Analysis of geophagy soils in Kibale Forest, Uganda

Four soil samples from the Kibale Forest, Uganda, representative of material regularly ingested by chimpanzees, were studied for their mineral, chemical, and geochemical composition. These geophagy soils have a high content of metahalloysite, a partially hydrated clay mineral that may act much like the pharmaceutical Kaopectate™. Among the elements that may act as a stimulus or stimuli for geophagy behavior, only iron is very high (total iron ranges from 6% to 17%); other possibilities such as calcium, chromium, cobalt, bromine, and iodine are either relatively low or are below their detection limits. Chlorine is below detection limits which eliminates sodium chloride as a possible stimulus. Depending on relative availability in the gut, iron offers the most likely chemical stimulus for geophagy and given the mineral composition of the samples, metahalloysite is the most likely mineral stimulus. Iron may play a role in replenishing hemoglobin which would be important in chimpanzee physiology at high elevations near the flanks of the Ruwenzori Mountains. Metahalloysite, which in this case exists in a relatively pure crystalline form, may well act to quell symptoms of diarrhea and act similarly to Kaopectate™. Organic chemical analyses indicate only traces of organic matter and no humic acids in the K14-E14 sample.     

Towards the scientific validation of traditional medicinal plants

A large proportion of the population of developing countries usestraditional medicine alone, or in combination with Western drugs to treat awide variety of ailments. There has seldom been effective collaborationbetween the traditional and Western medical practitioners, largely due tothe perception that the use of traditional and herbal medicines has noscientific basis. With the renewed interest from Western countries in herbalremedies, and the increasingly urgent need to develop new effective drugs,traditionally used medicinal plants have recently received the attention ofthe pharmaceutical and scientific communities. This involves the isolationand identification of the secondary metabolites produced by the plants andused as the active principles in medical preparations. Research into thescientific validation of southern African medicinal plants used in thetreatment of pain and inflammation, hypertension and parasitic diseasesincluding those with anthelmintic, anti-amoebic, anti-bacterial and anti-bilharzia activity, is the current focus of studies conducted at the ResearchCentre for Plant Growth and Development.     

Molecular pharmacognosy

This article analyzes the background and significance of molecular pharmacognosy, including the molecular identification of medicinal raw materials, phylogenetic evolution of medicinal plants and animals, evaluation and preservation of germplasm resources for medicinal plants and animals, etiology of endangerment and protection of endangered medicinal plants and animals, biosynthesis and bioregulation of active components in medicinal plants, and characteristics and the molecular bases of top-geoherbs.     

菌物生药学——一个充满生机的边缘学科

菌物生药学是一门新兴的边缘学科,它涉及菌物学、生药学、中药学等许多学科,以菌物药为研究对象,运用现代自然科学的理论知识和技术方法,研究和探讨菌物药的来源、性状、显微特征、理化鉴别、质量指标以及引种驯化、发酵等生物工程和寻找新药源的理论和实践问题。随着现代科学尤其是现代生命科学的飞速发展,菌物药的研究在当今世界也有重要的理论和实践意义。本文从菌物生药学的发展历史,研究内容以及与其他学科关系等几个方面进行阐述,旨在将这一具有理论和实践价值的学科得以发展。     

南丹金线兰的植物形态和显微鉴定

采用生药学显微鉴定方法研究南丹金线兰(Anoectochilus nandanensis)的原植物形态、组织构造及粉末显微特征。南丹金线兰叶片呈卵形或卵状披针形,具金红色叶脉,花不倒置;唇瓣白色,呈Y字形,前部明显扩大并2裂,裂片狭长圆形,中部收狭,其两侧呈向下的细齿状或角片状,两侧白色细齿各4～5条。显微结构中,根、茎横切面中皮层明显,具草酸钙针晶、粘液细胞等;叶横切面上表皮细胞形状为乳突状突起。粉末中可见草酸钙针晶和导管。这些特征可为南丹金线兰的生药鉴别和资源开发利用提供参考依据。     

广西特产植物罗汉果的研究与应用

综述了广西特产药用植物罗汉果的生药学、化学成分、药理学、提取分离方法和应用研究 ,为深入研究开发利用罗汉果资源提供参考。     

决明子的研究进展

本文从原植物及生药学研究、化学成分、药理研临、临床应用及开发利用等方面对决明子的国内外研究进展进行了综述,为该药的进一步研究及开发提供了参考。     

Flagellum Removal by a Nectar Metabolite Inhibits Infectivity of a Bumblebee Parasite

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壮药材火索藤的生药学研究

为建立火索藤(Bauhinia aurea)的鉴别方法及含量测定方法，解决其真伪辨别的问题，分析其药效不一的原因，该文采用基原鉴别、性状鉴别、显微鉴别、薄层色谱法及高效液相色谱法对火索藤开展生药学研究。结果表明：(1)火索藤为多年生粗壮木质藤本，其茎、叶、花、果实表面均被红棕色茸毛。(2)茎横切面皮层可见大量石细胞群及晶纤维，髓部常见草酸钙簇晶、方晶；叶横切面显示其叶为异面叶，皮层可见草酸钙簇晶、方晶，韧皮部可见分泌腔断续排列成环，韧皮部外侧常见晶纤维。粉末中可见草酸钙簇晶、晶纤维、石细胞、具缘纹孔导管、非腺毛、气孔。(3)各批次火索藤TLC斑点与对照品金丝桃苷、落新妇苷、槲皮苷在薄层色谱图的相同位置上显相同颜色荧光。(4)落新妇苷和槲皮苷进样量分别在0.005 888～2.355μg(r=0.999 6)、0.039 55～1.582μg(r=0.999 8)与峰面积呈现良好的线性关系，加样回收率分别为96.42%、104.20%,相对标准偏差(relative standard deviation, RSD)值分别为2.55%、1.79%。该文建立了火索藤的生药学鉴别方法和一种同时...     

The identification of coca (Erythroxylutn species): 1860–1910

The taxonomic history of plants known under the name 'coca' is complex. During the period 1860–1910, botanists, horticulturalists and pharmacists became increasingly interested in the varieties of coca then known in cultivation. A debate over the correct identity of the cultivated cocas ensued which continues today. During the latter part of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, several new taxa were described from cultivation which significantly -complicated the taxonomy. Notable contributors were D. Morris in Kew, W. Burck in Bogor, H. H. Rusby in New York and O. E. Schulz in Berlin. In order to evaluate the complex interaction among these workers, it is necessary to examine the problem chronologically. Two cultivated species of commercial coca are now recognized: Erythroxylutn coca Lam. and Erythroxylutn nooogranatense (Morris) Hieron., each of which has one distinct variety in cultivation: E. coca var. ipadu Plowman and E. novogranatense var. truxillense (Rusby) Plowman, respectively.