Some of the aromatic 'essential' oils used in aromatherapy do have well-documented therapeutic actions. However, many of the oils for which aromatherapists claim physiological medical activity, in fact possess no recorded historical medicinal actions. Oils such as: Moroccan chamomile, Citronella, Clary sage, Geranium, Rosewood, Vetiver and Ylang were originally produced solely for the perfumery...

Somatic embryogenesis was induced in hypocotyl explants of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) cultured on media supplemented with various concentrations of N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron). In less than 2 weeks, somatic embryos were observed in treatments containing levels of thidiazuron (TDZ) ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 micromolar. The use of N(6)-benzylaminopurine in combination...

Each year, large volumes of ornamental and food plant propagative stock are imported into the North America; occasionally, Ralstonia solanacearum is found systemically infecting this plant material. In this study, 107 new R. solanacearum strains were collected over a 10-year period from imported propagative stock and compared with 32 previously characterized R. solanacearum strains using repeti...

Chemoprevention, which includes the use of synthetic or natural agents (alone or in combination) to block the development of cancer in human beings, is an extremely promising strategy for cancer prevention. Apium graveolens seeds have been assessed for chemopreventive activity. The antiproliferative effect of the methanolic extract of Apium graveolens was evaluated in vitro on two human cell li...

Z. Naturforsch. 55c, 5 2 8 -5 3 3 (2000); received April 5/April 20. 2000 Pelargonium Species, Umckaloabo, Coumarins, Oxygenation Pattern The coumarin patterns of Pelargonium sidoides DC. and Pelargonium reniforme CURT., forming the origin of the herbal medicine “umckaloabo”, were analysed and compared for therapeutic equivalence. For both species, members of triand tetraoxygenated coumarins al...

Phytoremediation appears to be a promising technique for metal soil clean up, although its successful application on a large scale still remains a challenge. Field experiments for six scented Pelargonium cultivars, conducted on two Pb-contaminated calcareous and acidic soils, revealed vigorous plant growth, with no symptoms of morpho-phytotoxicity in spite of high Pb accumulation levels. Lead c...

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) is an important commercial horticultural plant extensively used in outdoor landscaping. Seed emergence has always remained a problem geranium due to its hard seed nature. Hence germination and other emergence-related attributes need be adequately tested. The purpose of this study was evaluate the seedling growth geraniums under different types containers...

Rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) is a serious pest on storage commodities. The management of C. relies the use chemical pesticides. Insecticide resistance and its effect nontarget demand for compounds that are clean, green. Essential oils (EOs) viz., Trachyspermum ammi (Ajowan), Piper betle (betel), Eucalyptus citriodora (citridora), Cymbopogan nardus (citronella), Pelargonium graveolen...