Cuscuta

Lein, m. flax linseed, -dotter,/. gold-of-pleas-ure, dodder seed (Camelina sativa, the seeds of which yield an oil) sometimes, dodder (Cuscuta). -dotterfil, n. cameline oil. 

Bio activities found for some of the polysaccharides described in this chapter have been assigned to certain structural features. The antioxidant effect of the Cuscuta chinensis pectin was proposed to be caused by the presence of a glucobiose unit linked via a GalA unit on the RG-I polymer [53], but this structural feature was not found for the anti-oxidant polysaccharide from Tinospora cordifolia [78,79]. 

Gupta M, Mazumder UK, Pal DK, Bhattacharya S Anti-steroidogenic activity of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa roxb. stem and Corchorus olitorius Linn, seed in mouse ovary. Indian J Exp Biol 2003 41 641-644. 

Snyder, A.M., Clark, B.M., Robert, B., Ruban, A.V., and Bungard, R.A. 2004. Carotenoid specificity of light-harvesting complex II binding sites Occurrence of 9-cis violaxanthin in the neoxanthin-binding site in the parasitic angiosperm cuscuta reflexa. J. Biol. Chem. 279 5162-5168. 

Abu-Irmaileh BE, Thahabi S (1997) Comparative solarization effect on Cuscuta and Orobanche species. In Stapleton JJ, DeVay JE, Elmore CL (eds) Proceedings of the second international conference on soil solarization and integrated management of soil-borne pests, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic, 16-21 March 1997. FAO Plant Protection and Production Paper 147, FAO,... 

Haidar MA, Iskandarani N, Sidahmed M, Baalbaki R (1999) Response of field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) seeds to soil solarization and chicken manure. Crop Prot 18 253-258. doi 10.1016/... 

Allelopathy found hopeful utilization in plant protection against parasite weeds. The main world parasitic species are the witchweeds (Striga spp.), broomrapes (Orobanche spp.), and eventually dodder (Cuscuta spp.). Witchweeds and broom-rapes attack many economically important crops especially throughout the semi-arid regions. Early detection of parasitic weed infestation and protection is difficult because of the growth habit of a root parasite and huge production of dust-like seeds viable up to 20 years (Kebreab and Murdoch 1999). 

Trap crops or so-called false hosts are crops able to stimulate parasite seed germination but are not themselves parasitized. Each trap crop control at least one species but not all genus species. (Abebe et al. 2005). Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) infestation can be effectively reduced by growing cereals or other grass crops (false hosts) continuously for several years (Dawson 1987). Other examples of suitable trap and catch crops are given in the Table 14.3. 

Dawson JH (1987) Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) and its control. In Weber HC, Forstreuter W (eds) Parasitic flowering plants, Philipps-Universitat, Marburg, Germany, pp 137-149 De Almeida FS (1985) Effect of some winter mulches on the soil weed infestation. In Proceedings of 2nd Brighton Crop Protection Conference - Weeds, British Crop Protection Council, London, pp 651-659... 

Anis E, Anis 1, Ahmed S, Mustafa G, Malik A, Afza N. (2002) a-Glucosidase inhibitory constituents from Cuscuta reflexa Emm ANIS. Chem Pharm Bull 50 112-114. 

Cuscutic resinoside A (1 tetradecanoic acid, (115)-[[6-deoxy-3-(9-(6-deoxy-a-L-mannopyranosyl)-4-0-[(2/ ,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-niethyl-l-oxobutyl]-a-L-nianno-pyranosyl]oxy]-intramol. l,2 -ester) was obtained from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of a methanol extract prepared from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. The purification of this compound employed a combination of column and preparative-scale HPLC. The structure was deduced from spectroscopic evidence and acid hydrolysis 14). The degradative process gave convolvuUnolic acid, nilic acid, and L-rhamnose. The sugar components were identified by GC analysis after being converted to their thiazolidine derivatives. This disaccharide has a unique macrocyclic lactone, which is placed between C-1 and C-2 of the first rhamnose moiety. 

Umehara K, Nemoto K, Ohkubo T, Miyase T, Degawa M, Noguchi H (2004) Isolation of a New 15-Membered Macrocyclic Glycolipid Lactone, Cuscutic Resinoside A from the Seeds of Cuscuta chinensis A Stimulator of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation. Planta Med 70 299... 

Khaima SN, Gupta PC (1967) Structure of Muricatin. Phytochemistry 6 735 Miyahara K, Du XM, Watanabe M, Sugimura C, Yahara S, Nohara T (1996) Resin Glycosides XXIII. Two Novel Acylated Trisaccharides Related to Resin Glycoside from the Seeds of Cuscuta chinensis. Chem Pharm Bull 44 481... 

Du X-M, Sun N-Y, Nishi M, Kawasaki T, Guo Y-T, Miyahara K (1999) Components of the Ether-Insoluble Resin Glycoside Fraction from the Seed of Cuscuta australis. J Nat Prod 62 722... 

Du XM, Kohinata K, Kawasaki T, Guo YT, Miyahara K (1998) Resin Glycosides XXVI. Components of the Ether-Insoluble Glycoside-Like Fraction from Cuscuta chinensis. Phytochemistry 48 843... 

Certain flavonoids are used by plants to protect them from invasion by parasites. For example, poplar (Populus spp.) cultivars produce a chemical barrier to parasitization by mistletoe (Viscum album).Resistant poplar cultivars were significantly higher in flavonols and flavones compared to susceptible cultivars. Likewise, in Streblus asper the bark and wood of trees that are resistant to the parasite Cuscuta reflexa hold higher levels of flavonoids, as well as steroids and alkaloids. 

Kelly, C.K., Plant foraging a marginal value model and coiling response in Cuscuta subinclusa. Ecology, 71, 1916, 1990. 

Julie, S. and Daniel, M., Chemical changes induced by Cuscuta reflexa on Streblus asper Lour., Natl Acad. Scl Lett., 19, 185, 1996. 

Cuscuta australis R. Brown Dou Tu Si (Dodder) (seed, aerial part) Carotenoids, alpha-carotene-5, 6-epoxide, taraxanthin, lutein.48 For fever, constipation, diuretic. 

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. C. eumpaea L. C. japonica Choisy C. lupuliformis Krocker Tu Si Zi (Dodder) (seed) Cuscutalin, bergenin, cuscutin, amarbelin, cholesterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, beta-amyrin.48 Improve immunity, increase blood sugar metabolism. 

N.A. Cuscuta epithymum Murr. Flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid, bergegin.102 For kidney disorder, liver disease. 

Swertia pseudochinensis Alpinia katsumadai Cuscuta australis R. Brown Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi Eucommia ulmoides D. Oliver... 

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