Flowering phenology influences seed production and outcrossing rate in populations of an alpine snowbed shrub, Phyllodoce aleutica: effects of pollinators and self-incompatibility.
(17/44)
In vitro activity of Arbutus unedo against Leishmania tropica promastigotes.
(18/44)
Pentavalent antimonials are the first choice for the treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in health centers in Turkey, however in rural areas, traditional plants may be preferred for the treatment of lesions. In recent years a number of papers are published related to the natural products especially plant derivates. Our aim is to investigate the antileishmanial effect of Arbutus unedo which is a wild plant mainly grown in maquis and rocky places of the seabord in South Europe. In the present study, the ethanolic, water and n-hexane extracts from the leaves of Arbutus unedo were originally tested in vitro against Leishmania tropica promastigotes. The ethanol extract of Arbutus unedo leaves at the concentrations of 100, 250, 500 microg/ml were found to be more effective than the other extracts (p:0.000). Our study showed that the ethanolic extract of Arbutus unedo leaves can be a promising antileishmanial agent and further experiments are needed. (+info)
'Tales of Symphonia': extinction dynamics in response to past climate change in Madagascan rainforests.
(19/44)
Cytotoxicity screening of endemic plants from Guayana highlands.
(21/44)
A chemical-ecology approach has been used to screen plants growing in Guyana Highlands as an indicator of production of biologically active secondary metabolites. Extracts of leaves from 19 species, most of them endemic in this area, and collected at the top of Roraima Tepui (2,723 m) were screened in vitro at different concentrations for their potential cytotoxic activity against three tumour cell lines: HT29 (colon), A549 (lung) and MDA-MB-231 (breast). MTT (tetrazolium blue) colorimetric assay was employed as cytotoxicity test. Extracts of nine species caused less than 30% growth in at least one cell line. From these species, high cytotoxic activity was detected in Casearia sylvestris var. lingua and Ledotamnus sessiliflorus extracts; medium activity was found in Cyathea sp. Two other species, Cyrilla racemiflora and Heliamphora minor showed lower but significant cytotoxicity. Further cytotoxicity-directed fractionation of these extracts would be advisable to isolate and identify the active principles of these plants. (+info)
In vitro activity of Arbutus unedo leaf extracts against Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites.
(22/44)
Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a flagellated protozoan commonly causing sexually transmitted disease. T. vaginalis infections are treated with a 5-nitroimidazole derivate. However, drug resistance has been known to occur for a long time and new alternatives are under investigation. Arbutus unedo is a wild plant mainly growing in maquis and rocky places of the seaboard in Southern Europe. In our study, ethanolic, water, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Arbutus unedo leaves were tested in vitro against T. vaginalis trophozoites and the ethyl acetate extract of Arbutus unedo leaves was found to be effective (Growth inhibition rate (GI): 100%, at the concentration of 500 microg/ml). It may be a promising anti-trichomonacidal agent in the future and further experiments are needed. (+info)
Ovafolinins A-E, five new lignans from Lyonia ovalifolia.
(23/44)
Five new lignans, ovafolinins A-E (1-5), were isolated from the wood of Lyonia ovalifolia (Ericaceae). The structures of 1-5 were elucidated based on 2D NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and other chemical methods. (+info)
Gender-specific costs of reproduction on vegetative growth and physiological performance in the dioecious shrub Corema album.
(24/44)