Chemical basis of pupal cannibalism in a caterpillar (Utetheisa ornatrix)

The mothUtetheisa ornatrix derives protection against predation from systemic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that it sequesters as a larva from its foodplants (Leguminosae,Crotalaria spp.). We here show, in laboratory tests, thatUtetheisa deficient in body PA can make up for the chemical shortfall by cannibalizing pupae. We present evidence indicating that cannibalism in larvae is elicited not by hunger, but possibly by PA deficiency itself, and that in making cannibalistic choices larvae prefer PA-containing over PA-free pupae. PAs themselves, either in crystalline form or as additives to food items, proved phagostimulatory to larvae. In natureUtetheisa tend to pupate away from their foodplant, essentially out of reach of larval attack. The threat of cannibalism may have contributed to the evolution of this pupation behavior.Paper No. 102 of the series Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods; No. 101 is Eisner et al., Chemoecology (in press).     

Biogenesis ofElaeocarpus andPeripentadenia alkaloids

Summary A pathway for the biogenesis of alkaloids ofElaeocarpus andPeripentadenia spp. (Elaeocarpaceae) is put forward, which involves methionine as the source of the central C3 unit in the structures of all these bases except mearsine, for which acetate units appear to furnish all the carbon atoms in its structure.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in overwintering monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) from mexico

Summary North American populations of the monarch butterfly,Danaus plexippus, have been found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides. Analytical methods (TLC, GC, and GC/MS) have been developed to isolate, quantitate, and structurally elucidate the alkaloids. Examples of at least two classes of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been identified, the macrocyclic diesters, senecionine, integerrimine, and seneciphylline, and the monoesters, echinatine, intermedine, and lycopsamine.21 November 1986This work was supported by NSF (Grants BSR-81-19391 and BSR-81-19382), and a Stauffer Chemical Company fellowship. We thank David Hodapp, Mark Stelljes, and Cordula Bruenner for technical help, Dr T.P. Krick, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., USA, for assistance in GC/MS analysis of PAs, and Dr J.A. Edgar, CSIRO, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, for samples of authentic reference compounds.     

Betel nut residues in archaeological samples of human teeth from the Mariana Islands

Two tetrahydropyridine alkaloids, arecaidine and guvacine that are characteristic of betel nut (Areca catechu L.) have been detected in the deliberately stained labial surface of female teeth excavation on Rota, Mariana Islands. This was accomplished using selected ion monitoring techniques in conjunction with gas chromatography/electron impact-mass spectrometry. These alkaloids were not present on the buccal surface of the teeth and indicate the use of betel nut to effect the staining.     

New tamjamine class alkaloids from the marine ascidianAtapozoa sp. and its nudibranch predators. Origin of the tambjamines inAtapozoa

Summary Two new tambjamine class alkaloids, possessing ichthyodeterrent properties, have been isolated from the organic extracts of the marine ascidianAtapozoa sp. and its nudibranch predators. The structure of the new metabolites were elucidated through interpretation of their physical and spectral data and by comparison with spectral data for related compounds. Microscopic examination ofAtapozoa considering the yellow color of the tambjamines suggested thatAtapozoa is capable of the de novo biosynthesis of these metabolites.     

印楝提取物及双稠哌啶类生物碱对桑天牛存活及生殖的影响

用１．０μｇ／ｍｍ２剂量的黄华碱和野靛碱处理的构树枝分别喂饲桑天牛,黄华碱不表现拒食作用,但野靛碱表现出显著的拒食作用。同样剂量条件下,两种生物碱均能使桑天牛的产卵量和卵孵化率显著下降,但没有引起死亡。用８．０×１０－２,４．０×１０－２,２．０×１０－２,１．０×１０－２,５．０×１０－３μｇ／ｍｍ２剂量的印楝提取物（含ａｚａｄｉｒａｃｈｔｉｎ１０％）处理的构树枝喂饲桑天牛,前二种剂量引起１００％死亡率,２．０×１０－２μｇ／ｍｍ２剂量引起８０％死亡率并导致雌虫不再产卵,而后两种剂量引起的死亡率为３０％和０％,并导致产卵量和卵孵化率较对照急剧地下降。报道了双稠哌啶类生物碱对昆虫引起产卵量和卵孵化率下降作用及天牛科中印楝提取物抑制产卵和卵孵化的作用。     

Occurrence of ricinoleic acid in submerged cultures of variousClaviceps sp.

Summary Ricinoleic acid was found in differentClaviceps sp., indicating that it is neither specific chemotaxonomic marker ofClaviceps purpurea, nor a specific indicator of peptide alkaloid synthesis.     

微波联用超临界萃取菊三七生物碱工艺的实验研究

采用微波联用超临界 CO2萃取菊三七生物碱,将菊三七粉末用乙醇水溶液浸泡、微波辐照处理后,再用超临界 CO2萃取,对乙醇浓度、浸泡时间和微波辐照时间等实验条件进行单因素实验,得出浸泡液乙醇浓度为90;,浸泡时间为10 h,微波处理时间为2 min 为优化条件,并与单一采用超临界 CO2萃取的试验进行了比较。结果表明,微波联用超临界萃取技术用于菊三七生物碱的提取效率优于单一采用超临界萃取技术。     

劲直刺桐化学成分的研究

劲直刺桐(Erythrina stricta)枝叶用甲醇提取,用硅胶柱层析和Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱层析进行化学成分分离纯化,从中分离得到1个木脂素和4个生物碱,经波谱分析和理化性质对化合物结构进行鉴定,鉴定结构为glycosmisic acid(1)、nororientaline(2)、11b-methoxyerythraline-Noxide(3)、cristanines B(4)和erybidine(5)。其中,glycosmisic acid是从豆科刺桐属植物中首次分离得到,化合物2～4是从劲直刺桐中首次分离得到。