Aizoaceae

Neales, T.F., Fraser, M.S. Roksandic, Z. (1983). Carbon isotope composition of the halophyte Disphyma clavellatum (Haw.) Chinnock (Aizoaceae), as affected by salinity. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 10, 437-44. 

Shack, D., Engel, U., and Reznik, H., High performance liquid chromatography of hetalains and its application to pigment analysis in Aizoaceae und Cactaceae, Ztschr. PflanzenphysioL, 101, 215, 1981. 

This type of action is found in kanna, or Sceletium expansum and Sceletium tortuosum (Aizoaceae), which have been used by South African shamans from prehistoric times to enhance animal spirits, sparkle the eyes, and to stimulate gaiety. The active constituent of kanna is a serotonin-like alkaloid called mesembrine, which is a potent serotonin re-uptake inhibitor—hence, some potential for the treatment of anxiety and depression however, careful clinical trials must be performed. 

LiChrosorb RP-18 (5 250 X 4 mm) A 1.5% phosphoric acid in water B phosphoric acid/acetic acid/acetonitrile/ water (1.5/20/25/53.5) gradient 480 betcyan, betxanth Aizoaceae, Cactaceae 250... 

Codonocarpus cotinifolius and Didymotheca thesioides (both now assigned by some taxonomists to Gyrostcmonaccae) as well as Gisekia africana (now placed in Aizoaceae) were likewise positive. 

Although the alkaloids of the mesembrane type are structurally similar to certain alkaloids of the family Amaryllidaceae, they are generally found in the plants of the family Aizoaceae, but there have been several exceptions to this generalization. For example, amisine (580) has been isolated from Hymenocallis arenicola Northrop (57), and mesembrenol (581) has been isolated from Crinum oliganthum (41). The isolation of 580 and 581 represented the first instances in... 

Mesembryanthemum RIP1 (33kDa [reading frame]) Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Aizoaceae) [plant] PAG (rabbit M. crystallinum rRNA)... 

Tyrosine or proline Betalains Families of the Centrospermae (e.g. Cactaceae, Aizoaceae, Portulacaceae, Phytolaccaceae)... 

Chenopodiineae Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae, Basellaceae Cactaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Didiereaceae,... 

Although both the Amaryllidaceae and Sceletium-type alkaloids have common biogenetic precursors, further investigations have revealed that the biosyntheses of these two classes of alkaloids are fundamentally different (185). Therefore, the presence of mesembrenone in Narcissus plants is of chemotaxonomic interest because mesembrines seem to be restricted to Aizoaceae-Mesembrylanthemoidaceae (Dicotyledons) (186). The present finding reveals the presence in the Amaryllidaceae of such unexpected alkaloids as those found in some Sceletium species. 

Full details have been published of part of the research on the biosynthesis of the mesembrine alkaloids of Sceletium strictum (Aizoaceae). Some of the work has appeared in a preliminary communicationand has been reviewed. 

C9H9NO5, Mr 211.17, uv, 428 nm. B. is the central building block of all betalains, but also occurs in the free form, especially in members of the Aizoaceae (Mesembryanthemum). B. can be obtained from betaxanthins by base-catalyzed hydrolysis. lit. Helv. Chim. Acta 67,1547 (1984) Manske 39, I -62. -]CAS 18766-66-0]... 

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