The semisynthesis of the Stemona alkaloids (3'R)-stemofolenol (1), (3'S)-stemofolenol (2), methylstemofoline (3), and (3'S)-hydroxystemofoline (5) and the unnatural analogues (11E)-methylstemofoline (15) and 3'R-hydroxystemofoline (11) has been achieved starting from (11Z)-1',2'-didehydrostemofoline (4). This synthesis allowed, for the first time, access to diastereomerically enriched samples of 1 and 2 and the assignment of their absolute configurations at C-3'. These compounds were obtained in sufficient quantities to allow for their biological testing. In a quantitative assay as AChE inhibitors, (11Z)-1',2'-didehydrostemofoline (4) and (3'S)-hydroxystemofoline (5) were found to be the most active.

Influence of plantlet age and different soilless culture on acclimatization of Stemona curtisii Hook.f. AbstractThe aim of this experiment was to study the optimal age of Stemona curtisii plantlets for acclimatization. The in vitro shoots of S. curtisii were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium supplemented with 1 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid to induce roots. Then, the plantlets from in vitro culture of 4, 8 and 12 week-old were transferred into the soil and their survival rate during the acclimatization process in the greenhouse was investigated. It was found that the 8 week-old plantlets had the highest survival rate of 80%. However, to enhance the survival rate of these plantlets, a soilless culture technique as a possible approach for the acclimatization was considered. Eight week-old plantlets were transferred into either, soil, a hydroponic system (nutrient film technique), coconut fiber or sand. The plantlets which were cultivated in coconut fiber or hydroponic culture showed 100% survival rate with the highest average number of new roots per plant. However, the mean root length of the plantlets grown in hydroponic system was significantly higher than that grown in coconut fiber. AbstractThe aim of this experiment was to study the optimal age of Stemona curtisii plantlets for acclimatization. The in vitro shoots of S. curtisii were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium supplemented with 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid to induce roots. Then, the plantlets from in vitro culture of 4, 8 and 12 week-old were transferred into the soil and their survival rate during the acclimatization process in the greenhouse was investigated. It was found that the 8 week-old plantlets had the highest survival rate of 80%. However, to enhance the survival rate of these plantlets, a soilless culture technique as a possible approach for the acclimatization was considered. Eight week-old plantlets were transferred into either, soil, a hydroponic system (nutrient film technique), coconut fiber or sand. The plantlets which were cultivated in coconut fiber or hydroponic culture showed 100% survival rate with the highest average number of new roots per plant. However, the mean root length of the plantlets grown in hydroponic system was significantly higher than that grown in coconut fiber.2

Abstract-Plant tissue culture technique combined with elicitors is required to produce plant secondary metabolites. The results showed that both elicitors (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) could enhance the production of Stemona alkaloids in the Stemona sp. culture. Among these elicitors, salicylic acid was found to be the most effective elicitor. The plantlet which was elicited with 100 µM salicylic acid for 1 week showed an increase of 1′,2′-didehydrostemo-foline and stemofoline production at 1.69 fold and 1.61 fold higher than the control, respectively. IndexTerms-1′,2′-didehydrostemofoline, stemofoline, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid.

In vitro Moringa oleifera Lam. seedlings were successfully produced through seed culture on Murashige & Skoog (MS) agar medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose and 0.2% (w/v) Gelrite TM in the absence of growth regulators under 1,500 lux of light density, 16 hour photoperiod light at temperature of 25 ± 2°C. Shoot-derived callus and rootderived callus of M. oleifera were established via culture of shoot and root on the MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in the dark at 25 ± 2°C. Stem, leaf and root of native M. oleifera and M. oleifera callus were assayed for peroxidase activity using guaiacol as a substrate of the enzyme. In native plant, crude extract from root provided the highest peroxidase specific activity, followed by those from stem and leaf with the specific activity of 19.73 ± 0.18, 16.56 ± 1.43 and 13.38 ± 1.04 unit/mg protein, respectively. Crude extract of root-derived callus and shoot-derived callus of M. oleifera possessed specific activity of 167.25 ± 16.12 and 103.99 ± 10.64 unit/mg protein. These values are significantly higher than their counter parts from native M. oleifera suggesting the potential use of the callus cultures as new and improved sources of peroxidase.