A chemophenetic study of the genus Maytenus s.l. (Celastraceae): contribution to the rational search of its bioactive metabolites

Maytenus s.l. is a genus of the Celastraceae family and many of its species are used in traditional medicine. Most of the substances responsible for the biological activities of plants come from their secondary metabolism, such as terpenoids and flavonoids, which have multiple functions in the plant and can occur in a similar way in plant groups. Chemophenetics analyzes the occurrence of these substances in a taxon and can infer evolutionary trends and contribute to the rational search for new drugs. Chemosystematic parameters were used to analyze the data obtained through a bibliographic survey. The species of Maytenus s.l. were separated into three groups: species with accepted names, synonymous species with the genus Monteverdia and synonymous species with the genus Gymnosporia. Due to their great occurrence and structural variety in Maytenus s.l., triterpenes were chosen as chemosystematic markers, with friedelanes and quinone methide triterpenes being the most expressive types. Studies have already demonstrated the analgesic potential of quinone methides and the antitumor potential of phenolic triterpenes and dimers of these units. Together, the three classes assist in the circumscription of Maytenus s.s. and Monteverdia, while lupanes can be used in the separation of these genera. Oleanans are representative of Gymnosporia.

Identification of volatile compounds from three species of Cyathodium (Marchantiophyta: Cyathodiaceae) and Leiosporoceros dussii(Anthocerotophyta: Leiosporocerotaceae) from Panama, and C. foetidissimum from Costa Rica.

Cyathodium is a thalloid marchantialean liverwort with five species reported for the Neotropics. Three species that occur in Panama (C. bischlerianum, C. spruceanum, C. cavernarum) and one from Costa Rica (C. foetidissimum) were studied chemically. Female and male plants of the dioecious C. spruceanum were very similar in their chemical composition except for two compounds that were found only in female plants. All samples of C. spruceanum and C. bischlerianum contained, in less than three percent, the sesquiterpenes germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene. The presence of these compounds suggests a close affinity between these two species. Cyathodium bischlerianum contained mainly aromatic monoterpenes with nerolidol as the main compound. Cyathodium cavernarum also had a very distinct chemical composition with an octane derivative as its major compound. Indole compounds were found only in C. foetidissimum. The presence of these compounds in plants from Costa Rica and Tahiti suggests that they could be considered as potential chemosystematic markers for the species. Based on their chemical composition there is a clear distinction between the four species of Cyathodium studied. The chemistry of these species supports previous morphological and genetic studies. Only two compounds could be identified in Leiosporoceros dussii. There is a need for additional genetic and chemical studies on neotropical Cyathodium and Leiosporoceros. Key

Chemosystematics of Porella (Marchantiophyta, Porellaceae)

The taxonomy of the liverwort genus Porella based on plant morphology has been regarded as difficult. Recent DNA-based studies have brought new insights into the systematics of these liverworts and have uncovered some novel relationships that allowed the resolution of controversial treatments based on morphology. One of the outstanding features of these plants, in addition to their form, is their chemical composition, which is characterized by great diversity of secondary metabolites. In this paper the sesqui- and diterpenoids occurring in Porella species are described and their chemosystematic relevance is explored. On the basis of chemical data, the Porella species have been divided into six chemotypes: the drimane- (I), sacculatane- (II), pinguisane-sacculatane- (III), guaiane-germacrane- (IV), pinguisane- (V) and africane- (VI) types. Species belonging to type I are characterized by their hot taste, whereas the other chemotypes are comprised of non-pungent species. Consideration of recent DNA data shows striking correlations between molecular groups and their terpenoid chemistry. The chemical data suggest that the P. vernicosa complex (chemotype I) deserves recognition as a separate section of Porella and that terpenoids are important chemosystematic markers in the family Porellaceae.