Marah

Alkaloids (pyrazolinc derivatives) and some others of undetermined structure have been reported from several genera. The family is known chemically for the cucurbitacins-loxic steroidal substances. In this study, 106 samples in 73 species were tested two were already known to contain alkaloids, Momordica charantia (2/11) and M. foeiida (1/2). Other positives included Coccinea addensis (1/3), Cucumis anguria, C. zeyheri, Cucurbita foelidissi-ma (2/3), Echinocystis macrocarpa, Marah macrocarpa, Melothria cordala, Momordica cissoides, M. repens (1/2), Peponium macke-nii, Trichosanthes sp. 

Figure 6. Mass fragmentograms of the acidic fraction from an extract of Marah macrocarpus endosperm. Ions in the mass spectrum of GAi Me TMS ("shown above) were examined. The extract was run as the Me TMS derivative on a MS 902 spectrometer coupled to a Varian 2700 GC via a membrane separator. GC-MS conditions—3% OV-17 on 100-120-mesh Gas Chrom Q in a 2 m X 0.2 cm i.d. column. Temperature—200°C for 5 min then programmed at 4°C/min. Helium flow—16.5 cm3/min. Electron energy—70 eV accelerator potential— 2.9 KV separator temperature—226°C source temperature—250°C.

Cell-free systems provide a rapid and convenient method for preparing GA and GA-precursors with high specific radioactivity, although on a relatively small scale. [ C]-labeled ent-kaurenoid precursors of GAs have been obtained from [2- C] mevalonic acid by incubating with cell-free systems from endosperm of Marah macrocarpus (83) or Cucurblta maxima (84,85) ... 

Hasson, E.P., West, C.A. "Properties of the system for the mixed function oxidation of kaurene and kaurene derivatives in microsomes of the immature seed of Marah macrocarpus. Electron transfer components." Plant Physiol., 1976, 58, U79-U8U. 

The biosynthesis pathway of GAs in plants has long been studied since their discovery as endogenous growth regulators. There have been two key approaches to unravel the biosynthetic routes and identify the genes encoding the biosynthetic enzymes. First, a cell-free system prepared from immature seeds of dicotyledonous species such as Marah macrocarpus and Cucurbita maxima allowed researchers to purify and characterize the GA... 

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter therefore it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying What shall we drink Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. 

Marah is an area of desert located near the Red Sea on the Sinai Peninsula. The desert water is bitter due to high alkalinity. Weathering of wood on the desert by the sun causes the alcohol groups of cellulose and hemicellulose to be oxidized to carboxyl groups. By throwing a piece of weathered wood into the alkaline water, an acid-base reaction takes place in which the alkalinity of the water is reduced. Thereby, the water becomes sweet. 

Professor W. Reinman of Rutgers University has stated that probably the first published account of what we now know as ion exchange was the biblical account of Moses at Marah, who "found a suitable tree which when he had cast it into the water the waters were made sweet." The explanation is that the oxidized cellulose exchanged with the salty tasting ions in the water. 

Isocucurbitacin D (41) and 3-epi-isocucurbitacin D (42) are new tumour-inhibitory compounds from the leaves of Phormium tenax. They may be artefacts of isolation since they are both formed by isomerization of cucurbitacin D (43) on silica gel. Dihydroisocucurbitacin B (44) has been isolated from Marah... 

Methylic hydride, or marah-gas, ie produced during putrefaction, and by the distillation of potastio acetate with excess of potaario hydrate. 

The Teacher of Righteousness or Moreh-zedek of the Dead Sea Scrolls seems to be very much like Mel-chi-zedek. Moreh and Moriah are the places of Yahweh s Covenant with Abraham. The Hebrew word Marah means salt sea Therefore, Mor-Iah and Mor-Jah translate to God of the Sea or God of the Salt Water. From this same root, More/z-translates as the Water of Righteousness or Dew of Righteousness. 

Kupchan, S. M., H. Meshulam, and A. T. Sneden, New cucurbi-tacins from Phormium tenax and Marah oreganus. Phytochemistry, 17, 767-769 (1978). 

Hofman, D., K. O Marah, and G. Elvy. June 2011. The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2011. Gartner Report, ID number G00213740, Scotsdale, AZ Gartner Inc. 

The first description of an ion-exchange separation may be the passage in Exodus, where Moses purified the brackish water of Marah with a piece of wood (Exodus). Another ancient reference to the use of ion exchangers is given by Aristotle, who described that seawater loses its salt contents if it is passed through certain types of sand (Aristotle --- 330 BC). 

Enzyme preparations from seeds of Marah macrocarpus and Malus domestica convert GAg to GA7 via 2,3-dehydroGAg. 

Fig. 2. Metabolic pathways from GA in enzyme preparations from embryo-endosperm of Marah macrocarpus and embryos of Malus domestica...

In the non-13-hydroxylation pathway, GA9 is analogous to GA20 in the early 13-hydroxylation pathway (Fig. 1). The pathway from GAg to GA7 in the Marah and Malus systems, and the pathway from GA20 to GA3 in maize is different from that in the fungus. This difference has phyllogenetic significance. 

Seeds can synthesize GAs by themselves [20]. Most research on GA biosynthesis has been carried out with cell-free extracts from the endosperm of Marah macrocarpa and Cucurbita maxima and from the embryo of Pisum sativum. 

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