Tigridiopalma magnifica, a member of the Melastomataceae family, is a monotypic genus perennial plant species endemic to South China. Due to its rarity and restricted distribution, the species has been designated as a national second-level protected plant of China. To enhance conservation efforts for T. magnifica, a chromosome scale genome was assembled using combined Oxford Nanopore long-read and Hi-C data. The assembled T. magnifica genome spans 217,339,795 bp across 22 pseudochromosomes with a scaffold N50 of 11,008,659 bp. Telomeric caps at both ends of all the pseudochromosomes were identified, and no intra-chromosomal gaps existed except of pseudochromosomes 5 and 15 with each containing one. The genome demonstrates 95% Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) completeness, a Long Terminal Repeat Assembly Index (LAI) value of 16.01 and Merqury quality value (QV) of 42.09. Genome annotation revealed 43,291 protein-coding genes and 475 tRNA genes. This high-quality assembly and annotation provide essential insights into the genomic features of T. magnifica, facilitating effective conservation strategies and future applications for this species.

The rise of drug-resistant bacteria has driven researchers to explore natural alternatives. phytochemical examination of Barleria cristata Linn's chloroform extract. revealed several active ingredients in its leaf extract. To obtain a complete chemical profile of the chloroform leaf extract, a combination of NMR, GC-MS, IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy is required. A thorough analysis of the biological characteristics and phytochemistry of the Barleria genus is provided in this research. Additionally, numerous studies have explored the chemical composition and potential therapeutic applications of Memecylon edule, a species in the Melastomataceae family. Chemical profiling of the chloroform leaf extract of Memecylon edule can be conducted using methods such as Methods of chromatography and instrumental spectroscopy identify bioactive compounds. Research on similar species, along with standard techniques for analyzing plant extracts, provides valuable insights. Both Memecylon edule and Barleria cristata chloroform leaf extracts have demonstrated significant anthelmintic activity.

Abstract. Das B, Nath N. 2026. Short Communication: Morpho-palynological study of the endemic species Sarcopyramis subramanii (Melastomataceae) from Northeast India. Biodiversitas 27 (1): d270105. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270105. The family Melastomataceae is known for its diplostemonous flowers and appendaged anther connectives. Sarcopyramis is a very small genus within this family with only four accepted taxa across the world. The structure of the calyx apex plays a vital role in differentiating the taxa under this genus. Sarcopyramis subramanii is an endemic plant from northeast India, and has not been studied in detail. This plant was misidentified as S. napalensis, a morphologically similar plant, for a long time. This study aimed to analyze the detailed taxonomic aspects along with palynological features using SEM microscopy to facilitate the adequate identification of this lesser-known species. Plant samples have been collected from three different locations in Assam, northeast India. Photographs of habit, floral parts, and SEM images of pollens are included here for proper validation. The pollen of S. subramanii is prolate-spheroidal in shape with colporate and colpate apertures. From the palynological data, these two species can be easily distinguished as the pollens of S. subramanii possess an outgrowth structure in the colpi. The P/E ratio of S. subramanii is 1.06, whereas S. napalensis is 1.63. The plant should be conserved due to the ongoing rapid habitat destruction, as it has a limited geographical range and a very small population.

Exploring natural products is essential for identifying new bioactive substances with unique molecular structures and mechanisms of action. Successful experiences in identifying and developing chemotherapeutic agents from plant-derived sources have inspired the search for new strategies and alternative treatments for various diseases. Today, more than half of the anticancer drugs in clinical use are derived, directly or indirectly, from natural products. In this review, we present findings from studies on medicinal plants conducted at the Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, in collaboration with other research groups from the Program Biota/FAPESP, aimed at evaluating their safety for widespread use. Our research team has conducted extensive studies over approximately 25 years, assessing 65 crude plant extracts from 31 species and 8 isolated phytochemicals. Most of these species belong to the Melastomataceae family, followed by the Malpighiaceae family. Among the phytochemicals, flavonoids, diterpenes, indolinones, and alkaloids are the most common. In this comprehensive review, we examine the biological effects identified and their potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the context of anticancer strategies. Our goal is to highlight the pharmacological potential of compounds derived from these plants, thereby supporting the development of drugs that can be effectively utilized in clinical practice.

Shrub vegetation is an important component in the structure of vegetation communities that have a significant ecological role, especially in maintaining soil stability and supporting biodiversity. One area that has the potential for shrub vegetation diversity but has not been scientifically documented is the Jaboi hot spring area, Weh Island, Sukajaya District, Sabang City. The purpose of this study was to investigate various types of shrub vegetation found in the study area and to calculate the diversity index. Data collection was carried out using a one-hundred-meter line transect method divided into four paths, with one pair of transects directed towards residential areas and plantation areas, while the remaining two transects were directed towards areas that were still forested. At each transect there were six observation points with a distance between points of 20 meters, each point consisting of three quadrat plots measuring 2 × 2 meters. Analysis of the diversity index used the Shannon-Wiener formula (H’). The results showed that there were 9 shrub species from 7 families with a total of 169 individuals from four observation stations. The Melastomataceae family dominates the shrub community with two main species, Melastoma malabathricum and Memecylon caeruleum. The diversity index value is 2.17, which is included in the moderate category (H = 2–3). This diversity is influenced by the physical-chemical conditions of the environment, such as acidic soil pH (4.4–5.5) and relatively stable temperatures, although temperatures exceeding the optimum limit were found in some locations. This study provides initial data on the potential of shrub vegetation as a basis for ecosystem management and conservation in the area.

Even after decades of research on diversification in the Neotropics, our understanding of the evolutionary processes that shaped Neotropical clades is still incomplete. In the present study, we used different divergence times and likelihood-based methods to investigate the influence of biogeography and host plant associations on the diversification of the most species-rich psyllid genus Melanastera (Liviidae) from the Neotropics as a model group of herbivorous insects. We used molecular phylogenetic data from seven gene fragments (four mitochondrial and three nuclear). The putatively monophyletic group of Neotropical Melanastera species has an estimated crown node age of 20.2Ma (ML, CI 20.2-30.6) or 23.2Ma (BI, 95% HPD 16.6-32.6), with diversification occurring mainly in the Upper Miocene, although some species groups diversified in the Pliocene or Pleistocene. Biogeographic analysis suggests that the Neotropical Melanastera originated from the Pacific region of South and Central America. We detected a shift in diversification rates that likely occurred either at the time of origin of Melanastera or during the main colonisation of the Atlantic and Amazon Forests, followed by a subsequent slowdown in speciation rates. State-dependent speciation and extinction models revealed a significant relationship between this diversification shift and the shift of Melanastera to the plant families Melastomataceae and Annonaceae, reflecting the impact of host switching on speciation rates in this group. This period also coincides with several independent dispersal events from the Atlantic and Amazon Forests to other parts of the Neotropics. Taken together, the results of the current study suggest that diversification of Melanastera was facilitated by shifts to new host families, which may have promoted the dispersal of Melanastera into new adaptive zones with subsequent processes of local speciation.

Abstract The phylogenetic placement of Feliciadamia stenocarpa, a rare and endemic species from Guinea within the family Melastomataceae, has remained uncertain due to limited molecular data and lack of recent collections. Following recent field expeditions, we obtained samples for phylogenomic analysis using both target capture and genome skimming approaches. Phylogenetic reconstructions, including 203 taxa, revealed significant discordance between coalescent and concatenated nuclear tree topologies. The coalescent species tree positioned Feliciadamia as sister to Dissochaeteae, while the concatenated tree nested it within this group. Genome skimming analyses of nine selected taxa around the discordant subtree further clarified Feliciadamia as sister to Dissochaeteae in nuclear datasets, though plastid data placed it within Dissochaeteae. Gene tree discordance and network analyses indicated potential hybridization and reticulate evolution in this lineage. Morphological examination, including new seed morphology data, led to an expanded description of F. stenocarpa, and we preliminarily assessed it as endangered.

Shifts among different groups of pollinators are central in the evolution of flowering plants, yet mechanisms underlying pollinator shifts remain unclear. Environment-induced reduction in pollinator availability and hence efficiency may destabilize ancestral plant-pollinator interactions and trigger shifts to new, more efficient pollinators, but formal tests remain scarce. We used a series of phylogenetic comparative methods on 333 species of the pantropical family Melastomataceae to test whether elevation, latitude and climatic variables explain pollinator shifts and the distribution of floral traits governing pollen release. We find that shifts away from bee pollination to generalist insect and vertebrate pollination associate with occurrence in cooler and wetter mountain environments. Also, we show that mountain colonization repeatedly preceded and, hence, likely triggered shifts away from bee pollination. Furthermore, our results suggest that the evolution of floral traits (larger petals and pore sizes) facilitating pollen transfer by bees may have been critical for the initial colonization of mountains by bee-pollinated species. By identifying environments conducive to pollinator shifts, our results do not only provide a much-needed hypothesis for mechanisms underlying the evolution of different pollinationsystems but also confirm their validity through empirical testing. Whether environment-induced evolutionary pollinator shifts are the norm across angiosperms remains to be explored.

Honey is widely used for edible, medicinal and religious purposes worldwide. Meliponiculture involves the management and breeding of stingless bees that produce honey with greater medicinal properties compared to the honey of other bee species. In Peru, the botanical composition of honey produced by stingless bees has not been studied despite its high nutritional quality. Therefore, this study aims to identify the botanical composition of stingless bee honey from the Peruvian Amazon through a melissopalynological analysis. Fourteen honey samples were collected and analyzed from the Loreto and Pasco regions. The results revealed that pollen grains from the Melastomataceae family were very frequent, while those from Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Psidium guajava were frequent. Conversely, Juglans neotropica, Acacia and Meliaceae were found to be infrequent, while Alchornea, Asteraceae types, and Paullinia were classified as rare. Overall, multifloral honeys were identified, indicating a similar preference for floral resources among different bee species, regardless of their geographical location. Furthermore, the interactions between honey producers and stingless bees varied between the two studied Amazonian regions. In Loreto, beekeepers produce stingless bee honey not only for their own consumption, but also for economic purposes. In contrast, in Pasco, honey production is primarily for personal use. Comprehensive melissopalynological studies of stingless bee honey are essential in Peru to enhance the integration of scientific and traditional knowledge for the effective utilization and commercialization of bee products.

Mouriri guianensis Aubl, of the Melastomataceae family, occurs in a wide variety of vegetation types in Brazil. In the Pantanal, it is known as Roncador and has medicinal and food importance. We aim is to evaluate different types of treatments for breaking dormancy. The seeds were divided into six treatments for the germination tests: removal of the seed coat (T1), scarification of the seeds (T2), immersion in water for 12 hours (T3), immersion in water for 48 hours (T4), immersion in water for 288 hours (T5), and control (T6). The percentage of emergency (%E) and mean emergency time (MET) were evaluated. Of the treatments that obtained the highest percentage of emergency was T1 with 63%, T5 with 44% followed by T6, T3, T4, and T2 with (35%, 29%, 27% and 24%), respectively. The treatment that achieved the highest percentage of emergency was the one in which the seeds had their tegument removed, thus allowing for greater water soaking and gas exchange, thus enabling the highest rate of seedling emergence in a shorter period of time. In recent decades, the Pantanal biome has suffered different types of pressure, both natural and anthropogenic. Conservation measures such as increasing forest areas are therefore necessary, with the planting of seedlings using species from the region. The use of treatments that induce the germination of dormant plants is a viable way of producing seedlings that can propagate quickly and reforest strategic locations in this biome.

Dissotis erecta is a shrubby herb belonging to the Melastomataceae family, commonly found in Nigeria. It is widely recognized for its diverse ethnomedicinal applications, including treating edema, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and rheumatism. Alongside other plant parts, its flowers, rich in biologically active compounds, are valued for their aesthetic appeal and potential health benefits. This study assessed the antioxidant properties, total phenolic, total flavonoid, and bioactive contents of the methanolic extract of D. erecta flowers. The antioxidant properties were determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing activity, and metal chelating assay. The extract demonstrated strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, metal chelating ability, and reducing power, with IC50 values of 79.84 ± 0.64 µg/mL, 125.77 ± 2.64 µg/mL, 87.89 ± 0.91 µg/mL, and 71.71 ± 0.55 µg/mL, respectively. Phytocompounds such as alkaloids, sterols, and terpenoids were present in the flower extract, while phlobatanins and glycosides were absent. Total phenolic content was 57.47 ± 0.21 mg GAE/g, while total flavonoid content was 83.52 ± 0.31 mg QE/g. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis identified α-terpineol (86.53%), nerolidol (7.44%), campesterol (1.12%), and neocurdione (1.29%) as the predominant components. These findings indicate that D. erecta flowers contain a significant amount of phytocompounds with antioxidative properties that could potentially be useful in managing diseases related to oxidative stress.

The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse array of bioactive compounds available in the Melastomataceae family, which is one of the most widely spread and diverse flowering plant families found in the tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, a systematic analysis of the bioactive compounds found in the Melastomataceae species including flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins and alkaloids, as well as their potential therapeutic effects, is presented. The research emphasized the significance of the presence of these compounds in a variety of traditional medicine systems based on a detailed analysis of existing literature. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the therapeutic potential of these compounds and recommends that the exploration and research efforts be intensified to understand the pharmacological benefits and mechanisms of the bioactive constituents of the Melastomataceae family of plants which will be a significant contribution to the discovery of new natural products.

Although research on gall-associated insects has increased in recent years in Brazil, little is known about this fauna in the Melastomataceae family. Here, we compiled information on the fauna of insects associated with galls induced in species of the Melastomataceae in different Brazilian biomes. Scientific articles on the fauna associated with galls were obtained through the "Web of Science" database. Further, data on associated fauna obtained from the inventories were analyzed and compiled into dynamic tables. To investigate the relationship of inducers with host plants, we performed a network analysis using the 'igraph' R package. We observed 100 insect galls in Melastomataceae, of which only 32 host plant species were identified to the species level and had associated fauna present. The largest number of insect galls was found in the Atlantic Forest (73%) or in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado transition areas (18%). About 52% of the insects belong to the family Cecidomyiidae and 37% of the insects to the order Lepidoptera. Insects belonging to the family Cecidomyiidae induced galls on the following genera Miconia Ruiz and Pav., Tibouchina Aubl. and Leandra Raddi. Besides inducing galls on these same genera, insects of the order Lepidoptera induced galls exclusively on Maieta guianensis Aubl. In short, we found that taxonomic knowledge of the fauna associated with galls in Melastomataceae is very incipient, the distribution of the fauna associated with galls in Brazil is restricted to regions with the presence of specialists in the group.

Polyphenolics and triterpenoids from the whole herbs of Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Isolation and characterization of phytochemicals from leaf extract of Memecylon lushingtonii Gamble and their evaluation for biological properties

Background:Dissotis rotundifolia(Sm.) Triana isa prostrate herb of the family Melastomataceae. It is used for the treatment of obesity, hypertension, circulatory problems and metabolic syndrome (MS). This study evaluated the antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory.and antimicrobial activities of the whole plant of D. rotundifoliato validateits therapeutic potential in the management and treatment of MS. Materials and Methods: The plant was screened for proximate, mineral, vitamin and phytochemical components, as well as antioxidant activities using standard laboratory techniques. The anticancer activities of the ethanol plant extract were against kidney (VERO) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was determined using nitric oxide production inhibition assay and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated against five pathogenic organisms. All data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The plant was rich in carbohydrate (47.87%), protein (22.5%), crude fibre (9.57%), Na (206.67 mg/100 g), Ca (183.33mg/100 g), vitamin C (25.53 mg/100 g), flavonoids (685.00 mg/100 g), alkaloids (616.67 mg/100 g) and saponins (471.67 mg/100 g) contents. Theextract exhibited considerableand variedantioxidant activities.The plant extract was very active against VERO and MCF-7 cellsatlow concentrations(0.145 mg/ml and 0.141 mg/ml respectively) compared to doxorubicin. It also exhibited significant anti-inflammatory action against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW macrophage. The extract was active against all test organisms. Overall, D. rotundifolia displayed significant antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Conclusion: The observed bioactivities of the plant could be attributed to its phytocontents and are indications of itspotential as an agent for the managementand treatment ofmetabolic syndrome.

Melanasterasinica He & Burckhardt, sp. nov., a new psylloid species developing on Grewia sp., is described from Hainan, China. It is the first Melanastera species reported from Asia and China, and the second species from the Old World. While New World species of Melanastera are mostly associated with the plant families Melastomataceae and Annonaceae, the two Old World species develop on the malvaceous Grewia, a host otherwise used in psylloids by two Haplaphalara species. The new species is described, diagnosed and illustrated, and its host plant and biogeographic ranges are discussed.

Introduction: Memecylon umbellatum is a perennial plant of the Melastomataceae family that grows in abundance in the Western Ghats and has been used traditionally to treat cancer and inflammatory conditions. Methods: From the literature survey, it was found that no substantial work has been carried out to identify the bioactive compounds by HPTLC method and to screen the antioxidant and anticancer activity of M. umbellatum. Hence, an effort has been made to carry out the phytochemical investigation by HPTLC method and to screen the antioxidant activity by ABTS assay, DPPH assay, Nitric oxide antioxidant assay, Iron chelating activity and Total antioxidant activity. Results: Total phenolics and flavonoids were carried out by using suitable methods. MCF-7 as well as MDA-MB-231 cells were used to test anticancer activities in vitro. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that ethyl acetate extract caused G0/G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 cells. HPTLC analysis led to the identification of Lupeol from ethyl acetate extract. Conclusion: The anticancer activity of ethyl acetate extract of M. umbellatum was significant. The antioxidant and anticancer activity may attributed to Lupeol, Phenolic compounds and Flavonoids.

1.The Melastomataceae is a homogeneous family of about 220 genera and 5300 species and is generally confined to the tropical and subtropical regions, avoiding arid conditions and attaining prolific developments in the rain forests between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn. More than one half of the World's melastomataceous genera (about 120) and two-thirds of the total number of species (about 3353) are confined to the New World. The melastomataceous flora of Indo-Malesia consists of 64 genera and about 1300 species. In the Old World the incidence of melastomataceous species for Indo-Malesia and Africa is in the ratio of 2:1.2.The present distribution of Melastomataceae in both the New World and the Old World is discussed on the basis of Wegener's hypothesis of "Continental Drift". Instead of considering the island of Madagascar as the centre of origin of the family in a restricted way, it is considered that "Gondwanaland" was ideally suited for the melastomataceous flora and those blocks that moved away after the breaking up of this huge continental mass in the Late Cretaceous, each carried their own share of melastomataceous species which, after gradual establishment in new situations during a long span of time and space, proliferated into several new taxa by an intensive process of evolution.3.The Deccan Peninsula + Ceylon block in drifting over the Indian Ocean must have carried the original Gondwanaland stock and gene-pool of the Melastomataceae which later-when this block was fused with Laurasia and the Tethys Sea had disappeared-became the centre of development of the family in continental Asia. Then Melastomataceae could further develop on the southern part of Laurasia and from there migrate eastward to the Malesian islands, the Western Pacific and northern Australia.This implies the conclusion that, though Australia also formed part of the ancient Gondwanaland, this cannot have carried part of the ancient Gondwanaland Melastomataceae when Australia drifted apart.4.An attempt has been made to assess the centres of distribution of Indo-Malesian Melastomataceae and from this study the following four centres of development are proposed : (i) The Deccan-Ceylon centre, (ii) The Himalayan-Yunnan centre, (iii) The Sunda centre and (iv) The Philippine-Papuan centre.5.The Island of Borneo is unique in having the largest number of genera-42 out of the Indo-Malesian total of 64 genera-and the largest number of species i.e. 257. Perhaps, it is due to the part played by the mountain of Kinabalu in enriching the floristic composition of Borneo. It is generally considered by phytogeographers that Kinabalu is a great sanctuary of flora, past and present, and a nursery of endemic elements.

Huberia DC. is a genus belonging to the family Melastomataceae, which comprises 37 species distributed in vegetation formations of the Amazon Forest and Andes complex and the Atlantic Forest biome. Recent phylogenetic studies have modified the circumscription of the genus to include the genera Behuria Cham. and Dolichoura Brade. Furthermore, the genus was placed in the new tribe Cambessedesieae, together with the genera Cambessedesia DC. and Merianthera Kuhlm. In view of the relevant contribution of palynology to taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, this study aimed to expand the palynological knowledge of Huberia. Samples from 22 species were obtained from specimens deposited in the herbaria of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (RB), National Museum/UFRJ (R), Municipal Botanical Museum of Curitiba (MBM), and Federal University of Paraná (UPCB). Flower buds were acetolysed and used to prepare pollen sediment slides. Slides were mounted with glycerinated gelatin and analyzed and photographed under a light microscope. The results showed pollen grains in monads, small, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to subprolate; heteroaperturate (colporate and pseudocolpate), tricolporate, with a small, very small, or non-existent polar area in syncolporate pollen; colpi long or very long and narrow, endoaperture lalongate with median constriction in most species and lolongate in others; exine perforate, rugulate, or striate microreticulate and the sexine thicker than the nexine. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that palynological characters provide information for the taxonomy of the group.