Nonea

Abstract: We performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the generic complex Nonea/Elizaldia/Paraskevia/ Pulmonaria (Boraginaceae-Boragineae), using trn L UAA and ITS1 sequences from non-coding plastid and nuclear DNA, respectively. In the strict consensus of most parsimonious trees from combined ITS1/trnL sequences the ingroup forms a monophyletic group with two sister clades of Nonea/Elizaldia and Paraskevia/ Pulmonaria. The eastern Mediterranean Nonea ohtusifolia is sister to the rest of the ingroup and more distant to Nonea taxa than to those of Pulmonaria. Elizaldia is firmly nested in Nonea and forms a clade that includes the southern Mediterranean species N. vesicaria. Nonea as currently circumscribed is therefore paraphyletic. The molecular results are congruent with morphological, karyological and chorological features and suggest a rede-finition of Nonea s.l. based on monophyletic groups. We propose: (i) the institution of the new monotypic genus Melanortocarya gen. nov. for N. ohtusifolia, (ii) the inclusion of Elizaldia within Nonea, and (iii) the transfer of Paraskevia (Nonea) cesatiana to Pulmonaria. Nonea embergeri, previously treated at the infraspecific level, is recognized at species rank and E. calycina subsp. multicolor is placed in synonymy of N. calycina.

Abstract: Externally accumulated flavonoid aglycones have been found for the first time in Nonea species. They exhibit only flavones, one of them being the rare tricetin-4'-methyl ether. Within the subfamily Boraginoideae, exudate flavonoids appear to be a rare character.

Abstract: Seven Turkish species of Nonea Medik. (Boraginaceae-Boragineae) were studied karyologically using material collected in the field from wild populations. Somatic chromosome number and karyotype morphology were determined for each species using orcein staining. Nonea pulmonarioides is diploid with 2n=20, though some cells showed 2n=19. Nonea anchusoides turned out to be tetraploid with 2n=4x=40, while N. macrosperma was characterized by a hexaploid complement of 2n=6x=60. These data indicate polyploidy based on x=10 as a major mechanism of speciation in the perennial members of the genus. Among the annuals, N. echioides and N. versicolor showed 2n=16, while N. obtusifolia and N. lutea were characterized by 2n=20 and 2n=14, respectively. The results reveal that x=10 is more frequent in Nonea than previously realized, and that it may be the ancestral haploid number of diploid endemics of (sub)alpine habitats in the Pontic-Caucasian mountain system. The hypothesis is here proposed that the base numbers x=9, x=8 and x=7, progressively prevalent in the annual species from lower altitudes, may have originated through descending dysploidy associated with the tendency to shorten the life cycle as an adaptation to arid habitats.

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant potential, flavonoids, and total phenols as well as cyanidin 3- glucoside and delphinidin 3-glucoside contents of some Boraginaceae species that grow in Iran. Methods: The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plants were prepared. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Furthermore, cyanidin 3-glucoside and delphinidin 3- glucoside contents of the extracts were determined using high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results: The most powerful free radical scavenging activity with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 23.13 ± 1.90 μg mL -1 was exerted by the ethanol extract of Nonea caspica, while the weakest IC 50 of 364.38 ± 14.18 μg mL -1 was shown by the aqueous extract of Onosma sericeum. Total phenolic content varied among the plants, ranging from 270.33 ± 2.60 to 3.40 ± 0.28 mg GAE g -1 dry weight. The ethanol extracts of Nonea caspica and Anchusa arvensis displayed the highest total flavonoid content (252.60 ± 1.80 and 29.13 ± 1.05 mg QE g -1 dry weight, respectively). The highest contents of cyanidin and delphinidin 3-glucosides were found in the ethanol extracts of Nonea caspica and Anchusa arvensis, respectively. Conclusion: The results show that some of the plants have potent antioxidant activities which may justify the ethno-therapeutic usage of these plants by traditional healers. Keywords: Boraginaceae, Polyphenol, Antioxidant activity, Cyanidin 3-glucoside, Delphinidin 3- glucoside, Nonea caspica, Onosma sericeum, Anchusa arvensis