Discovery of cryptic diversity in phytophagous gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with different ecotypes of the perennial herb Cimicifuga simplex

Галлицы-карпофаги в Палеарктике повреждают 14 типов плодов древесно-кустарниковых растений из 16 семейств. Они обычно специфичны по отношению к роду растения, являясь монофагами и олигофагами (Kaltenbachiola, Plemeliella, Resseliella). Внутри семян покрытосеменных растений развиваются очень редко (Semudobia). Всего 10 видов галлиц из 5 родов выявлено в плодах и семенах голосеменных растений, 39 видов из 15 родов – на покрытосеменных. В шишках хвойных и серёжках берёз известны наиболее крупные комплексы галлиц. Общих видов среди плодовых, семенных и цветочных галлиц не обнаружено. Галлицы, развивающиеся в плодах и семенах растений, освоили их независимо от цветочных галлиц. Галлицы предпочитают сухие плоды, преимущественно шишки, крылатки, коробочки; среди сочных плодов – костянки и ложные ягоды. Fruit and seed gall midges in the Palearctic damage 14 types of fruit of tree and shrub plants from 16 families. They are usually specific to the genus of the plant, being monophagous and oligophagous (Kaltenbachiola, Plemeliella, Semudobia). They develop very rarely inside seeds of angiosperms (Semudobia). A total of 10 species of gall midges from 5 genera are found in fruits and seeds of gymnosperms plants, 39 species from 15 genera are known on angiosperms. The largest complexes of gall midges are known in the cones of conifers and earrings of birch. There were no common species among fruit, seed and flower gall midges. Gall midges developing in fruits and seeds of plants began to utilize them irrespective of flower gall midges. Gall midges prefer dry fruits, mostly cones, achene, capsules; among the juicy fruits they prefer stone-fruit and false berries.

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Momordica balsamina L.: An Appraisal on Morphology, Ecological Diversity, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological and Biotechnological Applications

Current Traditional Medicine ◽

10.2174/2215083806999200909115721 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 06 ◽

Author(s):

Saheed Sabiu ◽

Christiana Eleojo Aruwa ◽

Viresh Mohanlall ◽

Himansu Baijnath

Keyword(s):

Relevant Information ◽

Perennial Herb ◽

Biotechnological Applications ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Toxicological Data ◽

Human Disorders ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Baseline Information ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Bioactive Agents

Background: Momordica balsamina L. is a monoecious climbing vine and perennial herb native to the tropical regions of Asia, Arabia and the Caribbean, and with prominent presence in Nigeria, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Southern African provinces. While evidence of its anecdotal usage as medicine exist, scientific reports complementing the claims are still emerging or at their infancy. Objective: This review appraised the morphology, therapeutic and biotechnological significance of M. balsamina. Method: Online resources such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect and MeSH were utilized for literature search and included relevant information from inception till May 2020 to streamline sought outcomes for in-depth discussion. Results: The data gathered and considered worthy of inclusion in this study revealed that M. balsamina is rich in phytonutrients of medicinal significance with cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, balsamin and momordins well characterized and fully elucidated. These compounds and other novel bioactive agents in M. balsamina have found remarkable pharmacological relevance and could further be harnessed for use against several debilitating human disorders. Conclusion: The potential applications of M. balsamina as nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agent should not be undermined. Also, with the inadequate toxicological data on this wild species, its consumption should be with caution and translational studies that could advance scientific knowledge and aid better understanding of both its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics without sidelining its potent biotechnological applications are highly encouraged. It is hoped that this paper will provide baseline information that could serve as a guide and inspiration for further studies on the prospects of M. balsamina.

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Zingiber zerumbet(L.) Smith: A Review of Its Ethnomedicinal, Chemical, and Pharmacological Uses

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2011/543216 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

N. J. Yob ◽

S. Mohd. Jofrry ◽

M. M. R. Meor. Mohd. Affandi ◽

L. K. Teh ◽

M. Z. Salleh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plant ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Biological Evaluation ◽

Perennial Herb ◽

Zingiber Zerumbet ◽

Tropical Countries ◽

Traditional Uses ◽

Worm Infestation

Zingiber zerumbetSm., locally known to the Malay as “Lempoyang,” is a perennial herb found in many tropical countries, including Malaysia. The rhizomes ofZ. zerumbet, particularly, have been regularly used as food flavouring and appetizer in various Malays' cuisines while the rhizomes extracts have been used in Malay traditional medicine to treat various types of ailments (e.g., inflammatory- and pain-mediated diseases, worm infestation and diarrhea). Research carried out using differentin vitroandin vivoassays of biological evaluation support most of these claims. The active pharmacological component ofZ. zerumbetrhizomes most widely studied is zerumbone. This paper presents the botany, traditional uses, chemistry, and pharmacology of this medicinal plant.

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Botanical Control of Citrus Green Mold and Peach Brown Rot on Fruits Assays Using a Persicaria acuminata Phytochemically Characterized Extract

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10030425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 425

Author(s):

Melina G. Di Liberto ◽

Gisela M. Seimandi ◽

Laura N. Fernández ◽

Verónica E. Ruiz ◽

Laura A. Svetaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecological Model ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Central Area ◽

Brown Rot ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Perennial Herb ◽

Huh7 Cells ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy

Persicaria acuminata (Polygonaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the central area of Argentina and it is commonly used by native populations to heal infected wounds and other conditions related to fungal infections. In this article, we explored the in vitro antifungal activity of its ethyl acetate extract against a panel of three fruit phytopathogenic fungi including: Penicillium digitatum, P. italicum, and Monilinia fructicola. The sesquiterpenes isolated from the extract were also evaluated against these strains, demonstrating that the dialdehyde polygodial was the responsible for this activity. In order to encourage the use of the extract rather than the pure compound, we displayed ex vivo assays using fresh oranges and peaches inoculated with P. digitatum and M. fructicola, respectively, and subsequently treated by immersion with an extract solution of 250 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatments with commercial fungicides and the extract over the control of both fruit rots. The concentration of the active compound present in the extract used on fruit experiments was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. Finally, cytotoxicity evaluation against Huh7 cells showed that P. acuminata extract was less cytotoxic than the commercial fungicides at the assayed concentrations. After these findings we could conclude that a chemically characterized extract of P. acuminata should be further developed to treat fungal diseases in fruits from an agro-ecological model.

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Overview of the Genetic Diversity of African Macrotermes (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) and Implications for Taxonomy, Ecology and Food Science

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12060518 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 518

Author(s):

Bronwyn Egan ◽

Zwannda Nethavhani ◽

Barbara van Asch

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Food Science ◽

Cryptic Diversity ◽

African Species ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Wide Range ◽

Coi Sequences ◽

High Level

Macrotermes termites play important ecological roles and are consumed by many communities as a delicacy and dietary complement throughout Africa. However, lack of reliable morphological characters has hampered studies of Macrotermes diversity in a wide range of scientific fields including ecology, phylogenetics and food science. In order to place our preliminary assessment of the diversity of Macrotermes in South Africa in context, we analysed a comprehensive dataset of COI sequences for African species including new and publicly available data. Phylogenetic reconstruction and estimates of genetic divergence showed a high level of incongruity between species names and genetic groups, as well as several instances of cryptic diversity. We identified three main clades and 17 genetic groups in the dataset. We propose that this structure be used as a background for future surveys of Macrotermes diversity in Africa, thus mitigating the negative impact of the present taxonomic uncertainties in the genus. The new specimens collected in Limpopo fell into four distinct genetic groups, suggesting that the region harbours remarkable Macrotermes diversity relative to other African regions surveyed in previous studies. This work shows that African Macrotermes have been understudied across the continent, and that the genus contains cryptic diversity undetectable by classic taxonomy. Furthermore, these results may inform future taxonomic revisions in Macrotermes, thus contributing to advances in termitology.

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