[Influence of Lithospermum on pregnancy].

Postdispersal seed predation limits the abundance of a long-lived perennial forb (Lithospermum ruderale).

Loss of seeds to consumers is common in plant communities, but the degree to which these losses influence plant abundance or population growth is often unclear. This is particularly the case for postdispersal seed predation by rodents, as most studies of rodent seed predation have focused on the sources of spatiotemporal variation in seed loss but not quantified the population consequences of t...

The Inhibitory Effect of Shikonin on the Agonist-Induced Regulation of Vascular Contractility

Shikonin, a natural flavonoid found in the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of shikonin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with mole...

Genetic diversity in isolated patches of the tallgrass prairie forb, Lithospermum canescens (Boraginaceae)

KITTELSON, P. M. AND S. D. HANDLER (Department of Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN 56082). Genetic diversity in isolated patches of the tallgrass prairie forb, Lithospermum canescens (Boraginaceae). J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 133: 513–518. 2006.—Genetic diversity is not well understood for many species inhabiting isolated, fragmented systems. We evaluated genetic diversity for the mix...

The Supposed Dimorphism of Lithospermum longiflorum

Tigloylshikonin, a new minor Shikonin derivative, from the roots and the commercial root extract of lithospermum erythrorhizon.

Tigloylshikonin, a new shikonin derivative esterified with tiglic acid ((E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid), was isolated as a minor pigment from a food colorant "Shikon color," a commercial root extract from Lithospermum erythrorhizon SIEBOLD et ZUCCARINI. The structure of tigloylshikonin was elucidated using (1)H, (13)C, the difference nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE), and 2D NMR techniques. Its ste...