Summary
A synergism of colchicine and different cucurbitacins has been shown, to be a cause in the formation of ball-metaphases in Bryonia species. The bitter principles cucurbitacin L and I, dihydrocucurbitacin B, and tetrahydrocucurbitacin I, which were examined more closely with respect to their karyological effects, were shown to give rise to C-metaphases in Hordeum and Vicia at concentrations of about 0.016 per cent. On the one hand the number of mitotic stages is reduced, and on the other hand there is an increase of metaphase stages. Higher concentrations lead to pycnotic degenerations of nuclei and are toxic. When colchicine is applied together with cucurbitacins, ball-metaphases result. This could be demonstrated in plants lacking colchicine and cucurbitacins (Hordeum) when both substances were applied at the same time. Ball-metaphases also appear in plants containing cucurbitacins (Bryonia alba, B. dioica, Citrullus colocythis, Iberis amara) when they are treated with colchicine.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Barber, H. N., Callan, H. G.: The effects of cold and colchicine on mitosis in the newt. Proc. roy. Soc. B 131, 258–271 (1943).
Berger, C. A., Witkus, E. R.: A cytological study of c-mitosis in polysomatic plant Spinacia oleracea, with comparative observations on Allium cepa. Bull. Torrey bot. Club 70, 457–467 (1943).
Brabec, F.: Über triploide fertile Bryonia Bastarde. Biol. Zbl. 81, 291–302 (1962).
—, Pohlmann, J.: Untersuchung zur Bestimmung der Karyotypen von Bryonia alba, Bryonia dioica und Bryonia verrucosa. Biol. Zbl. 88, 715–730 (1969).
Bredenberg, J. B., Gmelin, R.: Über das Vorkommen von Cucurbitacin E und I in Iberis amara L. (Cruciferae) und die Identität von Ibamarin mit Cucurbitacin I. Acta chem. scand. 16, 1802–1803 (1962).
Enslin, P. R., Rehm, S.: The distribution and biogenesis of the cucurbitacins in relation to the taxonomy of the Cucurbirtaceae. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 169, 230–238 (1957).
——, Rivett, D. E. A.: Bitter principles of the Cucurbitaceae. VI. The isolation and characterization of six new crystalline bitter principles. J. Sci. Food Agric. 8, 673–678 (1957).
Evans, H. J., Scott, D.: Influence of DNA synthesis on the production of chromatid aberrations by X-rays and maleic hydrazide in Vicia faba. Genetics 49, 17–38 (1964).
Gmelin, R.: Die Verbreitung von Cucurbitacinen und Cucurbitacinglykosiden in der Gattung Iberis (Cruciferae). Arzneimittel-Forsch. 13, 771–776 (1963).
—: Die Bitterstoffe der Wurzeln der roten Zaunrübe, Bryonia dioica Jacq. Arzeneimittel-Forsch. 14, 1021–1025 (1964).
Kihlmann, B. A.: Actions of chemicals in dividing cells. Englewood Cliffs 1966.
Konopa, J., Jereczek-Morawska, E., Matuszkiewicz, A., Nazarewicz, T.: Antitumor substances from Bryonia alba L. Neoplasma (Bratisl.) 13, 335–337 (1966).
Lettré, H.: Über Mitosegifte. Ergebn. Physiol. 46, 379–452 (1950).
Levan, A.: The effect of acenaphten and colchicine on mitosis of Allium and Colchicum. Hereditas (Lund) 26, 262–276 (1940).
Pohlmann, J.: Untersuchungen zur Bestimmung der Karyotypen von Bryonia alba, Bryonia dioica und Bryonia verrucosa. Diplomarbeit Hamburg 1967.
Reese, G.: Beiträge zur Wirkung des Colchicins bei der Samenbehandlung. Planta (Berl.) 38, 324–376 (1950).
Weber, E.: Grundriß der biologischen Statistik. 5. Aufl. Jena: VEB Fischer 1964.
Zielinsky, J., Konopa, J.: Thin-layer chromatography of cucurbitacins — a group of tetracyclic triterpens. J. Chromatog. 36, 540–542 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pohlmann, J. Cucurbitacine als stathmokinetische Wirkstoffe. Planta 100, 31–46 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386885
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386885