The pharmacological promising Solanum pseudocapsicum species group in South America: taxonomical and cytogenetic novelties

GUTIÉRREZ, A., E. A. MOSCONE & G. E. BARBOZA.

Sao Paulo

Congreso; XX Simp¨®sio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil & X International Congress of Ethnopharmacology; 2008

Universidade Federale Sao Paulo, Universidade Federale RGS, Sociedade Brasileira Plantas Medicinales

The S. pseudocapsicum group (Solanaceae) is strongly promising since one of its worldwide species, S. pseudocapsicum, has antimicrobial, antiviral, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties (Badami, Indian J. Pharmacol.37: 251. 2005). Its taxonomy is not clear due to the variable number of species after different authors (Hunziker, Genera Solanacearum: 1 2001; Knapp, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 84: 1. 2002). As we are seeking new potential natural resources, we decide to elucidate the real identity of these species from a taxonomical and cytogenetic point of view. Field work and herbaria material observations have been made. The somatic chromosome analyses follow Moscone (Brittonia 42: 147.1990). Chromosomes were classified according to Levan & al. (Hereditas 52: 201. 1964) and karyotype asymmetry estimated using Romero Zarco¡¯s (Taxon 35: 526. 1986) and Stebbins¡¯ (Chromosomal evolution in higher plants: 1. 1971) indices. A key with differential characters, the synonyms and the distribution for the 6 recognized species are presented. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes are examined, except for S. spissifolium. Karyotypes are symmetrical (2n=24); chromosomes (< 3 ¦Ìm) are mostly metacentrics (m), although S. tucumanense has 6 submetacentrics and 2 subtelocentrics (st). Nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) and associated satellites are in short arms of only one (st) chromosome pair with the exception of S. delicatulum with two NORs and satellites (in m and st chromosome pairs). S. tucumanense, S. pavimenti, and S. delicatulum are morphologically and karyologically different of S. pseudocapsicum; S. diflorum and S. pseudocapsicum are karyologically identical which supports the synomym proposed; S. kleinii is morphologically well defined despite it exhibits a similar karyotype to that of S. pseudocapsicum; S. delicatulum and S. pavimenti are clearly distinctive in its morphology (sympodial type, fruit) and cytology. Thanks for support to Secyt-UNC, Ministerio Ciencia y Tecnolog¨ªa de C¨®rdoba, and CONICET.S. pseudocapsicum group (Solanaceae) is strongly promising since one of its worldwide species, S. pseudocapsicum, has antimicrobial, antiviral, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties (Badami, Indian J. Pharmacol.37: 251. 2005). Its taxonomy is not clear due to the variable number of species after different authors (Hunziker, Genera Solanacearum: 1 2001; Knapp, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 84: 1. 2002). As we are seeking new potential natural resources, we decide to elucidate the real identity of these species from a taxonomical and cytogenetic point of view. Field work and herbaria material observations have been made. The somatic chromosome analyses follow Moscone (Brittonia 42: 147.1990). Chromosomes were classified according to Levan & al. (Hereditas 52: 201. 1964) and karyotype asymmetry estimated using Romero Zarco¡¯s (Taxon 35: 526. 1986) and Stebbins¡¯ (Chromosomal evolution in higher plants: 1. 1971) indices. A key with differential characters, the synonyms and the distribution for the 6 recognized species are presented. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes are examined, except for S. spissifolium. Karyotypes are symmetrical (2n=24); chromosomes (< 3 ¦Ìm) are mostly metacentrics (m), although S. tucumanense has 6 submetacentrics and 2 subtelocentrics (st). Nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) and associated satellites are in short arms of only one (st) chromosome pair with the exception of S. delicatulum with two NORs and satellites (in m and st chromosome pairs). S. tucumanense, S. pavimenti, and S. delicatulum are morphologically and karyologically different of S. pseudocapsicum; S. diflorum and S. pseudocapsicum are karyologically identical which supports the synomym proposed; S. kleinii is morphologically well defined despite it exhibits a similar karyotype to that of S. pseudocapsicum; S. delicatulum and S. pavimenti are clearly distinctive in its morphology (sympodial type, fruit) and cytology. Thanks for support to Secyt-UNC, Ministerio Ciencia y Tecnolog¨ªa de C¨®rdoba, and CONICET.