Seed galls

Prepare microsomes from borage seeds, lipid extraction, and fatty acid analysis according to Galle et al. (31). Protocol adapted from ref. (31). 

The conversion of animal hides into leather by treatment with water-soluble plant extractives has been practiced since antiquity. This process became known as tanning and obviously involved the reaction of a naturally occurring extractive, tannin, with the protein in the hide. We now know, of course, that tannins comprise a whole spectrum of chemical compounds, but generally they are polyphenolic and polymeric. Tannins have been isolated from a wide variety of raw materials, including insect galls, fruit skins, seed hulls, leaves, bark, and heartwood. Indeed, tannins are of nearly ubiquitous occurrence in higher orders... 

Fig. 2.17 Galls growing on an oak leaf. By production of polyphenols the tree tries to cut off the parasite from trace metal supply yet the wasp larva is capable of degrading them, in effect making use of the complexes as a means of metal enrichment. Thus a process used by many kinds of plant (photosynthetic organs and seeds likewise, often based on cyanide/cyanohydrines or on alkaloids) is turned in favor of a parasite (an outcome of co-evolution). Southern Germany, November 2008 photo taken by the author...

Infection of the gall bladder. Cold. Mosquito repellent. Appetite stimulant. Indigestion. Stomach pain. Flatulence. Nausea. Eeaves and twigs. Spice. Constipation and Migraine. Sores and Swellings. Seeds. 

A combination of the rice lamina inclination assay and GC/MS or GC/SIM analyses have allowed for identification of the brassinosteroids in various plant tissues These include brassinolide, 6-deoxodihydrocastasterone, brassinone from the insect galls of Castanea crenata (18,20) castasterone and 6-deoxodihydrocastasterone from the stems, leaves and flowers of Castanea crenata (20) brassinolide, castasterone, typhasterol (7), and teasterone (8) from leaves of Thea sinensis (21-23) castasterone and brassinone from the fruit of Pharbitis purpurea ( Japanese morning glory ) (24) brassinolide, castasterone and 24-epibrassinolide(29) from immature seed and/or pollen of Vida faba (broad bean ) (25,26) brassinolide and castasterone from the pollen of Alnus glutinosa (European alder) (27). 

Hormonal properties on plants. The occurrence and distribution of the brassinosteroids in assorted plant tissues has been comprehensively discussed (2). They occur in immature seeds, leaves, stems, shoots, pollen, and fruit. Furthermore, they have been found in insect galls and the corresponding healthy tissues. Although the chemical species remained the same in both sets, only brassinolide occurred in galls, but not in healthy tissues. Again, these compounds... 

Gallic acid—Acidum gallioum U. 8.)—C Ha(OH)sCOOH—170— exists in nature in certain leaves, seeds, and fruits. It is best obtained from gall-nuts, which contain its glucosid, gallotannie acid (q.v.). It can be obtained from salicylic acid. 

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