A steam-distillation of leaves and stems of a suspected mixture of species$ of Plectranthus (Labiatae) from Springbrook yielded a little essential oil and some orange crystals, C20H2603, m.p. 166.5-167O, in 0.025% yield. The chemical and physical properties of this substance agree closely with those of the diterpene quinone dehydroroyleanone (I), first described as a constituent of the roots of Inula royleana by Edwards, Feniak, and Los.1 No depression of the mixed melting point was observed. The leucoacetate (11) shows ultraviolet absorption very similar to that of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene2 and thus supports the structure (I) proposed by Edwards, Feniak, and Los. Royleanonel (111) is also present as a relatively minor constituent of Plectranthus, the p.m.r. spectrum of the above crystals, m.p. 166.5-167", indicating c. 10% of royleanone as contaminant. Edwards et al. noted that these two substances are inseparable by fractional crystallization. The high field position of the angular methyl protons in (I) (8.97 or 9-03 7, cf. a-pinene3) as compared with those of (111) (8-74 T) and the low field position of the olefinic protons (3.13 and 3.52 T, of. indene4) are worthy of note. A previous steam-distillation of Plectranthus parmi$ora var. major (identified by the late Mr C. T. White) from Binna Burra yielded some dehydroroyleanone, whereas specimens from Numinbah Valley appeared to contain no diterpene quinones. Plant material from Springbrook, with more prominent purplish coloration of the leaves and stems, yielded twice as much quinone as less highly coloured specimens.

No abstract

The effects were observed of moving male, adult Han:Sprague rats in their cages or of exposure to ether for 1 min on the plasma concentration profiles of 25 blood characteristics linked with stress and shock reactions. 5 min after the stress serum prolactin, corticosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, triiodothyronine and thyroxin levels were elevated 150-500% compared with those in blood collected within 100 s of entering the animal room. Heart rate (telemetrically recorded), packed cell volume,, haemoglobin and plasma protein content were 10-20% elevated 2-10 min after cage movement or 2-20 min after ether confrontation over those of controls sampled within 50 s, indicating circulatory and microcirculatory shock reactions. Serum glucose, pyruvate and lactate concentrations rose by 20-100% 1-5 min after cage movement and 1-15 min after ether exposure. Phosphate, calcium, urea, apartate and alanine transferases, alkaline phosphalase and leucine arylamidase were not altered significantly by either stressor, while potassium and bound glycerol fell for 1 min and 5-20 min respectively. The presence of a familiar animal attendant working in the room without touching the cages did not markedly affect the blood characteristics being studied.

Fluorescence angiography with ICG is a sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting compromised tissue perfusion in trauma surgery and microsurgery. Its use may improve perioperative management and thereby lead to better clinical results.