Phytochemical investigation of the roots of O. sennoides subsp. zanzibaricum Brenan & J.B. Gillett resulted in the isolation of three biflavonoids (trime-chamaejasmin, (+)- chamaejasmin, (+)-liquiritigeninyl-(I-3,II-3)-naringenin), one bi-4-phenyldihydrocoumarin (diphysin), one isoflavan (glabridin), one triterpenoid (3-O-acetyloleanoic acid) and a phytosterol (β-sitosterol). Compounds were identified by detailed MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Their absolute configurations were elucidated based on ECD spectra. The previously undescribed trime-chamaejasmin represents a bis-epi-chamaejasmenin C diastereomer. The chemophenetic significance is discussed in detail. The results contribute to the phytochemical characterization of the genus Ormocarpum and suggest a close chemophenetic relationship with other genera within the subfamily Papilionoideae. Furthermore, this report provides baseline data for comparing the two infraspecific taxa of O. sennoides (Willd.) DC.

A mesomeric form of quaternary indoloquinazoline alkaloid, soyauxinium chloride (1) was obtained through the chemical investigation of stem bark and roots of Araliopsis soyauxii Engl. [syn. Vepris soyauxii (Engl.) Mziray] (Rutaceae) together with fifteen known compounds, including three furoquinoline alkaloids, three 2-quinolones, two limonoids, two triterpenes, two steroids, a coumarin, an acridone alkaloid, and a flavonoid glycoside. Their structures were established by comprehensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses (1D and 2D NMR, ESI-HR-MS) and by comparison with previously reported data. 13C NMR data of araliopsinine are also reported here for the first time. The isolated compounds were screened in vitro for their effects on the viability of two different human cancer cell lines, namely prostate PC-3 adenocarcinoma cells and colorectal HT-29 adenocarcinoma cells. However, none of the tested compounds exhibited strong anti-proliferative or cytotoxic activities, to either prostate PC-3 cells or colon HT-29 cells. At 100 μM, the furoquinoline maculine showed a slightly increased anti-proliferative effect, however, exclusively on HT-29 cells. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds has also been discussed.

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Biosynthesis of the phytohormone jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) requires reduction of the JA precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) by OPDA reductase 3 (OPR3). Previous analyses of the opr3-1 Arabidopsis mutant suggested an OPDA signaling role independent of JA-Ile and its receptor COI1; however, this hypothesis has been challenged because opr3-1 is a conditional allele not completely impaired in JA-Ile biosynthesis. To clarify the role of OPR3 and OPDA in JA-independent defenses, we isolated and characterized a loss-of-function opr3-3 allele. Strikingly, opr3-3 plants remained resistant to necrotrophic pathogens and insect feeding, and activated COI1-dependent JA-mediated gene expression. Analysis of OPDA derivatives identified 4,5-didehydro-JA in wounded wild-type and opr3-3 plants. OPR2 was found to reduce 4,5-didehydro-JA to JA, explaining the accumulation of JA-Ile and activation of JA-Ile-responses in opr3-3 mutants. Our results demonstrate that in the absence of OPR3, OPDA enters the β-oxidation pathway to produce 4,5-ddh-JA as a direct precursor of JA and JA-Ile, thus identifying an OPR3-independent pathway for JA biosynthesis.

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(+)-7-iso-Jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) regulates developmental and stress responses in plants. Its perception involves the formation of a ternary complex with the F-box COI1 and a member of the JAZ family of co-repressors and leads to JAZ degradation. Coronatine (COR) is a bacterial phytotoxin that functionally mimics JA-Ile and interacts with the COI1-JAZ co-receptor with higher affinity than JA-Ile. On the basis of the co-receptor structure, we designed ligand derivatives that spatially impede the interaction of the co-receptor proteins and, therefore, should act as competitive antagonists. One derivative, coronatine-O-methyloxime (COR-MO), has strong activity in preventing the COI1-JAZ interaction, JAZ degradation and the effects of JA-Ile or COR on several JA-mediated responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, it potentiates plant resistance, preventing the effect of bacterially produced COR during Pseudomonas syringae infections in different plant species. In addition to the utility of COR-MO for plant biology research, our results underscore its biotechnological potential for safer and sustainable agriculture.

Jasmonates are lipid-derived plant hormones that regulate plant defenses and numerous developmental processes. Although the biosynthesis and molecular function of the most active form of the hormone, (+)-7-iso-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile), have been unraveled, it remains poorly understood how the diversity of bioactive jasmonates regulates such a multitude of plant responses. Bioactive analogs have been used as chemical tools to interrogate the diverse and dynamic processes of jasmonate action. By contrast, small molecules impairing jasmonate functions are currently unknown. Here, we report on jarin-1 as what is to our knowledge the first small-molecule inhibitor of jasmonate responses that was identified in a chemical screen using Arabidopsis thaliana. Jarin-1 impairs the activity of JA-Ile synthetase, thereby preventing the synthesis of the active hormone, JA-Ile, whereas closely related enzymes are not affected. Thus, jarin-1 may serve as a useful chemical tool in search for missing regulatory components and further dissection of the complex jasmonate signaling networks.

The allelopathic potential of Terminalia catappa L. Combretaceae fruits and leaves on Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Euphorbia heterophylla L. and Commelina benghalensis L. was studied. Bioassays indicated the highest activity for dichloromethane and ethyl-acetate fractions of ethanolic extracts from fruits, and the mean effective concentration (EC50) was determined. 2-Pentadecanone; vanillic, siringic, ferulic, p-coumaric, palmitic and stearic acids were characterized in the dichloromethane fraction, and 3,4,4′-tri-O-methyl ellagic acid and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside were isolated from it. No allelopathic effects were observed when the dichloromethane extracts of T. catappa fruit or leaf extracts were applied to the weeds E. heterophylla and C. benghalensis. Bioassays with seasonal sampling revealed an influence on the allelochemical potential of T. catappa. Considering the methodology adopted and the experimental results, the allelopathic activity of T. catappa seems to be related to the interaction of different groups of substances, some of them identified and characterized in this work.

The plant hormone auxin regulates virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. Auxin acts by binding the F-box protein transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR1) and promotes the degradation of the AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) transcriptional repressors. Here we show that efficient auxin binding requires assembly of an auxin co-receptor complex consisting of TIR1 and an Aux/IAA protein. Heterologous experiments in yeast and quantitative IAA binding assays using purified proteins showed that different combinations of TIR1 and Aux/IAA proteins form co-receptor complexes with a wide range of auxin-binding affinities. Auxin affinity seems to be largely determined by the Aux/IAA. As there are 6 TIR1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX proteins (AFBs) and 29 Aux/IAA proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana, combinatorial interactions may result in many co-receptors with distinct auxin-sensing properties. We also demonstrate that the AFB5–Aux/IAA co-receptor selectively binds the auxinic herbicide picloram. This co-receptor system broadens the effective concentration range of the hormone and may contribute to the complexity of auxin response.

The occurrence of flavolignans might be a valuable chemotaxonomic marker for the classification of Rosaceae species.