Reseda Luteola Research Articles

Use of vegetative remains in the identification of dyeplants from waterlogged 9th–10th century AD deposits at York

Abstract Vegetative remains of four dyeplants ( Rubia tinctorum L., Genista tinctoria L., Diphasium complanatum (L.) Rothm. and Isatis tinctoria L.) found in 9th–10th century deposits at York, are described in detail. A fifth species ( Reseda luteola L.), so far only found as seeds, is also described.

Acidic amino acids in Reseda luteola

3-(3-Carboxyphenyl)alanine, (3-carboxyphenyl)glycine, 3-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)alanine and (3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine occur in all parts of Reseda luteola. The concentrations of the two diastereoisomers of 2( S)-4-hydroxy-4-methylglutamic acid undergo seasonal variation, the highest concentrations occurring in the first part of the summer. Highest concentrations are found in the inflorescences. The two diastereoisomers of 2( S)-4-hydroxy-2-aminopimelic acid occur in appreciable amounts in all parts of the plant. They are easily transformed into two structurally different lactones, one of which is very unstable. The structures of these amino acids have been confirmed by synthesis. Green parts of R. luteola also contain substantial quantities of γ-glutamylglutamic acid and glutathione.

Direct densitometric determination by absorption of flavonoids of the yellow-weld (Reseda luteola L.) separated by thin-layer chromatography

Direct densitometric determination by absorption of flavonoids of the yellow-weld (Reseda luteola L.) separated by thin-layer chromatography This paper describes a method for the determination of the flavonoids of the yellow-weld (Reseda luteola L.) by analysis of ethanolic extracts of the different parts of the plant on cellulose thin layers, followed by measurement of the intensity of ultra-violet absorption. Standard curves have been established for each of the following flavonoids: luteolin, luteolin 7-O0flucoside, and luteolin diglucoside. The optimum ranges for measurements are: 0.17-0.85 μg for luteolin, 0.17-1.50 μg for luteolin 7-O-glucoside, and 0.20-1.0 μg for luteolin diglucoside. The observed variation factors are less than <+-6%. The method permits the separate determination of each of the flavonoids found in the different parts of the yellow-weld with satisfactory precision.

Sources of sulfur in the thioglucosides of various higher plants.

L-Methionine-35S and DL-cysteine-35S were good sources of sulfur for the biosynthesis of sinigrin in Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib. and were incorporated with approximately the same efficiency. Homomethionine-35S was a slightly poorer source of sulfur than methionine, while taurine-35S was a very poor source. When homomethionine, methionine, and cysteine were employed as sources of sulfur, the distribution of radioactivity between the two sulfur atoms in sinigrin was approximately 80% in the isothiocyanate moiety and 10–15% in the sulfate moiety. When taurine was employed, the distribution was reversed. 1-Thio-β-D-glucose (1-thioglucose) also was a poor source of sulfur for sinigrin. The carbon skeleton of 1-thioglucose was only slightly incorporated into this thioglucoside. The experiments indicated that 1-thioglucose was not a direct precursor of the 1-thioglucosyl residue of sinigrin.The administration of doubly labeled methionine-2-14C-35S clearly demonstrated that this amino acid was not incorporated intact into sinigrin. The carbon-2 and sulfur atoms were metabolized by two different routes.Preliminary studies related to sulfur incorporation into the thioglucosides of Nasturtium officinale R.Br., Tropaeolum majus L., and Reseda luteola L. indicated that there were some differences depending on the source of sulfur; DL-cysteine was a better source of sulfur than either methionine or 1-thioglucose. Tropaeolum majus L. appeared to utilize the sulfur of cysteine for the production of thioglucoside as efficiently as Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib.; however, the other two species utilized the sulfur from the amino acids very poorly.

N6-trimethyl-L-lysine betamine from seeds of Reseda luteola L.

N6-trimethyl-L-lysine betamine from seeds of Reseda luteola L.

Metabolism of some meta-carboxy aromatic amino acids

Radioactive meta-carboxytyrosine was synthesized and administered to detached leaves of Reseda odorata, Lunaria annua, Reseda luteola, and to Wedgewood iris ( Iris tingitana X Iris xithium). Phenylalanine- 14C was fed similarly. There was a small but significant conversion of meta-carboxytyrosine to 3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-glycine by iris leaves; the only other leaves that brought about the conversion were R. odorata, and they produced up to four times as much as did iris leaves. Phenylalanine was converted to meta-carboxyphenylalanine by R. odorata and iris.

BIOSYNTHESIS OF MUSTARD OIL GLUCOSIDES. VI. BIOSYNTHESIS OF GLUCOBARBARIN IN RESEDA LUTEOLA L.

A number of C14-labelled compounds were fed to Reseda luteola L.; after a 24-hour period of metabolism, the thioglucoside aglycone (5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinethione) was isolated and its specific activity determined. In some instances the aglycone was degraded to determine the distribution of C14.DL-γ-Phenylbutyrine (2-amino-4-phenylbutyric acid) was the most efficient precursor of the aglycone, followed by phenylalanine and acetate; the carboxyl carbon of these compounds was not incorporated into the thioglucoside aglycone. Little or no randomization of C14 in the aglycone resulted from feeding DL-γ-phenylbutyrine-2- and -3-C14, DL-phenylalanine-2- and -3-C14, and acetate-2-C14. The conversion of C14 from 10 additional compounds into the aglycone was less than that from D-glucose-G-C14. Isotope competition experiments suggest that β-benzylmalic acid also may be a precursor. It appears that the C6–C3 aglycone is formed from phenylalanine and acetate via C6–C5 and C6–C4 intermediates (including γ-phenylbutyrine or its keto acid analogue) in a manner analogous to the formation of gluconasturtiin in watercress. The carbon-14 and nitrogen-15 of L-phenylalanine-G-C14-N15 and of DL-γ-phenylbutyrine-2-C14-N15 were not incorporated as a unit into the aglycone of glucobarbarin.

Antithyroid effect of barbarin (phenylthiooxazolidone), a naturally-occurring compound from Barbarea.

SummaryThe antithyroid potency of barbarin, a phenylthiooxazolidone obtained from various species of Barbarea and Reseda luteola, was assayed by its inhibition of raioiodine uptake in rat and man. In both species it was found to be approximately 50% as active as goitrin (vinylthiooxazolidone).