Three Apium graveolens (L.) varieties and cultivars within varieties were evaluated for host plant suitability to two polyphagous lepidopteran herbivores: the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hiibner), and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hiibner). Overall, there were no significant differences in survivorship, developmental time, and pupal weight of S. exigua or T. ni reared on the two va...

The immunostimulating effect of Pelargonium reinforme / sidoides extract (Kalobin) against Prohemistomum vivax infection in mice was investigated. Five groups of mice were constructed. The first group was not treated nor infected and considered as control, the second group; control infected, was not treated but orally infected with 150 P. vivax metacercareae. The third, fourth and fifth groups ...

Neuraminidaseis a key enzyme in the life cycle of influenza viruses and is present in some bacterial pathogens. We here assess the inhibitory potency of plant tannins versus clinically used inhibitors on both a viral and a bacterial model neuraminidase by applying the 2'-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-α-d-N-acetylneuraminic acid (MUNANA)-based activity assay. A range of flavan-3-ols, ellagitannins and ...

BACKGROUND In aromatherapy, essential oils are used as anti-inflammatory remedies, but experimental studies on their action mechanisms are very limited. AIMS OF THE STUDY To assess their anti-inflammatory activities, the effects of essential oils on neutrophil recruitment in mice were examined in vivo. METHOD The effect of essential oils on leukocyte and neutrophil recruitment induced 6 h a...

Pelargonium sidoides is a medical herb and respective extracts are used very frequently for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. However, the effects of Pelargonium sidoides and a special extract prepared from its roots (EPs 7630) on human immune cells are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that EPs 7630 induced a rapid and dose-dependent production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 by...

Ruta graveolens L. is an herbal plant which is traditionally used as an energizer and an anti-bleeding to heal injuries. Regarding increasing prevalence of mycotoxins and inefficiency of methods used to decrease them, it is possible to use plants metabolites to decrease mycotoxins. The antifungal effect of Ruta graveolens on Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp. in vitro by disk and well diffu...

CONTEXT Interest in the use of alternative therapies to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing medical interventions is increasing. We sought to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy involving essential oils in reducing preoperative anxiety in women undergoing abortions. SETTING An urban, free-standing abortion clinic in Vancouver, BC. PATIENTS 66 women waiting for surgical abortions. D...

Since, landfill areas are still the most widely used solid waste disposal method across the world, leachate generated from landfills should be given importance. Leachate of landfills exerts environmental risks mostly on surface and groundwater with its high pollutant content, which may cause unbearable water quality. This leads to the obligation for decontamination and remediation program to be...