Metabolic conversion of l-galactono-1, 4-lactone and l-ascorbic acid to (+)-tartaric acid and oxalic acid has been studied in Pelargonium crispum, cv. Prince Rupert. Experiments with specifically labeled substrates suggest a path of conversion involving cleavage of l-ascorbic acid, or a metabolic product of l-ascorbic acid, between C(2) and C(3), such that oxalic acid arises from the two carbon...

Podophyllotoxin is a natural lignan that is currently being used as a precursor to semi-synthetic anticancer drugs etoposide, teniposide, and etopophos. These compounds have been used for the treatment of lung and testicular cancers as well as certain leukemias (Stahelin and Wartburg 1991; Imbert 1998). The patent for the use of etoposide in such therapies expired in 1995 and since then, etopos...

This paper describes the second half of a series of tests of the photosynthetic theory of stomatal movement. A corollary of this theory is that any agent that inhibits photosynthesis should prevent opening or cause closure in light-unless some other action prevents this. It has been reported that this relationship does not hold either in wilting or under the action of chloroform (WILSON, 14). T...

Insecticide and repellent activity of an acetone extract and oil from fresh leaves of Pelargonium x hortorum (cv. Orangesonne) were evaluated against the 2nd and 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The oil showed medium toxicity against the 2nd instar and low toxicity against the 4th instar larvae, while the extract showed high significant toxicity at a...