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KIEW, R. 2020. Towards a Flora of New Guinea: Oleaceae. Part 1. Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea. Reinwardtia 19(1): 1‒25. ‒‒ Oleaceae in New Guinea is represented by five genera and about 32 species, namely Chionanthus (about 16 species), Jasminum (10 species), Ligustrum (3 species), Myxopyrum (2 species) and Olea (1 species). A key to genera as well as descriptions of and keys to species of Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea are provided. Of the three Ligustrum species, L. glomeratum is widespread throughout Malesia, L. novoguineense is endemic and L. parvifolium Kiew is a new endemic species. Six species of Jasminum are endemic (J. domatiigerum, J. gilgianum, J. magnificum, J. papuasicum, J. pipolyi and J. rupestre). Jasminum turneri just reaches the northern tip of Australia; of the two species from the Pacific Islands J. simplicifolium subsp. australiense just reaches SE Papua New Guinea and J. didymum, a coastal species, reaches into Malesia as far north as E Java; J. elongatum is widespread from Asia to Australia. Neither Myxopyrum species is endemic: M. nervosum subsp. nervosum extends from Peninsular Malaysia to Indonesian New Guinea, and M. ovatum from the Philippines to the Admiralty Islands. The sole species of Olea, O. paniculata, stretches from Java to Australia and New Caledonia.

We assembled and characterized the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Myxopyrum hainanense to investigate its phylogenetic position. The plastome is 156,064 bp in length, which is comprised of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,851 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,837 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,688 bp. The overall GC content of the plastome was 37.7. The new sequence comprised total 135 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes, and 40 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that M. hainanense was close to Nyctanthes arbor-tristis.

Myxopyrum serratulum is a valuable medicinal plant widely distributed in Western Ghats at the altitude of 600-900m. Traditionally, the leaves of the plant used to treat asthma, cough diabetes and nerve complaints. The current study have been investigated the presence of various secondary metabolites such as saponin, flavonoids and terpenoids in the methanolic extract of the plant by Thin layer Chromatography (TLC) using appropriate solvent system and the quantification of secondary metabolites like total saponin and terpenoid content was performed by gravimetric analysis. The aqueous fraction of M.serratulum was characterized using GC-MS analysis and presence of iridoid glycoside in the ethyl acetate,n-butanol fractions and methanolic extract was identified by HPTLC analysis. Total terpenoid and saponin content have been observed as 6.4± 0.33, 3.815± 0.56 respectively. Phytochemical investigation indicated that the presence of flavonoids, Phenols and higher concentration of tannin, saponin in this plant.

A comparative study of leaf epidermal microstructure in tribes Forsythieae (Abeliophyllum: 1 species, Forsythia: 12 taxa - 10 species, 2 varieties), Fontanesieae (Fontanesia: 2 species) including one related genus Myxopyrum belonging to Myxopyreae (Myxopyrum: 5 taxa - 4 species, 1 subspecies) was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to evaluate their significance in the taxonomy. The leaves of investigated taxa are either hypostomatic or amphistomatic, but former is more frequent. The size range of the guard cells is 17.14-47.58 11.59- 44.25 : the smallest one was found in Forsythia giraldiana (17.48-22.96 11.64-12.88 ), while the largest one was measured to Myxopyrum pierrei (31.50-41.75 32.53-44.25 ). Anomocytic stomatal complex are most frequent type (rarely paracytic), usually both anomocytic and anisocytic occur in one leaf. In surface view both adaxial and abaxial anticlinal walls of the subsidiary cells are variable (e.g., straight/curved, undulate, sinuate, undulate/sinuate). Three types (simple unicellular and multicellular non-glandular, subsessile glandular) of trichomes are found in leaves. Finally, the systematic significance of the leaf epidermal micromorphological characters in idenfitication and elucidation of these tribe, between or within the genera including among the species is also briefly discussed.

Traditionally, the Oleaceae has been divided into subfamilies Oleoideae and Jasminoideae. In the present paper, the taxonomical results so far made on the family were reviewed on the basis of palynology. The subfamilial classification is not well supported palynoligically, because both Myxopyrum of Jasminoideae and Comoranthus of Oleoideae having foveolate surface are well distinguished from the rest of the family having reticulate surface. The recent subfamily Nyctanthoideae (Takhtajan, 1977) including the monotypic Nyctanthus, was suggested to be included within the Jasminoideae although its closest relative on the palynological basis is different from that on the molecular basis. Tribal classification systems of the Jasminoideae are not well supported palynologically on the basis of surface character: presence or absence of bands on the mural ridge surface of the reticulum. On the basis of palynology, tribe Forsythiae including Abeliophyllum, Fontanesia, and Forsythia is monophyletic, and Fontanesia is well distinguished from the rest two. Korean species of Forsythia is divided into two: Forsythia koreana group and F. ovata-nakaii-saxatilis group. Recent discovery of F. saxatilis at a locality of F. ovata raised a question if the distinction between the two species on the basis of hairiness would be right. In the recent molecular studies, F. saxatilis var. lanceolata seems to be identified as F. saxatilis. Molecular studies showed that F. saxatilis (seemingly var. lanceolata or var. pilosa) is close to F. koreana. The fact in which the molecular result showed a close relationship between F. saxatilis varieties and F. koreana, is controversial to the result by floral and vegetative morphology. An intensive taxonomic study of these taxa would be needed.

The plant Myxopyrum serratulum is traditionally claimed to relieve asthma and cough. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the bronchodilatory effect of the methanolic extract of M. serratulum on histamine-induced bronchospasm by in vivo and the inhibitory effect of the extract on histamine-contracted tracheal chain and ileum by in vitro guinea pig model. Additionally, the relaxant effect of four cumulative concentrations of the extract (0.25, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 g%) was assessed using precontracted tracheal chain under different conditions. The extract (400 mg/kg) prolonged the preconvulsive time to 102.3 ± 3.8 sec when compared to saline and standard chlorpheniramine maleate as 121.3 ± 4.5 sec (p

Phylogenetic relationships among 76 species of Oleaceae, representing all 25 recognized genera of the family, were assessed by a cladistic analysis of DNA sequences from two noncoding chloroplast loci, the rps16 intron and the trnL-F region. Consensus trees from separate and combined analyses are congruent and agree well with nonmolecular data (chromosome numbers, fruit and wood anatomy, leaf glycosides, and iridoids). The two debated genera Dimetra and Nyctanthes, previously suggested to belong to Verbenaceae (sensu lato) or Nyctanthaceae, are shown to belong to Oleaceae, sister to the hitherto genus incertae sedis Myxopyrum. This clade is also supported by anatomical and chemical data. The subfamily Jasminoideae is paraphyletic, and a new classification is presented. The subfamily level is abandoned, and the former Jasminoideae is split into four tribes: Myxopyreae (Myxopyrum, Nyctanthes, and Dimetra), Fontanesieae (Fontanesia), Forsythieae (Abeliophyllum and Forsythia), and Jasmineae (Jasminum and Menodora). The tribe Oleeae (previous subfamily Oleoideae) is clearly monophyletic, comprising the subtribes Ligustrinae (Syringa and Ligustrum), Schreberinae status novus (Schrebera and Comoranthus), Fraxininae status novus (Fraxinus), and Oleinae (12 drupaceous genera). An rps16 sequence obtained from Hesperelaea, known only from the type specimen collected in 1875, confirmed the placement of this extinct taxon in the subtribe Oleinae.

Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill is medicinally valuable plant reported to possess number of medicinal values belonging to the family Oleaceae. It is a large woody climbing shrub with quadrangular stems. The roots of the plant are widely used I the treatment of wounds, inflammation, scabies etc. Iridiod glycosides have been isolated from the single leaf of herbarium of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill. The prescribed levels of heavy metal and trace element were studied in order to evaluate the safety profile of the drug. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for the analysis of by wet digestion method. From the results obtained the plant contain trace of heavy metals and they are found to be within prescribed limit. The concentration of trace elements like Copper, Zinc, iron is found to within prescribed limit as per WHO Guidelines. These findings such as heavy metal and trace element will generally suggest the use of plant in various health ailments.

The taxa of the nine genera of Oleaceae native to the Indian Subcontinent are reviewed, with synonymy and distribution. These genera are: Olea, Chionanthus, Osmanthus, Ligustrum, Syringa, Schrebera, Fraxinus, Myxopyrum and Jasminum. Jasminum cardiomorphum, J. kaulbackii and J. matthewi are described as new species.