Parasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estima...

Figs (Ficus, Moraceae) constitute one of the largest genera of flowering plants with ca. 750 species worldwide. While the extraordinary mutualism between figs and their pollinating wasps has received attention for decades, we are only just beginning to reconstruct the phylogeny of both partners, a necessary framework for addressing a variety of questions concerning the evolution of mutualism. H...

Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. is widely cultivated in Jeju Island (South Korea) for use in manufacture of health foods. This study described antidepressant effect of two flavonoids (kaempferol and quercitrin) isolated from the Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. The expression of the hypothalamic POMC mRNA or plasma β-endorphin levels were increased by extract of Opuntia ficus-indica var. s...

The common wild fig, Ficus thonningii, is extensively used in African ethnomedicine for treating a number of disease conditions which include diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, gonorrhoea, respiratory infections, and mental illnesses. This review aims to present a logical analysis of the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of F. thonningii in relation ...

The main objective of the present study was to develop matrix-moderated transdermal systems of Diltiazem HCl using various proportions of Ficus reticuleta fruit mucilage. Physical evaluation was performed such as moisture content, moisture uptake, tensile strength, flatness and folding endurance. In-vitro penetration studies were performed in a Keshary-Chien diffusion cell. The matrix-type tran...

Ficus capensis, a wild fig tree is used in herbal medicines to treat pregnancy related ailment and most especially as a remedy for threatened abortion. The purpose of this study was to investigate this claim with view to validating scientifically the ethno-medicinal usage. The ethanolic extract obtained by maceration technique was subjected to pharmacological testing in vitro on a piece of isol...

The encyrtid parasitoid, Coccidoxenoides peregrinus has been used as a biological control agent against the mealybugs Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus. This study examined the behavior and host selection of C. peregrinus attacking P. ficus. Adult parasitoids were fed a 0.1% solution of acridine orange, a DNA binding dye used to label C. peregrinus eggs. In a choice test, adult parasitoid...

The reproductive effects of Ficus asperifolia in female rats were investigated in the present study. Sperm-positive adult female rats were orally administered (P.O.) either the aqueous and methanol extracts of Ficus asperifolia (100 and 500mg/kg), distilled water (10ml/kg) or 5%Tween 80 (10ml/kg) for seven days. On day 10 of pregnancy, the implantation sites were recorded. In the fertility stud...

Research was carried out to evaluate composted olive-mill waste as a peat substitute in foliage potted plant production. Rooted cuttings of Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss and Syngonium podophyllum Schott were grown for 5 months and Ficus benjamina L. for 10 months in media containing olive-mill waste compost (OWC), sphagnum peat and perlite in 1:3:4, 1:1:2, and 3:1:4 ratio (by volume), respec...