Boiling Technique-Based Food Processing Effects on the Bioactive and Antimicrobial Properties of Basil and Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn) are mostly used as herbal teas, made by steeping whole or ground herbs in boiling water. Hence, it is important to know the effect of boiling time on the bioactivity of these herbs. The effect of different boiling times (5, 10, and 15 min) on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and some selected phenolic compounds of these herbs was examined in this study. Experimental results revealed that basil displayed the highest total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity when it was boiled for 5 min, and the lowest TPC was obtained when it was boiled for 15 min. On the other hand, rosemary had the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant potential after being boiled for 15 min, while it had the lowest after being boiled for 5 min. There was no growth inhibition of rosemary extracts against gram-negative bacteria, whereas higher growth inhibition was observed against gram-positive bacteria. The MIC and MBC of rosemary ethanolic extract against Listeria monocytogenes were 5 and 5 mg/mL and against B. subtilis were 10 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. While MIC and MBC of methanolic extract against L. monocytogenes were 5 and 5 mg/mL and against Bacillus subtilis were and 5 and 5 mg/mL, respectively. Salicylic acid was the most abundant (324.7 mg/100 g dry weight (dw)) phenolic compound in the rosemary sample boiled for 5 min, and acetyl salicylic acid was the most abundant (122.61 mg/10 g dw) phenolic compound in the basil sample boiled for 15 min.

The ecology of plants: from seed to seed

This chapter deals with the ecology of Tropical East Asia from a plant perspective. The life cycle of forest trees is covered in detail, including their vegetative and reproductive phenology, pollination, seed dispersal, seed predation, and the seedling, sapling, and adult stages. Other life forms, including lianas, ground herbs, epiphytes, hemi-epiphytes, and parasites are considered in less detail. Recent advances in plant community ecology are discussed, including the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of species diversity in tropical forests (niche differentiation, growth–survival trade-offs, conspecific negative density-dependent mortality, neutral theory), and the influence of functional traits and phylogeny on community assembly. Forest succession is discussed in a regional context.

THE DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF GROUND HERBS IN LOWLAND MIXED DIPTEROCARP FOREST AND HEATH FOREST IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

ZAINI, N. H. & SUKRI, R. S. 2014. The diversity and abundance of ground herbs in lowland mixed dipterocarp forest and heath forest in Brunei Darussalam. Reinwardtia 14(1): 73 – 78. ?Herbaceous plants are important components of total plant species richness in tropical forests. Ground herb diversity and abundance were studied in a lowland Mixed Dipterocarp forest (Andulau) and a heath forest (Bukit Sawat) in Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. At each site, all ground herbs in twenty randomly selected 10 x 10 m subplots within a one hectare permanent plot were censused and identified. The study recorded a total of 20 families and 32 genera of ground herbs, with the family Zingiberaceae as the most abundant at both sites. Thirteen genera were recorded only at Andulau and 7 genera were exclusive to Bukit Sawat, with twelve genera common to both sites. Ground herb species richness appear higher at Andulau than Bukit Sawat (37 vs. 29), but this difference was not statistically significant at the subplot level. However, ground herb abundance and density were significantly higher at Bukit Sawat than Andulau (n = 846 vs. 385; 4230 vs. 1925 individuals ha-1). The more open canopy at Bukit Sawat may provide higher light availability here than at Andulau, which is characterised by a closed canopy. We suggest that light availability is the most important environmental factor influencing ground herb density and abundance at these sites.

Structure and composition of the ground-herb community in a terra-firme Central Amazonian forest

The herb community of tropical forests is very little known, with few studies addressing its structure quantitatively. Even with this scarce body of information, it is clear that the ground herbs are a rich group, comprising 14 to 40% of the species found in total species counts in tropical forests. The present study had the objective of increasing the knowledge about the structure and composition of the ground-herb community and to compare the sites for which there are similar studies. The study was conducted in a tropical non-inundated and evergreen forest 90 km north of Manaus, AM. Ground herbs were surveyed in 22 transects of 40 m², distributed in five plots of 4 ha. The inventoried community was composed of 35 species, distributed in 24 genera and 18 families. Angiosperms were represented by 8 families and Pteridophytes by 10 families. Marantaceae (12 sp) and Cyperaceae (4 sp) were the richest families. Marantaceae and Poaceae were the families with greatest abundance and cover. Marantaceae, Poaceae, Heliconiaceae and Pteridophytes summed 96% of total herb cover, and therefore were responsible for almost all the cover of the community. The 10 most important species had 83.7% of the individuals. In general, the most abundant species were also the most frequent. Richness per transect varied from 7 to 19 species, and abundance varied from 30 to 114 individuals. The community structure was quite similar to 3 other sites in South America and one site in Asia.

Species richness and density of ground herbs within a plot of lowland rainforest in north-west Borneo

ABSTRACTIn a I-ha plot all ground herb species were recorded. Within the plot selected properties were investigated in three 20 m × 20 m subplots. The number of ground herb species and individuals in the subplots were lowest near to a local hilltop and they increased towards the lowest part of the plot. There was no significant difference in canopy openness, or in thickness of leaf litter layer, between the upper and lower subplots. In the upper subplot the soil layer was thin and the weathered bedrock was close to the surface. In the lower subplot the soil was much deeper. The pH and concentrations of Mg were significantly lower and %loss-on-ignition, total P and total N concentrations were significantly higher in the upper subplot. Elevation and soil moisture were significantly correlated in the upper 10 cm of soil. It is not possible to select any one abiotic property as being the critical determinant of the gradient of ground herbs. However, it is suspected that the availability of water in the topsoil, particularly after droughts, may be more important than the soil nutrients in limiting herb distribution.

Biomass, density, and nutrient content of plant arthropods in the taiga of Alaska

Arthropod composition was similar in six vegetation types in a taiga ecosystem of Alaska. Four taxonomic classes representing 94 arthropod families were found at the herb, shrub, and tree levels of aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), balsam poplar (Populusbalsamifera L.), white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss), and black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) vegetation types. Of all vegetation types, ground herbs contained the highest density of arthropods. Black spruce types had the highest arthropod densities at the tree level but the lowest diversity of species. Populations of arthropods were highest during June and July in hardwood types and during July and August in spruce types. Concentrations of sodium and magnesium increased as trophic levels increased; highest concentrations were in arthropod predators. Concentrations of potassium and calcium increased from the herbivore to the saprovore level. Annual element budgets for sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium are discussed.

Comparative Antimycotic Effects of Selected Herbs, Spices, Plant Components and Commercial Antifungal Agents1

The antifungal effects of 16 ground herbs and spices, 4 other plant materials, 3 commercial antifungal agents, tannic acid and 2 experimental mold inhibitors were tested against seven mycotoxin- producing molds. Of the 26 substances tested, cloves, cinnamon, mustard, allspice, garlic, and oregano at the 2% level in potato dextrose agar, completely inhibited growth of all seven mycotoxigenic molds for various times up to 21 d. The remaining compounds either caused little or no inhibition. Powdered pomegranate peel was a good inhibitor against four Penicillium species. Potassium sorbate at 0.3% was highly effective against all seven mold strains. The antifungal antibiotic, natamycin (pimaricin), was also highly effective. Combinations of different levels of potassium sorbate and cloves showed an enhanced or possible synergistic inhibitory effect on growth of all seven molds tested, indicating the possibility of using spices and commercial antifungal agents together in small amounts to obtain antimycotic activity.