Chemotaxonomic Studies Research Articles

Amycolatopsis melonis sp. nov., a novel protease-producing and cellulose-degrading actinobacterium isolated from soil.

A novel protease-producing and cellulose-degrading actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-NG30T, was isolated from a melon rhizosphere soil sample collected in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, and established its status using a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain NEAU-NG30T was closely related to Amycolatopsis bullii DSM 45802T (98.7%) and Amycolatopsis vancoresmycina DSM 44592T (98.3%). The phospholipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl methylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. The diagnostic sugars in cell hydrolysates were determined to be galactose and arabinose. Cell walls contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. Meanwhile, genome analysis of sequences revealed a genome size of 9 338 250 bp and a DNA G+C content of 71.6%. In addition, the average nucleotide identity values and the level of digital DNA-DNA hybridization between strain NEAU-NG30T and its reference strains fall below the thresholds typically used for delineating prokaryote species. According to phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic studies, it is indicated that strain NEAU-NG30T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis melonis sp. nov. is proposed, with NEAU-NG30T (=MCCC 1K08677T=JCM 35654T) as the type strain.

Brevibacterium litoralis sp. nov., a cellulose-degrading strain isolated from marine surface sediment.

A Gram stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, short-rod actinomyces strain GXQ1321T was isolated from maritime surface sediments in Beihai (21° 41' 21.65″ N, 109° 05' 76.56″ E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and a number of categorization studies were performed. Following a period of 72h of incubation at a temperature of 30°C within a modified actinomycete culture medium, the colony was light-yellow, circular, smooth, central bulge, convex, opaque, with a 1.2-2.3mm diameter. Strain GXQ1321T had the ability to degrade cellulose. Chemotaxonomic studies revealed that the major methylnaphthoquinones in strain GXQ1321T was MK-8(H2). The most prevalent cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C19:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C16:0. The whole-cell sugars of the strain GXQ1321T were identified rhamnose, xylose and glucose. Meso-diaminopimelic acid was found in the peptidoglycan hydrolysate, and the polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, three phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipid. This strain had 69.6% DNA G+C content. Strain GXQ1321T is classified as Brevibacterium based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence. It is closely related to Brevibacterium samyangense SST-8T (96.8%) and Brevibacterium rongguiense 5221T (96.3%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of GXQ1321T and the above two type strains were 73.9-77.1%, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values were 15.3-21.1%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain GXQ1321T was considered to be a novel species of the genus Brevibacterium, named Brevibacterium litoralis sp. nov, with the type strain GXQ1321T (= MCCC 1K08964T = KCTC 59167T).

Pannonibacter tanglangensis sp. nov., a New Species Isolated from Pond Sediment.

Two bacterial strains (XCT-34T and XCT-53) isolated from sediment samples of an artificial freshwater reservoir were analyzed using a polyphasic approach. The two isolates are aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, motile with polar flagella, rod-shaped, and approximately 1.4-3.4 × 0.4-0.9μm in size. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences showed that the two strains formed a distinct branch within the evolutionary radiation of the genus Pannonibacter, closest to Pannonibacter carbonis Q4.6T (KCTC 52466). Furthermore, lower than threshold average nucleotide identity values (ANI, 85.7-86.4%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values (dDDH, 22.3-30.5%) of the two strains compared to the nearest type strains also confirmed that they represented a novel species. Genomic analyses, including annotation of the KEGG pathways, prediction of the secondary metabolism biosynthetic gene clusters and PHI phenotypes, supported functional inference and differentiation of the strains from the closely related taxa. Results of chemotaxonomic and physiological studies revealed that their distinct phenotypic characteristics distinguished them from existing Pannonibacter species. Thus, the two strains are considered to represent a novel species of Pannonibacter, for which the name of Pannonibacter tanglangensis sp. nov. is proposed, with XCT-34T (= KCTC 82332T = GDMCC 1.1947T) as the respective type strain.

Oxyplasma meridianum gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely acidophilic organotrophic member of the order Thermoplasmatales.

A mesophilic, hyperacidophilic archaeon, strain M1T, was isolated from a rock sample from Vulcano Island, Italy. Cells of this organism were cocci with an average diameter of 1 µm. Some cells possessed filaments. The strain grew in the range of temperatures between 15 and 52 °C and pH 0.5-4.0 with growth optima at 40 °C and pH 1.0. Strain M1T was aerobic and chemoorganotrophic, growing on complex substrates, such as casamino acids, trypticase, tryptone, yeast and beef extracts. No growth at expenses of oxidation of elemental sulphur or reduced sulphur compounds, pyrite, or ferrous sulphate was observed. The core lipids were glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether lipids (membrane spanning) with 0 to 4 cyclopentane moieties and archaeol, with trace amounts of hydroxy archaeol. The dominant quinone was MK-7 : 7. The genome size of M1T was 1.67 Mbp with a G+C content of 39.76 mol%, and both characteristics were well within the common range for Thermoplasmatales. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the strain M1T within the order Thermoplasmatales with sequence identities of 90.9, 90.3 and 90.5% to the closest SSU rRNA gene sequences from organisms with validly published names, Thermoplasma acidophilum, Thermoplasma volcanium and Thermogymnomonas acidicola, respectively. Based on the results of our genomic, phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic studies, we propose that strain M1T (=DSM 116605T=JCM 36570T) represents a new genus and species, Oxyplasma meridianum gen. nov., sp. nov., within the order Thermoplasmatales.

Parasedimentitalea denitrificans sp. nov., a novel denitrifying bacteria isolated from the Yellow Sea and transfer of Zongyanglinia huanghaiensis and Zongyanglinia marina to the genus Parasedimentitalea as Parasedimentitalea huanghaiensis comb. nov. and Parasedimentitalea maritima nom. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CY04T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the Yellow Sea. CY04T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.7 % to Zongyanglinia huanghaiensis CY05T, followed by the similarities of 98.6 %, 98.0 and 98.0 % to Zongyanglinia marina DSW4-44T, Parasedimentitalea marina W43T and Parasedimentitalea psychrophila QS115T respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and phylogenomic analysis based on genome sequences revealed that CY04T formed a robust cluster with Z. huanghaiensis CY05T, Z. marina DSW4-44T, P. marina W43T and P. psychrophila QS115T. Calculated digital DNA-DNA hybridisation and average nucleotide identity values between CY04T and its closely related species were 22.2-23.7 % and 79.0-81.2 % respectively. Cells of CY04T were strictly aerobic, non-motile and positive for catalase, oxidase and denitrification. CY04T harboured a set of genes encoding the enzymes involved in denitrification. Growth occurred at 10-30 °C (optimum, 20 °C), at pH 6.5-9.5 (optimum, pH 8.0) and with 1-6 % (w/v) (optimum, 2.5 %,) NaCl. The major component of the fatty acids was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular study indicate that strain CY04T represents a novel species of the genus Parasedimentitalea, for which the name Parasedimentitalea denitrificans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CY04T (=MCCC 1K08635T=KCTC 62199T). It is also proposed that Zongyanglinia huanghaiensis and Zongyanglinia marina should be reclassified as Parasedimentitalea huanghaiensis comb. nov. and Parasedimentitalea maritima nom. nov. An emended description of the genus Parasedimentitalea is also proposed.

The monoterpenes as a characteristic marker for pine species distinction: a chemotaxonomic study from the Czech Republic

For the purposes of chemotaxonomic distinction of four pine species Pinus nigra, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus rigida and Pinus sylvestris growing in the suburban landscape of the central part of the Czech Republic, resin extracts from tree trunks, needles and female cones were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Monoterpenes were shown to be the main terpene fraction of the resins of all studied pine species. On average, they made up 80% of the total terpene content. A characteristic monoterpene for distinguishing pine species was β-pinene, with high levels in P. ponderosa, moderate levels in P. rigida and low levels in P. sylvestris and P. nigra. P. sylvestris contained only trace amount of Δ-3-carene (0.6%) in resins from needles and thus belongs to the α-pinene chemotypic variation. Slight seasonal variability in terpene production was found for resins from needles of P. nigra and P. sylvestris. When comparing European populations according to the monoterpene composition of resins from needles, it can be stated that the α-pinene content increased in the order P. ponderosa < P. rigida < P. nigra < P. sylvestris while the β-pinene content changed in the opposite direction. This statement confirms the terpene biosynthesis uniformity of European pines.

Veillonella faecalis sp. nov., a propionic acid-producing bacterium isolated from the faeces of an infant.

A strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative, cocci-shaped, and propionate-producing bacterial strain, named Ds1651T was isolated from the fecal sample collected from a South Korean infant. Through a comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences, it was revealed that Ds1651T had the highest phylogenetic affinity with Veillonella nakazawae KCTC 25297T (99.86%), followed by Veillonella infantium KCTC 25370T (99.80%), and Veillonella dispar KCTC 25309T (99.73%) in the family Veillonellaceae. Average nucleotide identity values between Ds1651T and three reference species were 95.48% for Veillonella nakazawae KCTC 25297T, 94.46% for Veillonella infantium KCTC 25370T, and 92.81% for Veillonella dispar KCTC 25309T. The G + C content of Ds1651T was 38.58mol%. Major fermentation end-products were acetic and propionic acids in Trypticase peptone glucose yeast extract broth with 1% (v/v) sodium lactate. The predominant cellular fatty acids that account for more than 10% were summed in Feature 8 (C17:1 ω8c and/or C17:2) and C13:0. Based on the findings from phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic studies, we propose that the type strain Ds1651T (= KCTC 25477T = GDMCC 1.3707T) represents a novel bacterial species within the genus Veillonella, with the proposed name Veillonella faecalis sp. nov.

Hirsutinolide- and Cadinanolide-type Sesquiterpene Lactones from Lessingianthus rubricaulis (Vernonieae, Asteraceae).

Sesquiterpene lactones are an important class of secondary metabolites frequently isolated from Lessingianthus genus that present a variety of biological properties, such as antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal and anticancer. The limited phytochemical studies and the importance of this class of compounds isolated from Lessingianthus led us to study this genus. In this work, we focused on the phytochemical investigation and dereplication based on UHPLC-HRMS/MS and molecular networking of L. rubricaulis. Chemical investigation resulted in the isolation of several hirsutinolide-type sesquiterpene lactones including a new hirsutinolide derivative, 8,10α-hydroxy-1,13-bis-O-methylhirsutinolide, besides a cadinanolide and flavonoids. The dereplication study resulted in the identification of three known flavonoids, six known hirsutinolides and two known cadinanolides. Moreover, a fragmentation pathway for cadinanolide-type sesquiterpene lactones was proposed. These results contribute to chemotaxonomic studies and demonstrates the potential of Lessingianthus genus.

Seasonal Variability of Volatile Components in Calypogeia integristipula.

Liverworts contain a large number of biologically active compounds that are synthesised and stored in their oil bodies. However, knowledge about the chemical composition of individual species is still incomplete. The subject of the study was Calypogeia integristipula, a species representing leafy liverworts. Plant material for chemotaxonomic studies was collected from various locations in Poland. The chemical composition was determined in 74 samples collected from the natural environment in 2021 and 2022 in three growing seasons: spring, summer and autumn, and for comparison with samples originating from in vitro culture. The plants were classified as Calypogeia integristipula on the basis of morphological characteristics, oil bodies, and DNA markers. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the biological material were extracted by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The samples were then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 79 compounds were detected, of which 44 compounds were identified. The remaining compounds were described using the MS fragmentation spectrum. Cyclical changes in the composition of compounds associated with the growing season of Calypogeia integristipula were observed. Moreover, samples from in vitro culture and samples taken from the natural environment were shown to differ in the composition of chemical compounds. In terms of quantity, among the volatile compounds, compounds belonging to the sesquiterpene group (46.54-71.19%) and sesqiuterpenoid (8.12-22.11%) dominate. A smaller number of compounds belong to aromatic compounds (2.30-10.96%), monoterpenes (0.01-0.07%), monoterpenoids (0.02-0.33%), and aliphatic hydrocarbons (1.11-6.12%). The dominant compounds in the analysed liverworts were: anastreptene (15.27-31.14%); bicyclogermacrene (6.99-18.09%), 4,5,9,10-dehydro-isolongifolene (2.00-8.72%), palustrol (4.95-9.94%), spathulenol (0.44-5.11%).

Hypecoum spp.—Chemistry and Biological Activity of Alkaloids

Genus Hypecoum Tourn. ex L. belongs to the poppy family Papaveraceae and comprises about 19 species occurring in Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. Hypecoum species have been widely used in traditional medicine as antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory remedies. Their effects are associated with the biologically and pharmacologically active isoquinoline alkaloids in them, such as protopines, protoberberines, benzophenanthridines, aporphines, simple isoquinolines, secoberbines, spirobenzylisoquinolines and others. In this study, we aimed to review and organize information on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, chemotaxonomical and pharmacological studies of alkaloids and extracts obtained from Hypecoum plants, and to suggest opportunities for further research.

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of the Leaves of Coccinia barteri Hook F (Cucurbitaceae)

Background: In general, Coccinia barteri is offered and sold in its raw form. This natural form could be adulterated, substituted, or contaminated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to use pharmacognostic analyses to verify the authenticity of the leaves of the Coccinia barteri plant.&#x0D; Methods: The organoleptic studies were carried out through sensory organs. Histological analyses were conducted by microscopic examination of the specimen mounted on hand slides. Phytochemical screening and chemomicroscopic evaluation were also carried out using various standard methods.&#x0D; Results: The leaves of Coccinia barteri come in a range of forms and sizes. They are lustrous, bright, and dark green. They are also tiny and feature opposite imparipinnate compound leaves. The organoleptic evaluation showed a leafy odour and an astringent taste. Microscopic evaluation showed glandular trichomes, wavy epidermal cells, and anomocytic stomata. The leaf had anomocytic stomata and hypostomatic. with an average stomatal number, index, density, length, width and size of 13.75 ± 0.40%, 15.44 ± 0.42 mm-2, 80.88±2.82 mm-2, 29.26µm, 26.17 ± 0.4 µm and 766.38± 39.49 µm, respectively.&#x0D; The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, proteins, glycosides, and flavonoids, while tannins and fixed oils were not detected. Chemotaxonomic studies showed the presence of starch grains, lignified tissues, calcium oxalates, gum, and the absence of protein and oil globules.&#x0D; Analytical evaluation of the leaves of Coccinia barteri produced 7.00% total ash, 0.93% acid insoluble ash, 2.96% water soluble ash, 8.40% moisture content, 29.67% alcohol extractive value, 40.17% water extractive value, and 21.00% ethyl acetate extractive value.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study provides information on the morphology, microscopic, and phytochemical profile of the leaves of Coccinia barteri.

Diversity of the terpene synthesis in the Thuja species – A comparative chemotaxonomic study

Significant within-plant variability in the terpene composition of cypress species growing in the Czech Republic has been demonstrated. In Thuja plicata, α-thujone (44.8%) dominates in the leaves, α-pinene (39.3%) dominates in the tree trunks, and β-phellandrene (50.1%) dominates in the female cones. In Thuja occidentalis, beyerene (38.4%) dominates in the leaves, α-pinene (64.9%) in the tree trunks, and β-phellandrene (25.5%) in the female cones. In the case of Platycladus orientalis, α-pinene (37.6%–69.6%) dominates both in the leaves and in the female cones, and cedrol (34.1%) dominates in the tree trunks. As regards the terpene profiles, in the tree trunks, T. plicata and T. occidentalis show a slight proximity due to their similar content of α-pinene and totarol, on the other hand, in the female cones, all three studied species show a slight proximity due to their similar content of β-phellandrene. A significant seasonal trend is proven in the β-phellandrene, limonene, rimuene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and beyerene production in T. plicata leaves. The results of terpene profiles from the leaves have been compared with the available literature data using Principle Component Analysis. It can be stated that, with slight variations, the synthesis of the key terpenes among T. plicata populations is quite uniform. In T. occidentalis populations, too, the biosynthesis of key terpenes is uniform, except in the case of T. occidentalis growing in the Czech Republic. Among P. orientalis populations, the synthesis of key terpene α-pinene is very variable. Although there is strong genetic control, also the Δ-3-carene content is not stable among populations.

SHORT NOTES: A CHEMOTAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE RESINS FROM THREE DIPTEROCARP SPECIES (Shorea macrophylla, Shorea pinanga, and Shorea hopeifolia)

A chemotaxonomic study on the resins of Shorea macrophylla, Shorea pinanga, and Shorea hopeifolia was conducted. The dichloromethane extracts were separated into neutral and acidic fractions and then analyzed using GC-MS. The neutral fraction analysis revealed that spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, aromadendrene oxide, and isoaromadendrene epoxide were the major constituents in all three species. Furthermore, the main compound in the neutral fraction of Shorea hopeifolia was isocaryophyllene which was undetected in the other two species. The major constituent of the acidic fraction of the three species was hexadecanoic acid, while pentadecanoic acid was the major constituent in the acidic fraction of Shorea pinanga and Shorea hopeifolia. Therefore, the presence of sesquiterpenes as well as fatty acids in S. macrophylla, S. pinanga, and S. hopeifolia was discovered to be a marker for identifying the genus Shorea.

Chemical constituents from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. and their chemotaxonomic significance

Research of detailed chemical constituents from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim resulted in the isolation of twenty-two compounds (1–22), including eight alkaloids (1–8), three alkylamines (9–11), five monoterpenoids (12–16), one benzophenone (17), two coumarins (18 and 19) and three lignanoids (20–22). Among them, compounds 2 and 8 were firstly found in the genus Zanthoxylum, while compounds 13–15 and 20 were firstly reported in the Rutaceae family. This work enriches the secondary metabolites of Z. bungeanum and provides valuable information for chemotaxonomic studies on the genus Zanthoxylum.

Streptomyces cylindrosporus sp. nov. and Streptomyces spinosisporus sp. nov.: two new endophytic actinobacteria isolated from the roots of Barleria lupulina Lindl.

Two endophytic actinobacteria, designated as strains 7R015T and 7R016T, were isolated from the roots of Barleria lupulina collected in Thailand. The morphological characteristics and results of chemotaxonomic studies and 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that both strains represented members of the genus Streptomyces. They contained ll-diaminopimelic acid in the peptidoglycan. Ribose and glucose were detected as the whole-cell sugars. MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8), were found as the membrane menaquinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids detected were iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The genomes of both strains harboured biosynthetic gene clusters for melanin, terpene, lanthipeptide, polyketides, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, siderophore and ectoine. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of 7R015T showed the highest similarity to that of Streptomyces pseudovenezuelae DSM 40212T (98.6 %), Streptomyces cyaneus NRRL B2296T (98.6 %) and Streptomyces curacoi DSM 40107T (98.6 %). Strain 7R016T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Streptomyces gilvifuscus NBRC 110904T (98.2 %), which is lower than the threshold value for 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity for differentiation at the species level (98.65 %). Comparative genome analysis revealed that the genomes of 7R015T, 7R016T and the closely related type strains had an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of less than 95 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) of less than 70 %, the thresholds for species demarcation. On the basis of the results of the polyphasic study, strains 7R015T and 7R016T represent novel species of the genus Streptomyces and are named herein as Streptomyces cylindrosporus sp. nov. (=NBRC 115200T = TBRC 14542T) for strain 7R015T and Streptomyces spinosisporus sp. nov. (=NBRC 115201T = TBRC 14543T) for strain 7R016T.

Chemical constituents from Chimaphila japonica Miq. and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical study of the whole plant of Chimaphila japonica Miq. led to the isolation of 20 compounds, including ten terpenoids (1–11), seven sugars (12–17), two phenols (18–19), and one fatty acid (20). The structures of these isolated compounds were identified using NMR spectroscopy (1H and 13C) by comparison with previously reported data. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 1 and 19 were first reported from C. japonica; compounds 2–4, 10, and 12–14 were obtained from the genus Chimaphila for the first time, while compounds 6–9, 11, 15–17, and 20 have never been isolated from the Ericaceae family. Chemotaxonomic studies have shown that C. japonica is closely related to C. umbellata, and that the genus Chimaphila may be closely related to the genera Gaultheria, Vaccinium, Lyonia, Pyrola, and Rhododendron.

GC-MS of some Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of homolycorine type.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the most frequently applied technique for analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in plant extracts. These compounds, known for their potent bioactivities, are a distinctive chemotaxonomic feature of the Amaryllidoideae subfamily (Amaryllidaceae). The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of homolycorine type with a C3-C4 double bond generally show molecular and diagnostic ions at the high mass region with low intensity in EIMS mode leading to problematic identification in complex plant extracts. Eleven standard homolycorine-type alkaloids (isolated and identified by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance) were subjected to separation with gas chromatography and studied with electron impact mass spectrometry including single quadropole (GC-EIMS), tandem (GC-EIMS/MS), and high resolution (GC-HR-EIMS) detectors, as well as with chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-CIMS). Alkaloid fractions from two Hippeastrum species and Clivia miniata were subjected to GC-EIMS and GC-CIMS for alkaloid identification. GC-EIMS in combination with GC-CIMS provided significant structural information for homolycorine-type alkaloids with C3-C4 double bond facilitating their unambiguous identification. Based on the obtained typical fragmentation, other eleven homolycorine-type compounds were identified in extracts from two Hippeastrum species by parallel GC-EIMS, GC-CIMS and LC-ESI/ToF/MS and in extracts from Clivia miniata by GC-EIMS. GC-MS can be successfully applied for identification of new and known homolycorine-type alkaloids, as well as for chemotaxonomical and chemoecological studies, among others within the Amaryllidoideae subfamily.

Chemometric analysis and evaluation of antioxidant potential from organic extracts of Vismia spp.

This work aimed to contribute to the chemotaxonomic study and determination of antioxidant potential of species of the genus Vismia, which until now has not had any detailed studies in this area. Thus, the fruits of the species, V. cayennensis, V. guianensis and V. aff. guianensis were collected in terra firme forest around Itacoatiara-AM. Organic extracts from Vismia spp. were obtained with solvents in increasing order of polarity and submitted to chemical analysis by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-MS) for the chemometric and biological study, regarding the antioxidant potential against the DPPH radical and the total phenolic content. From the chemometric analysis it was possible to observe the chemical similarity between the samples of hexane extract (EH-VG) and dichloromethane (ED-VG) of the species V. guianensis, and hexane (EH-VX), dichloromethane (ED-VX), ethyl acetate (EA-VX) and methanolic acetate (EM-VX) from the species V. aff. guianensis. As for the antioxidant test, the methanol extract (EMVX) stood out for having a high content of total phenolics (1592.6 ± 3.8 μM ET) compared to the other extracts.

Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment in the Republic of Korea.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, bright-orange coloured bacterium without flagellum, designated as strain GRR-S6-50T, was isolated from a tidal flat of Garorim bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells grew aerobically at 20-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 1-5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain GRR-S6-50T was closely related to Sphingomicrobium aestuariivivum AH-M8T with a sequence similarity of 97.80 % followed by Sphingomicrobium astaxanthinifaciens CC-AMO-30BT (97.44 %), Sphingomicrobium marinum CC- AMZ-30MT (97.16 %), Sphingomicrobium arenosum CAU 1457T (96.37 %), Sphingomicrobium flavum CC-AMZ-30NT (95.31 %) and Sphingomicrobium lutaoense CC-TBT-3T (95.23 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with related strains ranged from 74.5 to 77.3% and 21.1 to 35.0 %, respectively. The G+C content of strain GRR-S6-50T was 63.30 mol%. The strain has ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids were C18 : 3 ω6c (54.57 %) and C17 : 1 ω6c (10.58 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified lipids and one glycolipid. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain GRR-S6-50T is regarded to represent a novel species within the genus Sphingomicrobium, for which the name Sphingomicrobium sediminis sp. nov. (KACC 22562T=KCTC 92123T=JCM 35084T) is proposed.

Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Pulicaria genus: Emphasis on the Flavonoids and Sesquiterpenoids and Cytotoxicity Effects

Abstract: The use of herbal remedies is more current in illnesses with chronic diseases. One of these important applications is the usage of many plant-derived compounds as cytotoxic agents for the treatment of cancers. Various research has been done on several species of Pulicaria genus for the evaluation of antihistaminic, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticide, and leishmanicidal activities. Some studies have shown that these plants have a rich pool of biometabolites like diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, caryophyllenes, flavonoids, and sesquiterpenoids. The main components in several species of this genus are flavonoids and sesquiterpenoids, which have been identified in chemotaxonomic studies and have shown cytotoxic properties. The Scopus and Science Direct sites were studied to find articles on flavonoid and sesquiterpenoid compounds that have been isolated from the Pulicaria genus. : Several biological compounds were isolated from different species of the Pulicaria genus. The main compounds are flavonoids and sesquiterpenoids, which have different biological effects. Its main effect is cytotoxic effect against several cancer cell lines. This study indicates that the Pulicaria genus has cytotoxic activity but posterity studies are needed to probe the active compounds and their possible expansion as novel anticancer drugs.