Inhibition Effect of Extract of Psychotria viridiflora Stem on α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase and Its Application in Lowering the Digestibility of Noodles

A collection of tropical medicinal plants from East Malaysia's rainforests are used by indigenous tribes for their curative properties. Despite their purported healing properties, these forest plant species are largely unexplored and hence remain virtually unknown to the outside world. In this study, antidiabetic properties of Psychotria viridiflora, a plant used to treat diabetes by a local community in Sarawak, Malaysia were investigated. Ethyl acetate (EA) extract of P. viridiflora stem was found to exhibit high starch hydrolase inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 15.4 ± 2.1 μg/ml against porcine α-amylase and an IC50 value of 32.4 ± 3.7 μg/ml against rat intestinal α-glucosidase. A complex mixture of A-type oligomeric proanthocyanidins containing (epi)fisetinidol, (epi)afzelechin, (epi)guibourtinidol, and (epi)catechin were found. These compounds may be responsible for the starch hydrolase inhibition activity. Ethyl acetate (EA) extract of P. viridiflora stem was incorporated into wheat and rice flour to reformulate noodles with slow digestibility and was assessed under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal conditions. A dose-dependent effect on digestibility was observed for both noodles upon incorporation of 1-6% (w/w) of EA extract, with noodles containing 6% (w/w) extract exhibiting the greatest reduction in digestibility. As compared to rice noodles containing 6% extract (31.16% inhibition), wheat noodles with the same extract concentration had a smaller decline in digestibility (27.25% inhibition) after 180 min. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of P. viridiflora in the prevention of postprandial hyperglycaemia.

Scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) and their natural enemies, recorded on agricultural, ornamental and forest plant species in the wider area of Messenian Province (Peloponnese, Greece), 2000 – 2020

Summary The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) recorded on agricultural, ornamental and forest plant species in the wider area of Messenian Province (Peloponnese, Greece) during the years 2000 – 2020 are reviewed. Twenty species were recorded, which belong to four families: Diaspididae: Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.), Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché), Dynaspidiotus abieticola (Koroneos), D. abietis (Schrank), Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman), L. gloverii (Packard), Lineaspis striata (Newstead), Targionia vitis (Signoret); Coccidae: Ceroplastes rusci (L.), Eulecanium sericeum (Lindinger), Nemolecanium graniformis (Wünn), Parthenolecanium corni (Bouché), P. persicae (Fabricius), Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman), P. inopinatus Danzig and Kozár, Protopulvinaria pyriformis (Cockerell); Pseudococcidae: Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, Planococcus vovae (Nasonov) and Kermesidae: Kermes echinatus Balachowsky. The biology, phenology and natural enemies in Messenia are discussed for fifteen of these scale species.

The Potential Risk of the Used Thaumatococcus danielli (Benn) Leaves in Food Packaging Process in Transmission of Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens in Ghana

Thaumatococcus danielli leaf is a known forest plant species that is widely used by food vendors for food packaging. In this study, the possible risk of T. danielli leaf used in food packaging, with its antibiotic-resistant pathogen transmission potential was evaluated. Five hundred leaves were swabbed from vendors at different food joints and were subjected to the routine bacteriological examination. Pure cultures from swabs were biochemically analysed, after microscopic examination. Most bacteria isolates were members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Other species included Staphylococcus aureus, CoNS (Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci) and Pseudomonas sp. The bacterial isolates were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility towards 11 antimicrobials. As well as some factors such as community hygiene levels and people behaviour and their influences on the transmission of these microorganisms were statistically analysed using frequency tables. Most of the food vendors (43%) were between the ages of 31-40. Those with tertiary education were mostly aware (58%) of the possible transmission of pathogens by the leaves. Moreover, the leaves are preferred by food buyers irrespective of their income. Bacteria belonging to sixteen (16) different genera were identified, all of which were resistant to at least three antibiotics. The study showed that T. danielli leaves used by food vendors in two popular markets in Cape Coast Metropolis were contaminated and may serve as a possible vehicle for antibiotic-resistant bacteria transmission.

DETERMINATION OF LARCH SPECIES IN THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION AND ASSESSMENT OF ITS PHYTOSANITARY STATE

At present, it is especially acute to study valuable forest species at the genetic level in order to ensure their safety, species identification and the origin of wood control. Larch (Larix) is one of the ecologically and economically important conifers in our country. Preservation and study of the forest plant species genetic diversity anywhere, including the Jewish Autonomous Region (EAO), is one of the fundamental challenges of modern botany, ecology, genetics and dendrology. In the article, the author analyzes samples of larch stand needles collected in the Jewish Autonomous Region. Using the necessary loci, selected by means of the genetic method, the author analyzed features of the Larix gmelinii and Larix sibirica species [4] No less urgent is the problem of plant damage by phytopathogens. A phytopathogen is a causative agent of plant disease that releases biologically active substances that have a detrimental effect on metabolism, affecting the root system, disrupting the function of chloroplasts, growth processes, and the supply of nutrients. Violation of metabolism in plant cells and organs, resulted in their productivity decrease or complete death, leads to the disruption of populations’ integrity and causes enormous harm to both agricultural crops and forest-forming species. This work shows the results of analysis of the larch plantations phytosanitary state and the percentage of healthy and affected plantations in the regions. The comprehensive laboratory analysis has shown that the laboratory methods successfully complement each other. It is possible to give a complete and correct description of taxonomic and biological characteristics of a phytopathogen using simultaneously several laboratory techniques for its identification. Ultimately, it should be of help in the development of methods for combating pathogens.

Utilization of Forest Plants as Local Food Sources for the Oben Village Community, Nekamese District, Kupang Regency

Forest plants as a source of food as a substitute for carbohydrates have long been used by the village community. Forest plants directly address the food insecurity experienced by villagers. This research was conducted in Oben Village, Nekamese District, Kupang Regency on April 24 to July 22, 2018. The aim of this study was to describe the use of forest plant species as a local food source and their traditional processing by the Oben Village Community, Nekam District, Kupang Regency. These are the exploration, exploration and interview methods. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively. The results of this study were: Found 5 types of forest tubers that are commonly used by the people of Oben Village as a food source, namely Dioscorea alata L; Dioscorea esculenta L; Dioscorea hispida D; Dioscorea pentaphylla and Amorphophallus compulatus, The traditional way of processing forest tubers is that they can be washed immediately, then roasted, boiled or steamed, processed into local chips, compote and flour as cake ingredients.

Quantification of Colletotrichum fioriniae in orchards and deciduous forests indicates it is primarily a leaf endophyte

Colletotrichum fioriniae of the C. acutatum species complex is an important hemi-biotrophic pathogen of vegetables and fruits in temperate regions world-wide. In apple, it is one of the primary species responsible for bitter rot disease. Understanding the disease cycle is complicated because many broadleaf plants can be hosts of C. fioriniae. By detecting and quantifying rain-splashed C. acutatum species complex conidia in over 500 samples from heavily bitter-rot-infected apple orchards and nearby forested woodlots over two summers we show that conidial quantities were higher in the woodlots than in the orchards. Testing of over 1,000 surface disinfected leaves of apple and 24 different forest plant species showed that overall C. fioriniae was an abundant leaf endophyte, with high variation in leaf colonization area. Endophytic isolates from leaves were pathogenic on apples, and multi-locus sequence analysis showed 100% identity between most isolates from leaves and diseased fruits. Apple leaves endophytically infected with C. fioriniae were present in a conventionally managed orchard and abundant in an untreated orchard. These lines of evidence, in the context of previously published research, lead us to hypothesize that the main ecological role of C. fioriniae is that of a leaf endophyte, which we present as a generalized C. fioriniae infection cycle that provides an updated framework for its integrated management in agricultural systems.

Regeneration of Species of Natural Flora of the French Antilles Under Plantation Forests of Mahoganis (Swietenia Macrophylla and Aubrevilleana): First Data, the Case of Martinique

BackgroundIn many geographic areas influenced by tropical and temperate climates, natural forest ecosystems have been destroyed in favour of plantations of allochthonous trees which are economically profitable for different aspects of the timber industry. Some of these mature plantations degrade the soils and inhibit the regenerations of local flora species; others, due to the physical constraints which they impose, can contribute to the installation and the morphogenetic development of autochthonous taxa. The plantations of Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia aubrevilleana (Mahoganys) in the Lesser Antilles are part of these processes. MethodsTo study the regeneration methods of forest plant species native to Martinique under plantations of Mahoganys, we carried out surveys in thirteen transects (stations) influenced by humid and subhumid bioclimates. ResultsThe results showed that affine natural flora species from various stages of the plant succession colonise the plots of mature Mahoganys. ConclusionsThis study shows that mature plantations of not very competitive introduced forest species can greatly accelerate phytocenotic succession and increase specific richness. It is therefore possible to use these introduced species (Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia aubrevilleana) in reforestation processes of Lesser Antilles biotopes of sylvan potentiality degraded by anthropisation.