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PubMedDate not supplied

White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari, Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) diet and fruit availability in a Costa Rican rain forest.

We studied fruit availability, diet and habitat use by white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in Corcovado National Park, southwest Costa Rica, from July 1996 to April 1997. The results show that the availability of important fruits for the white-lipped peccary differs between habitats and climatic seasons. Fruit availability was highest in the primary forest than secondary and coastal forest. There was a period of shortage of fruits to ends of the wet season, during which the consumption of not seasonal resources like leaves and shafts increased. The important fruits during this period of shortage were Ficus sp and Licania operculipetala. The several types of forest were used according to the fruit availability, and it was a direct relation between the consumption and the fruit availability.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastropods and bivalves of commercial interest from the continental shelf of Jalisco and Colima, México.

The distribution and abundance with respect to depth and type of substratum of 20 species of gastropods and four species of bivalves of economic importance were examined in the continental shelf of Jalisco and Colima, México. These species were taken with net trawls at depths from 24 to 83 m in August, 1988. Most individuals and species of gastropods were collected in stations with sandy silt substratum. Bivalves were collected in sandy silt and medium sand substrata. The six most abundant species represented 81.2% of all gastropods and bivalves collected. These species are: Cantharus pallidus, Fusinus dupetittouarsi, Ficus ventricosa, Hexaplex brassica, Harpa conoidalis and Arca pacifica.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Contrary to the literature, vomiting is not a common manifestation associated with plant exposures.

A review of clinical toxicology references and the contemporay literature illustrates that vomiting is reported as a nearly universal symptom associatedwith exposure to cultivated and wild plants. However, the literature fails to put thesymptom of vomiting into a clinical perspectivewith regard to its frequency of occurrence. To clarify this issue a retrospective review of plant exposures was conducted. AAPCC TESS 1997-1999 was queried electronicaly to identify and extract all plant ingestion exposures where vomiting was documented as being related to the exposure. All exposures with documented ipecac syrup use were excluded. Data were stratified through the use through the use of a relational database. Plant ingestion exposures accounted for 229,538 reports and vomiting was reported in 5,917 (2.6%) of exposures. Vomiting was attributed as a related symptom in 753 different plants. It was reported once in 323 plants, 1-3 times in 495 plants (65.7%), and < or = 10 times in 657 (87.4%) of all plants in the database. Ten plants accounted for 32.3% of the reports of vomiting Philodendron, Spathiphyllum, Narcissus, Dieffenbachia, Phytolacca, Epipremnum, Euphorbia, Eucalyptus, Ficus, Hedera) and represented 1.3% of the plants associated with vomiting. Even with the most common plant exposures, vomiting is not a frequent adverse event.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Survey of scale insects of ornamental plants in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt.

This investigation covers a survey of the scale insects associating with some ornamental plants at three chosen public gardens as well as at the experimental farm of the Agricultural Research Station in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. A total of nineteen scale insect species belonging to sixteen genera related to four families of the super-family Coccoidea were found infesting eighteen ornamental plants during the period from April, 1998 up to March, 1999. These species are: Family: Asterolecaniidae--Represented by one species only The fig scale Russelaspis pustulans; (Cockerell) = (Asterolecanium pustulans Cock). Family: Coccidae--Represented by the seven species Florida wax scale. Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, Green shield scale. Chloropulvinaria psidii (Maskell), Long brown scale. Caccus elongatus (Douglas), Brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum (Linn.), Tessellated scale. Eucalymnatus tessellatus (Signoret), Hemispherical scale. Saissetia coffeae (Walker), and Olive soft scale. Saissetia oleae (Olivier) Family: Diaspididae--Represented by the ten species: Oleander scale. Aspidiotus hederae (Vallot), Minute cypress scale. Carulaspis minima (Targioni-Tozzetti), Dictyosprmum scale Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan), Palm fiorinia scale. Fiorinia fioriniae (Targioni), Latania scale Hemiberlisia lataniae (Signoret), Fig scale. Lepidosaphes ficus (Signoret), Snow scale. Lineaspis striata (Newstead), Masked scale. Mycetaspis personata (Comstock), Olive scale. Parlatoria oleae (Colvee), and White peach scale Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti), Family: Eriococcidae--Represented by one species only Eriococcus araucariae (Maskell). During the same study, many species of natural enemies (nine parasitoids and eight predators), were also noticed to be associated with the aforementioned scale insects.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Tylenchida associated with different crops in Sennar State (Sudan).

A study was done on the taxonomy and morphology of plant parasitic nematodes (Tylenchida) found in Sennar State (Sudan). Sixty samples of different crops were collected in the sugarcane area. Thirty samples originated from soil around the roots of Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) from different ratoons and thirty samples were collected from other crops (Mangifera indica; Citrus limon; Citrus aurantifolia; Citrus paradisi; Citrus sinensis, Phoenix dactylifera, Musa sapentium; Cassia italica, Capsicum annuum, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum sudanensis, Gossypium barbadense, Ficus nitida, Khaya senegalensis, Eucalyptus microtheca, Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal, Azardichta indica, Cajanus cajana, Caltropsis spp. and Liguster ovalifolium). Seven species belonging to seven different genera of Tylenchida were identified: Paratrophurus lobatus, Scutellonema clathricaudatum, Hoplolaimus aegypti and Filenchus cylindricus. Helicotylenchus plumariae, Pratylenchus thornei and Malenchus andrassyi are new records for Sudan. These seven species were compared with the descriptions given in the literature and differences and variations were discussed. Additional morphological data were described by means of SEM microscopy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of nopal capsules in diabetes mellitus].

To find out if commercial capsules with dried nopal (prickle-pear cactus, Opuntia ficus indica may have a role in the management of diabetes mellitus, three experiments were performed: 30 capsules where given in fasting condition to 10 diabetic subjects and serum glucose was measured through out 3 hours; a control test was performed with 30 placebo capsules. OGTT with previous intake of 30 nopal or placebo capsules was performed in ten healthy individuals. In a crossover and single blinded study 14 diabetic patients withdrew the oral hypoglycemic treatment and received 10 nopal or placebo capsules t.i.d. during one week; serum glucose, cholesterol and tryglycerides levels were measured before and after each one-week period. Five healthy subjects were also studied in the same fashion. Opuntia capsules did not show acute hypoglycemic effect and did not influence OGTT. In diabetic patients serum glucose, cholesterol and tryglycerides levels did not change with Opuntia, but they increased with placebo (P < 0.01 glucose and cholesterol, P = NS triglycerides). In healthy individuals glycemia did not change with nopal, while cholesterol and triglycerides decreased (P < 0.01 vs. placebo). The intake of 30 Opuntia capsules daily in patients with diabetes mellitus had a discrete beneficial effect on glucose and cholesterol. However this dose is unpractical and at present it is not recommended in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Latex allergy--Part I].

Natural rubber latex (NRL), is a resin sap produced in the cells of caoutchouc plants. It is a water dispersion of cis-1,4-polisopren (caoutchouc)--35%, stabilized with little amounts of proteins, sugar, alcohol, fatty acids and salts. The concentration of all solid substances is about 40%, the rest is water. Immunogenicity of latex depends on the proteins it contains. For many years we read in medical papers about the cases of contact urticaria, asthma, rhinitis, and anaphylaxis after contacting with latex products. It turns out that medical staff is the group of high occupational risk, because of exposure to gloves and other latex products. It is connected with the fact of high gloves usage caused by the danger of virus infections: HIV, HBV, HCV. Latex allergy is one of the reasons of dramatic complications after surgical operations. People who are allergic to latex may have cross reactions to allergens not connected with occupational environment. These are: food and houseplants (Ficus benjamina). The frequency of latex allergy is about 0.1% of the population. In the groups of high risk the frequency rises sharply. It is 17% among medical staff and it reaches 60% among children with spina bifida.

Cross-Priming↗
PubMed2000

Assortment of the plants in the Medieval diet in Czech countries (based on archaeobotanical finds).

The finds of remains of useful plants in archaeological objects were drawing attention already in the last century. However, it was not until after the World War II, in relation with renovation of historical cores of the towns, when a separate branch of the botany--archaeobotany constituted. In the Czech Republic it was E. Opravil who was the first to become engaged in a systematic archaeobotanical research at the beginning of the 60's. All the vegetal remains--fruits and seeds on the first place as well as pollen grains from prehistoric times to the post-medieval period, are the subjects of archaeobotany. The medieval waste pits are the richest sources of the vegetal remains. They contain a lot of diasporas of cultural as well as wild plants. The remains of useful plants are an authentic document of the vegetal component of diet. Even though some vegetal species, such as for example garlic, onion or stalk-plants, about whose cultivation we are informed from literature, occur only seldom, there appeared also the species not mentioned in literature. All the basic cereals have been known in our country already since the early Middle Ages. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale), as well as millet (Panicum miliaceum) that, along with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), were replaced by potatoes in the modern times were the most important. Also leguminous plants were of great importance in the diet even though their charred seeds seldom preserved. Remains of oil plants such as hemp (Cannabis sativa), flax (Linum usitatissimum) and poppy (Papaver somniferum) preserved well. It was successfully proved that cucumber (Cucumis sativus), among other numerous kinds of vegetables, was introduced by the Slavs already in the 8th century in Moravia and in the 9th century in Bohemia. The assortment of fruit was rich--especially the assortment of cultivated fruit. Among the imported kinds of fruit the first place occupied figs (Ficus carica), from the numerous finds it can be said that they formed a common part of the diet. Among imported fruit and spices from the peak period of the Middle Ages we succeeded in finding a date-tree (Phoenix dactylifera), nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans) and, by means of pollen analysis, maybe a clove tree (Eugenia caryophyllata).

Archaeology↗
PubMed2005

Investigation of natural VOC emitted from tropical vegetations in China.

Twenty-three kinds of typical plants in Xishuangbanna, the tropical area of southwestern China, were screened to estimate the emission rates of isoprene and monoterpenes by adopting bag-enclosure and curette sampling methods followed by a GC-FID analysis. It was found that the Ficus species were mainly emitting isoprene and most tropical vegetations were mainly releasing monoterpenes. The results also showed that the emissions of isoprene were affected by both temperature and PAR(Photosynthetic Active Radiation), while monoterpene emissions were mainly temperature-dependent.

Butadienes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of Heinz body induction in an in vitro model and total antioxidant activity of medicinal Thai plants.

Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and known to possess antioxidant properties that may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We screen aqueous extracts from 20 medicinal plants in Thailand that were believed to possess anti-tumor activity, help immune-stimulating property and maintain blood stasis. The antioxidant activities were investigated in two bioassays. Firstly, we demonstrated inhibition of Heinz bodies induction caused by oxidants under in vitro condition. The percentages of Heinz body inhibition activity in plant extracts from Terminalia citrina, Cassia timoriensis, and Derris elliptica were the highest followed by Anamirta cocculus, and Oroxylum indicum respectively. In addition, we investigated total antioxidant activity in plant extracts by improved ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. The total antioxidant activity of the extract from Terminalia citrina was also the highest activity followed by Ficus pubigera, Derris elliptica, Anamirta cocculus, Caesalpinia sappan, and Oroxylum indicum respectively. Our results suggest medicinal Thai plants as valuable sources of antioxidants, which may have a potential anti-carcinogenic activity.

Benzothiazoles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of the appetite suppressant P57 in Hoodia gordonii plant extracts and dietary supplements by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-MSD-TOF) and LC-UV methods.

Hoodia gordonii is traditionally used in South Africa for its appetite suppressant properties. P57AS3 (P57), an oxypregnane steroidal glycoside, is the only reported active constituent from this plant as an appetite suppressant. Effective quality control of these extracts or products requires rapid methods to determine P57 content. New methods of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and LC-UV for analysis of P57 from H. gordonii have been developed. The quantitative determination of P57 was achieved with a Phenomenex Gemini (Torrance, CA) reversed-phase column using gradient mobile phase of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% acetic acid. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, and limits of detection and quantification. Good results were obtained in terms of repeatability (relative standard deviation <5.0%) and recovery (98.5-103.5%). The developed methods were applied to the determination of P57 for H. gordonii plant samples, one related genus (Opuntia ficus-indica), and dietary supplements that claim to contain H. gordonii.

Appetite Depressants↗
PubMed2006

Comparative analysis of plant finds from Early Roman graves in Ilok (Cuccium) and Sćitarjevo (Andautonia), Croatia--a contribution to understanding burial rites in southern Pannonia.

A comparative archaeobotanical analysis of the plant remains from the Early Roman incineration graves in Ilok and Sćitarjevo shows the existence of a complex burial ritual, but at the same time enables a better understanding of the agriculture and trade of the 1st/early 2nd century AD in southern Pannonia. Most of the cereals found (Hordeum vulgare, Panicum miliaceum, Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccon, T. aestivum i T. cf. spelta), the legumes (Lens culinaris, Vicia ervilia) and the fruit contributions (Cucumis melo/sativus, Malus/Pyrus sp., the Prunus avium group, P. domestica, Vitis vinifera) were probably grown in the vicinity of the investigated localities, but they might at the same time have been trade goods. Trade was undoubtedly well developed at that period, as shown by the remains of the fig (Ficus carica) and olive (Olea europaea), typically Mediterranean crops, in the finds. All the species of cereals, except millet (Panicum miliaceum) in Sćitarjevo, and of bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) found in the Ilok grave were carbonised and were probably placed on the funeral pyre with the departed. The lentil (Lens culinaris) and the other fruit remains were non-carbonised and mineralised, which means that they were placed in the grave in fresh, dried or cooked form as food for the deceased (belief in an immortal soul), as remains of the funerary feast, or as a sacrifice to the goods.

Croatia↗
PubMed1990

Preliminary observations on leukaemia specific agglutinins from seeds.

Semipurified saline extracts of seeds from Crotolaria juncea, Cassia marginata, Ficus racemosa, Cicer arietinum (L-532), Gossipium indicum (G-27), Melia composita, Acacia lenticularis, Meletia ovalifolia, Acacia catechu and Peltophorum ferrenginium were tested for leukoagglutinating activity against whole leukocytes and mononuclear cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (34), acute myeloblastic leukaemia (5), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (7), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (3), various lymphoproliferative/haematologic disorders (54), and normal healthy subjects (50). In addition, bone marrow cells from three patients undergoing diagnostic bone marrow aspiration and activated lymphocytes from mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) were also tested. All the seed extracts agglutinated white blood cells from patients with different types of leukaemia. But none of them reacted with peripheral blood cells of normal individuals, patients with various lymphoproliferative/haematologic disorders or cells from MLC. Leukoagglutination of leukaemic cells with each of the seed extracts was inhibited by simple sugars. Only in one instance, cells from bone marrow of an individual who had undergone diagnostic bone marrow aspiration for a non-malignant condition were agglutinated. It is felt that purification of these seed extracts may yield leukaemia-specific lectins.

Agglutinins↗
PubMed1982

[Tropical woods and contact eczema].

An enquiry was carried out in Zaire among workers handling different woods. The aim of the investigation was to establish which woods provoke undesirable reactions of the skin and mucous membranes. Besides the well known toxic woods, 6 types of wood were identified, which had not been known to be cause of these reactions: --Autranella congolensis (dermatitis; ocular and respiratory manifestations); --Drypetes gossweileri (dermatitis; ocular and respiratory manifestations); --Ceiba pentandra (essentially pruriginous manifestations); --Diba di Nzambi (common name) and Ficus capensis (bullous dermatitis); --Combretodendron macrocarpum (dermatitis; ocular and respiratory manifestations).

Asthma↗
PubMed1995

Vibriocidal activities of some local herbs.

Four of the seven tested medicinal plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against Vibrio cholerae. These 7 plants are: Ficus capensis, Mitragyna stipulosa, Entada africana, Piliostigma reticulatum, Terminalia avicennoides, Mimosa pudica, and Lannea acida. Of them Terminalia avicennoides showed higher antimocrobial activity than others. Potentials of these herbs in the control of cholera need to be determined.

Cholera↗
PubMed1993

[Contact allergic dermatitis caused by plants].

In order to contribute to the setting of an accurate diagnosis and prophylaxis of phytodermatitis (PD) and to better understand eczematogenic characteristics of some plants, we present results of an allergologic analysis and review the plants which most commonly cause FD in our material. A total of 15 patients presenting with FD was examined. In all the cases we used a standard technique, patch test (PT); in cases supsective of contact urticaria syndrome (CUS) we used open PT, while photo PT was used for cases suspective of photo PD. We used fresh parts of the plants and standard allergen battery for epicutaneous testing (Department of Immunology, Zagreb). Depending on the profession of the subjects, tests with the material from working places with specific batteries of tests for specific professions were applied according to the recommendations of ICDRG. Tests with parts of the plants were carried out in 8 cases and in 5 controls. A total of 38 plants was examined. Positive PT was found for sisal, willow, parsnip, carrot, celery, spinach, green tomato, broomcorn, lemon skin, pyracantha, arborvitae, yucca, ficus, juniper tree, plane tree and greenhouse grass. In cases of positive PT for willow, carrot, celery, green tomato and grass, positive PT for Peru balsam (PB) was also detected, while in positive PT for lemon skin, a positive PT on turpentine was found as well. Negative results of PT for willow, carrot, celery, parsnip, green tomato, lemon and juniper tree and positive photo PT on greenhouse grass in controls, indicate that we have detected allergic PD on the above mentioned plants.

Dermatitis, Allergic Contact↗
PubMed1996

[New aero-allergens].

As the number of proteins recognized as causing allergic respiratory diseases increases, new aero allergens have appeared in the animal and vegetable realms, both in home and professional environments. Lepidoglyphus destructor and Blomia tropicalis, two mites found in storage areas, are particularly important in agricultural areas and in homes. Over the last ten years, the frequency of reactions to cockroaches has also increased in several countries. The allergenicity of non-biting insects is a frequent cause of allergy in certain countries including Japan. Chironomides cause respiratory diseases in professional and outdoor environments. The important role of Alternaria, a mold, in producing severe asthma has also been demonstrated. The pathophysiology of pollen-induced asthma has been shown to result from pollen allergens carried by particles less than 5 microns in diameter. Cyprus and ash tree pollen also cause an increasing number of pollinoses and flowers can cause rhinitis and asthma. Respiratory allergy to Ficus benjamina inaugurated a new type of allergies caused airborne allergens from non-pollinating plants. Allergy to latex raises a particular problem for health care workers. The immunochemical structures of the major and minor airborne allergens are now better known and the homologous structures of different allergens largely explains certain cross-reactions. In the future, recombinant allergens will probably be used to better understand the role of allergens in inducing and maintaining the allergic reaction and should help in our approach to diagnosis and therapy.

Acari↗
PubMed1997

[New aero-allergens. Interaction between allergens and the environment].

There is a qualitative as well as a quantitative change in allergen exposure. From a qualitative viewpoint, the relevance of some allergens (domestic allergens i.e. cockroaches, outdoor allergens i.e. plane tree, chestnut and ash tree pollens) has been established. The role of some other allergens has been, strictly speaking, discovered: latex from Hevea and ficus, trichophyton mold, some occupational allergens and very recently transgenic allergens. From a quantitative viewpoint, the concentration and/or distribution of some allergens has increased. Plantation of numerous trees or fortuitous introduction of weeds has led to an increased specific sensitization. In like manner, introduction of new foods or food processing procedures has created new food allergens and allergy. Besides, the distribution of some well-known aero-allergens is better known since discovery of ELISA--technology allowing measurements of minute amounts of these allergens. A burning issue today is to know whether irritant factors could modify allergens. Few data, sometimes contradictory, are available in the field of interaction between air pollutants and allergens.

Air Pollutants↗