposed by Fries in the family account in Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien are also invalid. All the invalid combinations are listed in this paper. Notable corrections for full citation of names in current use for Annonaceae species are Mischogyne elliotianum (Engl. & Diels) Le Thomas, Uvaria leptopoda (King) J. Sinclair, Uvariastrum hexaloboides (R. E. Fr.) N. Robson and Uvariopsis congolana (De Wild.) R. E. Fr. (Fries 1959).

Multivariate analysis of leaf radian measurements was used to investigate variation in leaf shape among 34 Asian species of the Uvaria group, a large palaeotropical group of climbing Annonaceae characterized by imbricate petals and stellate hairs. Raw data were normalized by conversion into 15 ratio characters and using the log10 transformation. All species surveyed showed a unique leaf-shape ‘bauplan’. The ratio character with the greatest discriminating power in both the Principal Components Analysis and Discriminant Analysis (DA) results was a measure of the shape of the leaf base. Ratio characters with the highest factor loadings for principal components 1 and 2 clearly separated the sampled taxa when plotted against one another and provided support for the retention of several taxa as distinct species or varieties. Classification of cases into taxa using DA yielded a correct classification rate of only 52% for the ratio-transformed data; however, division of taxa in the dataset into smaller subgroups defined by discrete morphological characters significantly increased the accuracy of case identification to between 67 and 100% of cases correctly classified, depending on the group. Case identification using DA on log10-transformed data was higher than for the ratio values in the entire dataset (61.7%) and the larger subgroups. However, the rate of correct case assignment was lower in the smaller groups than for the ratio data.

Two species referable to the physonect siphonophore family Apolemiidae are re‐described: Apolemia uvaria (Lesueur, 1815), the type species, and Tottonia contorta Margulis, 1976. Descriptions, based mainly on three colonies from the Mediterranean (A. uvaria) and three taken off California (T. contorta) contain new information on some zooids and update previous information on others. Figures show the arrangement of nectophores on the nectosomal stem, budding zones, possible degenerative zones and all zooid types (except gonophores in A. uvaria). The morphology of these two species is discussed in relation to a third species Ramosia vitiazi Stepanjants, 1967. These descriptions provide a benchmark for up to 10 putative new species of apolemiids believed to exist but not yet described.

A protocol for the in vitro germination and the establishment of tissue cultures of Bulbine caulescens Linn., Kniphofia pumila Kunth, and K. uvaria Hook has been developed. The members of the family Asphodelaceae contain interesting substances with antiplasmodial activity against several strains of Plasmodium falciparum. With respect to species of Bulbine, this is the first time that in vitro germination has been achieved. For seeds of K. pumila and K. uvaria, a facilitated germination was attained by an optimized pretreatment of the seeds. After in vitro germination, root explants of Kniphofia and bulb explants of B. caulescens were successfully transformed into callus cultures. From these, liquid cultures of the two species of Kniphofia were easily produced. Studies on shoot multiplication of Kniphofia in vitro were also performed.

Plant-derived smoke stimulates seed germination in numerous plant species. Smoke also has a positive stimulatory effect on pollen germination and pollen tube growth. The range of plant families affected my smoke still needs to be established since the initial study was restricted to only three species from the Amaryllidaceae. The effects of smoke-water (SW) and the smoke-derived compounds, karrikinolide (KAR1 ) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB) on pollen growth characteristics were evaluated in seven different plant families. Smoke-water (1:1000 and 1:2000 v:v) combined with either Brewbaker and Kwack's (BWK) medium or sucrose and boric acid (SB) medium significantly improved pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Aloe maculata All., Kniphofia uvaria Oken, Lachenalia aloides (L.f.) Engl. var. aloides and Tulbaghia simmleri P. Beauv. Karrikinolide (10(-6) and 10(-7) m) treatment significantly improved pollen tube growth in A. maculata, K. uvaria, L. aloides and Nematanthus crassifolius (Schott) Wiehle compared to the controls. BWK or SB medium containing TMB (10(-3) m) produced significantly longer pollen tubes in A. maculata, K. uvaria and N. crassifolius. These results indicate that plant-derived smoke and the smoke-isolated compounds may stimulate pollen growth in a wide range of plant species.

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Uvaria rufa (Dunal) Blume collected from Vietnam yielded one new lignan glycoside, ufaside (1), along with six known compounds, oxoanolobine (2), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (3), catechin (4), epicatechin (5), daucosterol (6) and glutin-5-en-3-one (7). Their chemical structures were determined by using NMR, HR-MS spectroscopic analyses and in comparison with the reported data. A cytotoxic analysis of U. rufa herb extracts was performed for the first time using nine human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, LNCaP, MKN7, SW480, KB, LU-1, HepG2 and HL-60) derived from different tumour types. Of these seven constituents, compounds 2 and 3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LU-1) with IC50 values of 9.22 ± 1.02 μg/mL and 10.21 ± 1.16 μg/mL, respectively.

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Uvaria mocoli resulted in the isolation of the novel retrodihydrochalcone 2-hydroxy-4,5,6-trimethoxydihydrochalcone together with the known flavonoids 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone, 2′-hydroxy-4′,5′,6′-trimethoxychalcone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone and 5,7,8-trimethoxyflavanone, the oxoaporphines lysicamine, liriodenine and isomoschatoline, benzoic acid and a mixture of sitosterol and stigmasterol. All the compounds were identified by analysis of their spectral data.

The identity of Uvaria nitida Roxb. ex G.Don. (Annonaceae) has not been considered for 180 years. The plant is only known from material grown in the Calcutta Botanic Garden in India following introduction from, reportedly, the Moluccas. Examination of a specimen from the Brussels Herbarium, designated here as lectotype, indicates that the species is a member of Orophea subgenus Sphaerocarpon, similar to Orophea gabra Merr. A new combination in Orophea is made.

Three new 5-hydroxy acetogenins, espelicin and uvariasolins I and II, were isolated from extract of bark of Uvaria pauci-ovulata, in addition to the known acetogenins narumicins I and II (separated here for the first time), panalicin and squamocin.

Three new cyclohexene oxides, zeylenone, grandiflorone and grandifloracin, were isolated from the stem and leaves of Uvaria grandiflora and their structures established on the basis of spectral data. Zeylenone was found to be a highly active nucleoside transport inhibitor.

Tropical forest plants are known to be pollinated by a diverse array of animals. Here we report on the pollination of a woody climber species, Uvaria elmeri (Annonaceae), by cockroaches in a lowland mixed-dipterocarp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of pollination by cockroaches. The cauliflorous flowers in the understory are protogynous and bloomed for 50 h. An odor similar to decayed wood or a mushroom was secreted by flowers and was stronger during the male stage. Pollinators were cockroaches (Blattellidae) and drosophilid flies (Drosophilidae). Cockroaches, the main pollinators, visited flowers during both female and male stages at night, feeding on stigmatic exudate and pollen. Drosophilids, the secondary pollinators. mainly visited female-stage flowers during daytime, fed on stigmatic exudate. and laid eggs on stigmas. Neither autogamy nor self-compatibility was observed. Fruit production appeared to be pollen-limited. The fruit set, which was 2% of flowers in natural condition, was significantly lower than the 30% fruit set obtained by artificial cross-pollination. We discuss the traits of cockroaches as pollinators and the breeding system of U. elmeri.

Two new oxygenated pyrenes, 2,7-dihydroxy-1,8-dimethoxypyrene and 2-hydroxy-1,7,8-trimethoxypyrene, have been isolated, from the stem bark of Tanzanian Uvaria lucida spp. lucida, along with the benzylated dihydroflavones chamanetin, isochamanetin, dichamanetin, uvarinol and isouvarinol, and the carotenoid lutein. 2,7-Dihydroxy-1,8-dimethoxypyrene was also isolated from Ghanaian U. doeringii, together with a potential biogenetic precursor of the pyrenes, 1,2-dihydro-2,9-dihydroxy-10-methoxy-furo[2,3-a]phenanthrene, and most of the benzylated flavanones, which were found in U. lucida spp. lucida.

From the root of Uvaria tonkinesis, six novel monotetrahydrofuran (THF) annoaceous acetogenins, tonkinins A, B and C and tonkinesins A, B and C, have been isolated and purified. Their structures, characterized by the presence of either a ketone or a hydroxyl group at C-5, were established on the basis of spectral evidence. The occurrence of two isomeric pairs, tonkinins A B and tonikinesins A B , is noteworthy. Tonkinin C and tonkinesin C are mono-THF type acetogenins with an unusual flanking acetoxy group adjacent on one side of the THF ring. The absolute stereochemistry of tonkinin C was revealed by the use of Mosher's methodology.

A new benzoic acid ester, 2-E-[2″-oxo-cyclopent-3″-en-1″-ylidene]ethyl benzoate, together with tritriacontane, tetratriacontanol and β-sitosterol have been isolated from a petrol extract of the leaves of Uvaria narum. The structure of the new ester has been established on the basis of spectral data and finally confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Glut-5(6)-en-3-ol and betulapren-11-ol have also been isolated from a petrol extract of the leaves and stems of U. hookeri; this is the first report of the isolation of the latter compound from the genus Uvaria.

Cytological and cytophotometric analysis of root tips of regenerated plants, derived from rhizome expiant ofKniphofia nelsonii andKniphofia uvaria, revealed marked difference in behaviour of chromosomes and level of 4C nuclear DNA content. Karyotypic stability could be retained in all 52 regenerants of K. nelsonii whereas inK. uvaria out of 75 regenerants analysed, 12 plants were exclusively diploid and the rest 63 plants were predominantly diploid comprising variable amount of aneuploid and tetraploid cells. Cytological data was further confirmed by nuclear DNA content estimation. Alteration in the structure of chromosomes could also be noted in 57 regenerants ofK. uvaria giving rise to two new karyotypes. The use of polysomatic tissue for securing variantsin vitro inK. uvaria has been suggested.

Two new prenylated chalcones, schefflerin and isoschefflerin, were isolated from the petrol fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Uvaria scheffieri , in addition to D: B-friedoolean-5-en-3β-ol (= glutin-5-en-3β-ol), 3-farnesylindole, 2′-hydroxy-3′,4′,6′-trimethoxychalcone, 2′,6′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-dimethoxychalcone, β-sitosterol and benzyl benzoate.

For better understanding of intrafamilial relations of Annonaceae, number and morphology of chromosomes were studied. Additional informations of 16 collections and previous reports were considered. An ascending series of n=7→8 was available in Annona spp., Malmea Tribe, Cleistopholis sp., Fusaea Tribe, Uvaria spp. Number n=9 was common in Polyalthia, Miliusa, Artabotrys (8→9) and Asimina. In n=7→8 lines, Uvaria and Desmos had primitive chromosome morphology. In n=8→9 lines Artabotrys showed primitive karyotypes, Miliusa and Asimina the most advanced ones.

The trimeric monoterpene and mildly mosquito larvicidal agent, (±)-schefflone, that is an apparent derivative of the antiparasitic aromatic monoterpene espintanol, was isolated from the antimalarial extracts of the root bark of Uvaria scheffleri, together with espintanol. Structural determination of (±)-schefflone was achieved from spectroscopic data and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. (±)-Schefflone can be considered a product of a non-enzymatic Diels–Alder-type cycloaddition reaction of the quinonemethide derivative of espintanol as the diene and dienophile.

Bioguided-fractionation of a CH 2 Cl 2 extract of the stems of Uvaria klaineana (Annonaceae) led to isolation of klaivanolide, a novel bisunsaturated 7-membered lactone (5-acetoxy-7-benzoyloxymethyl-7 H -oxepin-2-one), together with benzyl benzoate. Klaivanolide showed potent in vitro antileishmanial activity against both sensitive and amphotericin B-resistant promastigote forms of Leishmania donovani with IC 50 values of 1.75 and 3.12 μM, respectively. The compound also showed in vitro trypanocidal activity against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei GVR 35. Its structure was established by 1D and 2D NMR and other spectroscopic techniques.

Uvaria huana is proposed as a new name for U. yunnanensis (Hu) L. L. Zhou, Y. C. F. Su & R. M. K. Saunders (2009), a later homonym of U. yunanensis Li (1978).

Gautier, L. & T. Deroin (2013). Uvaria lombardii L. Gaut. & Deroin (Annonaceae), a new species endemic to Madagascar with spectacular inflorescences. Candollea 68: 237–244. In French, French and English abstracts. Uvaria lombardii L. Gaut. & Deroin, a new species of Annonaceae, growing in the tropophilous forests of Mahajanga and Antsiranana provinces, is described, illustrated and its known distribution mapped. The morphology of the outstanding caulinar cymous inflorescences is discussed, as well as its systematic affinities with Uvaria acuminata var. catocarpa (Diels) Cavaco & Keraudren and Uvaria acuminata Oliv. var. acuminata. An assessment of its conservation status is also provided.

When going through the herbarium collections from western Africa for the ECOSYN Project (see acknowledgement) we came across several not yet published new species. Among them was Uvaria sassandrensis described below. Specimens of this new Uvaria species found in the herbaria were sometimes identified as U. thomasii Sprague & Hutch., the only other species in the area with long dark bristly hairs on twig and petiole (Keay, 1954: 35). Both species also have a cordate leaf-base and calyx-lobes that are already distinct in bud. However, the fruit of the new species is smooth whereas the fruit of U. thomasii is spiny and the flowers of the two species are clearly different as well, the petals in U. thomasii are about 3 times as long as wide while the petals of the new species are almost circular. Uvaria thomasii is found in forests from Senegal to Me d'Ivoire, U. sassandrensis is until now only known from Me d'Ivoire.