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Gunter Theisen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • a double flowered variety of lesser periwinkle Vinca Minor fl pl that has persisted in the wild for more than 160 years
    Annals of Botany, 2011
    Co-Authors: Yongqiang Wang, Rainer Melzer, Gunter Theisen
    Abstract:

    BACKGROUND AND AIMS Homeotic transitions are usually dismissed by population geneticists as credible modes of evolution due to their assumed negative impact on fitness. However, several lines of evidence suggest that such changes in organ identity have played an important role during the origin and subsequent evolution of the angiosperm flower. Better understanding of the performance of wild populations of floral homeotic varieties should help to clarify the evolutionary potential of homeotic mutants. Wild populations of plants with changes in floral symmetry, or with reproductive organs replacing perianth organs or sepals replacing petals have already been documented. However, although double-flowered varieties are quite popular as ornamental and garden plants, they are rarely found in the wild and, if they are, usually occur only as rare mutant individuals, probably because of their low fitness relative to the wild-type. We therefore investigated a double-flowered variety of lesser periwinkle, Vinca Minor flore pleno (fl. pl.), that is reported to have existed in the wild for at least 160 years. To assess the merits of this plant as a new model system for investigations on the evolutionary potential of double-flowered varieties we explored the morphological details and distribution of the mutant phenotype. METHODS The floral morphology of the double-flowered variety and of a nearby population of wild-type plants was investigated by means of visual inspection and light microscopy of flowers, the latter involving dissected or sectioned floral organs. KEY RESULTS The double-flowered variety was found in several patches covering dozens of square metres in a forest within the city limits of Jena (Germany). It appears to produce fewer flowers than the wild-type, and its flowers are purple rather than blue. Most sepals in the first floral whorl resemble those in the wild-type, although occasionally one sepal is broadened and twisted. The structure of second-whorl petals is very similar to that of the wild-type, but their number per flower is more variable. The double-flowered character is due to partial or complete transformation of stamens in the third whorl into petaloid organs. Occasionally, 'flowers within flowers' also develop on elongated pedicels in the double-flowered variety. CONCLUSIONS The flowers of V. Minor fl. pl. show meristic as well as homeotic changes, and occasionally other developmental abnormalities such as mis-shaped sepals or loss of floral determinacy. V. Minor fl. pl. thus adds to a growing list of natural floral homeotic varieties that have established persistent populations in the wild. Our case study documents that even mutant varieties that have reproductive organs partially transformed into perianth organs can persist in the wild for centuries. This finding makes it at least conceivable that even double-flowered varieties have the potential to establish new evolutionary lineages, and hence may contribute to macroevolutionary transitions and cladogenesis.

Yongqiang Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • a double flowered variety of lesser periwinkle Vinca Minor fl pl that has persisted in the wild for more than 160 years
    Annals of Botany, 2011
    Co-Authors: Yongqiang Wang, Rainer Melzer, Gunter Theisen
    Abstract:

    BACKGROUND AND AIMS Homeotic transitions are usually dismissed by population geneticists as credible modes of evolution due to their assumed negative impact on fitness. However, several lines of evidence suggest that such changes in organ identity have played an important role during the origin and subsequent evolution of the angiosperm flower. Better understanding of the performance of wild populations of floral homeotic varieties should help to clarify the evolutionary potential of homeotic mutants. Wild populations of plants with changes in floral symmetry, or with reproductive organs replacing perianth organs or sepals replacing petals have already been documented. However, although double-flowered varieties are quite popular as ornamental and garden plants, they are rarely found in the wild and, if they are, usually occur only as rare mutant individuals, probably because of their low fitness relative to the wild-type. We therefore investigated a double-flowered variety of lesser periwinkle, Vinca Minor flore pleno (fl. pl.), that is reported to have existed in the wild for at least 160 years. To assess the merits of this plant as a new model system for investigations on the evolutionary potential of double-flowered varieties we explored the morphological details and distribution of the mutant phenotype. METHODS The floral morphology of the double-flowered variety and of a nearby population of wild-type plants was investigated by means of visual inspection and light microscopy of flowers, the latter involving dissected or sectioned floral organs. KEY RESULTS The double-flowered variety was found in several patches covering dozens of square metres in a forest within the city limits of Jena (Germany). It appears to produce fewer flowers than the wild-type, and its flowers are purple rather than blue. Most sepals in the first floral whorl resemble those in the wild-type, although occasionally one sepal is broadened and twisted. The structure of second-whorl petals is very similar to that of the wild-type, but their number per flower is more variable. The double-flowered character is due to partial or complete transformation of stamens in the third whorl into petaloid organs. Occasionally, 'flowers within flowers' also develop on elongated pedicels in the double-flowered variety. CONCLUSIONS The flowers of V. Minor fl. pl. show meristic as well as homeotic changes, and occasionally other developmental abnormalities such as mis-shaped sepals or loss of floral determinacy. V. Minor fl. pl. thus adds to a growing list of natural floral homeotic varieties that have established persistent populations in the wild. Our case study documents that even mutant varieties that have reproductive organs partially transformed into perianth organs can persist in the wild for centuries. This finding makes it at least conceivable that even double-flowered varieties have the potential to establish new evolutionary lineages, and hence may contribute to macroevolutionary transitions and cladogenesis.

  • part of a special issue on evolution and development a double flowered variety of lesser periwinkle Vinca Minor fl pl that has persisted in the wild for more than 160 years
    2011
    Co-Authors: Yongqiang Wang, Rainer Melzer, Friedrich Schiller
    Abstract:

    † Background and Aims Homeotic transitions are usually dismissed by population geneticists as credible modes of evolution due to their assumed negative impact on fitness. However, several lines of evidence suggest that such changes in organ identity have played an important role during the origin and subsequent evolution of the angiosperm flower. Better understanding of the performance of wild populations of floral homeotic varieties should help to clarify the evolutionary potential of homeotic mutants. Wild populations of plants with changes in floral symmetry, or with reproductive organs replacing perianth organs or sepals replacing petals have already been documented. However, although double-flowered varieties are quite popular as ornamental and garden plants, they are rarely found in the wild and, if they are, usually occur only as rare mutant individuals, probably because of their low fitness relative to the wild-type. We therefore investigated a double-flowered variety of lesser periwinkle, Vinca Minor flore pleno ( fl. pl.), that is reported to have existed in the wild for at least 160 years. To assess the merits of this plant as a new model system for investigations on the evolutionary potential of double-flowered varieties we explored the morphological details and distribution of the mutant phenotype. † Methods The floral morphology of the double-flowered variety and of a nearby population of wild-type plants was investigated by means of visual inspection and light microscopy of flowers, the latter involving dissected or sectioned floral organs. † Key Results The double-flowered variety was found in several patches covering dozens of square metres in a forest within the city limits of Jena (Germany). It appears to produce fewer flowers than the wild-type, and its flowers are purple rather than blue. Most sepals in the first floral whorl resemble those in the wild-type, although occasionally one sepal is broadened and twisted. The structure of second-whorl petals is very similar to that of the wild-type, but their number per flower is more variable. The double-flowered character is due to partial or complete transformation of stamens in the third whorl into petaloid organs. Occasionally, ‘flowers within flowers’ also develop on elongated pedicels in the double-flowered variety. † Conclusions The flowers of V. Minor fl. pl. show meristic as well as homeotic changes, and occasionally other developmental abnormalities such as mis-shaped sepals or loss of floral determinacy. V. Minor fl. pl. thus adds to a growing list of natural floral homeotic varieties that have established persistent populations in the wild. Our case study documents that even mutant varieties that have reproductive organs partially transformed into perianth organs can persist in the wild for centuries. This finding makes it at least conceivable that even double-flowered varieties have the potential to establish new evolutionary lineages, and hence may contribute to macroevolutionary transitions and cladogenesis.

D. Voinovich - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • rationale of using Vinca Minor linne dry extract phytocomplex as a Vincamine s oral bioavailability enhancer
    European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2013
    Co-Authors: D. Hasa, B. Perissutti, M. Chierotti, R. Gobetto, I. Grabnar, C. Cepek, Stefano Dallacqua, D. Voinovich
    Abstract:

    Abstract Vincamine is a poorly soluble potent neuroprotector and cerebral vasodilator, used for the treatment for CNS disorders. In some cases, the bioavailability of pure compounds is strongly influenced by the co-administration of other constituents, and in some cases, the so called ‘phytocomplex’ may act as enhancer of absorption of selected phytochemicals. In this paper, the oral bioavailability of Vincamine when administered as a standardised Vinca Minor L. leaf dry extract rather than pure indole alkaloid is demonstrated to be higher. The chosen alkaloid-enriched and standardised dry extract was widely characterised by means of HPLC–MS, PXRD, DSC, XPS, 13 C and 15 N solid-state NMR (SSNMR) using pure Vincamine as a matter of comparison. Then, the in vitro dissolution performances of the two products and their in vivo bioavailability in rats were evaluated. The sevenfold improvement in oral bioavailability of the dry extract with respect to the pure Vincamine was ascribed to interactions between the indole alkaloid and the corollary of ingredients of the dry extract, giving rise to the protonation of the alkaloid Vincamine, thus enhancing its dissolution in physiological fluids. Present data demonstrate that alkaloid Vincamine administered as a whole plant extract has a higher bioavailability compared to the pure chemical compound.

  • Rationale of using Vinca Minor Linne dry extract phytocomplex as a Vincamine's oral bioavailability enhancer
    'Elsevier BV', 2013
    Co-Authors: D. Hasa, B. Perissutti, M. Chierotti, R. Gobetto, I. Grabnar, C. Cepek, D. Voinovich
    Abstract:

    Vincamine is a poorly soluble potent neuroprotector and cerebral vasodilator, used for the treatment for CNS disorders. In some cases, the bioavailability of pure compounds is strongly influenced by the co-administration of other constituents, and in some cases, the so called 'phytocomplex' may act as enhancer of absorption of selected phytochemicals. In this paper, the oral bioavailability of Vincamine when administered as a standardised Vinca Minor L. leaf dry extract rather than pure indole alkaloid is demonstrated to be higher. The chosen alkaloid-enriched and standardised dry extract was widely characterised by means of HPLC-MS, PXRD, DSC, XPS, 13C and 15N solid-state NMR (SSNMR) using pure Vincamine as a matter of comparison. Then, the in vitro dissolution performances of the two products and their in vivo bioavailability in rats were evaluated. The sevenfold improvement in oral bioavailability of the dry extract with respect to the pure Vincamine was ascribed to interactions between the indole alkaloid and the corollary of ingredients of the dry extract, giving rise to the protonation of the alkaloid Vincamine, thus enhancing its dissolution in physiological fluids. Present data demonstrate that alkaloid Vincamine administered as a whole plant extract has a higher bioavailability compared to the pure chemical compound. \ua9 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Priyanka Verma - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • TIAs pathway genes and associated miRNA identification in Vinca Minor: supporting aspidosperma and eburnamine alkaloids linkage via transcriptomic analysis
    Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 2020
    Co-Authors: Priyanka Verma, Ajay Kumar Mathur, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Noopur Singh, Ashok Sharma, Farrukh Jamal
    Abstract:

    V. Minor contains monomeric eburnamine-type of indole alkaloids having utilization as a neuro-medicinal plant. The biosynthetic pathway studies using miRNAs has been the focal point for plant genomic research in recent years and this technique is utilized to get an insight into a possible pathway level study in V. Minor as understanding of genes in this prized medicinal plant is meagrely understood. The de novo transcriptomic analysis using Illumina Next gen sequencing has been performed in glasshouse shifted plant and transformed roots to elucidate the possible non confirmed steps of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) pathway in V. Minor . A putative TIA pathway is elucidated in the study including twelve possible TIAs biosynthetic genes. The specific miRNA associated with TIAs pathway were identified and their roles were discussed for the first time in V. Minor . The comparative analysis of transcriptomic data of glasshouse shifted plant and transformed roots showed that the raw reads of transformed roots were higher (83,740,316) compared to glasshouse shifted plant (67,733,538). The EST-SSR prediction showed the maximum common repeats among glasshouse shifted plant and transformed roots, although small variation was found in trinucleotide repeats restricted to glasshouse shifted plant. The study reveals overall 37 miRNAs which were observed to be true and can have a role in pathway as they can regulate the growth and alkaloid production. The identification of putative pathway genes plays an important role in establishing linkage between Aspidosperma and Eburnamine alkaloids.

  • differential rubisco content and photosynthetic efficiency of rol gene integrated Vinca Minor transgenic plant correlating factors associated with morpho anatomical changes gene expression and alkaloid productivity
    Journal of Plant Physiology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Priyanka Verma, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Nusrat Masood, N Manika, Abhishek Sharma, Neha Verma, Suaib Luqman, Ajay Kumar Mathur
    Abstract:

    Transgenic plants obtained from a hairy root line (PVG) of Vinca Minor were characterized in relation to terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) pathway gene expression and Vincamine production. The hairy roots formed callus with green nodular protuberances when transferred onto agar-gelled MS medium containing 3.0mg/l zeatin. These meristematic zones developed into shoot buds on medium with 1.0mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 40mg/l ascorbic acid. These shoot buds subsequently formed rooted plants when shifted onto a hormone-free MS medium with 6% sucrose. Transgenic nature of the plants was confirmed by the presence of rol genes of the Ri plasmid in them. The transgenic plants (TP) had elongated internodes and a highly proliferating root system. During glass house cultivation TP consistently exhibited slower growth rate, low chlorophyll content (1.02±0.08mg/gm fr. wt.), reduced carbon exchange rate (2.67±0.16μmolm-2s-1), less transpiration rate (2.30±0.20mmolm-2 s-1) and poor stomatal conductance (2.21±0.04mmolm-2 s-1) when compared with non-transgenic population. The activity of rubisco enzyme in the leaves of TP was nearly two folds less in comparison to non-transgenic controls (1.80milliunitsml-1mgprotein-1 against 3.61milliunits ml-1mgprotein-1, respectively). Anatomically, the TP had a distinct tetarch arrangement of vascular bundles in their stem and roots against a typical ployarched pattern in the non-transgenic plants. Significantly, the transgenic plants accumulated 35% higher amount of total TIAs (3.10±0.21% dry wt.) along with a 0.03% dry wt. content of its vasodilatory and nootropic alkaloid Vincamine in their leaves. Higher productivity of alkaloids in TP was corroborated with more than four (RQ=4.60±0.30) and five (RQ=5.20±0.70) times over-expression of TIAs pathway genes tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) and strictosidine synthase (STR) that are responsible for pushing the metabolic flux towards TIAs synthesis in this medicinal herb.

  • Envisaging the Regulation of Alkaloid Biosynthesis and Associated Growth Kinetics in Hairy Roots of Vinca Minor Through the Function of Artificial Neural Network
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Priyanka Verma, Shahin Anjum, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Sudeep Roy, Jan Odstrcilik, Ajay Kumar Mathur
    Abstract:

    Artificial neural network based modeling is a generic approach to understand and correlate different complex parameters of biological systems for improving the desired output. In addition, some new inferences can also be predicted in a shorter time with less cost and labor. As terpenoid indole alkaloid pathway in Vinca Minor is very less investigated or elucidated, a strategy of elicitation with hydroxylase and acetyltransferase along with incorporation of various precursors from primary shikimate and secoiridoid pools via simultaneous employment of cyclooxygenase inhibitor was performed in the hairy roots of V. Minor . This led to the increment in biomass accumulation, total alkaloid concentration, and Vincamine production in selected treatments. The resultant experimental values were correlated with algorithm approaches of artificial neural network that assisted in finding the yield of Vincamine, alkaloids, and growth kinetics using number of elicits. The inputs were the hydroxylase/acetyltransferase elicitors and cyclooxygenase inhibitor along with various precursors from shikimate and secoiridoid pools and the outputs were growth index (GI), alkaloids, and Vincamine. The approach incorporates two MATLAB codes; GRNN and FFBPNN. Growth kinetic studies revealed that shikimate and tryptophan supplementation triggers biomass accumulation (GI = 440.2 to 540.5); while maximum alkaloid (3.7 % dry wt.) and Vincamine production (0.017 ± 0.001 % dry wt.) was obtained on supplementation of secologanin along with tryptophan, naproxen, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic anhydride. The study shows that experimental and predicted values strongly correlate each other. The correlation coefficient for growth index (GI), alkaloids, and Vincamine was found to be 0.9997, 0.9980, 0.9511 in GRNN and 0.9725, 0.9444, 0.9422 in FFBPNN, respectively. GRNN provided greater similarity between the target and predicted dataset in comparison to FFBPNN. The findings can provide future insights to calculate growth index, alkaloids, and Vincamine in combination to different elicits.

  • Fungal endophytes enhanced the growth and production kinetics of Vinca Minor hairy roots and cell suspensions grown in bioreactor
    Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 2014
    Co-Authors: Priyanka Verma, Karuna Shanker, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Ajay K. Mathur, Alok Kalra
    Abstract:

    A Vincamine positive hairy root clone of Vinca Minor with integration of all the three- rol A, rol B and rol C genes and its subsequently raised cell suspensions were treated with culture filtrate of four endophytic fungi namely Chaetomium globosum; Aspergillus niveoglaucus; Paecilomyces lilacinus and Trichoderma harzianum. Addition of 10 % v/v T. harzianum culture filtrate boosted maximum biomass accumulation and highest total alkaloid content (TAC) both in the hairy roots and in the cell suspensions. Treated (10 % v/v T. harzianum ) hairy roots registered growth index (GI) of 640 ± 28.3 and TAC of 3.6 ± 0.1 dry wt% in comparison to non-treated roots (GI = 420 ± 14.2; TAC = 3.1 ± 0.3 dry wt%). Treated cell suspensions showed GI of 600 ± 19.1 and TAC of 1.67 ± 0.03 dry wt% in comparison to non-treated cell suspensions (GI = 250 ± 12.6; TAC = 1.15 ± 0.02 dry wt%). The hairy roots and the cell suspensions were successfully up-scaled in the 5 l stirred tank bioreactor with respective GI of 850.0 and 654.0 under optimized conditions. On Real time (qPCR) analysis, treated hairy roots showed fourfold to sixfold enhanced tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) transcript level [relative quantity value (RQ) = 4.64 ± 0.30 (shake flask); RQ = 5.95 ± 0.31 (bioreactor)] while treated cell suspensions showed only two fold increase in TDC transcript [RQ = 2.1 ± 0.26 (shake flask); RQ = 2.5 ± 0.21 (bioreactor)]. Similarly, fivefold to sixfold [RQ = 5.6 ± 0.20 (shake flask); RQ = 6.7 ± 0.49 (bioreactor)] and threefold to fourfold [RQ = 3.5 ± 0.18 (shake flask); RQ = 3.8 ± 0.68 (bioreactor)] increased transcript of strictosidine synthase (STR) in treated hairy roots and cell suspensions, respectively was observed. Treated shake flask roots showed 0.002 dry wt% Vincamine that was further enhanced in the bioreactor grown treated roots (0.015 dry wt%). No Vincamine was detected in the shake flask culture or in the bioreactor grown cell suspensions.

  • regulation of Vincamine biosynthesis and associated growth promoting effects through abiotic elicitation cyclooxygenase inhibition and precursor feeding of bioreactor grown Vinca Minor hairy roots
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Priyanka Verma, Ajay Kumar Mathur, Karuna Shanker, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, R K Lal
    Abstract:

    Hydroxylase/acetyltransferase elicitors and cyclooxygenase inhibitor along with various precursors from primary shikimate and secoiridoid pools have been fortified to Vincamine less hairy root clone of Vinca Minor to determine the regulatory factors associated with Vincamine biosynthesis. Growth kinetic studies revealed that acetyltransferase elicitor acetic anhydride and terpenoid precursor loganin significantly reduce the growth either supplemented alone or in combination (GI = 140.6 ± 18.5 to 246.7 ± 24.3), while shikimate and tryptophan trigger biomass accumulation (GI = 440.2 ± 31.5 to 540.5 ± 40.3). Loganin also downregulates total alkaloid biosynthesis. Maximum flux towards Vincamine production (0.017 ± 0.001 % dry wt.) was obtained when 20-day-old hairy roots were fortified with secologanin (10 mg/l) along with tryptophan (100 mg/l), naproxen (8.4 mg/l), hydrogen peroxide (20 μg/l), and acetic anhydride (32.4 mg/l). This was supported by RT PCR (qPCR) analysis where 2- and 3-fold increase in tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC; RQ = 2.0 ± 0.09) and strictosidine synthase (STR; RQ = 3.3 ± 0.36) activity, respectively, was recorded. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for growth kinetics, total alkaloid content, and gene expression studies favored highly significant data (P < 0.05–0.01). Above treated hairy roots were also up-scaled in a 5-l stirred-tank bioreactor where a 40-day cycle yielded 8-fold increase in fresh root mass.

Sara Abouzeid - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the genuine localization of indole alkaloids in Vinca Minor and catharanthus roseus
    Phytochemistry, 2019
    Co-Authors: Sara Abouzeid, Tahani Hijazin, Laura Lewerenz, Robert Hansch, Dirk Selmar
    Abstract:

    Abstract Based on the occurrence of indole alkaloids in so-called “chloroform leaf surface extracts”, it was previously deduced that these alkaloids are present in the cuticle at the leaf surface of Catharanthus roseus and Vinca Minor. As no symplastic markers were found in these extracts this deduction seemed to be sound. However, since chloroform is known to destroy biomembranes very rapidly, these data have to be judged with scepticism. We reanalyzed the alleged apoplastic localization of indole alkaloids by employing slightly acidic aqueous surface extracts and comparing the corresponding alkaloid patterns with those of aqueous total leaf extracts. Whereas in the “chloroform leaf surface extracts” all alkaloids are present in the same manner as in the total leaf extracts, no alkaloids occur in the aqueous leaf surface extracts. These results clearly show that chloroform had rapidly destroyed cell integrity, and the related extracts also contain the alkaloids genuinely accumulated within the protoplasm. The related decompartmentation was verified by the massively enhanced concentration of amino acids in aqueous surface extracts of chloroform treated leaves. Furthermore, the chloroform-induced cell disintegration was vividly visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopical analyses, which clearly displayed a strong decrease in the chlorophyll fluorescence in chloroform treated leaves. These findings unequivocally display that the indole alkaloids are not located in the apoplastic space, but exclusively are present symplastically within the cells of V. Minor and C. roseus leaves. Accordingly, we have to presume that also other leaf surface extracts employing organic solvents have to be re-investigated.

  • treatment of Vinca Minor leaves with methyl jasmonate extensively alters the pattern and composition of indole alkaloids
    Journal of Natural Products, 2017
    Co-Authors: Sara Abouzeid, Ulrike Beutling, Frank Surup, Fatma Abdel M. Bar, Mohamed M. Amer, Farid A. Badria, Mahdi Yahyazadeh, Mark Bronstrup, Dirk Selmar
    Abstract:

    Alkaloids extracted from mature Vinca Minor leaves were fractionated by preparative HPLC. By means of HRMS and NMR data, the main alkaloids were identified as Vincamine, strictamine, 10-hydroxycathofoline, and Vincadifformine. Upon treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), the pattern and composition of the indole alkaloids changed extensively. While 10-hydroxycathofoline and strictamine concentrations remained unaltered, Vincamine and Vincadifformine levels showed a dramatic reduction. Upon MeJA treatment, four other indole alkaloids were detected in high quantities. Three of these alkaloids have been identified as minovincinine, minovincine, and 9-methoxyVincamine. Whereas minovincinine and minovincine are known to occur in trace amounts in V. Minor, 9-methoxyVincamine represents a novel natural product. Based on the high similarities of Vincamine and 9-methoxyVincamine and their inverse changes in concentrations, it is postulated that Vincamine is a precursor of 9-methoxyVincamine. Similarly, Vincadiffor...

  • Treatment of Vinca Minor Leaves with Methyl Jasmonate Extensively Alters the Pattern and Composition of Indole Alkaloids
    2017
    Co-Authors: Sara Abouzeid, Ulrike Beutling, Frank Surup, Fatma Abdel M. Bar, Mohamed M. Amer, Farid A. Badria, Mahdi Yahyazadeh, Mark Brönstrup, Dirk Selmar
    Abstract:

    Alkaloids extracted from mature Vinca Minor leaves were fractionated by preparative HPLC. By means of HRMS and NMR data, the main alkaloids were identified as Vincamine, strictamine, 10-hydroxycathofoline, and Vincadifformine. Upon treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), the pattern and composition of the indole alkaloids changed extensively. While 10-hydroxycathofoline and strictamine concentrations remained unaltered, Vincamine and Vincadifformine levels showed a dramatic reduction. Upon MeJA treatment, four other indole alkaloids were detected in high quantities. Three of these alkaloids have been identified as minovincinine, minovincine, and 9-methoxyVincamine. Whereas minovincinine and minovincine are known to occur in trace amounts in V. Minor, 9-methoxyVincamine represents a novel natural product. Based on the high similarities of Vincamine and 9-methoxyVincamine and their inverse changes in concentrations, it is postulated that Vincamine is a precursor of 9-methoxyVincamine. Similarly, Vincadifformine seems to be converted first to minovincinine and finally to minovincine. Because MeJA treatment greatly altered the alkaloidal composition of V. Minor, it could be used as a potential elicitor of alkaloids that are not produced under normal conditions