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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Identification and distribution of simple and acylated betacyanins in the Amaranthaceae.

Red-colored plants in the family Amaranthaceae are recognized as a rich source of diverse and unique betacyanins. The distribution of betacyanins in 37 species of 8 genera in the Amaranthaceae was investigated. A total of 16 kinds of betacyanins were isolated and characterized by HPLC, spectral analyses, and MS. They consisted of 6 simple (nonacylated) betacyanins and 10 acylated betacyanins, including 8 amaranthine-type pigments, 6 gomphrenin-type pigments, and 2 betanin-type pigments. Acylated betacyanins were identified as betanidin 5-O-beta-glucuronosylglucoside or betanidin 6-O-beta-glucoside acylated with ferulic, p-coumaric, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acids. Total betacyanin content in the 37 species ranged from 0.08 to 1.36 mg/g of fresh weight. Simple betacyanins (such as amaranthine, which averaged 91.5% of total peak area) were widespread among all species of 8 genera. Acylated betacyanins were distributed among 11 species of 6 genera, with the highest proportion occurring in Iresine herbstii (79.6%) and Gomphrena globosa (68.4%). Some cultivated species contained many more acylated betacyanins than wild species, representing a potential new source of these pigments as natural colorants.

Acylation↗
PubMed2003

Antioxidant activity of betalains from plants of the amaranthaceae.

Antioxidant activity of betalain pigments (seven pure compounds and four combined fractions) from plants of the family Amaranthaceae was evaluated using the modified DPPH(*) (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. All tested betalains exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Their EC(50) values ranged from 3.4 to 8.4 microM. Gomphrenin type betacyanins (mean = 3.7 microM) and betaxanthins (mean = 4.2 microM) demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity, 3-4-fold stronger than ascorbic acid (13.9 microM) and also stronger than rutin (6.1 microM) and catechin (7.2 microM). Antioxidant activity of the tested betalains decreased in the following order: simple gomphrenins > acylated gomphrenins > dopamine-betaxanthin > (S)-tryptophan-betaxanthin > 3-methoxytyramine-betaxanthin > betanin/isobetanin > celosianins > iresinins > amaranthine/isoamaranthine. This study also investigated and discussed the relationship between the chemical structure and the activity of the betalains. The free radical scavenging activity of the betalains usually increased with the numbers of hydroxyl/imino groups and, moreover, depended on the position of hydroxyl groups and glycosylation of aglycones in the betalain molecules.

Amaranthaceae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aerobiological study of Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae in the Mediterranean area of southwestern Spain.

The study area is characterized by a maritime Mediterranean climate, abundant presence of Chenopodiaceae in the vegetation, and a high incidence of pollinosis caused by the pollen of this family. A Hirst-type sampler was used to determine pollen concentrations in the air of the city of Huelva during 3 consecutive years (1995-1997). The total annual amount of Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen was between 10.59% and 6.28% of the pollen spectrum of the city, depending on the year. The annual pattern of variation in pollen concentration (5-day means) was very similar in the 3 years, and no statistically significant differences were found between years. This pattern is characterized by concentrations not exceeding 20 grains/m3 between April and the beginning of August, with an obvious seasonal variation in the second half of August and September, when the 5-day mean concentrations exceeded 40 grains/m3 and the daily maxima exceeded 100 grains/m3. This coincided with the flowering of most of the species in the group. The meteorological parameters with a statistically significant effect on daily pollen concentration during the pollen season (August 15 to September 20) included mean temperature and south wind (positive correlations) and relative humidity of the air (negative correlation). The highest intradiurnal concentrations were found between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Allergens↗
PubMed1989

Allergy to pollen grains from Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae in Cordoba, Spain. Annual and daily variation of pollen concentration.

We have studied the annual and daily variation of pollen grains from Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae for 3 consecutive years. Samples of pollen grains from both families, which make a stenopalynologic group, were collected by the volumetric method with the aid of a Burkard spore-trap. These pollen grains were found to occur in the atmosphere of the city of Córdoba virtually throughout the year, although their presence was continual only between April and October with maximum concentrations detected in the summer months. We have also studied the daily variation of pollen concentration, which peaked between 10 AM and 3 PM. In order to determine the incidence of pollinotic patients sensitive to pollen grains from Chenopodium, we reviewed 1000 clinical records available in the Allergy Unit and found 8.42% to be allergic. On evaluation of the time evolution of the symptoms we found that most patients continued to show them until September each year.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1993

Characterisation of 2S albumin with nutritionally balanced aminoacid composition from the seeds of Chenopodium album and its antigenic homology with seed proteins of some Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae species.

The low molecular weight 2S albumin protein of Chenopodium album seeds has been isolated and characterized with respect to its subunit structure by SDS-PAGE and antigenic homology with low molecular weight seed storage proteins of several other phylogenetically related species by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. These studies revealed the existence of antigenically homologous proteins of similar molecular weights in seeds of some other members of Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae. However, Chenopodium 2S albumin is antigenically unrelated to low mol.wt. albumins of dicots belonging to other families. It has a nutritionally balanced aminoacid composition in respect of essential aminoacids.

Albumins↗
PubMed2001

Comparative analysis of phylogenetic relationships of grain amaranths and their wild relatives (Amaranthus; Amaranthaceae) using internal transcribed spacer, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and double-primer fluorescent intersimple sequence repeat markers.

The most economically important group of species in the genus Amaranthus is the A. hybridus species complex, including three cultivated grain amaranths, A. cruentus, A. caudatus, and A. hypochondriacus, and their putative wild progenitors, A. hybridus, A. quitensis, and A. powellii. Taxonomic confusion exists among these closely related taxa. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and double-primer fluorescent intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) were employed to reexamine the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of grain amaranths and their wild relatives. Low ITS divergence in these taxa resulted in poorly resolved phylogeny. However, extensive polymorphisms exist at AFLP and ISSR loci both within and among species. In phylogenetic trees based on either AFLP or ISSR or the combined data sets, nearly all intraspecific accessions can be placed in their corresponding species clades, indicating that these taxa are well-separated species. The AFLP trees share many features in common with the ISSR trees, both showing a close relationship between A. caudatus and A. quitensis, placing A. hybridus in the same clade as all grain amaranths, and indicating that A. powellii is the most divergent taxon in the A. hybridus species complex. This study has demonstrated that both AFLP and double-primer fluorescent ISSR have a great potential for generating a large number of informative characters for phylogenetic analysis of closely related species, especially when ITS diversity is insufficient.

Amaranthaceae↗
PubMed2004

Involvement of nitric oxide in the gastroprotective effects of an aqueous extract of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng) Pedersen, Amaranthaceae, in rats.

The plants belonging to Pfaffia genus are used in folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances. This study examined the effects of an aqueous extract of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng) Pedersen (AEP) on the gastrointestinal tract. Wistar rats were pretreated orally (p.o.) with the AEP (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg.kg(-1)) before induction of ulcers by hypothermic restraint stress (HRS, 3 h restraint stress at 4 degrees C), ethanol (ET, 70%; 0.5 ml/animal; p.o.) or indomethacin (IND, 20 mg.kg(-1); s.c.). Control animals received water (C) or ranitidine (60 mg.kg(-1)) p.o. The AEP protected rats against HRS and ET-induced ulcers, but was not able to protect the gastric mucosa against IND-induced ulcers. When injected into the duodenal lumen, the AEP reduced total acidity and both basal and histamine-stimulated acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. In addition, gastric secretion from AEP-treated animals exhibited increased concentrations of nitrite and nitrate. Treatment of animals with L-NAME (120 mg.kg(-1), p.o.) prevented both the reduction of total acidity and the increase in NOx levels promoted by AEP treatment. In conclusion, AEP effectively protected the gastric mucosa and inhibited gastric acid secretion in rats, probably by involving the histaminergic pathway and an enhanced production of nitric oxide in the stomach.

Amaranthaceae↗
PubMed2002

Bioactivity of crude extracts and some constituents of Blutaparon portulacoides (Amaranthaceae).

Crude extracts (aerial parts and roots, both dried), methylenedioxyflavonol, and a mixture of acyl steryl glycosides isolated from Blutaparon portulacoides, were assayed for their toxicity against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes from axenic cultures. The antimicrobial activity was also investigated, in a screening conducted using fifteen strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with the yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. To assess the antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined. There are no reports of acyl steryl glycosides in the genus Blutaparon and their biological activities are being evaluated for the first time.

Amaranthaceae↗
PubMed2000

Sex expression, sex-specific traits, and the effects of salinity on growth and reproduction of Amaranthus cannabinus (Amaranthaceae), a dioecious annual.

Amaranthus cannabinus was studied to investigate some of the ecological factors thought to be involved in the evolution of dioecy and to investigate the effects of salinity on sex expression and sex-specific selection. In the field portion of this study, sex ratios, stability of sex expression, spatial distribution, allocation strategies, and phenologies of the sexes were investigated in New Jersey freshwater and salt marsh populations of water hemp. To examine the effects of salinity on vegetative and reproductive development of males and females, plants were grown in the greenhouse at three salinity levels. Adult sex ratios were found to be 1:1. Temporal deviations from a 1:1 sex ratio varied by population and were due to differences in flowering phenology and mortality between the sexes. No plants were observed to change sex expression, and there was no evidence of spatial segregation of the sexes in the field. In both the field and the greenhouse, females allocated more resources to vegetative tissues and had a longer growing period than males. The results of this study suggest that increased reproductive efficiency through sex-specific growth patterns may have been an important selective factor involved in the evolution of dioecy in A. cannabinus.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Cross-reactivity among Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae.

Pollen extracts from Atriplex latifolia, Beta vulgaris, Salsola kali and Amaranthus retroflexus were compared with an extract from Chenopodium album by both in vivo and in vitro methods. Skin prick tests on 20 C. album-sensitive patients were positive with all extracts. RAST inhibition together with two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis and two-dimensional radioimmunoelectrophoresis indicate that common allergenic determinants are present. Electrophoretic transfer for detection of IgE binding molecules from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectricfocusing gels suggests that the common allergenic determinants are present in molecules with various molecular weights or isoelectric points.

Animals↗