Phytochemical profile and anti-Inflammatory effect of the orchid <i>Catasetum macroglossum</i>

The pseudobulbs of Catasetum macroglossum (Orchidaceae) are popularly used as topical anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic in the forests and medium lands of Ecuador, but they were never studied. We evaluated whether the decoction of C. macroglossum has antiinflammatory effect and which is its phytochemical profile. The effect of 30 and 90 mg lyophilized/kg via i.p. was studied on the carrageenaninduced edema in the paw rat, in comparison with saline and indomethacin. The paw edema was inhibited in about 60 to 80 % after 1 to 3 h of carrageenan injection. The phytochemical profile was done by chemical tests to evaluate the presence of reducing sugars and flavonoids, and TLC of the aqueous extract and the hydrolyzed one. There were detected reductive substances after the acidic hydrolysis, and two spots with the features and Rf of the standard glucose and mannose. Some peaks in the HPLC-DAD chromatogram showed absorption at 225 and 280 nm in agreement with dihydro derivatives of phenantrene and stilbene in traces amount. The antiinflammatory kinetic of C. macroglossum suggests inhibition on prostaglandins. This work validates the popular use of C. macroglossum, which could be due to the presence of a glucomannan and traces of phenantrene and stilbene, as in other species of Catasetum.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

First evidence for Wollemi Pine-type pollen (Dilwynites: Araucariaceae) in South America

We report the first fossil pollen from South America of the lineage that includes the recently discovered, extremely rare Australian Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae). The grains are from the late Paleocene to early middle Eocene Ligorio Márquez Formation of Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina, and are assigned to Dilwynites, the fossil pollen type that closely resembles the pollen of modern Wollemia and some species of its Australasian sister genus, Agathis. Dilwynites was formerly known only from Australia, New Zealand, and East Antarctica. The Patagonian Dilwynites occurs with several taxa of Podocarpaceae and a diverse range of cryptogams and angiosperms, but not Nothofagus. The fossils greatly extend the known geographic range of Dilwynites and provide important new evidence for the Antarctic region as an early Paleogene portal for biotic interchange between Australasia and South America.Mike Macphail, Raymond J. Carpenter, Ari Iglesias, Peter Wil