We have previously reported the use of a combination of computational simulations and targeted experiments to build a first generation mathematical model of peppermint (Menthaxpiperita) essential oil biosynthesis. Here, we report on the expansion of this approach to identify the key factors controlling monoterpenoid essential oil biosynthesis under adverse environmental conditions. We also inve...

several attempts have so far been made in the search of new anticancer agents of plant origin. some studies have reported that different species of pine genus possess cytotoxic activities against various cancer cell lines. in the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effects of pinus eldarica bark and leaf extracts or leaf essential oil on hela and mcf-7 tumor cell lines. hydroalcoholic and...

Diabetes mellitus is associated with cerebral alterations in both human and animal models of the disease. These alterations include abnormal expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides and hippocampal astrogliosis. Urtica dioica (Nettle) is among several species listed for their use against diabetes in folk medicine. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the astrocyte number in the dentate g...

Research on the effects of declining abundances of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries has primarily focused on the role of oysters in filtration and nutrient dynamics, and as habitat for fish or fish prey. Oysters also play a key role in providing substrate for the overwintering polyp stage of the scyphomedusa sea nettle, Chrysaora quinquecirrha, wh...

Anthropogenic land-cover change is driving biodiversity loss worldwide. At the epicenter of this crisis lies Southeast Asia, where biodiversity-rich forests are being converted to oil-palm monocultures. As demand for palm oil increases, there is an urgent need to find strategies that maintain biodiversity in plantations. Previous studies found that retaining forest patches within plantations be...

The pollution of crude oil contaminated water has been a major problem in oil producing communities and the use of plant to clean such water bodies has been on investigation. In order to identify plants that can enhance the remediation of crude oil contaminated water, the effect of the growth of Eichhornia crassipes on the physico chemistry and crude oil content of water contaminated with diffe...

Growing environmental concerns are becoming significant challenges for large-scale applications in the automotive industry. Replacing and hybridizing glass fibers with natural non-structural is one effective way to address this challenge, while retaining useful properties of both. This paper investigates mechanical damping performance four types compression-molded materials: polyester matrix (r...

The aims of this study were to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of the leaf essential oil and the leaf extracts of R. montana against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium dahliae, Aspergillus oryzae and Fusarium solani. The oil (1.000 µg/disk) and the extracts (1.500 µg/disk) revealed a remarkable antifungal effect against the tested plant pathogenic fungi with a radial growth in...

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, C6-14 fatty acids) are an ideal feedstock for biodiesel and broader oleochemicals. In recent decades, several studies have used transgenic engineering to produce MCFA in seeds oils, although these modifications result in unbalance membrane lipid profiles that impair oil yields and agronomic performance. Given the ability to engineer nonseed organs to produce oils...

ferulago angulata (apiaceae), a medicinal plant of western asia, contains essential oils that areused as a food preservative. this study examined and compared the composition of leaf oil with seed oil andof the oils from two different habitats (one from nevakov and the other from shahoo). the oil yield from seedwas 5-fold that from leaves (3.2%/100g compared to 0.63%/100g). cis-ocimene was the ...