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PubMed2006

In vitro screening of six anthelmintic plant products against larval Haemonchus contortus with a modified methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium reduction assay.

Because of the increasing anthelmintic resistance and the impact of conventional anthelmintics on the environment, it is important to look for alternative strategies against gastrointestinal nematodes. Phytotherapy could be one of the major options to control these pathologies. Extracts or ingredients of six different plant species were tested against exsheathed infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus using a modified methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) reduction assay. Pyrantel tartrate was used as reference anthelmintic. Bromelain, the enzyme complex of the stem of Ananas comosus (Bromeliaceae), the ethanolic extracts of seeds of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Caesalpinia crista (Caesalpiniaceae) and Vernonia anthelmintica (Asteraceae), and the ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Fumaria parviflora (Papaveraceae) and of the fruit of Embelia ribes (Myrsinaceae) showed an anthelmintic efficacy of up to 93%, relative to pyrantel tartrate. Based on these results obtained with larval Haemonchus contortus, the modified MTT reduction assay could be a possible method for testing plant products with anthelmintic properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The anthelmintic efficacy of five plant products against gastrointestinal trichostrongylids in artificially infected lambs.

Forty-eight helminth-free lambs were divided into eight groups (A-H) of six animals. Groups A-G were infected artificially with 10,000 third stage larvae of Haemonchus contortus and 20,000 third stage larvae of Trichostrongylus colubriformis, whereas group H remained uninfected. Thirty days post-infection the lambs were treated orally with a single dosage of one of the following products: group A with 3 mg/kg body weight (BW) of an aqueous ethanol extract (70%, v/v) of the seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss syn. Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae); group B with 1 g/kg BW of a raw powder of the leaves of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. (Bromeliaceae); group C with 0.3 mg/kg BW of an aqueous ethanol extract of a 1:1 mixture (g/g) of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae) seeds and Embelia ribes Burm (Myrsinaceae) fruits; group D with 183 mg/kg BW of an aqueous ethanol extract of the whole plants of Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae); group E with 28 mg/kg BW of an aqueous ethanol extract of the seeds of Caesalpinia crista L. (Caesalpiniaceae); group F with 25 mg/kg BW of pyrantel tartrate and group G with 50% ethanol. Group H remained untreated. Only the ethanol extract of F. parviflora caused a strong reduction of the faecal egg counts (100%) and a 78.2 and 88.8% reduction of adult H. contortus and T. colubriformis on day 13 post-treatment. The extract was as effective as the reference compound pyrantel tartrate. Therefore, the ethanol extract itself or single constituents of F. parviflora could be a promising alternative source of anthelmintic for the treatment of gastrointestinal trichostrongylids in small ruminants.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Ferulic acid is esterified to glucuronoarabinoxylans in pineapple cell walls.

The ester-linkage of ferulic acid (mainly E) to polysaccharides in primary cell walls of pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) (Bromeliaceae) was investigated by treating a cell-wall preparation with 'Driselase' which contains a mixture of endo- and exo-glycanases, but no hydroxycinnamoyl esterase activity. The most abundant feruloyl oligosaccharide released was O-[5-O-(E-feruloyl)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl](1-->3)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose (FAXX). This indicated that the ferulic acid is ester-linked to glucuronoarabinoxylans in the same way as in the primary walls of grasses and cereals (Poaceae). Glucuronoarabinoxylans are the major non-cellulosic polysaccharides in the pineapple cell walls.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Aechmea pectinata: a hummingbird-dependent bromeliad with inconspicuous flowers from the rainforest in south-eastern Brazil.

The pollination biology of Aechmea pectinata (Bromeliaceae) was studied in a submontane rainforest in south-eastern Brazil. This species has a mainly clumped distribution and its aggregated individuals are likely to be clones. From October to January, during the flowering period, the distal third of its leaves becomes red. The inflorescence produces 1-15 flowers per day over a period of 20-25 d. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-white coloured, tubular shaped with a narrow opening, and the stigma is situated just above the anthers. Anthesis begins at 0400 h and flowers last for about 13 h. The highest nectar volume and sugar concentration occur between 0600 and 1000 h, and decrease throughout the day. Aechmea pectinata is self-incompatible and therefore pollinator-dependent. Hummingbirds are its main pollinators (about 90 % of the visits), visiting flowers mainly in the morning. There is a positive correlation between the number of hummingbird visits per inflorescence and the production of nectar, suggesting that the availability of this resource is important in attracting and maintaining visitors. The arrangement of the floral structures favours pollen deposition on the bill of the hummingbirds. Flowers in clumps promote hummingbird territoriality, and a consequence is self-pollination in a broader sense (geitonogamy) as individuals in assemblages are genetically close. However, trap-lining and intruding hummingbirds promote cross-pollination. These observations suggest that successful fruit set of A. pectinata depends on both the spatial distribution of its individuals and the interactions among hummingbirds.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1996

A lectin from leaves of Neoregelia flandria recognizes D-glucose, D-mannose and N-acetyl D-glucosamine, differing from the mannose-specific lectins of other monocotyledonous plants.

A mannose-specific lectin was isolated from leaves of Neoregelia flandria, an ornamental plant that belongs to Bromeliaceae, a family of monocotyledons. The amino acid composition and molecular mass of the lectin were similar to those of mannose-specific lectins from other monocotyledons. However, in a test to examine the inhibition of hemagglutination, it became apparent that the isolated lectin recognized D-glucose and N-acetyl D-glucosamine in addition to D-mannose, unlike mannose-specific lectins from the monocotyledons that have been reported to date.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1995

Polysaccharide composition of unlignified cell walls of pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] fruit.

The polysaccharides of cell walls isolated from the fleshy, edible part of the fruit of the monocotyledon pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] (family Bromeliaceae) were analyzed chemically. These cell walls were derived mostly from parenchyma cells and were shown histochemically to be unlignified, but they contained ester-linked ferulic acid. The analyses indicated that the noncellulosic polysaccharide composition of the cell walls was intermediate between that of unlignified cell walls of species of the monocotyledon family Poaceae (grasses and cereals) and that of unlignified cell walls of dicotyledons. Glucuronoarabinoxylans were the major non-cellulosic polysaccharides in the pineapple cell walls. Xyloglucans were also present, together with small amounts of pectic polysaccharides and glucomannans (or galactoglucomannans). The large amounts of glucuronoarabinoxylans and small amounts of pectic polysaccharides resemble the noncellulosic polysaccharide composition of the unlignified cell walls of the Poaceae. However, the absence of (1-->3,1-->4)-beta-glucans, the presence of relatively large amounts of xyloglucans, and the possible structure of the xyloglucans resemble the noncellulosic polysaccharide composition of the unlignified cell walls of dicotyledons.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Patterns of Carbon Partitioning in Leaves of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Species during Deacidification.

Carbohydrates stored during deacidification in the light were examined in 11 Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species from widely separated taxa grown under uniform conditions. The hypothesis that NAD(P) malic enzyme CAM species store chloroplastic starch and glucans, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase species store extrachloroplastic sugars or polymers was disproved. Of the six malic enzyme species examined, Kalanchoe tubiflora, Kalanchoe pinnata, Kalanchoe daigremontiana, and Vanilla planifolia stored mainly starch. Sansevieria hahnii stored sucrose and Agave guadalajarana did not store starch, glucose, fructose, or sucrose. Of the five phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase species investigated, Ananus comosus stored extrachloroplastic carbohydrate, but Stapelia gigantea, Hoya carnosa, and Portea petropolitana stored starch, whereas Aloe vera stored both starch and glucose. Within families, the major decarboxylase was common for all species examined, whereas storage carbohydrate could differ both between and within genera. In the Bromeliaceae, A. comosus stored mainly fructose, but P. petropolitana stored starch. In the genus Aloe, A. vera stored starch and glucose, but A. arborescens is known to store a galactomannan polymer. We postulate that the observed variation in carbohydrate partitioning between CAM species is the result of two principal components: (a) constraints imposed by the CAM syndrome itself, and (b) diversity in biochemistry resulting from different evolutionary histories.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Asthma caused by bromelain: an occupational allergy.

Bromelains consist of a group of proteolytic enzymes of Bromeliaceae. They are commonly used in pharmaceutical industries, food production and in diagnostic laboratories. Bromelains are known to cause IgE-mediated reactions of both the immediate type and the 'late phase reaction of immediate type reaction' with predominantly respiratory symptoms. We report four cases of occupational allergy to bromelain in workers of a blood grouping laboratory. These observations prompted us to investigate the sensitization rate to bromelain in all workers of the particular diagnostic laboratory who had contact with bromelain. These results were compared with those obtained from healthy, randomly selected individuals without evident bromelain exposure. Our findings indicate that (i) bromelain is a strong sensitizer, (ii) sensitization usually occurs due to inhalation and not to ingestion, (iii) bromelain allergy is occupationally acquired, and adequate precautions are necessary. We can further state that (iv) skin testing with relatively pure allergens such as isolated proteases like bromelain may induce systemic reactions, even at very high dilutions.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Photosynthetic flexibility and ecophysiological plasticity: questions and lessons from Clusia, the only CAM tree, in the neotropics.

The discovery of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in the trees of Clusia: arrival in the limelight of international research 8 II. Phylogeny 8 III. Photosynthetic physiotypes 10 IV. Metabolic flexibility: organic acid variations 12 V. The environmental control of photosynthetic flexibility 13 VI. Phenotypic plasticity: physiotypes and morphotypes 16 VII. Ecological amplitude and habitat impact 16 VIII. Conclusions and outlook 21 Acknowledgements 22 References 22 Summary It is the aim of this review to present a monographic survey of the neotropical genus Clusia on scaling levels from molecular phylogeny, metabolism, photosynthesis and autecological environmental responses to ecological amplitude and synecological habitat impact. Clusia is the only dicotyledonous genus with real trees performing crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). By way of introduction, a brief historical reminiscence describes the discovery of CAM in Clusia and the consequent increase in interest in studying this particular genus of tropical shrubs and trees. The molecular phylogeny of CAM in the genus is compared with that in Kalanchoë and the Bromeliaceae. At the level of metabolism and photosynthesis, the great plasticity of expression of photosynthetic physiotypes, i.e. (i) C(3) photosynthesis, (ii) CAM including CAM idling, (iii) CAM cycling and (iv) C(3)/CAM-intermediate behaviour, as well as metabolic flexibility in Clusia is illustrated. At the level of autecology, the factors water, irradiance and temperature, which control photosynthetic flexibility, are assessed. The phenotypic plasticity of physiotypes and morphotypes is described. At the level of synecology, the ecological amplitude of Clusia in the tropics and the relations to habitat are surveyed.

Brazil↗
PubMed2000

Reproductive behavior and seasonal occurrence of Psecas viridipurpureus (Salticidae, Araneae).

The reproductive behavior and the seasonal occurrence of Psecas viridipurpureus were studied at the Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista, a small conservation area in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil (49 degrees 22'50"W and 20 degrees 48'36"S). P. viridipurpureus occurred on "gravatá", a bromeliaceous plant (Bromelia balansae, Bromeliaceae) which does not accumulate rain water. During the courtship display the couple occupied the median region of the "gravatá" leaves, with the male always located in a higher position than the female. The males of P. viridipurpureus showed a complex courtship behavior, which included five motor patterns. The courtship and mating behavior occurred preponderantly during the rainy season and the juvenile recruitment between December and July. The retreat of P. viridipurpureus differs from the Salticidae pattern, since the egg sacs are covered with a plain silk cover and are not wrapped in cocoons.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Bromeliad-living spiders improve host plant nutrition and growth.

Although bromeliads are believed to obtain nutrients from debris deposited by animals in their rosettes, there is little evidence to support this assumption. Using stable isotope methods, we found that the Neotropical jumping spider Psecas chapoda (Salticidae), which lives strictly associated with the terrestrial bromeliad Bromelia balansae, contributed 18% of the total nitrogen of its host plant in a greenhouse experiment. In a one-year field experiment, plants with spiders produced leaves 15% longer than plants from which the spiders were excluded. This is the first study to show nutrient provisioning in a spider-plant system. Because several animal species live strictly associated with bromeliad rosettes, this type of facultative mutualism involving the Bromeliaceae may be more common than previously thought.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

A supramolecular complex between proteinases and beta-cyclodextrin that preserves enzymatic activity: physicochemical characterization.

BACKGROUND: Cyclodextrins are suitable drug delivery systems because of their ability to subtly modify the physical, chemical, and biological properties of guest molecules through labile interactions by formation of inclusion and/or association complexes. Plant cysteine proteinases from Caricaceae and Bromeliaceae are the subject of therapeutic interest, because of their anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, immunogenic, and wound-healing properties. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed the association between beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) and fraction P1G10 containing the bioactive proteinases from Carica candamarcensis, and described the physicochemical nature of the solid-state self-assembled complexes by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as in solution by circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and amidase activity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The physicochemical analyses suggest the formation of a complex between P1G10 and betaCD. Higher secondary interactions, namely hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces were observed at higher P1G10 : betaCD mass ratios. These results provide evidence of the occurrence of strong solid-state supramolecular non-covalent interactions between P1G10 and betaCD. Microcalorimetric analysis demonstrates that complexation results in a favorable enthalpic contribution, as has already been described during formation of similar betaCD inclusion compounds. The amidase activity of the complex shows that the enzyme activity is not readily available at 24 hours after dissolution of the complex in aqueous buffer; the proteinase becomes biologically active by the second day and remains stable until day 16, when a gradual decrease occurs, with basal activity attained by day 29. CONCLUSION: The reported results underscore the potential for betaCDs as candidates for complexing cysteine proteinases, resulting in supramolecular arrays with sustained proteolytic activity.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed2006

Preliminary functional characterization, cloning and primary sequence of Fastuosain, a cysteine peptidase isolated from fruits of Bromelia fastuosa.

The present work reports the characterization of Fastuosain, a novel cysteine protease of 25kDa, purified from the unripe fruits of Bromelia fastuosa, a wild South American Bromeliaceae. Proteolytic activity, measured using casein and synthetic substrates, was dependent on the presence of thiol reagents, having maximum activity at pH 7.0. The present work reports cDNA cloning of Fastuosain; cDNA was amplified by PCR using specific primers. The product was 1096pb long. Mature fastuosain has 217 residues, and with the proregion has a total length of 324 residues. Its primary sequence showed high homology with ananain(74%), stem bromelain (66%) and papain (44%).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Genomic cloning and characterization of a PPA gene encoding a mannose-binding lectin from Pinellia pedatisecta.

A gene encoding a mannose-binding lectin, Pinellia pedatisecta agglutinin (PPA), was isolated from leaves of Pinellia pedatisecta using genomic walker technology. The ppa contained an 1140-bp 5'-upstream region, a 771-bp open reading frame (ORF) and an 829-bp 3'-downstream region. The ORF encoded a precursor polypeptide of 256 amino acid residues with a 24-amino acid signal peptide. There were one putative TATA box and six possible CAAT boxes lying in the 5'-upstream region of ppa. The ppa showed significant similarity at the nucleic acid level with genes encoding mannose-binding lectins from other Araceae species such as Pinellia ternata, Arisaema hererophyllum, Colocasia esculenta and Arum maculatum. At the amino acid level, PPA also shared varying homology (ranging from 40% to 85%) with mannose-binding lectins from other plant species, such as those from Araceae, Alliaceae, Iridaceae, Lillaceae, Amaryllidaceae and Bromeliaceae. The cloning of the ppa gene not only provides a basis for further investigation of PPA's structure, expression and regulation mechanism, but also enables us to test its potential role in controlling pests and fungal diseases by transferring the gene into tobacco and rice in the future.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergic bronchial asthma caused by bromelin].

The proteolytic enzymes of Bromeliaceae (bromelin) are commonly used in pharmaceutical industries, food production and diagnostic laboratories. We report two cases of occupational allergy to bromelin with predominantly respiratory manifestation (allergic bronchial asthma). Obviously sensitisation to bromelin usually takes place due to inhalation and not due to ingestion.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Malaria pattern in French Guyana (author's transl)].

Study of malaria pattern in French Guyana from 121.175 parasitological data collected from 1970 to 1979. -- General incidence is moderate (6,4 p. 1.000) and the mean plasmodial index is 2,7 p. 100. These paludometric data have much increased in 1973 (9,7 p. 1.000 and 5 p. 100) and 1979 (10,8 p. 1.000 and 4 p. 100). This is the consequence of two convergent factors both strengthening vectors activity: a flow of malaria infested immigrants and meteorologic conditions (lengthy drought). Plasmodial species involved are P. falciparum (84 p. 100) and P. vivax (15 p. 100), P. malariae having just a negligible role. However, it must be noted that from 1977, P. vivax, already prevalent in Oyapok, seems to become more frequently rated. -- True autochtonous malaria is localized in border areas; exchanges from both sides of the river are frequent and call for a regional coordination control. A part of these permanently active micro-foci, periodic rises observed are related, in almost all cases, to the arrival of malaria infested migrants. This is specially obvious in Cayenne Island where a sanitary control of migrants from endemic areas should be considered. -- A. (N.) darlingi is in French Guyana the almost sole vector, except for Upper-Oyapok where A. (K.) neivai is responsible for a malaria caused by Bromeliaceae. In exceptional conditions and localized foci A. (N.) braziliensis and less often A. (N.) aquasalis may be effective vectors. -- Anti-vector measures require an increased control at preimaginal stade. This public-health additional option calls for an integrated control: Cayenne Island conditions are assembled to design and evaluate a model.

Anopheles↗