Asteraceae

In normal physiological conditions, it is inhibited by a-1-protease inhibitor of plasma. Damage to connective caused by leakage of elastases leads to damage associated with inflammatory diseases, such as pulmonary emphysema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, cystic fibrosis, carcinogenesis, chronic bronchitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Compounds that directly inhibit elastase or its release from human neutrophils are of enormous pharmaceutical and cosmetological interest in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. A possible source for elastase inhibitors are the medicinal Asteraceae and Droseraceae, particularly those used as traditional medicine in Asia. 

The family Asteraceae is a prolific source of sesquiterpene lactones, among which, melampolides have been shown to inhibit the enzymatic activity of elastases. Melampolides are a common member of the Melampodi-inae subtribe. Examples of medicinal Asteraceae known to elaborate melampolides are Sigesbeckia orientalis L. and Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) B.L. Robinson. 

Sigesbeckia glabrescens Mak., or hi chum (Korean Fig. 21), is used in Korea to treat liver and kidney diseases, asthma, allergic disorders, costiveness, deafness, and blindness. In China, the plant is prescribed for rheumatic pain, numbness, weak bones, and to wash boils. The anti-inflammatory property of Sigesbeckia glabrescens Mak. is 

Bismarck Archipelago. The leaves are cordate, and the capitula are grouped in panicles (Fig. 22). In Taiwan, the plant is used to resolve swellings. In Malaysia, it is used to calm itches, and in Indonesia it is used to heal wounds. 

Mikania cordata is known to elaborate a series of sesquiterpene lactones, among which deoxymikanolide significantly inhibits acetic acid-induced writhing in mice (44,45). The plant also contains a series of melampolides that inhibit the enzymatic activity of elastase (46). 

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The stndies of variation patterns in Lasthenia and Brickellia hardly break the snrface of a vast and complex literatnre on chemical variation within Asteraceae. The snbject has been discnssed in detail, with reviews focnsing on polyacetylenes (Bohlmann et al., 1973), sesqniterpene derivatives (Seaman, 1982), and flavonoids (Bohm and Stnessy, 2001). The next examples come from the sesqniterpene lactone literatnre and, again, represent only a sample of the applications that have been made nsing those data. Examples covering the taxonomic hierarchy within Asteraceae np to the early 1980s can be fonnd in the monumental review of the family prepared by Seaman (1982). 

Arnica (Asteraceae), a Note on Sedum (Crassulaceae), and a Comment on Antennaria (Asteraceae)... 

Some readers may wish to look at the study of Watson et al. (1994) involving the Marshallia graminifolia (Walter) Small (Asteraceae) complex, which occurs along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains essentially paralleling the juniper example just... 

Robinsonia (Asteraceae Senecioneae), the second largest endemic genus on the islands, consists of seven species assorted into two subgenera, subgen. Rhetino-dendron, consisting solely of R. berteroi (Hemsl.) Sanders, Stuessy Marticorena... 

Excellent general information on amphitropical relationships involving taxa from the Pacific Coast of North America and South America appears in a symposium on the subject published in the 1963 Quarterly Review of Biology (Raven, 1963) with contributions from Lincoln Constance on Apiaceae, Larry Heckard on Hydrophyllaceae, Kenton Chambers and Robert Omduff on genera in Asteraceae, and Peter Raven on an overview of floristic relationships between North America and South America. 

Anderberg, A. A. 1994. Tribe Inuleae. Pages 273-291 in K. Bremer (ed.) Asteraceae Cladistics and Classification. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 

Baldwin, B. G., Kyhos, D. W. and Dvolrak, J. 1990. Chloroplast DNA evolution and adaptive radiation in the Hawaiian silversword alliance (Asteraceae—Madiinae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77 96-109. 

Bayer, R. J. 1990. Investigations into the evolutionary history of the Antennaria rosea complex (Asteraceae Inuleae) polyploid complex. Plant Syst. Evol. 169 97-110. 

Binns, S. E., Arnason, J. T. and Baum, B. R. 2002. Phytochemical variation within populations of Echinacea angustifolia (Asteraceae). Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 30 837-854. 

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