Phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast gene (rbcL, matK ), intron (rpl16, rps16, rpoC1) and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and chloroplast DNA restriction sites, with supplementary data from variation in size of the chloroplast genome inverted repeat, have been used to elucidate major clades within Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) subfamily Apioideae Drude. This paper summarizes the results of previously published molecular cladistic analyses and presents a provisional classification of the subfamily based on taxonomic congruence among the data sets.Boiss., Scandiceae Spreng. and Smyrnieae Spreng.) are erected or confirmed as monophyletic, with Scandiceae comprising subtribes Daucinae Dumort., Scandicinae Tausch and Torilidinae Dumort. Seven additional clades are also recognized but have yet to be treated formally, and at least 23 genera examined to date are of dubious tribal or clade placement. The utility of these different molecular markers for phylogenetic inference in Apioideae is compared based on maximum parsimony analyses of subsets of previously published molecular data sets. Of the six loci sequenced, the ITS region is seen to be evolving most rapidly and rbcL is the most conservative. Intermediate in rate of evolution are matK and the three chloroplast introns; with rpl16 and rps16 evolving slightly faster than matK or rpoC1. The analysis of restriction sites, however, provided 2-4 times more parsimony informative characters than any single DNA locus sequenced, with estimates of divergence just slightly lower than that of the ITS region. The trees obtained from separate analyses of these reduced data sets are consistent with regard to the major clades inferred and the relationships among them. Similar phylogenies are obtained by combining data or combining trees, representing the supermatrix and supertree approaches to

Moringa peregrina is an endangered species of Moringaceae. M. peregrina is a multipurpose tree with a wide variety of potential uses including its medicinal activity. In our study, a rapid and efficient micropropagation protocol for M. peregrina has been established. In vitro germinated seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different levels of either 6-benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin (Kin). The maximum shoot proliferation of 6.5 shoots per explant with 100 % shoot proliferation rate was observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BA. On the other hand, MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) resulted in the maximum number of roots. Micropropagated plants were successfully acclimatized. Genetic stability of micropropagated plants was assessed using Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). The amplification products were monomorphic in all in vitro grown plants. No polymorphism was detected indicating the genetic integrity of in vitro propagated plants. This micropropagation protocol could be useful for raising genetically uniform plants for plant propagation and commercial cultivation.

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This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of crude extracts obtained from three Asclepiadaceae species, namely, Calotropis procera L., Peruglaria tomentosa L., and Pentatropis spiralis (Forsk.) Decne. Both butanol and aq. methanol extracts of the three species showed the highest amount of phenol and flavonoid contents, which exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity in the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS), ferrous chelating effect (FIC), and hydroxyl radical (HDR) assays. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, sponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and glycosides. LC-MS analysis was carried out to identify the major compounds from each crude extract. A total of 12 phenolic compounds in the extracts of the 3 species were identified and quantified, including 9 flavonoids, 2 hydroxybenzoic acids, and 3 hydroxycinnamic acids. The current study also revealed a good correlation between total phenolic contents and the observed antioxidant activity of the crude extracts.

Plant tissue culture can readily be applied to the field of medicinal plants and secondary metabolites production. In this study, in vitro propagation protocol of Rumex cyprius Murb. was established. The highest shoot multiplication rate was observed from explants grown on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BA (7.8 shoots per explant). For rooting, the maximum root induction rate was observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L IBA or 1.0 mg/L NAA. The longest roots were observed for plants grown on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L IBA. For callus induction, leaves from in vitro grown plants were cultured in various levels of 2,4-D or different combinations of BA and NAA. The highest fresh weight (5.86 g) of calli was observed at 1.5 and 0.5 mg/L BA and NAA, respectively. The second part of this work investigated the effects of abiotic factors (NaCl and Mannitol) and biotic factors (Yeast extract and Chitosan) on secondary metabolites accumulation of in vitro grown R. cyprius. Phenolic compounds were extracted, and the individual phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined of in vitro grown R. cyprius. The total phenol content and antioxidant activity increased significantly by the pervious factors. Reversed high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to measure the effect of these factors on the contents of individual phenolic compound. New phenolic compounds (Gallic acid and Chlorogenic acid) not found in R. cyprius plants grown on control media were produced in R. cyprius plants grown on media supplemented with elicitors. Results indicate that using elicitors in plant tissue culture could be used to produce/enhance secondary metabolites accumulation in R. cyprius.

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