Molecular data consistently recover a 'Queensland clade' of 'Synostemon' (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) with distinctive floral morphology

Molecular analysis of the newly reinstated genus 'Synostemon' F.Muell. (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae), using ITS sequence data from the now densely sampled genus, confirmed that the previously recognised 'Queensland clade' consists of 'Synostemon albiflorus' (F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg.) Airy Shaw, 'S. sphenophyllus' Airy Shaw, 'Sauropus podenzanae' (S.Moore) Airy Shaw and the undescribed 'Synostemon spinescens, sp. nov. ined.', the latter being validated here as 'S. spinosus' I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl. Morphological synapomorphies for the clade are as follows: linear, apiculate anthers that are connivent but only basally connate, and thickened, clavate, recurved stigmas. A new combination is provided under 'Synostemon' for 'Sauropus podenzanae' as 'Synostemon podenzanae' (S.Moore) I.Telford & Pruesapan and 'Sauropus convallarioides' J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl is formally placed in synonymy under 'Synostemon sphenophyllus'. Descriptions, distributional data and notes on ecology and conservation status are provided for these species. 'Phyllanthus albiflorus' F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg., the basionym of 'Synostemon albiflorus', is lectotypified

Historical biogeography of 'Breynia' (Phyllanthaceae): what caused speciation?

Aim. The dated phylogeny of 'Breynia' (including 'Sauropus') was used to analyse historical biogeographical patterns and to compare the speciation events with tectonic occurrences and biotic and abiotic aspects. Location. Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australia. Methods. Existing molecular markers ('trnS-trnG, accD-psaI', 'PHYC' and ITS)were used in BEAST to make a Bayesian age estimate with an exponential relaxed molecular clock. The resulting cladograms and maximum clade credibility (MCC) tree were used as input in statistical dispersal-vicariance analysis(S-DIVA option in the RASP package). Results. 'Breynia' originated 25-20 Ma in Thailand (western part of northern to southern Thailand) up to peninsular Malaysia. Dispersal occurred in various directions (India+Sri Lanka, China+Indochina, Malesia+Australia) establishing widespread species. Most species evolved locally in the area of origin and a relatively high number of species form limestone endemics. Main conclusions. There is little correlation between tectonic movements and dispersal patterns in 'Breynia'. Only the dispersal over Wallace's Line occurred when stepping stones were in place. Speciation, especially in the area of origin seems to be linked to soil (limestone endemics) and pollination, as indicated by the presence of deviating inflorescences in B. subgen. 'Sauropus' (no pollinators are known yet) and the obligate moth pollination in B. sect. 'Breynia'. Moreover, B. sect. 'Breynia' and three widespread species of B. subgen. Sauropushave (more) fleshy fruits and all these taxa generally have wide distributions, probably because of bird dispersal

Morphological and molecular data show an enlarged tropical Australian radiation in Synostemon (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) previously concealed by heteromorphic species concepts

Sauropus elachophyllus (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Airy Shaw and S. rigidulus (F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg.) Airy Shaw are revised under the reinstated genus Synostemon F.Muell. (Phyllanthaceae) using morphological and nrITS sequence data. Sauropus decrescentifolius J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl and S. elachophyllus are shown to be conspecific as Synostemon elachophyllus (F.Muell. ex Benth.) I.Telford & Pruesapan and S. elachophyllus subsp. decrescentifolius (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan, with Synostemon elachophyllus subsp. latior (Airy Shaw) I.Telford & Pruesapan (syn. Sauropus elachophyllus var. glaber Airy Shaw p.p.) raised in rank. The ‘Top End clade’ has morphological synapomorphies of fused staminal filaments and connectives, and linear, longitudinal anthers. Four new species are named: Synostemon cowiei I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl, S. inaequisepalus I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl, S. kakadu I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl and S. nitmiluk I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl and new combinations are provided: S. crassifolius (Müll.Arg.) I.Telford & Pruesapan, S. ditassoides (Müll.Arg.) I.Telford & Pruesapan, S. dunlopii (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan, S. filicinus (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan, S. gracilis (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan, S. rigidulus (F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg.) I.Telford & Pruesapan, and S. stenocladus (S.Moore) I.Telford & Pruesapan, with S. pinifolius (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan also raised in rank

Phytochemicals and In Vitro Bioactivities of Aqueous Ethanolic Extracts from Common Vegetables in Thai Food

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global cause of death. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the consumption of fruits and vegetables because they are rich in phytochemicals that sustainably ameliorate the occurrence of NCDs. Thai food contains many spices and vegetables with recognized health benefits. Quality control of plant samples encountered a bottleneck in the field and comparative studies of plant control origins including species or cultivar identification, growing area and appropriate harvesting time are limited. To address this issue, all plant samples used in this study were cultivated and controlled by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand. The samples were phytochemically screened and determined their health-promoting bioactivities via antioxidant activities and inhibition of NCD-related enzymes including lipase (obesity), α-amylase and α-glucosidase (diabetes), angiotensin-converting enzyme (hypertension), as well as acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and β-secretase (Alzheimer’s disease). The non-enzymatic reaction toward glycation was also evaluated. The results showed that Senegalia pennata subsp. insuavis (Lace) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger, Citrus hystrix DC. and Solanum melongena ‘Kermit’ extracts exhibited high antioxidant activities. Moreover, Citrus hystrix DC. extract was a potent inhibitor against lipase, angiotensin-converting enzyme and butyrylcholinesterase, while Coriandrum sativum L. and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. were potent anti-diabetic agents and Senegalia pennata subsp. insuavis (Lace) Maslin, and Seigler & Ebinger was a potent anti-glycation agent. Our data provide a comparative analysis of ten vegetables to encourage healthy food consumption and development to control NCDs in Thailand in the future

Exploration of the nutritional and carotenoids profiles of vegetables in Thai cuisine as potential nutritious ingredients

Missing information on plant origin control and nutritional data on herbs, spices and vegetables could lead to sample quality deficit and misusage of the plant database. In this study, twenty vegetables that were collected and managed based on the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand, were investigated regarding their proximate mineral, vitamin and carotenoid contents using the standard procedures of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The results showed that these plants (100 g dry weight) exhibited similar energy levels (337.11–420.48 kcal), which were mainly distributed from high carbohydrate content (21.01–88.17 g), while protein (3.14–66.07 g) and fat (0.00–10.33 g) levels were quite low. As a form of carbohydrate, dietary fiber was found to be high in Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Cy. citratus) and Solanum torvum Sw. (So. torvum) (57.00–59.54 g). Interestingly, Senegalia pennata subsp. insuavis (Lace) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger (S. pennata) exhibited exceptionally high protein content, which was between 2.3 and 3.1 times higher than its carbohydrates. High mineral contents were detected in S. pennata, Ocimum africanum Lour. (O. africanum), Ocimum basilicum L. (O. basilicum), Ocimum gratissimum L. var. macrophyllum Briq. (O. gratissimum) and Coriandrum sativum L. (Co. sativum), while Mentha cordifolia Opiz ex Fresen (M. cordifolia) was observed to be a good source of vitamin C (381.36–547.47 mg). High carotenoids were mostly found in Eryngium foetidum L. (E. foetidum), O. gratissimum, Co. sativum and O. basilicum (75.23–119.96 mg). Interestingly, the location of sample collection seemed to have minimal effect on the nutritional and carotenoid compositions. The results of this study provide reliable information concerning the nutritional and carotenoid contents in plant sources with control of origin, which could be used in the future for food development with specific nutritional requirements

Morphological and molecular data show Synostemon trachyspermus (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) to be a heterogeneous species assemblage

'Synostemon trachyspermus' (F.Muell.) I.Telford & Pruesapan (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) is shown, by morphological studies and phylogenetic analysis using nrITS DNA sequence data, to be a heterogeneous species assemblage of four species. 'Phyllanthus rhytidospermus' F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg., with a new combination provided as 'Synostemon rhytidospermus' (F.Muell. ex Müll.Arg.) I.Telford & Pruesapan, and 'Sauropus hubbardii' Airy Shaw, with a new combination as 'Synostemon hubbardii' (Airy Shaw) I.Telford & Pruesapan, are re-instated as species. 'Phyllanthus arnhemicus' S.Moore is lectotypified and placed in synonomy under 'Synostemon lissocarpus' (S.Moore) I.Telford & Pruesapan, which is the new combination provided for 'Phyllanthus lissocarpus' S.Moore (syn. 'Sauropus lissocarpus' (S.Moore) Airy Shaw). 'Synostemon umbrosus' I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl, a rare endemic from the Kimberley, Western Australia, is named as new. The newly described S. hamersleyensis I.Telford & Naaykens, endemic to the Pilbara, Western Australia, and the north-eastern Queensland endemic 'Sauropus aphyllus' J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl are shown to be closely related; the new combination 'Synostemon aphyllus' (J.T.Hunter & J.J.Bruhl) I.Telford & Pruesapan is provided for the latter. 'Sauropus sp.' A of 'Flora of the Kimberley Region', previously included within 'S. trachyspermus sens.lat.', shows a more distant relationship and is named as 'Synostemon judithae' I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl. Notes on distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status, photomicrographs of seeds and a key to identification of the species are provided

Delimitation of Sauropus (Phyllanthaceae) Based on Plastid matK and Nuclear Ribosomal ITS DNA Sequence Data

• Background and Aims: A recent molecular phylogenetic study showed that 'Sauropus' is deeply embedded within 'Phyllanthus' together with its allies, 'Breynia' and 'Glochidion'. As relationships within 'Sauropus' are still problematic and the relationship with Breynia has long been doubted, more molecular data are needed to test/corroborate such a broad definition of Phyllanthus. This study aims to clarify the status and delimitation of Sauropus and establish its position within 'Phyllanthaceae'. • Methods: Plastid matK and nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequence data for 'Sauropus' and its allies were used to construct phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods. • Key Results: Within 'Phyllanthus', 'Sauropus' can be split into the mainly south-east Asian 'Sauropus sensu stricto' (s.s.) plus 'Breynia' and the mainly Australian 'Sauropus' (formerly 'Synostemon'). 'Sauropus' s.s. plus 'Breynia' comprise two distinct clades; one is the combination of 'Sauropus' sections 'Glochidioidei', 'Sauropus' and 'Schizanthi' and the other is the combination of 'Sauropus' sections 'Cryptogynium' and 'Hemisauropus' and the monophyletic genus 'Breynia'. • Conclusions: Molecular data indicate that 'Synostemon' should be reinstated at the same level as 'Sauropus s.s.' and that 'Sauropus s.s.' should be united with 'Breynia' under the latter, older name. The molecular data corroborate only two of the five infrageneric groups of 'Sauropus' recognized on the basis of morphological data

The Effect of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and Its Mixtures on Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant Activities, and Inhibitions of the Key Enzymes Relevant to Alzheimer’s Disease

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) has long been used as a food source and ingredient for traditional herbal remedies. Plant parts contain neuroprotective agents that interact with specific targets to inhibit Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Organic solvents including methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and n-butanol, are widely employed for extraction of sacred lotus but impact food safety. Seed embryo, flower stalk, stamen, old leaf, petal, and leaf stalk of sacred lotus were extracted using hot water (aqueous extraction). The extractions were analyzed for their bioactive constituents, antioxidant and anti-AD properties as key enzyme inhibitory activities toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase 1 (BACE-1). Results showed that the sacred lotus stamen exhibited significant amounts of phenolics, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, that contributed to high antioxidant activity via both single electron transfer (SET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms, with anti-AChE, anti-BChE, and anti-BACE-1 activities. To enhance utilization of other sacred lotus parts, a combination of stamen, old leaf and petal as the three sacred lotus plant components with the highest phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, and enzyme inhibitory properties was analyzed. Antagonist interaction was observed, possibly from flavonoids–flavonoids interaction. Further in-depth elucidation of this issue is required. Findings demonstrated that an aqueous extract of the stamen has potential for application as a functional food to mitigate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease