scholarly journals Ca’ Granda, Hortus simplicium: Restoring an Ancient Medicinal Garden of XV–XIX Century in Milan (Italy)

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
pp. 6933
Author(s):  
Martina Bottoni ◽  
Fabrizia Milani ◽  
Paolo M. Galimberti ◽  
Lucia Vignati ◽  
Patrizia Luise Romanini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Medical Texts ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Respiratory Disorders ◽  
Positive Identification ◽  
Xix Century

This work is based on the study of 150 majolica vases dated back to the mid XVII century that once preserved medicinal remedies prepared in the ancient Pharmacy annexed to the Ospedale Maggiore Ca’ Granda in Milan (Lombardy, Italy). The Hortus simplicium was created in 1641 as a source of plant-based ingredients for those remedies. The main objective of the present work is to lay the knowledge base for the restoration of the ancient Garden for educational and informative purposes. Therefore, the following complementary phases were carried out: (i) the analysis of the inscriptions on the jars, along with the survey on historical medical texts, allowing for the positive identification of the plant ingredients of the remedies and their ancient use as medicines; (ii) the bibliographic research in modern pharmacological literature in order to validate or refute the historical uses; (iii) the realization of the checklist of plants potentially present in cultivation at the ancient Garden, concurrently with the comparison with the results of a previous in situ archaeobotanical study concerning pollen grains. For the species selection, considerations were made also regarding drug amounts in the remedies and pedoclimatic conditions of the study area. Out of the 150 vases, 108 contained plant-based remedies, corresponding to 148 taxa. The remedies mainly treated gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. At least one of the medicinal uses was validated in scientific literature for 112 out of the 148 examined species. Finally, a checklist of 40 taxa, presumably hosted in the Hortus simplicium, was assembled.

The Valuable Impacts of Halophytic Genus Suaeda; Nutritional, Chemical, and Biological Values

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1044-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamdoon A. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Search Engines ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Harsh Environment ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Natural Substances

Background: Suaeda is a halophytic genus belonging to the Amaranthaceae family and can survive in the high salted marsh areas of the world. Suaeda plants can biosynthesize natural substances with powerful antioxidant activity and are considered as a renewable source of energy, food, and edible oil for a larger number of populations living in the harsh environment with high salinity and drought conditions. These plants also meet folk and alternative medicines' needs. Methods: The review encompasses available scientific literature related to folk medicinal uses of Suaeda plants, their nutritional values, and chemical constituents. In addition, the biological trials applied for the Suaeda plants are also part of the review. The review covers the researches from major science literature search engines and other sites representing scientific literature, i.e., Scifinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google. The searches were programmed on the advance options available in the search engines and are latest up to November 2019. The searches were exhaustive and rechecked for accuracy. Conclusion: The study summarizes the uses of Suaeda plants as a remedy for various ailments due to their contents from the polyphenols and flavonoids. The comparatively large amounts of fixed oils, minerals, and vitamins in Suaeda plants have also made them potential renewable sources for foods.

scholarly journals Large-scale literature mining to assess the relation between anti-cancer drugs and cancer types

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Bauer ◽  
Ralf Herwig ◽  
Matthias Lienhard ◽  
Paul Prasse ◽  
Tobias Scheffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Text Mining ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Entity Recognition ◽  
Literature Mining ◽  
Cancer Drugs ◽  
Classical Text ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Types

Abstract Background There is a huge body of scientific literature describing the relation between tumor types and anti-cancer drugs. The vast amount of scientific literature makes it impossible for researchers and physicians to extract all relevant information manually. Methods In order to cope with the large amount of literature we applied an automated text mining approach to assess the relations between 30 most frequent cancer types and 270 anti-cancer drugs. We applied two different approaches, a classical text mining based on named entity recognition and an AI-based approach employing word embeddings. The consistency of literature mining results was validated with 3 independent methods: first, using data from FDA approvals, second, using experimentally measured IC-50 cell line data and third, using clinical patient survival data. Results We demonstrated that the automated text mining was able to successfully assess the relation between cancer types and anti-cancer drugs. All validation methods showed a good correspondence between the results from literature mining and independent confirmatory approaches. The relation between most frequent cancer types and drugs employed for their treatment were visualized in a large heatmap. All results are accessible in an interactive web-based knowledge base using the following link: https://knowledgebase.microdiscovery.de/heatmap. Conclusions Our approach is able to assess the relations between compounds and cancer types in an automated manner. Both, cancer types and compounds could be grouped into different clusters. Researchers can use the interactive knowledge base to inspect the presented results and follow their own research questions, for example the identification of novel indication areas for known drugs.

scholarly journals Safe and Effective Use of Ozone as Air and Surface Disinfectant in the Conjuncture of Covid-19

Gases ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Elena Grignani ◽  
Antonella Mansi ◽  
Renato Cabella ◽  
Paola Castellano ◽  
Angelo Tirabasso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Molecules ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Toxic Substance ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Effective Use

The present paper extrapolates quantitative data for ozone virucidal activity on the basis of the available scientific literature data for a safe and effective use of ozone in the appropriate cases and to explore the safety measures developed under the stimulus of the current emergency situation. Ozone is a powerful oxidant reacting with organic molecules, and therefore has bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal actions. At the same time, it is a toxic substance, having adverse effects on health and safety. Its use is being proposed for the disinfection of workplaces’ and public places’ atmosphere, and for disposable masks and personal protective equipment disinfection for reuse, with particular reference to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Ozone can be generated in situ by means of small, compact ozone generators, using dried ambient air as a precursor. It should be injected into the room that is to be disinfected until the desired ozone concentration is reached; after the time needed for the disinfection, its concentrations must be reduced to the levels required for the workers’ safety. The optimal use of ozone is for air and surface disinfection without human presence, using a concentration that is effective for the destruction of viruses, but not high enough to deteriorate materials.

scholarly journals Quantitative assessment and status of ethnomedicinal plants of Sheen Ghar Valley, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Shariat Ullah ◽  
Lal Badshah ◽  
Asghar Ali ◽  
Noor Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Hypericum Perforatum ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Plant Family ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Whole Plants ◽  
Family Importance Value

This study was conducted from March 2017 to August 2018, to enumerate the quantitative attributes and current status of medicinal plants of Sheen Ghar Valley, District Dir Lower, Pakistan. A total of 51 species were documented for their medicinal uses. These plants belonged to 31 families. Results of this study revealed that leaves were the frequently used part (50%), followed by whole plants (only 30%) in curing different ailments. Many plants were found to be having multiple uses. Based on family importance value (FIV), Lamiaceae was the leading plant family (126.30) followed by Violaceae (55.81), while highest relative frequency of citation (RFC) was noted for Viola canescens (0.558) followed by Olea europaea (0.523). Conservation study revealed that 24 species (47%) were vulnerable, 22 species (43%) were rare and 4 species (8%) were noted as infrequent. Following IUCN standards for conservation, one species i.e. Hypericum perforatum was declared dominant. This study recommends immediate ex-situ and in-situ conservation programme for protecting the plant wealth of the locality.

scholarly journals УЧАСТИЕ ДЕТЕЙ В ПРАЗДНИЧНОЙ КУЛЬТУРЕ МОРДОВСКИХ ПЕРЕСЕЛЕНЦЕВ СИБИРИ ВО ВТОРОЙ ПОЛОВИНЕ XX – НАЧАЛЕ XXI вв.

2021 ◽  
pp. 294-303
Author(s):  
Л.Н. Щанкина
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Festive Culture ◽  
Xix Century

Статья посвящена участию детей в праздничной культуре мордовских переселенцев на территории Сибири. Мордва переселялась сюда с территорий мордовского, чувашского, самарского и пензенского краев со второй половины XIX в. по 1970-е гг. Материалом для статьи служат полевые исследования автора и научная литература по изучаемой проблематике. Дается характеристика наиболее важных религиозных праздников мордовских переселенцев. Отмечается, что одной из особенностей праздничной культуры мордовского крестьянства являлось участие в религиозно-праздничных действиях детей и молодежи. При проведении большинства обрядов взрослых дети нередко привлекались в качестве зрителей. Их помощь использовалась и при подготовке к проведению обрядов, например, при сборе продуктов питания; дров, ненужных вещей для рождественских и масленичных костров. Кроме того, дети привлекались для информирования местного населения о предстоящих церемониях (например, посиделках, различных помочах и т. д.). В ряде случаев, в частности при обходе домов поселения на Пасху, Рождество и Новый год, дети и подростки наделялись самостоятельной обрядовой ролью. Их присутствие считалось в народе магически благоприятным средством для достижения определенных целей. Делается вывод о стремлении мордовских переселенцев к сохранению религиозно-праздничной культуры и на иноэтничной территории. Установлено, что на территории Сибири мордовским населением отмечались такие же праздники, как и в исконных территориях выхода переселенцев. The article aims to study how children participated in the festive culture of Mordovian immigrants in Siberia. Mordva had been moving here from Mordovia, Chuvashia, Samara, and Penza from the second half of the XIX century to the 1970s. The article is based on the author's field studies and scientific literature. It describes the most important religious holidays of the Mordovian immigrants. It was typical of the festive culture of the Mordovian peasantry that children and youth participated in religious and festive acts. In most adult rites, children were often involved as spectators. They also assisted in the preparation of rites, for example, collecting food, firewood, unnecessary objects for Christmas and Maslenitsa fires. Apart from that, children informed the local population about upcoming ceremonies. Sometimes, children and adolescents were endowed with an independent ritual role, particularly when knocking on doors on Easter, Christmas, and New Year. Their presence was considered a magical means to achieve certain goals. The author concludes that the Mordovian population aimed to preserve their religious and festive culture in the new territory. In Siberia, the immigrants celebrated the same holidays as in their original territories.

scholarly journals Pollen Morphology, Viability, and Germination of Tanacetum vulgare L.

HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Devrnja ◽  
Jelena Milojević ◽  
Ljiljana Tubić ◽  
Snežana Zdravković-Korać ◽  
Aleksandar Cingel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Germination ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Tube Growth ◽  
Tanacetum Vulgare ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Spine Length ◽  
Pollen Nucleus ◽  
Scanning Electron

The pollen morphology of aromatic Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae), which has wide horticultural and medicinal uses, was examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The investigation revealed that pollen grains are radially symmetrical, isopolar, spheroidal, tricolporate, and echinate–perforate. Average pollen length was 21.32 ± 1.12 μm, whereas average pollen width was 20.04 ± 0.98 μm (length:width ratio 0.94). Spine length was 2.72 ± 0.29 μm. Average distance from the spines was 7.15 ± 0.31 μm. Pollen exine consisted of 1–3 pores. Pori are elongated and also with a distinct margin. The porus latitude is smaller than the colpus latitude. One to three perforations were noticed on 1 μm2 of exine. Fluorescein diacetate was used to assess the viability of T. vulgare pollen. The effect of sucrose (1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, w/v) on pollen germination and tube growth was evaluated. Overall, the inclusion of sucrose in the medium improved both pollen germination and tube growth. Also, pollen nucleus status was determined. Binucleate and trinucleate mature pollens were observed. Overall, the palynological features of this species may be helpful for further taxonomical and pharmaceutical investigations.

scholarly journals Chromosome Y as A Marker for Sex Discrepancies in Patients With Organ Transplants: A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Balaguer ◽  
Emilia Mateu-Brull ◽  
Roy Pascal Naja ◽  
Jara Ben Nagi ◽  
Miguel Milán
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Marrow Transplant ◽  
Organ Transplants ◽  
Ultrasound Scan ◽  
Structural Alterations ◽  
Free Dna ◽  
Male Donor ◽  
Female External Genitalia

Abstract Background: Organ transplantations cause discrepancy in results from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, but scientific literature is scarce.Case: A 33-year old gravida underwent cfDNA testing, which showed high levels of Y chromosome (ChrY) in the maternal bloodstream. The ChrY pattern was comparable to an adult male reference. As a result, cfDNA testing was only informative for autosomes. Routine 20-week ultrasound scan showed no structural alterations and the presence of female external genitalia. Post-clinical research revealed that the patient received a bone marrow transplant from a male donor several years before. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that 100% of nuclei analysed from the patient’s lymphocytes presented a ChrY.Conclusion: This case demonstrates ChrY can be used as a marker to avoid sex discrepancies in certain patients with organ transplants.

scholarly journals Phytoindication of environmental mutagenesis in the in-situ conditions using the pollen of selected species of native flora

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Mičieta
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Heavy Load ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
In Situ Conditions ◽  
Environmental Mutagenesis ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Long Term Experience

The aim of this study is to provide an effective method for indicating ecogenotoxicity in the environment using pollen grains and microspores of selected species of the native flora in the in situ conditions. In the report, we summarize the results of long-term experience with the benefits of native flora species as bioindicators of polluted environments. We present the current results of long-term monitoring of phytoindication of ecogenotoxicity in Bratislava and selected traffic junctions in Slovakia. The increase of pollen grain abortion in the group of localities exposed to a heavy load of traffic pollution demonstrates the ecogenotoxic impact of traffic emissions in the environment. The detailed practical methodological tools and possible difficulties with the classification of abortivity of microspores and pollen grains of these plant species are discussed.

THE GENUS ONOSMA L.: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

2021 ◽  
pp. 219-227
Author(s):  
Aruna M. Rajapara ◽  
Mamta B. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Traditional Uses ◽  
Future Drug ◽  
Pharmacology And Toxicology ◽  
Selection For

In medicinal plant field ethnopharmacological knowledge aggrandizes legibility for prioritizing species selection for future research opportunities. Many plant species representing the genus Onosma have been documented to be important in communities world-wide as evidenced by the numerous records on traditional medicinal and ethno-botanical information. Various species of the genus are used in the traditional medicinal systems in Europe and Asian countries especially in India, China, Turky and Pakistan. The literature on the species distribution and their characterization was compiled from different regional floras, regional revisions and databases. The information related to traditional uses, pharmacological activities and phytochemistry was systematically collected from the scientific databases including reference books, SciFinder, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. Absence of comprehensive literature review on genus Onosma species led to design present study and dig the recorded documents to comparatively gauge magnitude of studies on each of the Onosma species through an exhaustive bibliographic evaluation of scientifically studied species of genus Onosma that are also taxonomically identified and are valued as traditional medicinal remedy for diseases in their countries of origin. The study hinted about lack of scientific literature on most of the species. A comprehensive bibliographic review on the geographical distribution, identification, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Onosma is attempted here to give insights into promising future drug discovery strategies. KEYWORDS: Onosma, Distribution, Traditional uses, Phyto-Pharmacology

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