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PubMed2006

An inventory of the ethnobotanicals used as anthelmintics in the southern Punjab (Pakistan).

A survey was conducted in southern Punjab, Pakistan, in order to document existing ethnobotanical knowledge by the herdsmen/key respondents about anthelmintics in ruminants. A 3-satge process was used to document the plants being used to treat and/or control helminthes. This paper describes 29 plants to treat helminthosis in ruminants. The main plants used were Lamium amplexicaule L., Mallotus philippinensis Muell., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. A few of these plants have been scientifically validated for their claim by herdsmen on modern lines while majority of them still needs investigations. This documentation could provide a foundation for the scientific study and verification of those plants which merit such study.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of hypertension and diabetes in south-eastern Morocco (Errachidia province).

This survey was undertaken in the Errachidia province in south-eastern Morocco in order to inventory the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Four hundred individuals who knew about and/or had used the medicinal plants for the indicated diseases, including some herbal healers, were interviewed throughout different regions of the province. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific, vernacular and common name of the plant, its ecological distribution, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 64 medicinal plants belonging to 33 families; of these, 45 are used for diabetes, 36 for hypertension, and 18 for both diseases. Of these plants, 34% grow in the wild, 44% are cultivated, and 22% are not indigenous to the area and are brought from other parts of Morocco or from outside the country. The survey shows that 78% of the patients regularly use these medicinal plants. In this region, the most frequently used plants to treat diabetes include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Artemisia herba-alba, Carum carvi, Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Peganum harmala, Phoenix dactylifera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Zygophyllum gaetulum, and those to treat hypertension include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa, Olea europea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Peganum harmala, and Phoenix dactylifera. The local people recognize the toxic plants and are very careful in using such plants, which are Citrullus colocynthis, Datura stramonium, Nerium oleander, Nigella sativa, Peganum harmala and Zygophyllum gaetulum. Our survey shows that traditional medicine in the south-eastern Moroccan population has not only survived but has thrived in the transcultural environment and intermixture of many ethnic traditions and beliefs.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2006

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights region.

The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly important in defining strategies and actions for conservation of medicinal plants. This study therefore sought to collect information from local population concerning the use of Ajloun Heights region medicinal plants; identify the most important species used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (ICF) in relation to medicinal plant use. Data collection relied predominantly on qualitative tools to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the medicinal use of specific plants. Our results revealed that 46 plant species grown in the study region are still in use in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Most of the locals interviewed dealt with well-known safe medicinal plants such as Achillea falcata, Matricaria aurea, Majorana syriaca, Allium sativum and Allium cepa. The use of moderately unsafe or toxic plants was noted to be practiced by practitioners and herbalists rather than the locals. These plants include Ecballium elaterium, Euphorbia hierosolymitana, Mandragora autumnalis and Citrullus colocynthis. Kidney problems scored the highest ICF while Crocus hyemalis was the plant of highest use value. Searching the literature evidenced some concordance with the solicited plant uses mentioned by the informants.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Molecular and biochemical characterisation of a serine acetyltransferase of onion, Allium cepa (L.).

We have previously cloned a cDNA, designated SAT1, corresponding to a gene coding for a serine acetyltransferase (SAT) from onion (Allium cepa L.). The SAT1 locus was mapped to chromosome 7 of onion using a single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in the 3' UTR of the gene. Northern analysis has demonstrated that expression of the SAT1 gene is induced in leaf tissue in response to low S-supply. Phylogenetic analysis has placed SAT1 in a strongly supported group (100% bootstrap) that comprises sequences that have been characterised biochemically, including Allium tuberosum, Spinacea oleracea, Glycine max, Citrullus vulgaris, and SAT5 (AT5g56760) of Arabidopsis thaliana. This group can be divided further with the SAT1 of A. cepa sequence grouping strongly with the A. tuberosum sequence. Translation of SAT1 from onion generates a protein of 289 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 30,573 Da and pI of 6.52. The conserved G277 and H282 residues that have been identified as critical for L-cysteine inhibition are observed at G272 and H277. SAT1 has been cloned into the pGEX plasmid, expressed in E. coli and SAT activity of the recombinant enzyme has been measured as acetyl-CoA hydrolysis detected at 232 nm. A Km of 0.72 mM was determined for l-serine as substrate, a Km of 92 microM was calculated with acetyl-CoA as substrate, and an inhibition curve for L-cysteine generated an IC50 value of 3.1 microM. Antibodies raised against the recombinant SAT1 protein recognised a protein of ca. 33 kDa in whole leaf onion extracts. These properties of the SAT1 enzyme from onion are compared with other SAT enzymes characterised from closely related species.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2001

Resistance to cold and heat stress: accumulation of phenolic compounds in tomato and watermelon plants.

Tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Tmknvf(2), and watermelon plants, Citrullus lanatus [Thomb.] Mansf. cv. Dulce maravilla, were grown for 30 days at different temperatures (15, 25 and 35 degrees C). We analysed soluble phenolics, enzymatic activities (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase), and dry weight. The impact of the three temperatures was different in tomato and watermelon. Our results indicate that heat stress in tomato plants occurred at 35 degrees C, while chilling stress occurred in watermelon plants at 15 degrees C. Thermal stress in both plants caused: (1) decreased shoot weight; (2) accumulation of soluble phenolics; (3) highest phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity; and (4) lowest peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. These results indicate that thermal stress induces the accumulation of phenolics in the plant by activating their biosynthesis as well as inhibiting their oxidation. This could be considered an acclimation mechanism of the plant against thermal stress.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Phytotherapy of hypertension and diabetes in oriental Morocco.

In order to select the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and/or diabetes, a survey was undertaken in different areas of oriental Morocco. The patients (370 women and 256 men) were divided into three groups: diabetics (61%), hypertensives (23%) and hypertensive diabetic persons (16%). On average, 67.51% of patients regularly use medicinal plants. This proportion is perceptibly the same in all groups and does not depend on sex, age and socio-cultural level. This result shows that phytotherapy is widely adopted in northeastern Morocco. For diabetes, 41 plants were cited, of which the most used were Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Leguminosae), Globularia alypum L. (Globulariaceae), Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Compositae), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) and Tetraclinis articulata Benth. (Cupressaceae). In the hypertension's therapy 18 vegetal species were reported, of which the most used were Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae), Olea europea L. (Oleaceae), Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae), Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) and Petroselinum crispum A.W. Hill (Apiaceae). Among the 18 species used for hypertension, 14 were also employed for diabetes. Moreover, these two diseases were associated in 41% of hypertensives. These findings suggest that hypertension observed in this region would be in a large part related to diabetes.

Africa, Northern↗
PubMed2005

A re-consideration of Pseudoperonospora cubensis and P. humuli based on molecular and morphological data.

Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS rDNA region was carried out with two economically important downy mildews, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, which infects species of Cucumis, Cucurbita, and Citrullus belonging to Cucurbitaceae, and P. humuli, which infects plants of the genus Humulus belonging to Cannabaceae. Two closely related species, P. cannabina and P. celtidis, were also included to reveal taxonomic relationships with the first two mildews. All four species formed a well-resolved clade when compared with the ITS sequences of other downy mildew genera, using Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony. The P. cubensis isolates obtained from different hosts and (or) geographical origins in Korea, exhibited no intraspecific variability in the ITS sequences. The phylogenetic analyses of P. cubensis and P. humuli showed that they share a high level of sequence homology; the morphology of the sporangiophores, sporangia, and dehiscence apparatus confirmed the similarity of the two species. We therefore reduce P. humuli to the status of a taxonomic synonym of P. cubensis.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed2006

Analysis of gamma-irradiated melon, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Seeds of melon (Citrullus lanatus var. sp.), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), and sunflower (Heliantus annus) were gamma-irradiated at 1, 3, 5, and 10 kGy and analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) according to EN1787:2000 and EN1785:2003, respectively. Distinguishable triplet signals due to the presence of induced cellulose radicals were found at 2.0010-2.0047 g in the EPR spectra. The gamma-irradiated radiolytic markers of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB) and 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (2-TCB) were identified in all irradiated seed samples. Both the free radicals and the alkylcyclobutanones were found to increase with irradiation dose. In general, linear relationships between the amount of radicals and irradiation dosage could be established. Studies at an ambient temperature (20-25 degrees C) in a humidity-controlled environment showed a complete disappearance of the cellulosic peaks for irradiated samples upon 60 days of storage. Such instability behavior was considered to render the usefulness of using EPR alone in the determination of irradiated seed samples. On the other hand, 2-DCB and 2-TCB were also found to decompose rapidly (>85% loss after 120 days of storage), but the radiolytic markers remained quantifiable after 120 days of postirradiation storage. These results suggest that GC-MS is a versatile and complimentary technique for the confirmation of irradiation treatment to seeds.

Cucurbita↗
PubMed1999

Rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method to quantitate elaterinide in juice and reconstituted residues from a bitter mutant of hawkesbury watermelon.

A C(18) reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed to analyze the concentration of 2-O-beta-D-glycopyranosyl-cucurbitacin E (synonym, elaterinide) in juice or reconstituted residues of juice derived from a bitter mutant of Hawkesbury watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai. The method requires only two steps (homogenation and filtration) for sample preparation prior to column injection and, thus, is amenable to processing large numbers of test samples. Percent elaterinide in juice samples from whole fruit, processed in various ways, ranged from 0.0230 to 0.0808%. Error differences in percent elaterinide for repetitive analyses within the same lot of juice ranged from 1.2 to 5.6%.

Beverages↗
PubMed1993

Production of an anti-allergic triterpene bryonolic acid, by plant cell cultures.

Cell suspension cultures of Luffa cylindrica, Citrullus lanatus, and related cucurbitaceous plants accumulate large quantities of bryonolic acid (3 beta-hydroxy-D:C-friedoolean-8-en-29-oic acid) [1], an acidic, pentacyclic triterpene found exclusively in the roots of the intact plants. This compound could readily be isolated from cultured cells with CHCl3 and purified simply by recrystallization. Pharmacological tests using mice demonstrated that bryonolic acid or its derivative is active against at least three types of allergies and that its activity could be increased significantly by preparing synthetic derivatives, in particular a potassium salt of its succinate ester. The biosynthesis of bryonolic acid from mevalonic acid via isomultiflorenol has been elucidated by tracer and enzymological experiments using cultured cells of watermelon both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, cell fractionation and electron microscopic studies on subcellular structures of luffa cells suggested that minute vesicles originating from elongated, rough endoplasmic reticulum probably play an important role in the transport of bryonolic acid which largely accumulates in the cell wall of cultured cells. The results obtained from the present study indicate that plant cell culture would be useful not only as a biological system for elucidating biosynthetic mechanisms but also as a potential source of new pharmacologically active compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1968

Physical and chemical studies of a low-molecular-weight form of urease.

1. A new form of enzymically active jack-bean [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC] urease corresponding to an S(20,w) value of 11.8s and a molecular weight of 260000 was investigated. 2. Conversion of 18s urease (EC 3.5.1.5) into the 12s form depends on both low protein concentration and pH. Above pH5.3 urease exists in the 18s form and below pH4.8 in the 12s form; between these two pH values a 12s-18s rapid-equilibrium process is observed. 3. Comparison of the properties of 18s and 12s urease indicated no major differences. 4. A survey of other good urease sources revealed that the 12s form can also be obtained from soya bean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc. cultivar Biloxi) and the bacterium Bacillus pasteurii (Miguel) Migula, but not from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. cultivar Congo). 5. The 12s forms from jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii did not hybridize.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1998

The plant PTS1 receptor: similarities and differences to its human and yeast counterparts.

Two targeting signals, PTS1 and PTS2, mediate import of proteins into the peroxisomal matrix. We have cloned and sequenced the watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) cDNA homologue to the PTS1 receptor gene (PEX5). Its gene product, CvPex5p, belongs to the family of tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) containing proteins like the human and yeast counterparts, and exhibits 11 repeats of the sequence W-X2-(E/S)-(Y/F/Q) in its N-terminal half. According to fractionation studies the plant Pex5p is located mainly in the cytosolic fraction and therefore could function as a cycling receptor between the cytosol and glyoxysomes, as has been proposed for the Pex5p of human and some yeast peroxisomes. Transformation of the Hansenula polymorpha peroxisome deficient pex5 mutant with watermelon PEX5 resulted in restoration of peroxisome formation and the synthesis of additional membranes surrounding the peroxisomes. These structures are labeled in immunogold experiments using antibodies against the Hansenula polymorpha integral membrane protein Pex3p, confirming their peroxisomal nature. The plant Pex5p was localized by immunogold labelling mainly in the cytosol of the yeast, but also inside the newly formed peroxisomes. However, import of the PTS1 protein alcohol oxidase is only partially restored by CvPex5p.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects in HepG2 cells of a homeopathic remedy and its constituent plant tinctures tested separately or in combination.

Hepeel is a homeopathic remedy commonly used to treat primary and secondary functional disorders of the liver. It consists of highly diluted extracts from the following plants: Chelidonium from Chelidonium majus, L., Carduus marianus from Silybum marianum, L., Veratrum from Veratrum album L., Colocynthis from Citrullus colocynthis L., Lycopodium from Lycopodium clavatum L., Nux moschata from Myristica fragans, Houtt, and China from Cinchona pubescens, Vahl. The antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects in HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells of serial dilutions of these plant tinctures were tested, either separately or in various combinations. Upon damage of the cells with tert-butyl hydroperoxide, Carduus marianus, China and Nux moschata, in decreasing order, showed the strongest antioxidative effects. Greater than 95% inhibition of total production of malondialdehyde was reached with these three tinctures at dilutions of D4. The complete combination of the tinctures (COMB) realised in the homeopathic remedy showed an effect corresponding to the combined effects of the individual tinctures. The antiproliferative influence on the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA in normal HepG2 cells was significant (p < 0.01) but relatively weak, and decreased in the order Carduus marianus, Chelidonium, Colocynthis and Veratrum. At a dilution of D4 Colocynthis showed the strongest inhibition (13.5%). The effect of the combination of Colocynthis and Veratrum was markedly higher (22.3%) than that of the individual tinctures, but was not additive. With this combination, cell numbers were reduced. COMB had similar effects on proliferation and cell numbers, with the antiproliferative effect starting at a dilution of 1:40. The conjugation of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene with glutathione was induced only by Carduus marianus and COMB, while all other tinctures were ineffective. Neither the individual tinctures, nor COMB showed cytotoxic effects in the dilutions tested. These results demonstrate that the complete combination (COMB) realised in the homeopathic remedy and its constituents exert specific antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects on HepG2 cells which all point to a potential hepatoprotective and tumouristatic action.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2002

Crop pollination from native bees at risk from agricultural intensification.

Ecosystem services are critical to human survival; in selected cases, maintaining these services provides a powerful argument for conserving biodiversity. Yet, the ecological and economic underpinnings of most services are poorly understood, impeding their conservation and management. For centuries, farmers have imported colonies of European honey bees (Apis mellifera) to fields and orchards for pollination services. These colonies are becoming increasingly scarce, however, because of diseases, pesticides, and other impacts. Native bee communities also provide pollination services, but the amount they provide and how this varies with land management practices are unknown. Here, we document the individual species and aggregate community contributions of native bees to crop pollination, on farms that varied both in their proximity to natural habitat and management type (organic versus conventional). On organic farms near natural habitat, we found that native bee communities could provide full pollination services even for a crop with heavy pollination requirements (e.g., watermelon, Citrullus lanatus), without the intervention of managed honey bees. All other farms, however, experienced greatly reduced diversity and abundance of native bees, resulting in insufficient pollination services from native bees alone. We found that diversity was essential for sustaining the service, because of year-to-year variation in community composition. Continued degradation of the agro-natural landscape will destroy this "free" service, but conservation and restoration of bee habitat are potentially viable economic alternatives for reducing dependence on managed honey bees.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Mutational analysis of the N-terminal topogenic signal of watermelon glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase using the heterologous host Hansenula polymorpha.

We have studied the significance of the N-terminal presequence of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase [gMDH; (S)-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.1.37] in microbody targeting. The yeast Hansenula polymorpha was used as heterologous host for the in vivo expression of various genetically altered watermelon MDH genes, whose protein products were localized by immunocytochemical techniques. It is shown that the presequence of gMDH is essential and sufficient for peroxisomal targeting; it can target the mature part of the mitochondrial MDH to microbodies, whereas deletion of the presequence results in accumulation of the mature form of gMDH in the cytosol. Alignment of the N termini of several peroxisomal proteins that are assumed to contain a peroxisomal targeting signal at the N terminus (PTS2) suggested the consensus seqence RL-X5-HL. A similar motif is present in the presequence of watermelon gMDH--namely, 10RI-X5-17HL. Mutational analysis revealed that substitutions of 10RI into DD or 17HL into DE destroyed the topogenic information, whereas substitutions of 25M into I and 26EE into LV did not. By combining our data with recent analyses of others on the presequences of mammalian thiolases, it is concluded that the peroxisomal targeting information of PTS2 is contained in the consensus sequence RL/I-X5-HL. In contrast to the higher plant and mammals, the Hansenula yeast peroxisomes seem to lack an enzyme capable of removing microbody presequences of higher eukaryotes.

Cell Compartmentation↗
PubMed1997

The glyoxysomal and plastid molecular chaperones (70-kDa heat shock protein) of watermelon cotyledons are encoded by a single gene.

The monoclonal a-70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70) antibody recognizes in crude extracts from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) cotyledons two hsps with molecular masses of 70 and 72 kDa. Immunocytochemistry on watermelon cotyledon tissue and on isolated glyoxysomes identified hsp70s in the matrix of glyoxysomes and plastids. Affinity purification and partial amino acid determination revealed the 70-kDa protein to share high sequence identity with cytosolic hsp70s from a number of plant species, while the 72 kDa protein was very similar to plastid hsp70s from pea and cucumber. A full-length cDNA clone encoding the 72-kDa hsp70 was isolated and identified two start methionines in frame within the N-terminal presequence leading either to an N-terminal extension of 67 amino acids or to a shorter one of 47 amino acids. The longer presequence was necessary and sufficient to target a reporter protein into watermelon proplastids in vitro. The shorter extension starting from the second methionine within the long version harbored a consensus peroxisomal targeting signal (RT-X5-KL) that directed in vivo a reporter protein into peroxisomes of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Peroxisomal targeting was however prevented, when the 67-residue presequence was fused to the reporter protein, indicating that the peroxisomal targeting signal 2 information is hidden in this context. We propose that the 72-kDa hsp70 is encoded by a single gene, but targeted alternatively into two organelles by the modulated use of its presequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Molecular cloning and characterization of a plant serine acetyltransferase playing a regulatory role in cysteine biosynthesis from watermelon.

Serine acetyltransferase (SATase; EC 2.3.1.30), which catalyzes the reaction connecting serine and cysteine/methionine metabolism, plays a regulatory role in cysteine biosynthesis in plants. We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding SATase by direct genetic complementation of a Cys- mutation in Escherichia coli using an expression library of Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) cDNA. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 294 amino acids (31,536 Da) exhibiting 51% homology with that of E. coli SATase. DNA-blot analysis indicated the presence of a single copy of the SATase gene (sat) in watermelon. RNA hybridization analysis suggested the relatively ubiquitous and preferential expression in the hypocotyls of etiolated seedlings. Immunoblot analysis indicated the accumulation of SATase predominantly in etiolated plants. L-Cysteine, an end product of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, inhibited the SATase in an allosteric manner, indicating the regulatory function of SATase in this metabolic pathway, whereas beta-(pyrazole-1-yl)-L-alanine, a secondary metabolite formed partly through the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, showed no inhibitory effect. A multi-enzyme complex was formed from recombinant proteins of SATase and cysteine synthase (O-acetylserine(thiol)-lyase) from watermelon, suggesting efficient metabolic channeling from serine to cysteine, preventing the diffusion of intermediary O-acetyl-L-serine.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2004

A Pisum sativum glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase induced by cadmium exposure.

The glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase (gMDH) catalyses the formation of oxaloacetate from malate during beta-oxidation of fatty acids in the glyoxysome. A partial Pisum sativum L. (cv. Greenfeast) cDNA was first isolated from a suppression subtractive hybridisation cDNA library obtained from heavy metal stressed plants. The full length cDNA was then isolated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The translated sequence showed strong similarity to Cucumis sativus and Citrullus lanatus gMDH including a typical glyoxysome-targeting presequence comprising the PTS2 motif and a cleavage site for a cystein-directed protease. Exposure of pea plants to Cd2+ induced expression of the gMDH gene in mature pea leaves indicating that the enzyme is under environmental control in addition to the normal developmental regulation pattern.

Amino Acid Sequence↗