Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ain Sekhouna, Saida, Algeria

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common anthropozoonosis and a major public health problem in Algeria. Therefore, we conducted an ethnopharmacological survey in the locality of Ain Sekhouna (located in the highlands of western Algeria), one of the foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis. We aimed to identify the medicinal plants and natural remedies used by the local population to treatment cutaneous leishmaniasis. We identified three plant species, belonging to three distinct families, used as natural remedies against the disease, namely, Haloxylon scoparium Pomel (Chenopodiaceae, 73%), Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae, 18%), and Camellia sinensis L. (Theaceae, 9%). Additionally, 35% of the plant-based medicines mostly comprised the powdered form of the aerial parts of the plant. According to the respondents, the powder is combined with butter, cade oil, or honey and is applied exogenously on the skin. Overall, these medicinal plants can be used as a source of natural medicines, in combination with commonly used dermatological excipients, to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Essential oils for the treatment of dust mites

House mites, including D. pteronyssinus and D. farina, are common causes of allergic diseases, such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, eczema, conjunctivitis and perennial rhinitis in susceptible patients. Conventional acaricides, such as benzyl benzoate, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos are effective chemicals in treating mites. However, they are usually with high drug resistance and high adverse effects on environment, human health, and non-target organisms. Recently, essential oils from different plants were found to be safe and effective alternatives for killing different types of mites. The present review summarized the essential oils from different plants. The crude essential oils from Melissa officinalis, S.lavandulifolia oil, cade oil, P. cattleianum, Patchouli oil, Horseradish oil, C. cassia, P. cablin, Manuka oil, Clove Bud oil, and the pure essential oils, such as eugenol, caryophyllene, and camphor might be good candidates for the dust mites. Further studies on biological mechanisms of the acaricidal effects of these active essential oils, and the structure-activity relationships are needed to make the functions of these drugs more clear.

Miera y mereras de enebro (Juniperus oxycedrus L.) en Albacete

This article presents a study on the traditional use of the cade oil (miera in Spanish) and the cade oil ovens in the province of Albacete (Spain). Cade oil is the vegetable tar that is obtained by dry distillation of prickly juniper wood (Juniperus oxycedrus L.), used especially as a disinfectant by shepherds and ranchers. This process take place in specific ovens called mereras, miereras or miera ovens. These elements appear in various documentary sources, they are kept in the toponymy and even there are some ovens scattered in Albacete province, in different states of conservation.

Response of Bark and Woodboring Beetles to Host Volatiles and Wounding on Western Juniper

In central Oregon, management of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis Hook.) has included use of prescribed fire and mechanical removal. After these treatments, several species of bark and woodboring beetles have been observed on treated trees and also occasionally on trees outside management areas, suggesting that these insects might contribute to juniper mortality. In this 2-year (2002–2003) study, we identified bark and woodboring beetles that attack western juniper along with associated beetle predators and examined whether these insects can be manipulated for use in juniper management. Using funnel traps and sticky traps on trees wounded by pruning or treated with host volatiles (juniper berry oil, cade oil, and ethanol) that may attract insects, we captured beetles in the families Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Scolytidae (20 species in 17 genera) and known predators in the families Cleridae and Trogositidae (8 species in 7 genera). Cedar bark beetles (Phloeosinus spp.) were the most prevalent insects captured on trees treated with host volatiles and/or wounded. Treatments that included ethanol plus wounding were most attractive to these beetles. However, there was no obvious insect-caused damage or mortality of treated trees in either year of this study.