Within the Open Science project entitled 'Botanic Garden, factory of molecules', a multidisciplinary study approach was applied to Ballota acetabulosa (L.) Benth., at Ghirardi Botanic Garden (Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy). Micromorphological and histochemical investigations were performed on secreting structures vegetative reproductive organs under light, fuorescence electronic microscopy. Conc...

Withanolides are known as the main components of Physalis genus with broad biological activities. Using combination of various chromatographic methods, three withanolides were isolated including physagulin J (1), physagulin K (2), and physagulin N (3). Their chemical structures were determined by analysis of NMR spectra, and as well as comparison with reported literature. Compound 1 showed sign...

A novel withanolide, aromaphysalin A (1), possessing an exceptional C(11)-C(15) bond and an unprecedented 4,9-cyclized aromatic ring (ring A), is isolated from stems and leaves of Physalis angulata L. Its structure was determined by a combination of HRESIMS, 2D NMR spectra, and theoretical calculations. Compound 1 exhibited inhibitory activity on NO production with an IC50 value of 51.64 μM. A ...

In this study, the anatomical features of Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. subsp. lycia Hub.-Mor. (Lamiaceae), endemic taxa from Turkey are examined and evaluated by light (LM) scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different trichome types (glandular -including Lamiaceae type, capitate peltate- non-glandular trichomes) observed. The densest type is dendroid trichomes on aerial part plant. leaf...

Background and objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a neurodegenerative disorder is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. According to the amyloid hypothesis, accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, which are mostly constituted of Aβ peptide aggregates, triggers pathological cascades that lead to neuronal cell death. Thus, modulation of Aβ toxicity is the hopef...

Physalis angulata is a solanaceae widely used in folk medicine in various tropical countries in the world. We have previously described that seco-steroids (physalins) purified from P. angulata are potent inhibitors of macrophage activation, blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and LPS-induced lethality. Herein we investigated the immunomodulatory activities of these substances ...

The phylogeographic structure of the monotypic endemic southern African angulate tortoise Chersina angulata was investigated throughout its distribution with the use of partial sequences from three mtDNA loci (COI, cyt b and ND4). Phylogeographic and phylogenetic structuring obtained for the three mtDNA markers were highly congruent and suggested the presence of two genetically distinct, recipr...

Effects of temperature and photoperiod and their interactions on budburst and on the use of carbon reserves were examined in two Mediterranean oaks differing in wood anatomy and leaf habit. Seedlings of Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (evergreen and diffuse-porous wood) and Q. faginea (semi-deciduous and ring-porous wood) were grown under two temperatures (12 and 19 degrees C) and two photoperiods ...