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A new xanthone glycoside (1) and a new bufadienolide (2) named bersamaxanthoside and bersamabufadienolide, respectively, together with seventeen known compounds (3 – 19) were isolated from the stem bark of Bersama abyssinica Fresen subsp. abyssinica Verdc. Their structures were elucidated based on their spectroscopic data. The extract, fractions and compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity on the cervix carcinoma cell line KB-3–1. The MeOH extract and the EtOAc and n-BuOH soluble fractions exhibited weak activity with IC 50 values of 0.085, 0.084 and 0.075 mg/mL, respectively. The other tested samples were inactive. In addition, some of the isolates were tested for their DPPH radical scavenging activity and only compounds 1 , 11–13 , 16 , and 17 displayed antioxidant properties with IC 50 values ranging from 2.9 to 38.1 µg/mL. [Display omitted] • A new xanthone glycoside and a new bufadienolide from Bersama abyssinica stem bark. • A lignan and a benzoquinone are firstly reported form the genus Bersama. • The cytotoxicity and DPPH radical scavenging activities of extracts and isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The detailed relationships in Geraniales in their current circumscription have only recently been clarified. The disparate floral morphologies and especially the nectaries of the corresponding group have consequently not previously been studied in a phylogenetic context. Methods The present study investigates floral and especially nectary morphology and structure for representatives of 12 of the 13 currently accepted genera in the five families of the Geraniales. Flowers were studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Key Results The data demonstrate the derivation of even the most disparate floral morphologies from a basic pentamerous and pentacyclic organization, with an obdiplostemonous androecium and receptacular nectaries associated with the antesepalous stamens. Divergent morphologies are explained by modifications of merosity (tetramerous flowers), symmetry (several transitions to zygomorphic flowers) and elaboration of the nectaries into variously shaped outgrowths and appendages, especially in Francoaceae. The divergent development of nectar glands ultimately leads to either a reduction in their number (to one in some Geraniaceae and Melianthaceae) or their total loss (some Vivianiaceae). Conclusions Floral morphology of the Geraniales shows a high degree of similarity, despite the variation in overall floral appearance and nectary morphology. A hypothesis on the transformation of the nectaries within the Geraniales is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the leaves of Kenyan medicinal plant Bersama abyssinica Subspecies abyssinica , four previously undescribed compounds namely, three bufadienolides, 10 β -formylpaulliniogenin B, 10 β -formylpaulliniogenin A and 1 β -acetoxy-3 β ,5 β -dihydroxy-15-methoxy-16,19-dioxobufa-14(15),20,22-trienolide, and a phenolic compound 2,6,4′-trihydroxybenzophenone-4-O-(6‴-cinnamoyl)-β-D-glucoside were isolated together with four known compounds. The structural elucidation of the compounds was based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRMS data analyses. The relative configurations were defined by NOESY correlations. Cytotoxic activities on L929 and KB3.1 cell lines of the isolated compounds were investigated using MTT assay. The 1 β -acetoxy-3 β ,5 β -dihydroxy-15-methoxy-16,19-dioxobufa-14(15),20,22-trienolide showed significant cytotoxic activity against KB3.1 cell lines with IC 50 of 3.9 ± 0.99 μM. Bufadienolides from Bersama abyssinica (Fresen) subspecies abyssinica Melianthaceae. [Display omitted] • Cytotoxic compounds from the leaf of Bersama abyssinica subspecies abyssinica. • Previously undescribed bufadienolides are reported. • Plants of the genus Bersama have proved to be a rich source of bufadienolides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the antibacterial potentials of fourteen ethnobotanically selected plants traditionally used in different parts of Côte d’Ivoire for the treatment of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal disorders. Method: The antimicrobial activity of the extracts of the plant was tested against a collection strain of Salmonella typhimurium, a clinical strain of Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by macrobroth dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. Results: All the plants had bactericidal activity against at least one of the test microorganisms with both MIC and MBC ranging from 2.5 to > 80 mg/ml. Among the plant extracts, Terminalia glaucescens. (Combretaceae) Bersama abyssinica subsp. paullinioides (Melianthaceae ) and Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae) showed the most promising broad spectrum antibacterial properties, inhibiting all of the strains tested, especially S. Typhi and P. aeruginosa, with MBC ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg/ml. Conclusion: The findings provide support for the use of these plants in traditional medicine for treatment of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal disorders, and are thus, potential sources of drugs that would need to be subjected to further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Bersama belongs to the Melianthaceae family and comprises of four species (B. swinnyi, B. yangambiensis, B. abyssinica, and B. engleriana) all of which are very high trees; the latter two detected species are found in Cameroon. Previous phytochemical investigation on B. yangambiensis, B. swinnyi, and B. abyssinica led to the isolation of triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids, and xanthones. Method: The stem bark of B. engleriana were collected in the village, Baham near Bafoussam city, Cameroon in August 2003 and identifi ed by Dr. Onana National Herbaruim, Yaoundé, Cameroon. The air dried and powdered stem bark of B. engleriana (1 kg) was extracted at room temperature with CH2Cl2-MeOH (1:1) 5 L for 48 hours. The mixture of the solvent was removed by evaporation to yield 200 g of crude extract. The latter was then dissolved in CH2Cl2 to give the CH2Cl2 soluble fraction of 5 g and a remaining gum of 195 g. Part of the remaining gum (22 g) was dissolved in water and extracted four times with butanol to give 12 g of red oil; which was then separated by paper chromatography, with butanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:5), to give 3 g of orange gum; purification was carried out on HPLC with MeOH (100%) to yield 2 g of mangiferin (1) as red oil. The CH2Cl2 soluble extract was eluted on silica gel n-hexane-CH2Cl2 gradient ratio and Sephadex LH-20 (n-hexane -CH2Cl2 -MeOH, (7:4:0.5) to afford compounds swinniol (2), Δ4-stigmaster-3β-ol (3), 4-methylstigmaster-5,23-dien-3β-ol(4). Results: Herein, we carried out a phytochemical study of the stem bark of B. engleriana, and we report herein the isolation and structural elucidation of mangiferin, in addition to three triterpenes, previously reported from other species of the genus. The assignment of the signals of mangiferin was determined using 1H, 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectral data (HMQC, COSY, HMBC). The terpenoids were identifi ed by comparison of their 1H and 13C-NMR spectra with the literature data. Fractionation of the CH2Cl2-MeOH (1:1) extract of the stem bark of B. engleriana Guike gave mangiferin (1), in addition to three previously reported triterpenes, swinniol (2), Δ4-stigmaster-3β-ol (3), and 4-methylstigmaster-5,23-dien-3-β-ol (4). Conclusions: A chemical investigation of the CH2Cl2-MeOH extract of the stem bark of Bersama engleriana afforded a xanthone C-glucoside (mangiferin) and fi rst isolation of three terpenoids from this species: swinniol (2), Δ4-stigmaster-3β-ol (3), and 4-methylstigmaster-5,23- dien-3-β-ol (4). The complete 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments of mangiferin were determined using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, DEPT). The structures of the terpenoids were determined from their 1H and 13C NMR data and compared with the literature data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of infection caused by ‘superbugs’ is alarming and one of the most problematic resistant bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This bacterium can cause a range of ailments like pneumonia, mastitis, meningitis, urinary tract infection, and post operational infection. Ten medicinal plants were investigated for their efficacy against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. Ethanol extracts of Melianthus comosus Vahl (Melianthaceae), Melianthus major L (Melianthaceae), Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. var. angustifolia (L.f.) Benth (Sapindaceae) and Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Zygophyllaceae) were found to have good inhibitory activity against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of S. aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of these plants ranged from 0.391 to 1.56 mg/ml. Ethanol extracts of all these plants were further tested for cytotoxicity on Vero cells using the XTT method. M. major exhibited a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 52.76 μg/ml and was, therefore, selected for the identification of bioactive principles. Two flavonoid compounds namely, quercetin 3- O-β-galactoside-6-gallate and kaempferol 3- O-α-arabinopyranoside, were isolated from the leaves using column chromatography. These compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. These flavonoids did not show antibacterial activity against methicillin-sensitive strain of Staphylococcus aureus at the highest concentration (500 μg/ml) tested. The antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of M. major observed in this study could be either due to the synergistic activity of compounds present in the extract and/or due to compounds which have not been purified in this study. Good antibacterial activity of three plant extracts, namely, Melianthus comosus, Melianthus major, and Dodonaea viscose, as observed especially against MRSA, supports the use of extracts by South Africans for infections caused by S. aureus to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Five 3-O-glucuronide triterpene saponins (1–5) were isolated from the stem bark of Bersama engleriana Gurke along with two known saponins, polyscias saponin C and aralia saponin 15, and one major C-glycoside xanthone, mangiferin. The structures of the saponins were established mainly by means of spectroscopic methods (one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy as well as FAB-, HRESI-mass spectrometry) as 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl]-betulinic acid (1), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid (2), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid (3), 3-O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid (4), and 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid (5). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The morphological variation of the Bersama abyssinica complex in East Africa is analysed. A wide range of characters was examined both on specimens collected for this study and on a selection of type material. The character distribution of each character was examined individually. The ratios of some of the characters were calculated, and selected characters were plotted in pairwise combinations. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and principal component analysis were employed in the multivariate analyses. On the basis of the patterns observed in the numerical analyses as well as those in the field, a new combination, Bersama abyssinica Fresen. ssp. rosea (Hoyle) Mikkelsen is proposed. The presence of the two flower types described by White: (a) male flowers, with long stamens and short gynoecium and (b) female flowers, with short, abortive stamens and long gynoecium is confirmed, but found to be taxonomically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit and seed anatomy and morphology of the two genera Bersama and Melianthus (Melianthaceae, Sapindales) have been studied in an effort to clarify their systematic position. On the basis of the differences in pericarp and seed anatomy as well as in other exomorphic characters the segregation of Bersama into a distinct family Bersamaceae is supported. Evidence mainly from seed anatomy and morphology emphasizes the anomaly of the traditional inclusion of Bersama and Melianthus in the Sapindales, since they have a distinct seed-coat structure and seed vascularization. The fruit and seed anatomy does not confirm any relationships with alternatively suggested exo-mesotestal Lardizabalaceae. The exotestal seed coats of Bersama and Melianthus with a differentiated palisade of Malpighian cells in the exotesta, dimerous raphal vascular skeleton, abundant endosperm, and a small differentiated straight embryo show a resemblance with the exotestal albuminous seeds of Rhamnaceae and Elaeagnaceae. Using also additional data on fruit, floral and vegetative morphology it is suggested that Bersamaceae with Melianthaceae and Rhamnaceae/Elaeagnaceae constitute a distinct relict side-branch of exo-mesotestal rosidaceous ancestry, the new order Melianthales in the superorder Rhamnanae (Rosidae). The formerly suggested relationship of this side-branch to exotegmic Malvales is not supported by seed anatomy. The affinity with exotegmic Celastrales, which are considered as a possible connecting link between archaic exo-mesotestal Rosales and exotestal Rhamnales/Elaeagnales, is also found untenable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chemical investigation on the leaves of Melianthus comosus resulted in the isolation of six bufadienolides. • The configurations were determined from single crystal X-ray crystallography and NOESY correlations. • The isolated compounds displayed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7, CCRF-CEM, and CEM/ADR5000 cancer cell lines. • Compound 1 showed the strongest activity. From the leaves of South African medicinal plant Melianthus comosus , four previously undescribed bufadienolides, 16β-formyloxymelianthugenin (1), 2β-acetoxymelianthusigenin (2), 2β-hydroxy-3β,5β-di- O -acetylhellebrigenin (3), and 2β-acetoxy-5β- O -acetylhellebrigenin (4) were isolated together with two known bufadienolides. The structural elucidation of the compounds was based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and other spectroscopic methods. The relative configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography analysis and NOESY correlations. The isolated compounds displayed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells. Compound 1 showed the most potent activity, with IC 50 values of 0.07 μM towards CCRF-CEM, 0.06 μM towards CEM/ADR5000 and 0.36 μM towards MCF-7 followed by compound 4 with IC 50 values of 0.13 μM towards CCRF-CEM, 0.08 μM towards CEM/ADR5000 and 0.53 μM towards MCF-7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the proposal to conserve Melianthaceae over Francoaceae (Magnoliophyta). It states that the latter is small and only has two genera known as the Francoa and Tertilla. However, the former has three such as the Bersama, Greyia, and Melianthus, and with 16 species. It also emphasizes that Francoaceae is broadly defined and recognized as an optional family. It suggests to adopt the proposal since it will not affect Francoaceae's recognition as a distinct family.

Information about the authors' proposal to conserve the plant name Eubotrys Nutt, from the family of Ericaceae, against Eubotrys from the family of Melianthaceae is presented. While reviewing the nomenclature of Ericaceae for the upcoming volume of the"Flora of North America," they note that Eubotrys was predated by Eubotrys Raf, wherein the latter ignored the generic name that was often improperly attributed. They add that adoption of their proposal will allow Eubotrys Nutt to remain in use.

Background and Aims: The detailed relationships in Geraniales in their current circumscription have only recently been clarified. The disparate floral morphologies and especially the nectaries of the corresponding group have consequently not previously been studied in a phylogenetic context., Methods: The present study investigates floral and especially nectary morphology and structure for representatives of 12 of the 13 currently accepted genera in the five families of the Geraniales. Flowers were studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy., Key Results: The data demonstrate the derivation of even the most disparate floral morphologies from a basic pentamerous and pentacyclic organization, with an obdiplostemonous androecium and receptacular nectaries associated with the antesepalous stamens. Divergent morphologies are explained by modifications of merosity (tetramerous flowers), symmetry (several transitions to zygomorphic flowers) and elaboration of the nectaries into variously shaped outgrowths and appendages, especially in Francoaceae. The divergent development of nectar glands ultimately leads to either a reduction in their number (to one in some Geraniaceae and Melianthaceae) or their total loss (some Vivianiaceae)., Conclusions: Floral morphology of the Geraniales shows a high degree of similarity, despite the variation in overall floral appearance and nectary morphology. A hypothesis on the transformation of the nectaries within the Geraniales is presented., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)