The Loss of Species: Mangrove Extinction Risk and Geographic Areas of Global Concern

Mangrove species are uniquely adapted to tropical and subtropical coasts, and although relatively low in number of species, mangrove forests provide at least US $1.6 billion each year in ecosystem services and support coastal livelihoods worldwide. Globally, mangrove areas are declining rapidly as they are cleared for coastal development and aquaculture and logged for timber and fuel production. Little is known about the effects of mangrove area loss on individual mangrove species and local or regional populations. To address this gap, species-specific information on global distribution, population status, life history traits, and major threats were compiled for each of the 70 known species of mangroves. Each species' probability of extinction was assessed under the Categories and Criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Eleven of the 70 mangrove species (16%) are at elevated threat of extinction. Particular areas of geographical concern include the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America, where as many as 40% of mangroves species present are threatened with extinction. Across the globe, mangrove species found primarily in the high intertidal and upstream estuarine zones, which often have specific freshwater requirements and patchy distributions, are the most threatened because they are often the first cleared for development of aquaculture and agriculture. The loss of mangrove species will have devastating economic and environmental consequences for coastal communities, especially in those areas with low mangrove diversity and high mangrove area or species loss. Several species at high risk of extinction may disappear well before the next decade if existing protective measures are not enforced

ETHNOMEDICAL, BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF NATURAL HALLUCINOGENS

Volume: 28Start Page: 123End Page: 21

Two new indole alkaloids from Vinca herbacea L.

Six indole alkaloids were isolated from the aerial parts of Vinca herbacea Waldst. et Kit. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated as two new alkaloids, 10-methoxyraucaffrinoline (1) and 11-methoxyburnamine (2), and four known alkaloids, picrinine (3), burnamine (4), caboxine A (5) and elegantine (6) by intensive 1D-and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities were investigated for the methanol, alkaloidal and non-alkaloidal extracts of V. herbacea and isolated alkaloids (1-3, 6). The alkaloidal extract was found to be active in the three tested antioxidant assays and exhibited significant lipid peroxidation inhibitory and DPPH free radical scavenging activities. The alkaloidal extract also exhibited high anticholinesterase activity against AChE and BChE enzymes similar to galanthamine. However, none of the tested alkaloids 1-3, and 6 were found to be active in the tested antioxidant and anticholinesterase systems. The alkaloids 1, 2, 4, and 6 were also evaluated for cytotoxic activity against the MCF7 and HT29 cell lines, and showed no activity. (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved