Characterization of vascular/​specific RSs1 and rolC promoters for their
utilization in engineering plants to develop resistance against hemipteran
insect pests.

Saha P, Chakraborti D, Sarkar A, Dutta I, Basu D, Das S.

Plant Molecular and Cellular Genetics, Bose Institute, P1/12 C.I.T. Scheme VIIM,
Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India, sampa@bic.boseinst.ernet.in.

Rice sucrose synthase1, RSs1 (isolated from rice) and rolC (isolated from
Agrobacterium rhizogenes) promoters were evaluated by binding analyses of their
respective cis/​elements with host nuclear transcription factors. The expression
profile of an insecticidal protein driven by these promoters in transgenic
plants was monitored. Motif/​search analysis with available phloem/​specific
promoter sequences revealed the presence of two BoxII elements in RSs1. An
octopine synthase element, a stem/​specific, a root/​specific and a
light/​responsive element were found in the rolC promoter, whereas the ASL box,
GATA and 13 bp motifs were detected in both promoters. Binding analysis of these
cis/​elements (both in native and mutant forms) with the trans/​factors present in
the nuclear extracts from rice, tobacco and chickpea, followed by
electrophoretic mobility shift assay, documented a highly specific cis/​trans
interaction. Both promoters were utilized to express Allium sativum leaf
agglutinin (ASAL) gene in the three aforementioned plant systems. By
immunohistochemistry and immunohistofluorescence, specific patterns of ASAL
accumulation were detected in vascular tissues of single copy transgenic plants.
Transgenic plants expressing ASAL in a phloem/​specific manner demonstrated about
60/​65% more insecticidal activity than control plants. The two promoters, which
evolved independently from two distinctly unrelated origins, were found to
maintain their functionality in a conserved manner. They were able to express
the insecticidal protein coding ASAL as transgene both in monocot and dicot
hosts. Thus, the two promoters are valuable as prospective phloem/​specific
promoters for use in plant biotechnological programmes.

PMID: 17323077 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

2: Transgenic Res. 2007 Jan 31; [Epub ahead of print]

Ectopically expressed leaf and bulb lectins from garlic (Allium sativum L.)
protect transgenic tobacco plants against cotton leafworm (Spodoptera
littoralis).

Sadeghi A, Smagghe G, Broeders S, Hernalsteens JP, De Greve H, Peumans WJ, Van
Damme EJ.

Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience
Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium.

The insecticidal activity of the leaf (ASAL) and bulb (ASAII) agglutinins from
Allium sativum L. (garlic) against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis
Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was studied using transgenic tobacco plants
expressing the lectins under the control of the constitutive CaMV35S promoter.
PCR analysis confirmed that the garlic lectin genes were integrated into the
plant genome. Western blots and semi/​quantitative agglutination assays revealed
lectin expression at various levels in the transgenic lines. Biochemical
analyses indicated that the recombinant ASAL and ASAII are indistinguishable
from the native garlic lectins. Insect bioassays using detached leaves from
transgenic tobacco plants demonstrated that the ectopically expressed ASAL and
ASAII significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the weight gain of 4th instar larvae of
S. littoralis. Further on, the lectins retarded the development of the larvae
and their metamorphosis, and were detrimental to the pupal stage resulting in
weight reduction and lethal abnormalities. Total mortality was scored with ASAL
compared to 60% mortality with ASAII. These findings suggest that garlic lectins
are suitable candidate insect resistance proteins for the control of S.
littoralis through a transgenic approach.

PMID: 17265166 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

3: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1280/​1288. Epub 2007 Jan 27.

Effect of Cooking on Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Antiplatelet Activity and
Thiosulfinates Content.

Cavagnaro PF, Camargo A, Galmarini CR, Simon PW.

INTA /​ EEA La Consulta and CONICET, INTA, EEA La Consulta CC8, San Carlos,
Mendoza (5567), Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional
de Cuyo, Almirante Brown 500, Chacras de Coria, Mendoza M 5528 AHB, Argentina,
and USDA/​ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit and Department of Horticulture,
University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

The raw form of garlic and some of its preparations are widely recognized as
antiplatelet agents that may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular
disease. Herein, we examined the in/​vitro antiaggregatory activity (IVAA) of
human blood platelets induced by extracts of garlic samples that were previously
heated (in the form of crushed versus uncrushed cloves) using different cooking
methods and intensities. The concentrations of allicin and pyruvate, two
predictors of antiplatelet strength, were also monitored. Oven/​heating at 200
degrees C or immersing in boiling water for 3 min or less did not affect the
ability of garlic to inhibit platelet aggregation (as compared to raw garlic),
whereas heating for 6 min completely suppressed IVAA in uncrushed, but not in
previously crushed, samples. The latter samples had reduced, yet significant,
antiplatelet activity. Prolonged incubation (more than 10 min) at these
temperatures completely suppressed IVAA. Microwaved garlic had no effect on
platelet aggregation. However, increasing the concentration of garlic juice in
the aggregation reaction had a positive IVAA dose response in crushed, but not
in uncrushed, microwaved samples. The addition of raw garlic juice to microwaved
uncrushed garlic restored a full complement of antiplatelet activity that was
completely lost without the garlic addition. Garlic/​induced IVAA was always
associated with allicin and pyruvate levels. Our results suggest that (1)
allicin and thiosulfinates are responsible for the IVAA response, (2) crushing
garlic before moderate cooking can reduce the loss of activity, and (3) the
partial loss of antithrombotic effect in crushed/​cooked garlic may be
compensated by increasing the amount consumed. Keywords: Allium sativum;
antiplatelet activity; thiosulfinates; allicin; pyruvate.

PMID: 17256959 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

4: Planta Med. 1998 Dec;64(8):736/​40.

A high/​throughput method for the quantitative determination of alliin*.

Keusgen M.

Institut fur Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universitat Bonn, Germany.

The quality of most garlic ( ALLIUM SATIVUM L, Alliaceae) preparations made from
garlic powder or garlic dry extract is determined by their content of alliin.
Therefore, a comprehensive documentation of alliin concentration beginning with
the crude material up to the final remedy is required. The newly developed
analytical method described in this paper was designed in order to fulfill these
demands. In contrast to conventional HPLC methods, neither a pre/​column
derivatization nor a chromatographic separation are involved in this analytical
procedure allowing a high throughput of samples. The currently investigated
technique is based on immobilized alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) which was combined with
a two/​channel flow injection analyser (FIA) coupled to an ammonia detecting
device. A high specificity for alliin could be demonstrated and a variety of
garlic samples including garlic powders, dry extracts, and garlic preparations
was analysed. The results were in good correlation with those obtained by
conventional HPLC methods.

PMID: 17253319 [PubMed /​ in process]

5: J Exp Bot. 2007 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print]

Reproductive development and phenotypic differences in garlic are associated
with expression and splicing of LEAFY homologue gaLFY.

Rotem N, Shemesh E, Peretz Y, Akad F, Edelbaum O, Rabinowitch HD, Sela I,
Kamenetsky R.

The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, The
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental
Quality Sciences, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Modern garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars are sterile and propagated only
vegetatively. The recent discovery of fertile genotypes in Central Asia and the
restoration of flowering and fertility by environmental manipulations open the
way for in/​depth florogenetic, genetic, and molecular research in garlic. In the
present work, two bolting garlic accessions were employed: #3026, developing
normal flowers and seeds, and #2509, in which flowers abort at the early stages
of development. Morphological studies showed transition of the apical meristems
from the vegetative to the reproductive stage and inflorescence initiation in
both genotypes. Low temperatures promote transition of the apex and stem
elongation, but have no effect on the phenotypic expression of the inflorescence
development. The initial stages of reproductive development in non/​flowering
#2509 plants were followed by abortion of floral primordia at the
differentiation stage. A search for genes involved in the control of flowering
in garlic resulted in identification of the garlic LEAFY/FLO homologue, gaLFY.
Further comparative analyses of gene expression revealed two gaLFY transcripts,
differing in 64 nucleotides, with clear splicing borders. The short variant
transcript was identified in both genotypes throughout all development stages,
whereas the long variant appears in the flowering genotype #3026 only during
reproductive development. The phenotypic differences in garlic, with regard to
flowering, may be associated with the efficacy of the splicing process.

PMID: 17237158 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

6: J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2003;78(5/​6):361/​72.

The inhibitory effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on growth of some
microorganisms.

Gomaa NF, Hashish MH.

High Institute of Public Health.

The aim of the present study was to compare between the anti/​microbial activity
of fresh garlic bulbs and that of its water extract against the potent food
pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coil, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus
cereus. Garlic segments with different concentrations (1%, 5%, and 10%) were
used. Another 100 gms of garlic segments were weighed and mixed with 100 ml
distilled water to prepare water extract of garlic, then 1000, 500 and 100
microg/ml were prepared. These concentrations of garlic were mixed with prepared
cultures of E. coli, Staph. aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhi. The
inhibitory effect of garlic was determined using Spectrophotometer for garlic
segments and by comparing with control plates for the water extract of garlic.
Results showed that the higher the garlic concentration, the higher was the
microbial reduction percent. Water extract of garlic exhibited a higher
microbial reduction percentage than fresh garlic.

PMID: 17219900 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

7: Genome. 2006 Oct;49(10):1246/​55.

Sequence homology of polymorphic AFLP markers in garlic (Allium sativum L.).

Ipek M, Ipek A, Simon PW.

Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Dr., Madison,
WI 53706.

Linkage mapping and genetic diversity studies with DNA markers in plant species
assume that comigrating bands are identical, or at least that they have
homologous sequences. To test this assumption in a plant with a large genome,
sequence identities of 7 polymorphic amplified fragment length polymorphism
(AFLP) markers of garlic, previously used to estimate similarity in genetic
diversity studies, were characterized. Among 37 diverse garlic clones, 87 bands
from these 7 polymorphisms were excised, amplicons were cloned, and 2 to 6
colonies were sequenced from each band, to yield a total of 191 DNA amplicons.
Of these 87 bands, 83 bands (95.4%) contained AFLP amplicons that were identical
or highly homologous to the typical marker of that band; only 4 bands contained
amplicons with little homology to the same/​sized amplicons of other garlic
clones. Of these 83 bands, 64 (73.6%) contained only highly homologous amplicons
(>90% sequence identity), whereas 19 (21.8%) contained both homologous and
nonhomologous amplicons, with sequence identities less than 60%. Of the 37
nonhomologous amplicons identified, 25 (67.5%) differed in length from other
amplicons in the band. Sequence conservation of AFLP amplicons followed patterns
similar to phylogenetic relationships among garlic clones, making them useful
for developing simple PCR/​based markers in genetic mapping and diversity
assessment.

PMID: 17213906 [PubMed /​ in process]

8: J Med Food. 2006 Winter;9(4):545/​51.

Tropical green leafy vegetables prevent garlic/​induced hepatotoxicity in the
rat.

Oboh G.

Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
goboh2001@yahoo.com

Garlic (Allium sativum) is popularly consumed because of its role in the
treatment and management of several diseases. However, unregulated and chronic
intake of garlic can cause damage to cells through the production of free
radicals. This study was carried out in order to assess the ability of some
tropical green leafy vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis, Solanum macrocapon,
Corchorus olitorius, Baselia alba, Cnidoscolus acontifolus, Amarantus cruentus,
and Ocimum gratissimum) to prevent garlic/​induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Wistar
strain albino rats were fed diet containing 4% garlic along with or without 40%
green leafy vegetable supplement for 14 days. Thereafter, the feeding trial was
terminated, the serum of the blood was prepared, and the liver, spleen,
intestine, and organ were isolated for gross pathological investigation. The
results of the study revealed that there was a significant increase (P < .05) in
serum glutamate/​oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate/​pyruvate
transaminase (SGPT) of the albino rats fed diet containing 4% garlic supplement
when compared with the rats fed the basal diet without garlic and vegetable
(40%) supplement. However, there was a significant decrease (P < .05) in the
serum total protein and albumin levels in those rats. Conversely, there was a
consistent significant decrease (P < .05) in the SGOT and SGPT of the rats fed
diet containing garlic (4%) and T. occidentalis (40%) and C. acontifolus (40%)
supplement compared with those rats fed diet containing garlic (4%) supplement,
while there were no consistent significant decrease in those rats fed diet with
garlic (4%) alongside with 40% of other leafy vegetables (S. macrocanum, C.
olitorius, B. alba, A. cruentus, and O. gratissimum). An increase in serum level
of total protein and albumin was also observed in the rats fed T. occidentalis
and C. acontifolus. Thus, T. occidentalis and C. acontifolus proved to be better
vegetables in preventing garlic/​induced hepatotoxicity compared with the other
vegetables used in this study.

PMID: 17201643 [PubMed /​ in process]

9: Rev Iberoam Micol. 2006 Sep;23(3):176/​8.

Efficacy of plant extracts against stored products fungi.

Magro A, Carolino M, Bastos M, Mexia A.

Instituto de Investigacao Cientifica Tropical (IICT), Trav. Conde da Ribeira 9,
1300/​142 Lisboa, Portugal. ana.magro@netcabo.pt

The fungistatic activity of six aqueous extracts of plants were tested against
Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium culmorum.
The plants were, chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J.
Presl.), French lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.),
malva (Malva sylvestris L.) and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). The more
concentrated extracts of chamomile and malva inhibited totally the growth of the
tested fungi with malva the most effective one.

PMID: 17196025 [PubMed /​ in process]

10: J Herb Pharmacother. 2006;6(2):31/​41.

The use of medicinal herbs by diabetic Jordanian patients.

Otoom SA, Al/​Safi SA, Kerem ZK, Alkofahi A.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, Irbid/​Jordan. sotoom@rcsi/​mub.com

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. To date,
there have been no reports on the frequency of use of herb medicines in the
managements of diabetes mellitus in Jordan. This cross/​sectional study was
conducted by interviewing 310 diabetic patients visiting two medical centers in
Jordan: Jordan University of Science & Technology Medical Center and Sarih
Medical Center between December 2003 and August 2004. It is found that 31% of
interviewed patients have used herbal products (96 patients). The results
revealed that the most commonly used herbs by diabetic patients in Jordan were
Trigonella foenumgraecum (22.9%), Lupinus albus (14.6%), Allium sativum (11.5%),
Allium cepa (5.2%), Nigella sativa (7.3%), Zea mays L. (6.3%), Urtica dioica L.
(8.3%), Eucalyptus globules LA (9.4%), Olea europea L. (3.1%), Cumminum cyminum
(9.4%), Coriandrum sativum (10.4%), Salvia officinalis L. (3.1%), and Tilia
cordata (1%). Furthermore, it is found that 47.9% of the patients used herbs
according to advice from their friends on a daily basis. The side effects were
reported by 36.5% of the patients and include headache, nausea, dizziness,
itching, palpitation, and sweating. Among the patients, 72.9% used the herbs as
adjunctive therapy along with their anti/​diabetic drugs and 80.2% of the
patients informed their physicians about their use. A 79.2% of the sample
confirmed their intention to re/​use these herbs as 86.5% of them were satisfied
with their diabetes control. There was a significant relationship between the
use of herbs, the patient's place of residence and his/her level of education.
The main conclusion of this survey is that the use of medicinal herbs among
diabetic patient in Jordan is common. Therefore, it is essential to increase the
level of awareness among diabetic patients and health care providers regarding
the efficacy and toxicity of these medicinal herbs.

PMID: 17182483 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

11: Plant Biotechnol J. 2005 Nov;3(6):601/​11.

The efficacy of a novel insecticidal protein, Allium sativum leaf lectin (ASAL),
against homopteran insects monitored in transgenic tobacco.

Dutta I, Saha P, Majumder P, Sarkar A, Chakraborti D, Banerjee S, Das S.

Plant Molecular and Cellular Genetics, Bose Institute, P1/12 C.I.T. Scheme VII
(M), Kolkata/​700054, India.

The homopteran group of polyphagous sucking insect pests causes severe damage to
many economically important plants including tobacco. Allium sativum leaf lectin
(ASAL), a mannose/​binding 25/​kDa homodimeric protein, has recently been found to
be antagonistic to various sucking insects in the homopteran group through
artificial diet bioassay experiments. The present study describes, for the first
time, the expression of the ASAL coding sequence under the control of the
cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter in tobacco by
Agrobacterium/​mediated transformation technology. Molecular analyses
demonstrated the integration of the chimeric ASAL gene in tobacco and its
inheritance in the progeny plants. Western blot analysis followed by
enzyme/​linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the level of ASAL
expression in different lines to be in the range of approximately 0.68%/​2% of
total soluble plant protein. An in planta bioassay conducted with Myzus
persicae, peach potato aphid (a devastating pest of tobacco and many other
important plants), revealed that the percentage of insect survival decreased
significantly to 16%/​20% in T(0) plants and T(1) progeny, whilst approximately
75% of insects survived on untransformed tobacco plants after 144 h of
incubation. Ligand analyses of insect brush border membrane vesicle receptors
and expressed ASAL in transgenic tobacco showed that the expressed ASAL binds to
the aphid gut receptor in the same manner as native ASAL, pointing to the fact
that ASAL maintains the biochemical characteristics even in the transgenic
situation. These findings in a model plant open up the possibility of expressing
the novel ASAL gene in a wide range of crop plants susceptible to various
sap/​sucking insects.

PMID: 17147631 [PubMed /​ in process]

12: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 21;110(2):294/​304. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights
region.

Aburjai T, Hudaib M, Tayyem R, Yousef M, Qishawi M.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.

The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly
important in defining strategies and actions for conservation of medicinal
plants. This study therefore sought to collect information from local population
concerning the use of Ajloun Heights region medicinal plants; identify the most
important species used; determine the relative importance of the species
surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (ICF) in relation to
medicinal plant use. Data collection relied predominantly on qualitative tools
to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the
medicinal use of specific plants. Our results revealed that 46 plant species
grown in the study region are still in use in traditional medicine for the
treatment of various diseases. Most of the locals interviewed dealt with
well/​known safe medicinal plants such as Achillea falcata, Matricaria aurea,
Majorana syriaca, Allium sativum and Allium cepa. The use of moderately unsafe
or toxic plants was noted to be practiced by practitioners and herbalists rather
than the locals. These plants include Ecballium elaterium, Euphorbia
hierosolymitana, Mandragora autumnalis and Citrullus colocynthis. Kidney
problems scored the highest ICF while Crocus hyemalis was the plant of highest
use value. Searching the literature evidenced some concordance with the
solicited plant uses mentioned by the informants.

PMID: 17097250 [PubMed /​ in process]

13: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Nov;84(5):1027/​32.

Onion and garlic use and human cancer.

Galeone C, Pelucchi C, Levi F, Negri E, Franceschi S, Talamini R, Giacosa A, La
Vecchia C.

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri," Milan, Italy, Italy.
galeone@marionegri.it

BACKGROUND: Interest in the potential benefits of allium vegetables, in
particular, onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum), has its origin in
antiquity, but the details of these benefits are still open to discussion.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of allium vegetables in the etiology of
various neoplasms. Previous data are scanty and are based mainly on Chinese
studies. DESIGN: Using data from an integrated network of Italian and Swiss
case/​control studies, we analyzed the relation between frequency of onion and
garlic use and cancer at several sites. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) by using
multivariate logistic regression models that were adjusted for energy intake and
other major covariates. RESULTS: Consumption of onions varied between 0/​14 and
0/​22 portions/wk among cases and controls, respectively. The multivariate ORs
for the highest category of onion and garlic intake were, respectively, 0.16 and
0.61 for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, 0.12 and 0.43 for esophageal
cancer, 0.44 and 0.74 for colorectal cancer, 0.17 and 0.56 for laryngeal cancer,
0.75 and 0.90 for breast cancer, 0.27 and 0.78 for ovarian cancer, 0.29 and 0.81
for prostate cancer, and 0.62 and 0.69 for renal cell cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This
uniquely large data set from southern European populations shows an inverse
association between the frequency of use of allium vegetables and the risk of
several common cancers. Allium vegetables are a favorable correlate of cancer
risk in Europe.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17093154 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

14: Phytomedicine. 2006 Nov;13(9/​10):624/​9. Epub 2005 Nov 2.

Antidiabetic effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in normal and
streptozotocin/​induced diabetic rats.

Eidi A, Eidi M, Esmaeili E.

Department of Biology, Science & Research Institute, Islamic Azad University,
Tehran, Iran. akram_eidi@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE: The antidiabetic effect of garlic ethanolic extract (Allium sativum
L.) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin/​induced diabetic rats.
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURE: In the present study, oral administration of
garlic extract (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg body wt.) for 14 days on the level of
serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine,
aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in normal
and streptozotocin/​induced diabetic rats were evaluated. RESULTS: Oral
administrations of the garlic extract significantly decreased serum glucose,
total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, AST and ALT
levels, while increased serum insulin in diabetic rats but not in normal rats
(p<0.05). A comparison was made between the action of garlic extract and
glibenclamide (600 microg/kg), the known antidiabetic drug. The antidiabetic
effect of the extract was more effective than that observed with glibenclamide.
CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the plant must be considered as excellent
candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17085291 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

15: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 1;110(1):105/​17. Epub 2006 Sep 23.

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of
hypertension and diabetes in south/​eastern Morocco (Errachidia province).

Tahraoui A, El/​Hilaly J, Israili ZH, Lyoussi B.

UFR Physiology/​Pharmacology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of
Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Dhar El Mehraz, USMBA, BP 1976 Atlas Fez, Morocco.

This survey was undertaken in the Errachidia province in south/​eastern Morocco
in order to inventory the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat
arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Four hundred individuals who knew
about and/or had used the medicinal plants for the indicated diseases, including
some herbal healers, were interviewed throughout different regions of the
province. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table,
which contains the scientific, vernacular and common name of the plant, its
ecological distribution, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the
therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 64
medicinal plants belonging to 33 families; of these, 45 are used for diabetes,
36 for hypertension, and 18 for both diseases. Of these plants, 34% grow in the
wild, 44% are cultivated, and 22% are not indigenous to the area and are brought
from other parts of Morocco or from outside the country. The survey shows that
78% of the patients regularly use these medicinal plants. In this region, the
most frequently used plants to treat diabetes include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa,
Artemisia herba/​alba, Carum carvi, Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Olea
europaea, Peganum harmala, Phoenix dactylifera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and
Zygophyllum gaetulum, and those to treat hypertension include Ajuga iva, Allium
cepa, Allium sativum, Artemisia herba/​alba Asso, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa,
Olea europea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Peganum harmala, and
Phoenix dactylifera. The local people recognize the toxic plants and are very
careful in using such plants, which are Citrullus colocynthis, Datura
stramonium, Nerium oleander, Nigella sativa, Peganum harmala and Zygophyllum
gaetulum. Our survey shows that traditional medicine in the south/​eastern
Moroccan population has not only survived but has thrived in the transcultural
environment and intermixture of many ethnic traditions and beliefs.

PMID: 17052873 [PubMed /​ in process]

16: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Oct 18;54(21):8103/​7.

Increase in the permeability of tonoplast of garlic (Allium sativum) by
monocarboxylic acids.

Bai B, Li L, Hu X, Wang Z, Zhao G.

Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry and Laboratory of Plant Science,
College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural
University, Beijing 100083, China.

Immersion of intact aged garlic (Allium sativum) cloves in a series of 5% weak
organic monocarboxylate solutions (pH 2.0) resulted in green color formation. No
color was formed upon treatment with other weak organic acids, such as citric
and malic acids, and the inorganic hydrochloric acid under the same conditions.
To understand the significance of monocarboxylic acids and their differing
function from that of other acids, acetic acid was compared with organic acids
citric and malic and the inorganic hydrochloric acid. The effects of these acids
on the permeability of plasma and intracellular membrane of garlic cells were
measured by conductivity, light microscopy, and transmission electron
microscopy. Except for hydrochloric acid, treatment of garlic with all three
organic acids greatly increased the relative conductivity of their respective
pickling solutions, indicating that all tested organic acids increased the
permeability of plasma membrane. Moreover, a pickling solution containing acetic
acid exhibited 1.5/​fold higher relative conductivity (approximately 90%) as
compared to those (approximately 60%) of both citric and malic acids, implying
that exposure of garlic cloves to acetic acid not only changed the permeability
of the plasma membrane but also increased the permeability of intracellular
membrane. Exposure of garlic to acetic acid led to the production of precipitate
along the tonoplast, but no precipitate was formed by citric and malic acids.
This indicates that the structure of the tonoplast was damaged by this
treatment. Further support for this conclusion comes from results showing that
the concentration of thiosulfinates [which are produced only by catalytic
conversion of S/​alk(en)yl/​l/​cysteine sulfoxides in cytosol by alliinase located
in the vacuole] in the acetic acid pickling solution is 1.3 mg/mL, but almost no
thiosulfinates were detected in the pickling solution of citric and malic acids.
Thus, all present results suggest that damage of tonoplast by treatment with
monocarboxylates such as acetic acid may be the main reason for the greening of
garlic.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17032016 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

17: Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2006 Nov;12(4):236/​41. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

Potential drug/​herb interaction with antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs.

Saw JT, Bahari MB, Ang HH, Lim YH.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Minden, 11800
Penang, Malaysia. jtsaw@ucsi.edu.my

This is a cross/​sectional survey evaluating the use of herbal medicines in
medical wards patients that may interfere with the effect of antiplatelet or
anticoagulant therapy. Among the 250 patients participated, 42.4% (n=106) were
taking herbs with 76 patients (71.7%) using herbs for the past 12 months.
Overall, almost 31% (n=23, N=76) of patients were taking one or more of the
specified herbal medicines [ginseng (Panax ginseng), garlic (Allium sativum),
ginkgo (Gingko biloba) thought to interact with antiplatelet or anticoagulant
therapy. The study showed that 21% (n=16, N=76) of patients co/​ingested
specified herbs with antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, of which half of
them were at risk of potential drug/​herb interactions. A large proportion of
respondents involved in potential drug/​herb interaction were elderly people
(62.5%, n=5). However, more than 90% of herbal users did not disclose the use of
herbal medicine to their health professionals. It is thus prudent for all care
givers to be aware of the possibility of drug/​herb interaction and inquire about
herbal use from patients.

PMID: 17030294 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

18: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2006 Jun;101(4):387/​90.

Synergism between plant extract and antimicrobial drugs used on Staphylococcus
aureus diseases.

Betoni JE, Mantovani RP, Barbosa LN, Di Stasi LC, Fernandes Junior A.

Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociencias, Universidade Estadual
Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, SP, 18618/​000, Brasil.

Searches for substances with antimicrobial activity are frequent, and medicinal
plants have been considered interesting by some researchers since they are
frequently used in popular medicine as remedies for many infectious diseases.
The aim of this study was to verify the synergism between 13 antimicrobial drugs
and 8 plant extracts/​/​"guaco" (Mikania glomerata), guava (Psidium guajava),
clove (Syzygium aromaticum), garlic (Allium sativum), lemongrass (Cymbopogon
citratus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), "carqueja" (Baccharis trimera), and
mint (Mentha piperita)/​/​against Staphylococcus aureus strains, and for this
purpose, the disk method was the antimicrobial susceptibility test performed.
Petri dishes were prepared with or without dilution of plant extracts at
sub/​inhibitory concentrations in Mueller/​Hinton Agar (MHA), and the inhibitory
zones were recorded in millimeters. In vitro anti/​Staphylococcus aureus
activities of the extracts were confirmed, and synergism was verified for all
the extracts; clove, guava, and lemongrass presented the highest synergism rate
with antimicrobial drugs, while ginger and garlic showed limited synergistic
capacity.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16951808 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

19: Plant Mol Biol. 2006 Nov;62(4/​5):735/​52. Epub 2006 Aug 29.

A novel approach for developing resistance in rice against phloem limited
viruses by antagonizing the phloem feeding hemipteran vectors.

Saha P, Dasgupta I, Das S.

Plant Molecular and Cellular Genetics, Bose Institute, P1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM,
Kolkata 700054, India.

Rice production is known to be severely affected by virus transmitting rice
pests, brown planthopper (BPH) and green leafhopper (GLH) of the order
hemiptera, feeding by phloem abstraction. ASAL, a novel lectin from leaves of
garlic (Allium sativum) was previously demonstrated to be toxic towards
hemipteran pests when administered in artificial diet as well as in ASAL
expressing transgenic plants. In this report ASAL was targeted under the control
of phloem/​specific Agrobacterium rolC and rice sucrose synthase/​1 (RSs1)
promoters at the insect feeding site into popular rice cultivar, susceptible to
hemipteran pests. PCR, Southern blot and C/​PRINS analyses of transgenic plants
have confirmed stable T/​DNA integration and the transgenes were co/​segregated
among self/​fertilized progenies. The T(0) and T(1) plants, harbouring single
copy of intact T/​DNA expression cassette, exhibit stable expression of ASAL in
northern and western blot analyses. ELISA showed that the level of expressed
ASAL was as high as 1.01% of total soluble protein. Immunohistofluorescence
localization of ASAL depicted the expected expression patterns regulated by each
promoter type. In/​planta bioassay studies revealed that transgenic ASAL
adversely affect survival, growth and population of BPH and GLH. GLH resistant
T(1) plants were further evaluated for the incidence of tungro disease, caused
by co/​infection of GLH vectored Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and Rice
tungro spherical virus (RTSV), which appeared to be dramatically reduced. The
result presented here is the first report of such GLH mediated resistance to
infection by RTBV/RTSV in ASAL expressing transgenic rice plant.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16941213 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

20: Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Dec;293(1/​2):119/​36. Epub 2006 Aug 11.

Pre/​exposure to a novel nutritional mixture containing a series of
phytochemicals prevents acetaminophen/​induced programmed and unprogrammed cell
deaths by enhancing BCL/​XL expression and minimizing oxidative stress in the
liver.

Ray SD, Patel N, Shah N, Nagori A, Naqvi A, Stohs SJ.

Molecular Toxicology Laboratories, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Arnold &
Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University,
Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. sray@liu.edu

From a disease/​prevention perspective, recent progress in phytochemical and
nutraceutical research clearly suggests (benefits outweigh the risk pattern).
Although powerful antioxidant properties have been the most acclaimed mechanism
of action for these entities, the individual antioxidants studied in clinical
trials do not appear to have consistent preventative effects. The actions of the
antioxidant nutrients alone do not explain the observed health benefits of diets
rich in fruits and vegetables for chronic diseases. Therefore, we proposed that
the additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables
are responsible for these potent antioxidant and anticancer activities, and that
the benefit of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is attributed to the complex
mixture of phytochemicals present in plants [1]. Surprisingly, however, no
studies have attempted to evaluate the combined antitoxic potential of a
phytochemical/​nutraceutical mixture (PNM) in in vivo models. Therefore, this
study, for the first time, was designed to investigate whether pre/​exposure to a
unique PNM has the ability to impede mechanistic events involved in
acetaminophen (APAP)/​induced hepatotoxicity. Besides several vitamins and
minerals in balanced proportions (approximately US RDA), the PNM used in this
investigation contained several well/​known phytochemicals such as citrus
flavonoids, red wine polyphenols, Garcinia, Gymnema, Ginkgo, Ephedra sinica,
Camellia sinensis, Silybum, Guarana, Eluthero, Allium sativum and Ocimum
basilicum extracts. To evaluate PNM's antitoxic potential, groups of animals ICR
mice, 3 months old) received either a control diet or PNM containing diets (1X
and 10X) for 4 weeks. On day/​28, animals were divided into two subgroups. Half
the animals were administered normal saline and the other half received 400mg/kg
ip injections of APAP. All the animals were sacrificed 24h after APAP exposure.
Serum and tissue (liver and kidneys) samples were analyzed. APAP alone caused
massive liver injury (nearly 495/​fold increase in ALT) and oxidative stress
(Lipid peroxidation: 268% increase in MDA) coupled with genomic DNA
fragmentation (288% increase). Exposure to 1X/​PNM for 28 days significantly
reduced animal mortality and all the APAP/​induced biochemical events (In 1X/​PNM
+ AP: ALT leakage decreased to 54 fold; MDA accumulation decreased to 125%, and
DNA fragmentation decreased to 122%), whereas 10X/​PNM + APAP slightly escalated
both oxidative stress and genomic DNA fragmentation preceding liver injury.
Liver homogenates subjected to western blot analysis disclosed the ability of
1X/​PNM to counteract APAP/​induced decrease in Bcl/​xL expression.
Histopathological evaluation of stained liver tissue sections indicated
anti/​apoptogenic and anti/​necrogenic reponses coupled with near complete
prevention of glycogen depletion by 1X/​PNM. Collectively, our investigation
suggests that a mixture containing an assortment of
phytochemicals/nutraceuticals may serve as a much more powerful blend in
preventing drug or chemical/​induced organ injuries than a single phytochemical
or nutraceutical entity. In addition, ephedra and caffeine containing
PNM/​exposure in a controlled manner may potentially shield vital target organs
from toxicities caused by intentional, unintentional or accidental exposures to
structurally and functionally diverse drug and chemical entities.

PMID: 16902808 [PubMed /​ in process]