Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2000. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 264 p.; also contains graphics. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-262).

Elatostema J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Urticaceae) is a taxonomically problematic genus of approximately 300 species that is widespread throughout the tropical, subtropical and sub-temperate regions of Africa through to SE Asia, Australasia to Polynesia. Morphological and molecular analyses were conducted to evaluate the infra-familial classification of the Urticaceae, to test the monophyly of Tribe Elatostemeae, to define generic limits of Elatostema and assess its relationship within the tribe, and to examine the current infrageneric grouping within Elatostema. Phylogenetic analyses based on choloroplast DNA sequences of rbcL and trnL-F do not provide support for the monophyly of Urticaceae, because of the position of Poikilospermum (currently Cecropiaceae) within the tribe Urticeae. Although the status of Cecropiaceae is equivocal, there is support for the inclusion of this family in the Urticaceae, with Cecropia and Coussapoa (Cecropiaceae) having close affinities to the Boehmerieae and Parietarieae. The phylogenetic position of Myriocarpa is unresolved, but is excluded from the Boehmerieae, as currently classified. The Elatostemeae is paraphyletic with Pilea placed sister to the Urticeae. Evaluation of the infrageneric classification of Elatostema, based on phylogenetic analyses of both morphological and molecular data (trn and ITS) does not support the current subgeneric classification as proposed by Schr??ter and Winkler (1935, 1936). The analyses support two main infrageneric grouping: (1) a group consisting of Elatostema subg. Pellionia and Procris, and (2) a group consisting of the remaining members of Elatostema (including E. griffithianum ??? subg. Pellionia). The molecular data are regarded as a more accurate estimate of the phylogeny than provided by morphology, with molecular data having a higher Rescaled Consistency Index on the most parsimonious trees, together with a much greater level of resolution and support than that of the morphological analyses.

Elatostema J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Urticaceae) is a taxonomically problematic genus of approximately 300 species that is widespread throughout the tropical, subtropical and sub-temperate regions of Africa through to SE Asia, Australasia to Polynesia. Morphological and molecular analyses were conducted to evaluate the infra-familial classification of the Urticaceae, to test the monophyly of Tribe Elatostemeae, to define generic limits of Elatostema and assess its relationship within the tribe, and to examine the current infrageneric grouping within Elatostema. Phylogenetic analyses based on choloroplast DNA sequences of rbcL and trnL-F do not provide support for the monophyly of Urticaceae, because of the position of Poikilospermum (currently Cecropiaceae) within the tribe Urticeae. Although the status of Cecropiaceae is equivocal, there is support for the inclusion of this family in the Urticaceae, with Cecropia and Coussapoa (Cecropiaceae) having close affinities to the Boehmerieae and Parietarieae. The phylogenetic position of Myriocarpa is unresolved, but is excluded from the Boehmerieae, as currently classified. The Elatostemeae is paraphyletic with Pilea placed sister to the Urticeae. Evaluation of the infrageneric classification of Elatostema, based on phylogenetic analyses of both morphological and molecular data (trn and ITS) does not support the current subgeneric classification as proposed by Schr??ter and Winkler (1935, 1936). The analyses support two main infrageneric grouping: (1) a group consisting of Elatostema subg. Pellionia and Procris, and (2) a group consisting of the remaining members of Elatostema (including E. griffithianum ??? subg. Pellionia). The molecular data are regarded as a more accurate estimate of the phylogeny than provided by morphology, with molecular data having a higher Rescaled Consistency Index on the most parsimonious trees, together with a much greater level of resolution and support than that of the morphological analyses.

The plant Urera baccifera Gaudich, known as stinging nettle, had its leaves and roots used to urinary infections and arthritis. Studies about its anti-inflammatory activities already exist, but are few the studies about their chemical constituents. Due the shortage of dates, this study aim to realize an qualitative and quantitative photochemistry analysis, and antioxidant activity of the plant roots and leaves, beyond realize a morphoanatomic and hystochemical study its leaves and stems. In the qualitative analysis were obtained positive results to aminogroups, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins and flavonoids, steroids, phenols with free para positions, coumarins, saponins and organic acids in the leaves and the roots. In the qualitative analysis the plant showed significant values of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids and condensed tannins, mainly in the chloroform fraction of leaves and roots. The crude extract of both part of the plant presented a moderated antioxidant activity. An expressive concentration of oxalic acid was quantified in the roots, indicating toxicity. The morphological analysis of steams and leaves showed stinging, simple tectores and glandular trichomes, cistolits in the epidermis and abundant presence of drusen-type crystals of calcium oxalate besides that elucidate the inner structure of the plant tissues. In the hystochemical tests were presented in the different vegetative organs, substances which form cell walls, reserve substances and secondary metabolites, like phenolic compounds, lipids, terpenoids and cetosteroids, tannins and serotonin. More studies will be realized with Urera baccifera roots, stems and leaves, to elucidate its chemical composition and toxic potential. / A planta Urera baccifera Gaudich, conhecida como Urtiga-Brava, tem suas folhas e raízes utilizadas para infecção urinária e artrite. Já existem estudos sobre sua atividade antiinflamatória, mas poucos são os estudos a respeito de sua composição química. Devido à escassez de dados, este estudo visa realizar uma análise fitoquímica qualitativa e quantitativa, e avaliar a atividade antioxidante das raízes e folhas da planta, além de realizar um estudo morfo-anatomico e histoquímico das folhas e caules. Na análise qualitativa foram obtidos resultados positivos para aminogrupos, antocianinas, antocianidinas e flavonóides, esteróides, fenóis com posição para livres, cumarinas, saponinas e ácidos orgânicos nas folhas e raízes. Na analise qualitativa a planta mostrou valores significantes de compostos fenólicos, flavonoides, flavonóis, alcaloides e taninos condensados principalmente na fração clorofórmio das folhas e raízes. O extrato bruto das duas partes da planta demonstraram uma moderada atividade antioxidante. Foi quantificado numa concentração expressiva, ácido oxálico nas raízes, indicando toxicidade. A análise da morfologia dos caules e folhas evidenciou tricomas urticantes, tectores simples e glandulares, cistólitos na epiderme e presença abundante de cristais do tipo drusas de oxalato de cálcio, além de elucidar a estrutura interna dos tecidos da planta. Nos testes histoquímicos foram evidenciados nos diferentes órgãos vegetativos, substâncias que formam as paredes celulares, substâncias de reserva e metabólitos secundários, como compostos fenólicos, lipídios, terpenóides e cetoesteróides, taninos e serotonina. Mais estudos serão realizados com raízes, caules e folhas de Urera baccifera, a fim de elucidar sua composição química e analisar seu potencial tóxico.

Thèse--Faculté des Sciences de Paris. / Photocopy (positive) made in 1949 from original in Gray Herbarium, Harvard Univ.

<p>U okviru ove doktorske disertacije ispitan je hemijski sastav i biolo&scaron;ke aktivnosti metanolnih i vodenih ekstrakata odabranih samoniklih vrsta tribusa Urticeae, rod&nbsp; Urtica:&nbsp; U. <em>dioica</em>&nbsp; subsp.&nbsp; <em>dioica</em>&nbsp; var.&nbsp;<em> pubescens</em>, U.<em>&nbsp; dioica&nbsp;</em> subsp.&nbsp; <em>dioica&nbsp; </em>var.&nbsp; <em>dioica</em>&nbsp; i&nbsp; U. <em>kioviensis</em>&nbsp; i tribusa Parietarieae, rod&nbsp; Parietaria:<em>&nbsp; P. officinalis</em>,&nbsp; <em>P.</em><br /><em>lusitanica</em> L. subsp<em>. lusitanica</em>,<em> P. judaica</em> L. subsp. <em>judaica</em> i<em> P. serbica</em>. Cilj rada bio je da se odredi sadrţaj biolo&scaron;ki aktivnih jedinjenja u ovim, do sada veoma malo ispitanim vrstama famijije Urticaceae, i utvrdi njihov potencijal primene kao pomoćnih lekovitih sredstava i dodataka ishrani.<br />Hemijski sastav ekstrakata ispitivanih vrsta određen je primenom: tečnohromatografskih tehnika (LC-DAD-MS i LC-MS-MS) za kvalitativnu analizu metanolnih ekstrakata, dok je za kvantitativnu analizu odabranih fenolnih jedinjenja primenjena LC-MS-MS tehnika. Spektrofotometrijskim metodama je određen sadržaj<br />ukupnih fenolnih komponenti i flavonoida. Ispitivanja biolo&scaron;kih aktivnosti ekstrakata obuhvatila su: određivanje antioksidantne i antiinflamatorne aktivnosti kao i sposobnost ekstrakata da inhibiraju acetilholinesterazu.&nbsp; Određen je uticaj odabranih metanolnih ekstrakata na imuni odgovor i proliferaciju intestinalnih ćelijskih linija pacova (IEC18) i ĉoveka (Caco2).<br />Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da odabrane vrste tribusa Urticeae i Parietarieae, odnosno rodova&nbsp; Urtica&nbsp; i Parietaria&nbsp; predstavljaju bogate izvore biolo&scaron;ki aktivnih jedinjenja koja ispoljavaju raznovrsne biolo&scaron;ke aktivnosti. Sa hemotaksonomskog aspekta izdvajaju se sledeća jedinjenja kao potencijalni taksonomski markeri: vi&scaron;i sadržaj 5-O-kafeoilhinske kiseline u ekstraktima herbi vrsta roda&nbsp; Urtica, i visok sadrţaj<br />epikatehina u ekstraktima korena vrsta roda&nbsp; Parietaria. Ekstrakt herbe vrste&nbsp; U. kioviensis&nbsp; se od ostalih izdvaja po tome &scaron;to ne sadrži rutin a sadrži&nbsp; C-glikozide, u najvećoj meri viteksin. Od svih ispitivanih ekstrakata, ekstrakti korena&nbsp; Parietaria&nbsp; vrsta su ispoljili najbolji antioksidantni potencijal u većini izvr&scaron;enih testova. Najsnažniji antiinflamatorni potencijal je ispoljio ekstrakt korena vrste&nbsp; P. officinalis&nbsp; a prate ga ekstrakti korena vrsta roda&nbsp; Urtica.&nbsp; Veoma dobar antiinflamatorni potencijal su ispoljili infuzi herbi vrste U.<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; (čajevi od koprive). Svi ispitani metanolni ekstrakti su ispoljili odličnu inhibiciju enzima acetilholinesteraze a kao najbolji se izdvajaju ekstrakti korena&nbsp; Parietaria&nbsp; vrsta i vrste&nbsp; U.<em> kioviensis</em>. Povećanu sekreciju citokina rat MCP1 i GRO&alpha;&nbsp; izazivaju ekstrakti korena vrsta&nbsp; P. officinalis&nbsp; i&nbsp; P. judaica&nbsp; u<br />bazalnim uslovima i uslovima LPS-stimulisane inlamacije, dok ekstrakti vrste&nbsp; U. dioica&nbsp; povećavaju bazalnu a smanjuju LPS-stimulisanu sekreciju. Stimulaciju sekrecije ova dva citokina, ispitivani ekstrakti vr&scaron;e interakcijom sa adapternim proteinom MyD88 (ali ne intereaguju sa TLR4 receptorom) i NF -&kappa;B signalnim<br />putem. Ekstrakt korena vrste&nbsp; P. <em>officinalis</em>&nbsp; povećava LPS-om indukovanu ekspresiju enzima COX-2 u IEC18 ćelijama, dok je ekstrakt korena vrste&nbsp; U.<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; smanjuje. Efekat epitelizacije ili zarastanja rane na monosloju IEC18 ćelija ispoljavaju ekstrakti herbe i korena vrste&nbsp; P. <em>officinalis</em>. Ispitivani ekstrakti ne menjaju značajno seksreciju citokina hMCP1 i IL-8 u Caco2 ćelijama niti ispoljavaju značajan uticaj na &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; njihovu proliferaciju.</p> / <p>Within this doctoral thesis the chemical composition and biological activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of the selected plant species belonging to the Urticeae and Parietarieae tribe, more specifically to the&nbsp; Urtica&nbsp; and&nbsp; Parietaria&nbsp; genuses was evaluated (Urtica:&nbsp; U.<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; subsp.<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; var.&nbsp; <em>pubescens</em>,&nbsp; U.&nbsp; <em>dioica</em>&nbsp; subsp.&nbsp;<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; var.&nbsp; <em>dioica</em>&nbsp; and&nbsp; U.<em> kioviensis</em>;&nbsp; Parietaria:&nbsp; P<em>. officinalis</em>,&nbsp; P.<em> lusitanica</em>&nbsp; subsp.&nbsp; <em>lusitanica,</em>&nbsp; P. <em>judaica&nbsp;</em> subsp.<em>&nbsp; judaica&nbsp;</em> and<em>&nbsp; P. serbica</em>). The principal aim was to determine the content of biologically active&nbsp; compounds in this, poorly<br />examined species of the Urticaceae family, and determine their potential as additional remedy and dietary supplements.<br />Qualitative analysis of methanol extracts was performed by LC-DAD-MS i LC-MS/MS analysis, and LC-MS/MS for quantitative analysis of selected phenolic compounds. Total phenolics and flavonoids were determined spectrophotometrically. In order to assess the biological potential, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were studied as well as&nbsp; their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase. The immuno-modulatory effects of the selected methanol extract on the immune response and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC18 and Caco2)<br />was determined.<br />The obtained results suggest that the examined species of the Urticeae and Parietarieae tribe (genuses&nbsp; Urtica&nbsp; and&nbsp; Parietaria) are abundant with the biologically active compounds that express a broad spectrum of biological activities. As a potential chemotaxonomic markers stand out the following&nbsp; compounds: 5-O-caffeoilquinic acid (highly abundant in the herb extracts of the&nbsp; Urtica&nbsp; spp.) and epicatechin (highly abundant in the root extracts of the&nbsp; Parietaria&nbsp; spp.).&nbsp; U.<br />kioviensis&nbsp; herb extracts differs from the rest by high content of vitexin and total lack of rutin. The best antioxidant potential have exhibited the root extracts of the&nbsp; Parietaria&nbsp; species. The strongest anti-inflammatory potential had the root extract of the&nbsp; P. officinalis, followed by root extracts of the&nbsp; Urtica&nbsp; spp. Excellent anti-inflammatory activity have exhibited the aqueous&nbsp; extracts of&nbsp; U.<em> dioica</em>&nbsp; herbs&nbsp; &ndash;&nbsp; stinging nettle teas. All tested methanol extracts have inhibited enzyme acetylcholinesterase, the best inhibitors being root extracts of&nbsp; U.<em> kioviensis&nbsp;</em> and Parietaria&nbsp; species. Root extracts of&nbsp; P<em>. officinalis</em>&nbsp; and&nbsp; P.<em> judaica</em>&nbsp; have increased the basal and LPS-stimulated secretion of rat MCP1 and GRO&alpha;, while&nbsp; U. <em>dioica&nbsp;</em> extracts increased the basal but decreased the LPS-stimulated secretion. The examined extracts interact with the MyD88 (but not the TLR4) and NF-&kappa;B signaling pathway. The root extract of&nbsp; P<em>. officinalis&nbsp; </em>increase LPS-stimulated expression of COX-2 in IEC18 cells, while the root extract of&nbsp; U<em>. dioica</em>&nbsp; decreases it.<br />The herb and root extract of P. <em>officinalis</em>&nbsp; exhibit the wound healing effect. Investigated extracts do not significantly alter the secretion of hMCP1 and IL-8 in Caco2 cells and exhibit no significant effect to their proliferation.</p> / null