The fruit hull of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. has been used as a Thai indigenous medicine for many years. However, its mechanism of action as a medicine has not been elucidated. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of mangosteen extracts (100% ethanol, 70% ethanol, 40% ethanol and water) on histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis. We found that the 40% ethanol...

Two rust fungi from Iran are described as new species, viz. Puccinia hedjaroudei on Scutellaria multicaulis (Lamiaceae) and Phragmidium gorganense on Rubus caesius (Rosaceae). A key to the species of Phragmidium on Rubus spp. in Iran is also provided. All holotypes are preserved in the fungus reference collection of the Ministry of Jihad-e Agriculture (IRAN), located in Department of Botany of ...

To date, phenological research has provided evidence that climate warming is impacting both animals and plants, evidenced by the altered timing of phenophases. Much of the evidence supporting these findings has been provided by analysis of historic records and present-day fieldwork; herbaria have been identified recently as an alternative source of phenological data. Here, we used Rubus specime...

Hyperlipidemia is a major contributor for atherosclerosis and hypolipidemic drugs such as statin are highly prescribed to treat elevated lipid level in plasma. Rubus coreanus, which is widely cultivated in south eastern Asia, have been reported to show significant cholesterol lowering action in hyperlipidemic subjects. Our objective was to determine the cellular effect of Rubus coreanus extract...

Lipopolysaccharides Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a major component of the cell surface of gram-negative bacteria and are typically thought to be a protective barrier against host defense molecules. Mutational analysis of a LPS biosynthesis gene (waaL) in Spiraeoideae-infecting strains of E. amylovora has shown LPS to be involved in virulence [1]. Comparison of the LPS biosynthetic gene cluster...

The life history of Confuciusornis sanctus is controversial. Recently, the species' body size spectrum was claimed to contradict osteohistological evidence for a rapid, bird-like development. Moreover, sexual size dimorphism was rejected as an explanation for the observed bimodal size distribution since the presence of elongated rectrices, an assumed 'male' trait, was uncorrelated with size. Ho...

Highlights: Invasive plants have become a major threat throughout the world, in particular in islands where the biodiversity is important and even unique. Since the 17th century, many weeds or invasive plants have been introduced in Réunion Island. Among them Rubus alceifolius, a giant bramble, is the most invasive and threatening to the endemic vegetation. After years of unsuccessful and even ...

Rubus stunt is an economically important disease in the production of raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries. A fast, sensitive, and reliable diagnosis of phytoplasmas, the causal agent of the disease, is of prime importance to stop its spread by vegetative propagation and by insect vectors. Therefore, multiplex qPCR assays using TaqMan probes with different kinds of fluorophores in one re...

New host plant records are given for six Empria species from Japan. They are Rosa multiflora [Rosaceae] for E. honshuana Prous & Heidemaa, 2011, Rubus sp. [Rosaceae] for E. japonica Heidemaa & Prous, 2011, Geum japonicum and G. calthifolium var. nipponicum [Rosaceae] for E. loktini Ermolenko, 1971, Rosa multiflora, Potentilla indica and probably Rubus parvifolius [Rosaceae] for E. quadrimaculat...