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The antiviral activities of extracts from Daucus maritimus seeds were investigated against the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and a panel of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of dengue virus, West Nile virus (WNV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The extracts showed moderate to potent inhibition rates against the four viral polymerases. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited a potent inhibitory effect against WNV's RdRp, with an IC50 value of 8 µg mL⁻¹. The F2 fraction exhibited potent inhibitory activity against WNV and HCV's RdRps, with IC50 values 1 and 5 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The P2 fraction also showed potent inhibitory effects on WNV and HCV's RdRps, with IC50 values 2.7 and 4 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The results suggest that these extracts are candidates for the development of new anti-WNV RpDp and anti-HCV RpDp agents.

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A validated HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS method has been developed to simultaneously quantify 12 bioactive compounds in the seeds of Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang and Notopterygium franchetii H. de Boiss whose rhizomes and roots are widely used as traditional Chinese medicine. This method was validated to be sensitive, precise and accurate and was applied to evaluate the difference in the chemical profiles and contents of these analytes in 37 batches of N. incisum and 31 batches of N. franchetii samples collected from different locations. Principal component analysis showed that the two species were separated into two groups obviously. This study established a validated method for identification of the authenticity of the seeds of N. incisum and N. franchetii and supplied effective guidance for artificial cultivation.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Many medicinal plants have been employed during ages to treat urinary stones though the rationale behind their use is not well established. Recently, we have successfully purified an anticalcifying protein from the seeds of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turril (Umbelliferae) using oxalate depletion assay and deciphered its inhibitory activity against calcium oxalate crystal growth. AIM: In this report, the antilithiatic activity of Trachyspermum ammi anticalcifying protein (TAP) was studied in urolithiatic rat model. METHODOLOGY: Urolithiasis was induced by exposure of 0.4% ethylene glycol (EG) and 1.0% ammonium chloride (NH(4)Cl) for 9 days. The efficacy of TAP was studied in another group given same dose of EG and NH(4)Cl in addition to 2mg/kg body weight of TAP. Further, we evaluated ability of TAP to inhibit the attachment of calcium oxalate (CaO(x)) crystal in kidney tissue and studied the consequences of CaO(x) adhesion on renal functioning and tissue integrity. RESULTS: The antilithiatic potential of TAP was confirmed by its ability to maintain renal functioning, reduce renal injury and decrease crystal excretion in urine and retention in renal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the present investigation suggests the potential of TAP in preventing calcium oxalate deposition and forms the basis for the development of antilithiatic drug interventions against urolithiasis.

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lomatium dissectum (Apiaceae) is a perennial, herbaceous plant of wide distribution in Western North America. At the time of dispersal, L. dissectum seeds are dormant and have under-developed embryos. The aims of this work were to determine the requirements for dormancy break and germination, to characterize the type of seed dormancy, and to determine the effect of dehydration after embryo growth on seed viability and secondary dormancy. METHODS: The temperature requirements for embryo growth and germination were investigated under growth chamber and field conditions. The effect of GA(3) on embryo growth was also analysed to determine the specific type of seed dormancy. The effect of dehydration on seed viability and induction of secondary dormancy were tested in seeds where embryos had elongated about 4-fold their initial length. Most experiments examining the nature of seed dormancy were conducted with seeds collected at one site in two different years. To characterize the degree of variation in dormancy-breaking requirements among seed populations, the stratification requirements of seeds collected at eight different sites were compared. KEY RESULTS: Embryo growth prior to and during germination occurred at temperatures between 3 and 6 degrees C and was negligible at stratification temperatures of 0.5 and 9.1 degrees C. Seeds buried in the field and exposed to natural winter conditions showed similar trends. Interruption of the cold stratification period by 8 weeks of dehydration decreased seed viability by about 30 % and induced secondary dormancy in the remaining viable seeds. Comparison of the cold stratification requirements of different seed populations indicates that seeds collected from moist habitats have longer cold stratification requirements that those from semiarid environments. CONCLUSIONS: Seeds of L. dissectum have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. The requirements for dormancy break and germination reflect an adaptation to trigger germination in late winter.

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The essential oil from seeds and aerial parts of Ferulago angulata (schlecht.) Boiss growing in Nevakoh and Shahoo mountains, West of Iran was studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry constituents were. The major components of seeds gathered in Nevakoh and shahoo were, respectively 24 and 26 constituents and found to be cis-ocimene (64.8 and 76.11%), alpha-pinene (15.4 and 7.29%), gamma-terpinene (5.9 and 2.88%), rho-cymene (4.1 and 1.4%), myrcene (1.9 and 1.05%) and bornyl acetate (0.9 and 1.69%). The major components of aerial parts gathered in Nevakoh and shahoo were respectively, 34 and 30 constituents and found to be alpha-pinene (27.1 and, 25.7%), cis-ocimene (22.6 and, 27.9%), bornyl acetate (8.5 and 3.9%), germacrene D (6.5 and 22.3%), trans-verbenol (5.8 and 0%), myrcene (5.2 and 2%), beta-bourbonene (2.7 and 0%), p-mentah-1, 5-dien-8-ol (1.9 and 0%), sabinene (1.5 and 2.1%), linalool (1.5 and 0%), metyl eugenol (1.3 and 0%), bicyclogermacrene (1.3 and 0%) and alpha-terpineol (1.2 and 0%), 3-carene (0 and 1.9%), camphene (0 and 1.6%), gamma-element (0 and 1.1%) and beta-cubenone (0 and 1%).The major components which were common in both seeds and leaves and found to be, bornyl acetate, myrcene and trans-ocimene. The major components which were only found in aerial parts were germacreneD, beta-bourbonene, camphene, sabinene and linalool. The major components which only were found in seeds: gamma-terpinene and rho-cymene.

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A highly embryogenic callus was obtained from hypocotyl segments of Coriandrum sativum L. when cultured in the medium consisting of MS + H vitamins (MSH). Induction of somatic embryos required 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or napthalene acetic acid. Germination of fully developed embryos was accomplished by subculture on half strength MSH medium containing benzylamino purine 0.05 mg/L. Plantlets developed from somatic embryos were transferred to soil and were successfully flowered.

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Bioassay-directed isolation and purification of the hexane extract of Apium graveolens L. seeds led to the characterization of three compounds: beta-selinene (1), 3-n-butyl-4,5-dihydrophthalide (2) and 5-allyl-2-methoxyphenol (3). The structures of these compounds were established by using (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral methods. Compounds, 1-3 demonstrated 100% mortality on fourth-instar Aedes aegyptii larvae at 50, 25, and 200 microg mL(-)(1), respectively, in 24 h. Also, 2 inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and Candida kruseii at 100 microg mL(-)(1). It inhibited both topoisomerase-I and -II enzyme activities at 100 microg mL(-)(1). Compound 2 displayed 100% mortality at 12.5 and 50 microg mL(-)(1), respectively, when tested on nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus and Caenorhabditis elegans. The triglyceride, 1,3-di[(cis)-9-octadecenoyl]-2-[(cis,cis)-9, 12-octadecadienoyl]glycerol (4) and 3 were isolated for the first time from A. graveolens seeds, although 4 was not biologically active.

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