Micropropagação de Calendula officinalis L

Micropropagation of Calendula officinalis L. is usually propagated through seeds and therefore shows high diversity in flower size and colour, what causes quantitative and qualitative chemical variability. A micropropagation protocol was established for clonal propagation of this species to achieve homogeneous biomass, more appropriate for the production of phytotherapics. Explants harvested from capitula were the most appropriate for the micropropagation process. MS culture medium supplemented with 1.0 mgL-1 BAP and 6.0 gL-1 Phytagel™ enhanced shoot proliferation, while MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgL-1 Kinetin and 6.0 gL-1 Phytagel™, increased shoot elongation. Plantlets (80%) cultured in MS/2 medium supplemented with 1.0 mgL-1 de IBA rooted.

Topical Calendula officinalis L. successfully treated exfoliative cheilitis: A case report

Authors describe a case of recurrent exfoliative cheilitis that responded to treatment with a standardized topical preparation of Calendula officinalis L. An eighteen-year-old man was referred to UNESP - São Paulo State University, Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, São José dos Campos Dental School to investigate a chronic dry scaling lesion on his lips. The patient's main chief was aesthetic compromising. Corticoid therapy was suspended and Calendula officinalis ointment 10% for ad libitum use has been prescribed. The results presented allow the authors to consider Calendula officinalis L. as a potential therapy in cases of cheilitis exfoliative. © 2009 Roveroni-Favaretto et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Herbicide selectivity in herbaceous ornamental gardens of tagetes erecta L.

One of the major problems in landscaping in tropics is weed management. The herbaceous ornamental plant, Tagetes erecta L. (Asteraceae), is very popular for its beautiful flowers which can be used in landscape and also as cut flowers. The increase use of this plant and lack of selective herbicides led to the objective of this study to evaluate the herbicide metribuzin selectivity for this ornamental plant. The experimental design was completely randomized using four treatments (herbicide metribuzin doses: 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 L ha-1, equivalent to 0, 240, 480 and 720 g ha-1) and five replicates. The herbicide was applied over the seedling of T. erecta as pre-emergence of the weed seeds. Evaluations were performed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after application (DAA) by visual analysis of the toxicity symptoms over the ornamental, using the European Weed Research Council (EWRC) scale (1 to 9), where 1 is the total absence of symptoms and 9 to death plants. Polynomial regression statistical analysis was used. It was verified that, from the dose of 1.0 L ha-1, T. erecta plants died by 14 DAA, which the most of them had presented a very strong toxicity symptom; for the 0.5 L ha-1 treatment the plants had survived until 28 DAA. However, most of them already exhibited the high toxicity level, dying at 35 DAA. Thus, metribuzin was not suitable for T. erecta even at the lowest rate tested in this study.

Cravo-de-defunto (Tagetes patula L.) como planta atrativa para tripes (Thysanoptera) e himenópteros parasitóide (Hymenoptera) em cultivo protegido

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da composição química, dos compostos bioativos e da atividade antioxidante em seis espécies de flores comestíveis

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Olfactory impairment in familial ataxias

The main clinical manifestations of the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) result from the involvement of the cerebellum and its connections. Cerebellar activity has been consistently observed in functional imaging studies of olfaction, but the anatomical pathways responsible for this connection have not yet been elucidated. Previous studies have demonstrated olfactory deficit in SCA2, Friedreich's ataxia and in small groups of ataxia of diverse aetiology. The authors used a validated version of the 16-item smell identification test from Sniffin' Sticks (SS-16) was used to evaluate 37 patients with genetically determined autosomal dominant ataxia, and 31 with familial ataxia of unknown genetic basis. This data was also compared with results in 106 Parkinson's disease patients and 218 healthy controls. The SS-16 score was significantly lower in ataxia than in the control group (p<0.001, 95% CI for beta=0.55 to 1.90) and significantly higher in ataxia than in Parkinson's disease (p<0.001, 95% CI for beta=-4.58 to -3.00) when adjusted for age (p=0.001, 95% CI for beta=-0.05 to -0.01), gender (p=0.19) and history of tobacco use (p=0.41). When adjusted for general cognitive function, no significant difference was found between the ataxia and control groups. This study confirms previous findings of mild hyposmia in ataxia, and further suggests this may be due to general cognitive deficits rather than specific olfactory problems.

Sustainable development in Darjeeling Hills, India : ecological and socio-economic aspects for small-scale farmers with supportive observations from Kanagawa, Japan

Organic farming means a holistic application of agricultural land-use, hence, this study aimed to assess ecological and socio-economic aspects that show benefits of the strategy and achievements of organic farming in comparison to conventional farming in Darjeeling District, State of West Bengal, India and Kanagawa Prefecture/Kanto in Central Japan. The objective of this study has been empirically analysed on aspects of crop diversity, yield, income and sales prices in the two study regions, where 50 households each, i.e. in total 100 households were interviewed at farm-level. Therefore, the small sample size does not necessarily reflect the broad-scale of the use and benefit of organic farming in both regions. The problems faced in mountainous regions in terms of agriculture and livelihoods for small-scale farmers, which are most affected and dependant on their immediate environment, such as low yields, income and illegal felling leading to soil erosion and landslides, are analyzed. Furthermore, factors such as climate, soils, vegetation and relief equally play an important role for these farmers, in terms of land-use. To supplement and improve the income of farmers, local NGOs have introduced organic farming and high value organic cash crops such as ginger, tea, orange and cardamom and small income generating means (floriculture, apiary etc.). For non-certified and certified organic products the volume is given for India, while for Japan only certified organic production figures are given, as there are several definitions for organic in Japan. Hence, prior to the implementation of organic laws and standards, even reduced chemical input was sold as non-certified organic. Furthermore, the distribution and certification system of both countries are explained in detail, including interviews with distribution companies and cooperatives. Supportive observations from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kanto region are helpful and practical suggestions for organic farmers in Darjeeling District. Most of these are simple and applicable soil management measures, natural insect repelling applications and describe the direct marketing system practiced in Japan. The former two include compost, intercropping, Effective Microorganisms (EM), clover, rice husk charcoal and wood vinegar. More supportive observations have been made at organic and biodynamic tea estates in Darjeeling District, which use citronella, neem, marigold, leguminous and soil binding plants for soil management and natural insect control. Due to the close ties between farmers and consumers in Japan, certification is often neither necessary nor wanted by the producers. They have built a confidence relationship with their customers; thus, such measures are simply not required. Another option is group certification, instead of the expensive individual certification. The former aims at lower costs for farmers who have formed a cooperative or a farmers' group. Consumer awareness for organic goods is another crucial aspect to help improve the situation of organic farmers. Awareness is slightly more advanced in Kanto than in Darjeeling District, as it is improved due to the close (sales) ties between farmers and consumers in Kanto. Interviews conducted with several such cooperatives and companies underline the positive system of TEIKEI. The introduction of organic farming in the study regions has shown positive effects for those involved, even though it still in its beginning stages in Darjeeling District. This study was only partly able to assess the benefits of organic agriculture at its present level for Darjeeling District, while more positively for the organic farmers of Kanto. The organic farming practice needs further improvement, encouragement and monitoring for the Darjeeling District farmers by locals, consumers, NGOs and politicians. The supportive observations from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kanto region are a small step in this direction, showing how, simple soil improvements and thus, yield and income increases, as well as direct sales options can enhance the livelihood of organic farmers without destroying their environment and natural resources.

Primera cita de Podosphaera fusca, responsable del oídio de la caléndula en Mendoza, Argentina

La caléndula (Calendula officinalis) es una planta herbácea utilizada por sus hermosas flores amarillas o naranjas en borduras, jardinería y como flor de corte. Está ampliamente difundida en el mundo, no sólo por la belleza de sus flores o por su uso en la cosmética sino por ser resistente, de fácil cultivo y poco exigente en condiciones ambientales. En Mendoza es muy empleada como ornamental y todos los años es afectada por una enfermedad denominada oídio. En Argentina se mencionan como agentes etiológicos del oídio diversas especies del género Erysiphe y Oidium erysiphoides, pero no se había descripto la forma teleomórfica sino hasta 1991 en Corrientes y Córdoba, cuando fue citada como Sphaerotheca fusca. En 2004, en Mendoza, se produjo un intenso ataque de oídio sobre esta especie floral y al estudiar la pulverulencia típica de la enfermedad se observaron cuerpos negros, lo que motivó el estudio etiológico de la enfermedad en dicha provincia. Se muestrearon ejemplares de caléndula afectados procedentes de distintos orígenes. En laboratorio se realizaron observaciones y estudios morfométricos que permitieron reconocer Podosphaera fusca (=Sphaerotheca fusca) como agente responsable del oídio de la caléndula en Mendoza.

The Christmas numbers of All the year round. 1859-67.

Each vol. has special illustrated t.p.

Christmas stories from "Household words" & "All the year round" /

Bibliography: p. xii.

Nutritional and chemical characterization of food products enriched with biological produced fruits of Vaccinum myrtillus L

Vaccinum myrtillus L. belongs to Ericaceae family, being commonly known for its sweet small fruits: the blueberries. Widely consumed in fresh, these fruits are also used in jams and marmalades due to their digestive and hypoglycemic properties and also due to the presence of several bioactive compounds [!]. Therefore, it has become a very appealing matrix in the development of functional products that, beyond their nutritional properties, will add a long-term beneficial physiological/health effect [2]. In the present work, three novel blueberry based products developed by RBR Foods Company (Portugal), were characterized in terms of their nutritional and chemical properties: carbohydrates, ash, proteins, fat and energetic value (following official methods of food analysis), fatty acids profile (by CG-FID), soluble sugars (by HPLCRI), organic acids (by HPLC-DAD) and tocopherols (by HPLC-fluorescence). The products result from a mixture of the fruits with rose petals (PI), marigold petals (P2) and apple and goji berries (P3). The blueberry fruits were used as control sample. The nutritional profile of the novel products was very similar to the control sample: the carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrient, followed by proteins and total fat. Regarding sugars, fructose, glucose and sucrose were identified in all the samples. P 1 and P2 didn't show significant differences in comparison to the control, however, P3 revealed a lower concentration of sugars. In terms of fatty acids composition, all the studied samples presented higher contents in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially due to the contribution of linoleic and alinolenic acids. The results of tocopherols revealed that the control sample only presented two isoforrns of tocopherols, a- and y-tocopherol, being the same observed in P3. However, P 1 revealed the presence of all the isoforrns of tocopherols, while P2 was lacking otocopherol; which is related with the contribution of rose and marigold petals, respectively. The a-tocopherol isoforrn was the most abundant in all the studied samples. Overall, this work contributed to the nutritional characterization of novel blueberry based products and is a part of a wider project that aims the detailed study of these products, namely their potential to be used as functional foods.