Polyphenols are natural products with recognized potential in drug discovery and development. We aimed to evaluate the polyphenolic profile of Araucaria angustifolia bracts, and their ability to scavenge reactive species. The antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of A. angustifolia polyphenols in MRC5 human lung fibroblast cells were also explored. The total polyphenol extract of A. angustifoli...

Ascorbate-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle is a major pathway of H2O2 scavenging and an effective mechanism of detoxification in plants. The differences in photosynthesis, chlorophyll content (Chl), relative water content (RWC), antioxidants and antioxidative enzyme activities involved in ASA-GSH metabolism were measured between the flag leaves and spike bracts (glumes and lemmas) during grain filli...

A new species of Acanthaceae, Strobilanthes namkadingensis Soulad. & Tagane from Nam Kading National Protected Area, Bolikhamxay Province, central Laos, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by long spicate inflorescences consisting of 6-32 flowers, yellow corolla, the absence of long white hairs on the bracts and 4-6 seeds per capsule. Three DNA barcode regions of the partial genes...

Most studies designed to determine the etiologic agent in byssinosis have relied on in vitro test for normal volunteers to assess the effects of components isolated from cotton plants, cotton factory dust, or their associated organisms. In one of the few studies directly on byssinotic subjects, symptoms were reproduced on inhalation challenge with a condensed polyphenol isolated from bracts ofe...

Curcuma leonidii, a new species of Curcuma subg. Hitcheniopsis (Zingiberaceae) from southern Vietnam is described and illustrated here. Curcuma leonidii with flowers similar to some Stahlianthus-like species but inflorescences consisting of up to 8 green bracts and their arrangements conforming to usual ‘classical’ Curcuma-like species provides the much-awaited morphological link between the tw...

Eriocaulon meenachilense, a new species of the family Eriocaulaceae from southern Western Ghats, India, is described and illustrated. The similar to idukkianum E. tuberiferum but differs in its short, linear-subulate, stiff leaves, solitary 6-angled peduncle, inflexed involucral bracts, eglandular petals, yellow anthers seeds.

Oenanthe incrassans (Apiaceae) was discovered in Istanbul, Turkey. It is related to Oenanthe pimpinelloides, but it clearly differs in terms of leaves, inflorescence (ray, bracts, and bracteoles) and fruit features. A taxonomic description, some photographs of the species, geographical distribution and habitat features are given. Additionally, fruit micromorphology, stem, ray and fruit anatomy,...