Antimicrobial activity and chemical investigation of Brazilian Drosera. (1/10)

The antimicrobial activity of three different extracts (hexanic, ethyl acetate, methanol) obtained from Brazilian Drosera species (D. communis, D. montana var. montana, D. brevifolia, D. villosa var. graomogolensis, D. villosa var. villosa, Drosera sp. 1, and Drosera sp. 2 ) were tested against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecium (ATCC23212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC11229), Salmonella choleraesuis (ATCC10708), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC13883), and Candida albicans (a human isolate). Better antimicrobial activity was observed with D. communis and D. montana var. montana ethyl acetate extracts. Phytochemical analyses from D. communis, D. montana var. montana and D. brevifolia yielded 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (plumbagin); long chain aliphatic hydrocarbons were isolated from D. communis and from D. villosa var. villosa, a mixture of long chain aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids, was isolated from D. communis and 3b-O-acetylaleuritolic acid from D. villosa var. villosa.  (+info)

Plant-based formulation in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized double-blind study. (2/10)

BACKGROUND: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical study was undertaken to investigate the safety and efficacy of a plant-based formulation (DCBT1234-Lung KR), which earlier through 2 trials was found to improve FEV1 and the quality of life of COPD patients. OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of DCBT1234-Lung KR was assessed using pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas (ABG) analyses and the clinical symptoms of COPD in a 6-month study period against a matching placebo and a biomedical drug combination (salbutamol+theophylline+bromhexine). METHODS: One hundred and five subjects aged between 35 and 85 years with a smoking history of more than 20 pack years, showing little or no improvement in FEV1 upon a bronchial challenge of 200 microg of inhaled salbutamol and exhibiting ABG percentage of less than 85% of oxygen saturation were taken up for the study. The study had 3 arms viz., the plant-based formulation (DCBT1234-Lung KR), placebo and salbutamol (12 mg/day) plus theophylline (300 mg/day) plus bromhexine (24 mg/day). The end point of the study was determined as an improvement of FEV1 by 200 mL and/or increased ABG values (>90% PaO2) and clinical symptoms like dyspnoea, wheezing, cough, expectoration, disability, and sleep disturbances. RESULTS: DCBT1234-Lung KR patients showed statistically significant (95% level) improvement in FEV1 and PaO2 in comparison with salbutamol+theophylline+bromhexine and placebo patients. Twenty-three per cent of DCBT1234-Lung KR patients, 19% of salbutamol+theophylline+bromhexine group and 12% of placebo group patients showed the desired 200 mL improvement in FEV1 values in comparison with the other 2 arms. Improved PaO2 was observed in 15.4% of the DCBT1234-Lung KR patients while no improvement was seen with patients in any other arms. Symptoms like dyspnoea, wheezing, cough, expectoration, disability and sleep disturbances also significantly reduced in DCBT1234-Lung KR and the biomedical group patients, but not in the placebo arm. CONCLUSIONS: DCBT1234-Lung KR was equivalent, if not better than the present day treatment with salbutamol, theophylline and bromhexine combination in COPD patients and this was ascertained using FEV1 and ABG values.  (+info)

An S-like ribonuclease gene is used to generate a trap-leaf enzyme in the carnivorous plant Drosera adelae. (3/10)

Carnivorous plants usually grow in nutrient-deficient habitats, and thus they partly depend on insects for nitrogen and phosphate needed for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. We report that a sticky digestive liquid from a sundew, Drosera adelae, contains an abundant amount of an S-like ribonuclease (RNase) that shows high amino acid-sequence similarity to S-like RNases induced by phosphate starvation or wounding in normal plants. By giving leaves an RNase "coat", D. adelae seems to achieve two requirements simultaneously to adapt itself to its specific surroundings: it obtains phosphates from insects, and defends itself against pathogen attack.  (+info)

Evidence for competition between carnivorous plants and spiders. (4/10)

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Trichomes as sensors: detecting activity on the leaf surface. (5/10)

The dramatic movements of some carnivorous plants species are triggered by sensory structures derived from trichomes. While unusual plant species such as the Venus fly trap and sundews may be expected to have elaborate sensors to capture their insect prey, more modest plant species might not be expected to have similar sensory capabilities. Our recent work, however, has revealed that glandular trichomes on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) appear to have a function similar to trigger hairs of carnivorous species, acting as "early warning" sensors. Using a combination of behavioral, molecular, and biochemical techniques, we determined that caterpillars, moths and mechanical disruption upregulate signaling molecules and defensive genes found in glandular trichomes. Importantly, we discovered that plants whose trichomes have been broken respond more vigorously when their defenses were induced. Taken together, our results suggest that glandular trichomes can act as sensors that detect activity on the leaf surface, and ready plants for herbivore attack.  (+info)

Did Drosera evolve long scapes to stop their pollinators from being eaten? (6/10)

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Is Drosera meristocaulis a pygmy sundew? Evidence of a long-distance dispersal between Western Australia and northern South America. (7/10)

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Catapulting tentacles in a sticky carnivorous plant. (8/10)

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