A complement fixing polysaccharide from Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch, a medicinal plant from Mali, West Africa

Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch (syn. Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC) is a medicinal plant having a traditional use, among others, as a wound healing remedy in Mali and other countries. As a water extract of the aerial parts of the plant is a frequently used preparation, we decided to look for a bioactive polysaccharide in this extract. One of the obtained polysaccharide fractions, BP100 III, isolated from a 100 degrees C water extract from the aerial parts of B. petersianum and having a monosaccharide composition typical for pectic substances, was shown to exhibit potent dose-dependent complement fixating activity. The BP100 III fraction was subjected to degradation by endo-alpha-d-(1-->4)-polygalacturonase, and three fractions were obtained by gel filtration. The highest molecular weight fraction, BP100 III.1, had a more potent activity in the complement test system than the native polymer, while the two lower molecular weight fractions were less active than the native polymer. The major part of BP100 III.1 consists of galacturonic acid and rhamnose, with branches being present on both the rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues. Arabinogalactan type II is also present in the polymer, indicating that BP100 III.1 has a structure typical of the hairy region of pectins. The major part of the two other fractions is a galacturonan, containing a strikingly high number of branch points, some to which xylose is attached. These results indicate that the pectic substance in B. petersianum contains both rhamnogalacturonan and xylogalacturonan regions.     

The crustacean zooplankton of Mali (West Africa)

48 species of Phyllopoda, 24 species of Copepoda, and a freshwater shrimp are reported from Mali. Morphologically noteworthy or little known species are figured. Daphnia barbata and D. dolichocephala are redescribed. Three West-African species of Tropodiaptomus were found. T. senegambiae is synonymised with T. banforanus. Thermodiaptomus yabensis is fully figured. The distribution of T. yabensis and the regional Tropodiaptomus is discussed. A general biogeographical discussion is not yet possible, because for many species, and particularly Cladocera, both taxonomical position and chorological records are fragmentary and uncertain. At least 29 species, however, seem to be restricted to Africa, and some even to West Africa.The water chemistry of the lakes of central Mali is characterized by a low mineral content, but seems not to be distributive to any of the numerous zooplankton species encountered.The zooplankton communities, especially in the lakes of the internal delta of the Niger, are typically composed of numerous species. Among copepods, it is usual to find three or four genera to co-occur, and each genus may be represented by up to three species. This indicates long-term instability of the communities, and suggests strong interspecies competition to be present. This is corroborated by an analysis of the ranges of some African endemics.It is shown that the Niger delta is part of the biological boundary of the Sahara as far as aquatic invertebrates are concerned. West African equatorial climate endemics (e.g. 3 Tropodiaptomus species, Thermodiaptomus yabensis), and arid to semi-arid climate endemics (Daphnia barbata, D. longispina, Metadiaptomus mauretanicus) meet and interpenetrate each others' ranges over a short distance.     

Growth and development of adolescent girls from the Segou Region of Mali (West Africa)

In Mali, adolescent girls face many physical stresses which, with a history of poor nutrition, can result in delayed growth and development. Despite the fact that adolescent girls encounter nutritional demands, most research in Mali has focused only on young children. This study examines anthropometric and reproductive data on 1,056 adolescent girls (aged 10-17 years) from the Segou Region of Mali. When compared to the reference population, the Malian girls exhibited poorer indicators of growth and development. Z-scores for height-for-age and weight-for-age were below 0 at all ages. Urban girls had better indicators of growth than rural girls. The body composition data show that the Malian girls have lower body fat than reference girls. Menarche was delayed by about 1.5 years compared to girls from the United States and Europe. Delayed growth and development may be due to many factors, including a history of undernutrition, poor socioeconomic status, and increased energy demands.     

Genetic variation in parotid basic proteins (Pb) in the Bozo (Mali,West Africa)

Summary The frequency of variants in the Pb system was studied in 71 individuals from the Bozo tribe in the Bani-Niger area (Mali, West Africa), in 25 male students from different African countries, and in 110 Dutch students. The frequency of thePb ²allele was 0.20 in the Bozo and 0.00 in the Dutch population. A comparison is made with the results of a study among American blacks and with a Japanese study. The Pb2-2 phenotypes observed in this study favour the hypothesis that the Pb-2c protein is derived from a larger precursor in a manner analogous to the generation of the Pb-1b protein from Pb-1 proteine.Part of this work was performed in the Institute of Human Biology, State University at Utrecht, The Netherlands     

Lack of secular change in male adult stature in rural Mali (West Africa)

A study has been carried out on a sample of 2,158 male subjects between 20 and 50 years old representative of the rural Malian population (West Africa), and the results are compared with historic data obtained since 1885. This comparison suggests that there has been no modification in stature during this century. The analysis of each ethnic group does not show any disparity. Our results are in agreement with the theory that certain factors lead to the secular increase of stature in developed countries. These etiologic factors are not found in our West African population.     

Two new predatory mites (Acari: Bdellidae,Phytoseiidae) collected from medicinal plants in West Bengal,India

Two new species of predatory mites, one each of Bdellodes Oudemans (Fam. Bdellidae) and Phytoseius Ribaga (Fam. Phytoseiidae) recorded for the first time from two medicinal plants viz. Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f. (Fam. Sterculiaceae) and Clerodendrum viscosum Vent (Fam. Verbenaceae), respectively, are described in this paper.     

Ethnobotanical notes about some uses of medicinal plants in Alto Tirreno Cosentino area (Calabria, Southern Italy)

The present zootherapeutic study describes the traditional knowledge related to the use of different animals and animal-derived products as medicines by the Saharia tribe reside in the Shahabad and Kishanganj Panchayat Samiti's of Baran district of Rajasthan, India. A field survey was conducted from April to June 2006 by performing interview through structured questionnaire with 21 selected respondents, who provided information regarding use of animals and their products in folk medicine. A total of 15 animal species were recorded and they are used for different ethnomedical purposes, including cough, asthma, tuberculosis, paralysis, earache, herpes, weakness, muscular pain etc. The zootherapeutic knowledge was mostly based on domestic animals, but some protected species like the peacock (Pavo cristatus,), hard shelled turtle (Kachuga tentoria), sambhar (Cervus unicolor) were also mentioned as medicinal resources. We would suggest that this kind of neglected traditional knowledge should be included into the strategies of conservation and management of faunistic resources. Further studies are required for experimental validation to confirm the presence of bioactive compounds in these traditional remedies and also to emphasize more sustainable use of these resources.     

Quantitative ethnobotany of medicinal plants uses in the Jhelum valley,Azad Kashmir,Pakistan

Indigenous knowledge provides information on phytotherapeutic potential of medicinal plants for basic health care mangements in local communinites. The present study was aimed to document folklore knowledge of ethnic communities, who are practicing the herbal medicines in the Jhelum valley (District Hattian), Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The information regarding folklore use of plants was collected from local communities through informed consent semi- structured interviews from 152 key informants. The ethnobotanical data were quantitatively analyzed using indices of use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC) and Informant census factor (ICF). A total of 113 medicinal plant species belong to 52 families were documented in the local communites of Jhelum Valley. The Asteraceae and Polygonaceae were the dominant plant families. The plant species hold potential folklore uses against hepatitis, stomach and respiratory problems, tooth ache, skin ailments and tumor treatment. The whole plants (32.52%), leaves ((21.14%)) were highly consumed plant parts and decoction (22.99%), powder form (18.39%) and infusion (13.79%) was the commonly used method for herbal formulation. The species with maximum use value was Beberis lyceum (0.80) and Valeriana jatamansi (0.60). The highest ICF value was obtained for disease catergories that is ear pain (1.00) followed by heaptic disorder (0.94) and urinary system disorders (0.89). The lowest ICF value was recored for nervous system disorders (0.44). The present study disclosed that traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is still widespread in ethnic people, but gradually decline in youngers. Documentation of newly documented plant species with their folklore uses shall uphold further phytochemical and pharmacological studies.     

Ethnopharmacological uses of Erythrina senegalensis: a comparison of three areas in Mali, and a link between traditional knowledge and modern biological science

Consumption of greens is a major source of vitamins and micro-nutrients for people using only vegetarian diets rich in carbohydrates. In remote rural settlements where vegetable cultivation is not practiced and market supplies are not organized, local inhabitants depend on indigenous vegetables, both cultivated in kitchen gardens and wild, for enriching the diversity of food. Knowledge of such foods is part of traditional knowledge which is largely transmitted through participation of individuals of households. A total of 123 households in six villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve buffer zone was surveyed using a schedule to assess the knowledge, availability and consumption pattern of wild leafy vegetables. Quantity estimations were done using regular visits with informants from 30 sample households of the six study villages during the collections. Monetization was used to see the value of wild leafy vegetables harvested during a year. The diversity of wild leafy vegetables being use by the local inhabitants is 21 species belonging to 14 genera and 11 families. This is far less than that being reported to be used by the communities from Western Ghats in India and some parts of Africa. Irrespective of social or economic status all households in the study villages had the knowledge and used wild leafy vegetables. The number of households reported to consume these wild leafy vegetables is greater than the number of households reporting to harvest them for all species except for Diplazium esculentum and Phytolacca acinosa. The availability and use period varied for the species are listed by the users. The study indicated that the knowledge is eroding due to changing social values and non participation of younger generation in collection and processing of such wild leafy vegetables.     

Gene flow among populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, in Mali, West Africa

The population structure of the Anopheles gambiae complex is unusual, with several sibling species often occupying a single area and, in one of these species, An. gambiae sensu stricto, as many as three "chromosomal forms" occurring together. The chromosomal forms are thought to be intermediate between populations and species, distinguishable by patterns of chromosome gene arrangements. The extent of reproductive isolation among these forms has been debated. To better characterize this structure we measured effective population size, N(e), and migration rates, m, or their product by both direct and indirect means. Gene flow among villages within each chromosomal form was found to be large (N(e)m > 40), was intermediate between chromosomal forms (N(e)m approximately 3-30), and was low between species (N(e)m approximately 0.17-1.3). A recently developed means for distinguishing among certain of the forms using PCR indicated rates of gene flow consistent with those observed using the other genetic markers.     

Radar observations of concentrations of insects above a river in Mali, West Africa

Abstract. 1. Radar observations are reported which demonstrate nocturnal accumulations of insects in the altitude range 30–130 m over some sections of the River Niger.
2. It is shown that on occasions when individual insect tracks were resolved, the accumulations were maintained by positive insect flight manoeuvres, and were not the result of passive response to air movement.
3. The mechanisms by which the insects might perceive the presence of the river are examined and it is deduced that at least some of the insects were able to detect the river boundaries by a visual or radiation sensing mechanism. It is noted that if the insects were using visual perception, their eyes must have been able to function in the absence of moonlight.
4. Evidence is presented which suggests that amongst the insects which contributed to the phenomenon were Ephemeroptera, and also larger insects, the latter becoming concentrated over the river in the course of migratory flight across the area.
5. Reasons why the insects accumulated over the river are discussed and it is suggested that the most probable strategies included the formation of mating swarms by some insects, and the use of the river by others as a linear feature to facilitate their orientation. It is also suggested that the insects may have been responding to differences in infra-red radiation from the river and the bank, or to the warmer, moister air to be expected over the river.     

Characterization of Aerosolized Bacteria and Fungi From Desert Dust Events in Mali, West Africa

Millions of metric tons of African desert dust blow across the Atlantic Ocean each year, blanketing the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Previous work in the Caribbean has shown that atmospheric samples collected during dust events contain living microbes, including plant and opportunistic human pathogens. To better understand the potential downwind public health and ecosystem effects of the dust microbes, it is important to characterize the source population. We describe 19 genera of bacteria and 3 genera of fungi isolated from air samples collected in Mali, a known source region for dust storms, and over which large dust storms travel.     

七种中国淫羊藿属药用植物细胞分类学研究

该研究应用常规压片法对7种中国淫羊藿属药用植物进行了核型分析,为淫羊藿属药用植物的分类及选育等提供理论基础。结果表明：7种淫羊藿属植物体细胞染色体数目均为2n＝2x＝12,基数x＝6;水城淫羊藿、腺毛淫羊藿、保靖淫羊藿、拟巫山淫羊藿、天全淫羊藿5个种均有4对m染色体和2对sm染色体,核型公式均为2n＝2x＝12＝8m(2SAT)＋4sm,其中水城淫羊藿、腺毛淫羊藿的核型分析为首次报道;镇坪淫羊藿、偏斜淫羊藿具有3对m染色体和3对sm染色体,核型公式为2n＝2x＝12＝6m(2SAT)＋6sm。拟巫山淫羊藿第2对染色体具随体,其余物种第1对染色体均有随体;腺毛淫羊藿、保靖淫羊藿、拟巫山淫羊藿、镇坪淫羊藿、偏斜淫羊藿、天全淫羊藿均属于Stebbins 2A类型,水城淫羊藿为Stebbins 1A类型。结合文献综合分析发现,该属植物不同种间的核型高度一致,核型稳定,种间核型差异小,核型结构与地理分布、形态特征相关性较小。因此,淫羊藿属是一个在核型进化上较为保守的植物类群,用核型分析对该属植物属下进行种类鉴定、遗传演化十分困难,即使是属内远缘物种,其核型系统学的意义有限,但在属上的分类级别有较大的参考价值。     

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Thanjavur and its surrounding (Tamil Nadu - India)

The present study aims to document data about the traditional uses of plants in health-care trainers among the local peoples of areas which may lead to natural drug invention development. There is urgency in recording such data for ethnobotanical studies using many statistical calculations were applied. Totally, 137 informants were selected from 8 villages by their traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. The collected specimens were statistically analyzed by Frequency citation (FC), Relative frequency citation (RFC), Use values (UV), Relative importance (RI), Cultural index (CI), Frequency index (FI) and Pearson correlation Co-efficient. Totally, 85 medicinal plants belonging to 73 families were documented through traditional people of Thanjavur for the treatment of 17 different ailments in which paste based herbal medicine is highly used (30%). Among the families, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae are dominant species with each five, Solanaceae with four species, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Convulcacaeae, Aizoaceae, Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae with each three species and Capparaceae, Lythraceae, Anacardiaceae are recorded each two species and remaining families were one species respectively. In this quantitative ethnobotanical analysis, the high use values were recorded as Solanum trilobatum (1.31), Thespesia populnea (1.30), Cissus quadrangularis (1.26), Trianthema portulacastrum (1.76), and Hygrophila auriculata. Phyllanthus niruri showed high RI values than other plants. Pearson correlation coefficient between RFC and UV was 0.802 with P-value <1%. From this study, we can recommend that statistically proved medicinal plants like Solanum trilobatum, Thespesia populnea, Cissus quadrangularis, Trianthema portulacastrum, Hygrophila auriculata, Phyllanthus niruri and Achyranthes aspera were also needed for further investigation on pharmacologically which leads to natural drug invention development.     

Cultural,food, medicinal uses and potential applications ofMyoporum species (Myoporaceae)

The traditional, current and potential uses ofMyoporum species are documented. Historically, this genus was valued by the Australian Aboriginal people for cultural purposes and as a food plant of minor importance. Medicinal remedies were also acquired from this shrub.Myoporum species were utilised by Aboriginal people in both coastal and Central Australia and throughout the Pacific region. These hardy shrubs are characterised by their drought, fire, frost and grazing tolerances. They have horticultural potential and are good sources of selected phytochemicals.     

Density and potential utilisation of medicinal grassland plants from Abe Bailey Nature Reserve, South Africa

The Abe Bailey Nature Reserve, South Africa has been identified as a potential community resource reserve compatible with biodiversity conservation. As part of the planning and public participation phase this study investigated the potential for sustainably harvesting medicinal plants. Medicinal plant use data on local species, parts used and harvesting techniques, in collaboration with neighbouring traditional healers were collected. A census of these plants was conducted in the reserve and frequency, density and abundance were calculated. A medicinal plant rating system for assessing conservation priorities was used to combine both social-qualitative and ecological-quantitative data. Five medicinal species suitable for high impact harvesting were identified. Thirty-four species have potential to be set up as harvesting trials to determine sustainable quotas. Thirty-one medicinal species including Boophane disticha, Dicoma anomala, Eucomis autumnalis, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Pentanisia prunelloides and Indigofera daleoides are considered to be site-specific sensitive species and should not be harvested from the reserve. Following this research an on site nursery has been started at the reserve. A multi-pronged approach involving harvesting trials, propagation and plant rescue from developments to cope with escalating demand and dwindling natural populations needs to be implemented.     

Ethnopharmacological uses,phytochemistry, biological activities,and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Eclipta prostrata belongs to a family of medicinal plants (Asteraceae) and plays a role in the treatment of several diseases, including infectious...     

Genetic differentiation and diversity analysis of medicinal tree Syzygium cumini (Myrtaceae) from ecologically different regions of India

This study represents the agro-ecological zone wise surveys of molecular variation of important medicinal tree Syzygium cumini Linn. (Jamun) which is native to India. It is used world wide in treatment of diabetes. Despite of its diverse medicinal properties no molecular data is available about the pattern of variation in its natural range. Populations of S. cumini in India are located in different habitats which differ from each other with regard to ecological factors. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to detect inter and intra levels of genetic variations of sixteen S. cumini genotypes collected from three major agro-ecological zones of India. A total of 220 amplification products were scored of which 87.50 % were polymorphic. The level of polymorphism ranged from 47.69 % to 74.87 % polymorphic bands per population and was correlated with population size. Different measures of diversity: Shannon’s index of phenotypic diversity (I) = 0.451 ± 0.230; Nei’s genetic diversity (h) = 0.300 ± 0.172; effective number of alleles per locus (Ne) = 1.51 ± 0.347; total species diversity (Hsp) = 0.315 ± 0.031 and within population diversity (Hpop) = 0.158 ± 0.104 showed high genetic diversity at species level. Coefficient of genetic differentiation (Gst =0.498; Nm = 0.503) revealed significant genetic differentiation among the populations. Most of the genetic variations are contained among the populations. The results of cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) give only little evidence for an ecotypic differentiation of S. cumini populations. Present genetic structure of population suggests ex situ conservation in seed banks in which seeds from at least five populations need to collected and conserved. Secondly, our study provides practical information to herbal drugs manufactures who use Jamun as a raw material.