Anemarrhena Research Articles

On the Origin, Development and Ultrastructure of the Orbicuies and Pollenkitt in the Tapetum ofAnemarrhena Asphodeloides(Liliaceae)

Abstract Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge is a monotypic genus of Liliaceae, growing in China and Korea. The pro‐orbicules are derived from the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum. There are prominent aggregates of orbicuies in Anemarrhena. The first sign of the formation of pollenkitt is that the proplastids begin to differentiate into elaioplasts in the tapetum, and then the elaioplasts become the main source of pollenkitt. Alternatively, cytoplasmic vesicles derived from RER are probably the other way pollenkitt is synthesed in this species.

Screening test for platelet aggregation inhibitor in natural products. The active principle of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma

In the course of screening of natural products for platelet aggregation inhibitor in rabbit and human platelet, the extracts of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was found to inhibit adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. The active components were isolated by column chromatography monitoring inhibitory activity of platelet aggregation and identified as tiomosaponin A-III and markogenin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside by means of spectroscopic analysis. Timosaponin A-III and markogenin glycoside were found to inhibit ADP-induced aggregation as well as 5-HT or arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of human platelet.

Pattern formation and cell interactions in epidermal development of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Liliaceae)

In the leaf epidermis of the monocotyledon Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge a characteristic pattern of stomata and papilla cells is developed. The ontogeny of both kinds of specialized cells is initiated by a formative mitosis yielding one daughter cell with aberrant structure and competence. It is shown that these distinctive cell types affect the fate of neighbouring epidermal cells. The final epidermal pattern is due to random initial events, as well as cell lineage, and cell‐to‐cell interactions during development.

Epidermal cell differentiation during leaf development in Anemarrhena asphodeloides

The epidermis of Anemarrhena asphodeloides is composed of three distinct cell types: guard cells of the stomata, ordinary epidermal cells, and papilla cells occurring in files wedged between files of ordinary epidermal cells. Both stomata and papilla cells have their origin from formative mitoses in the young protoderm. Their differentiation described on the basis of light and polarization microscopy involves a decrease in cell contacts and changing orientation of cellulose microfibrils of the cell wall. These changes are discussed in relation to the pattern of cell divisions and to the modification of cell shape during epidermal development.

Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of anemarans A, B, C and D, glycans of Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizomes.

An aqueous methanol/water extract of the Oriental crude drug “chimo”, ANEMARRHENA ASPHODELOIDES rhizomes, exhibited a marked hypoglycemie activity on dosing to mice. Fractionation of the extract, by monitoring the pharmacological activity, resulted in isolation of four glycans, anamerans A, B, C and D. These constituents displayed significant hypoglycemie effects in normal and alloxan-produced hyperglycemie mice.

Inhibitors of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in medicinal plants.

Hot aqueous extracts of medicinal plants used in oriental medicine were tested for their inhibitory effect on beef heart phosphodiesterase to detect biologically active compounds present therein. Of 222 samples tested 22 showed reproducible inhibition. cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors contained in Anemarrhena asphodeloides were identified as norlignans and their structure activity relationship was investigated; cis-hinokiresinol, the main inhibitor exhibited a prolongation effect on hexobarbital sleeping time in mice.

Further studies on the biosynthesis of mangiferin in Anemarrhena asphodeloides: hydroxylation of the shikimate-derived ring

The hydroxylation at C-3′ of maclurin, an intermediate in mangiferin biosynthesis, has been studied. Labelled cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, iriflophenone and maclurin were fed to Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid were better precursors than caffeic acid for mangiferin, and iriflophenone as well as maclurin was effectively incorporated into mangiferin and isomangiferin. These results show that maclurin is biosynthesized via hydroxylation of iriflophenone derived from p-coumarate in this plant.

Biosynthesis of mangiferin in Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. I. The origin of the xanthone nucleus.

Phenylalanine-1-14C, -2-14C and -3-14C, and malonic acid-2-14C were efficiently incorporated into mangiferin (1) in Anemarrhena asphodeloides. In the case of feeding with phenylalanine-1-14C, -2-14C and malonic acid-2-14C, the radioactivity of 1 was localized in the phloroglucinol ring. Furthermore, cinnamic acid-3-14C and p-coumaric acid-2-14C were also incorporated into 1 and isomangiferin (2), but benzoic acid-, p-hydroxybenzoic acid-and protocatechuic acid-(carboxyl-14C) were essentially not incorporated into 1 or 2. In addition to the above data, doubly labelled p-coumaric acid was incorporated into 1 without change of the T/14C ratio. These results show that the aglycone of 1 and 2 was biosynthesized from p-coumarate (C6-C3) and two malonates (C4).

薬用資源の研究 (第24報)

One of the components in Timo, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, was known to be flavonoid compound, C22H18O11⋅2H2O, m.p. 257-258° by Nakaoki and coworkers. While Shimada and coworkers reported later that it would be a xanthon derivative, C19H18O11 and perhaps mangiferin or something concerned with it, but it had not been exactly recognized since now. It was identified to be mangiferin by the authors using UV, IR, X-ray analysis etc.

SAPONINS OF TIMO (ANEMARRHENAE RHIZOMA). II. STRUCTURE OF TIMOSAPONIN A-III.

Timosaponin A-III, the crystalline steroid saponin isolated from a commercial crude drug Timo (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), has been shown to be sarsasapogenin O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside. The biose which forms the sugar moiety of timosaponin A-III was obtained as crystals from the partial hydrolyzate of the saponin and named timobiose.