@article{InduliChelotiWasunaetal.2012, author = {Induli, Martha and Cheloti, Michael and Wasuna, Antonina and Wekesa, Ingrid and Wanjohi, John M. and Byamukama, Robert and Heydenrich, Matthias and Makayoto, Moses and Yenesew, Abiy}, title = {Naphthoquinones from the roots of Aloe secundiflora}, series = {Phytochemistry letters}, volume = {5}, journal = {Phytochemistry letters}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1874-3900}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytol.2012.04.014}, pages = {506 -- 509}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Two new naphthoquinones, 5-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione and 5,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione, were isolated from the roots of Aloe secundiflora together with the known compounds chrysophanol, helminthosporin, isoxanthorin, ancistroquinone C, aloesaponarins I and II, aloesaponols I and II, laccaic acid D methyl ester and asphodelin. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. This appears to be the first report on the occurrence of naphthoquinones in the genus Aloe. Aloesaponarin I and 5-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione showed anti-bacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with MIC values of 21-23 mu g/mL in the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA) and Low Oxygen Recovery Assay (LORA); 5-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione also showed cytotoxicity against the Vero cell line (IC50 = 10.2 mu g/mL).}, language = {en} } @article{AbdissaInduliAkalaetal.2013, author = {Abdissa, Negera and Induli, Martha and Akala, Hoseah M. and Heydenreich, Matthias and Midiwo, Jacob O. and Ndakala, Albert and Yenesew, Abiy}, title = {Knipholone cyclooxanthrone and an anthraquinone dimer with antiplasmodial activities from the roots of Kniphofia foliosa}, series = {Phytochemistry letters}, volume = {6}, journal = {Phytochemistry letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1874-3900}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytol.2013.02.005}, pages = {241 -- 245}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A new phenylanthrone, named knipholone cyclooxanthrone and a dimeric anthraquinone, 10-methoxy-10,7'-(chrysophanol anthrone)-chrysophanol were isolated from the roots of Kniphofia foliosa together with the rare naphthalene glycoside, dianellin. The structures were determined by NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The compounds showed antiplasmodial activities against the chloroquine-resistant (W2) and chloroquine-sensitive (D6) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with 10-methoxy-10,7'-(chrysophanol anthrone)-chrysophanol being the most active with IC50 values of 1.17 +/- 0.12 and 4.07 +/- 1.54 mu g/ml, respectively.}, language = {en} } @article{RudolphMohrVontobelOswald2014, author = {Rudolph-Mohr, Nicole and Vontobel, Peter and Oswald, Sascha Eric}, title = {A multi-imaging approach to study the root-soil interface}, series = {Annals of botany}, volume = {114}, journal = {Annals of botany}, number = {8}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0305-7364}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcu200}, pages = {1779 -- 1787}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Background and Aims Dynamic processes occurring at the soil-root interface crucially influence soil physical, chemical and biological properties at a local scale around the roots, and are technically challenging to capture in situ. This study presents a novel multi-imaging approach combining fluorescence and neutron radiography that is able to simultaneously monitor root growth, water content distribution, root respiration and root exudation. Methods Germinated seeds of white lupins (Lupinus albus) were planted in boron-free glass rhizotrons. After 11 d, the rhizotrons were wetted from the bottom and time series of fluorescence and neutron images were taken during the subsequent day and night cycles for 13 d. The following day (i.e. 25 d after planting) the rhizotrons were again wetted from the bottom and the measurements were repeated. Fluorescence sensor foils were attached to the inner sides of the glass and measurements of oxygen and pH were made on the basis of fluorescence intensity. The experimental set-up allowed for simultaneous fluorescence imaging and neutron radiography. Key Results The interrelated patterns of root growth and distribution in the soil, root respiration, exudation and water uptake could all be studied non-destructively and at high temporal and spatial resolution. The older parts of the root system with greater root-length density were associated with fast decreases of water content and rapid changes in oxygen concentration. pH values around the roots located in areas with low soil water content were significantly lower than the rest of the root system. Conclusions The results suggest that the combined imaging set-up developed here, incorporating fluorescence intensity measurements, is able to map important biogeochemical parameters in the soil around living plants with a spatial resolution that is sufficiently high enough to relate the patterns observed to the root system.}, language = {en} }