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 ...

  Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It also has several other important functions in the body such as regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating normal immune function. According to a study, vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 50 nmol/L or 20 ng/ml) is associated with fractures and bone loss. Severe vitamin D deficiency with a 25(OH)D concentration below <30 nmol/L (or 12 ng/ml) increases the risk of excess mortality, infections, and many other diseases. Poor vitamin D status is a global health problem. Approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from vitamin D insufficiency because most foods including plants contain little vitamin D. Sources of vitamin D Fish have the highest natural content of vitamin D (salmon contains 30 μg/100 g and tuna 2.9 μg/100 g). Other sources of vitamin D 3  are meat (~0.6 μg/100), egg (~1.75 μg/100) and milk products (~0.1 μg/100). Vitamin D 3  ha...

  Sun is the ultimate source of energy for the earth. Plants convert light energy from the sun into  chemical energy  (food) by the process of photosynthesis. All living beings depend on plants for food and oxygen. Animals would disappear from the Earth if photosynthesizing plants were to disappear, since animals require for their nutrition the complex organic compounds that can be synthesized only by plants. The animal excretions and the animal body after death are also converted by a process of decay to simple products that can be re-utilized only by plants. Green plants require carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts, and sunlight for the formation of carbohydrates. Not only carbohydrates, but plants also synthesize amino acids, proteins, lipids, pigments, and other organic components during photosynthesis. Instead of energy, plants also need chemical compounds to interact with their neighbors, to attract animals for pollination and to defend themselves from animals that ...

  Turmeric is a spice and has been used as a medicine for centuries. It is a major source of polyphenol curcumin that aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome arthritis anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. Curcuma is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Major active ingredients of turmeric include three curcuminoids: curcumin, the primary constituent responsible for yellow color of turmeric, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. In addition, volatile oils (tumerone, atlantone and zingiberene) also have pharmacological activity. Turmeric also helps in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness. Even though, turmeric has been used as a medicine for centuries but modern research showed that curcumin, the main constituent in turmeric by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor bioavailability because of poor absorption, rapid metabolism and also rapid eliminatio...

  During the last half century, the protection of crops is depended on synthetic pesticides which are highly toxic and have adverse residual effects on crops, groundwater and soil. Moreover, their excessive application, leading to increased resistance of pests.   Few years back, when farmers used pesticides such as DDT and malathion, there was little understanding of how dangerous and long-lasting these chemicals are. It was only later that the degree to which these pesticides remain in the environment was discovered. Organophosphates designed to affect the brain and nervous system of insects, sometimes damage those of humans and animals. These pesticides killed bald eagles, birds, fishes and even people. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that around two hundred thousand people were killed every year due to chemical pesticide poisoning. World Resource Institute reported that more than 500 insects were resistant to insecticides. Many researchers have suggested usin...