Advanced Botany

  The genus  Aloe  belongs to family Xanthorrhoeaceae and comprises over 500 different species.  Aloe barbadensis  also called  Aloe vera  is the most well-known and widely used species of genus  Aloe . Aloe contains a plethora of pharmacologically active ingredients such as aloins, barbaloins, antiseptic agents like lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols and sulphur associated with diverse biological activities. It contains at least three anti-inflammatory fatty acids, cholesterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol. These are highly effective in treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, ulcers, plus many inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other internal organs, including the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, kidney and pancreas. β-sitosterol is also a powerful anti-cholesterol which helps to lower harmful cholesterol levels,...

  Insect repellents reduce malaria transmission by minimizing mosquito-human contacts. The most commercially available repellent formulations are either synthetic such as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide-DEET or derived from plant extracts like Neem, Citronella, fennel or Pyrethrum grasses. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide-DEET is the oldest and most effective insect repellent available on the market, but research have reported occasional mild-to-severe toxicity reactions following the application of DEET on the skin. Essential oils from plants represent suitable alternatives for repellent as they are less expensive and relatively safe. Recently, scientists have analyzed the mosquitoes repellent activity of essential oils from leaves of a plant namely  Tithonia diversifolia  against  Anopheles coluzzii  which is a major vector of malaria in Africa.  Anopheles coluzzii  is one of the main mosquito species responsible for malaria transmission in endemic countries....

  Like other living organisms, plants also respond to light, temperature, moisture, and sound.  It is claimed that sound and music has positive effects on plant growth and development. In addition, sound also alerts plants of potential danger and aids in defense and  facilitates   mutualistic interactions such as buzz pollination.  Studies report that exposure to specific biotic sounds elicits different physiomorphological changes in plants, suggesting that plants can perceive and respond to animal sound.  Arabidopsis  plants infested by caterpillar  Pieris rapae  defend themselves by producing higher levels of anthocyanin and glucosinolates. By contrast, however, exposure to other environmental sounds such as wind and leafhopper sound did not elicit such a response. Similarly,  Nicotiana tabacum  produces nicotine to deter herbivores .  Plants treated with the chewing sound of the caterpillar  Phtorimaea operculella ...