Saemram et al.: Efficiency Evaluation of Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erectaThunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta have been mostly used for ornamentation but have interesting other uses. However, toxicity and phytochemical studies of these plants are lacking. Therefore, phytochemicals of the two species were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were tested via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and comet assays in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Then, the extracts of the two species and their combination were applied to peripheral blood mononuclear cells poisoned with rice whisky and bathroom cleaner as toxic models in everyday life. The results showed that the major phytochemicals were 12.36 % and 24.90 % phytol in ethanol extracts of Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta and 46.29 % and 43.47 % oleamide in hexane extracts of Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta, respectively. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration values, which indicate toxicity in cells, were not detected for either species, but at the deoxyribonucleic acid level, the extracts induced significant deoxyribonucleic acid damage, shown by high Olive Tail Moment values in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p<0.05). Biological activity of the extracts revealed by higher cell viability percentages and lower Olive Tail Moment values in the treatments (poisoned peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with plant extracts) than the controls (poisoned peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Taking all the results together, Thunbergia alata and Thunbergia erecta extracts and their combination can be applied for many benefits in humans following properties that have been previously used and their phytochemicals but have limitations of doses.

Hymenocallis littoralis was previously reported various chromosome numbers of 2n=44, 46, 48, 49 and 68 by a conventional staining. In order to analyze these chromosomes in detail, karyotype analysis by the conventional staining and a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes of 45S and 5S rDNA, and telomere repeats of human-type (TTAGGG) n and Arabidopsis-type (TTTAGGG) n was performed on chromosomes of H. littoralis from Thailand. The plants have 26 chromosome pairs (2n=52), and this chromosome number was not consistent with any of the previous reports. The 45S rDNA signals were localized at the terminal region of short arms of two chromosome pairs. Heteromorphic signals of 5S rDNA were detected at the proximal region of the short arms of one long chromosome, and at the interstitial region of the long arm of one short chromosome. The signals of human-type telomere repeat were detected at all chromosome ends, but FISH with Arabidopsis-type telomere repeat showed no signal.