Plants For Treatment Of Diseases Research Articles

NIR-assisted orchid virus therapy using urchin bimetallic nanomaterials in phalaenopsis

The use of nanoparticles has drawn special attention, particularly in the treatment of plant diseases. Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) and Odontoglossum ring spot virus (ORSV) are the most prevalent and serious diseases that affect the development of the orchid industry. In this study we treated nanoparticles as a strategy for enhancing the resistance of orchids against CymMV and ORSV. After chitosan-modified gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were injected into Phalaenopsis leaves, the injected leaves were exposed to 980 nm laser for light–heat conversion. To evaluate virus elimination in the treated Phalaenopsis leaves, the transcripts of coat protein genes and the production of viral proteins were assessed by reverse transcription-Polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The expression of coat protein genes for both CymMV and ORSV was significantly lower in the chitosan-modified Au NP-treated Phalaenopsis leaves than in the control. Similarly, the amount of coat proteins for both viruses in the Phalaenopsis leaves was lower than that in the control (without nanoparticle injection). We propose that the temperature increase in the chitosan-modified Au NP-treated Phalaenopsis tissues after laser exposure reduces the viral population, consequently conferring resistance against CymMV and ORSV. Our findings suggest that the application of chitosan-modified Au NPs is a promising new strategy for orchid virus therapy.

An ethnoveterinary study of medicinal plants in treatment of diseases and syndromes of herd dog in southern regions of Ilam province, Iran

This paper describes a selection of the ethnoveterinary medicines used for herd dogs in the southern regions of Ilam province, Iran. Traditional botanical medicine is the primary mode of healthcare for most of the rural population in Ilam province. In this study, a questionnaire was distributed among 45 residential areas in 22 rural zones of the southern areas of Ilam province. The objective of this study was the recognition of natural medicinal methods using medicinal plants, and the classification of ethnoveterinary applications and collection of domestic science. Twenty-two medicinal plants from 16 families were identified. The main application of these plants was for the detection and treatment of digestive disorders using Citrullus colocynthis, Aristolochia clematis, Scrophularia deserti, Quercus brantii, Ceracus microcarpa, Echium strigosa, Pistacia atlantica, and Pistacia khinjuk which have been applied using Euphurbia graminifolius, Peganum harmala, Salsola rigida, Artemisia herba-alba, Amygdalus arabica, jolbak of salt water, Peganum harmala L., and Nicotina tabacum for external and internal parasite disorders. S. deserti for ophthalmic disorders, and P. atlantica, P. khinjuk, and Q. brantii for respiratory disorders were applied. The present study confirmed the traditional medical effects of some plants and revealed the unique medical effects of other plants, which if recognized could be useful in the creation of new ideas and increasing knowledge for the modern pharmaceutical industry. Since very few clinical trials have been conducted on plants native to Ilam province, it is necessary that more research be conducted to ensure that labeled and standardized products are introduced for human consumption.

Folk Medicinal Uses of Verbenaceae Family Plants in Bangladesh

Folk medicinal practitioners form the first tier of primary health-care providers to most of the rural population of Bangladesh. They are known locally as Kavirajes and rely almost solely on oral or topical administration of whole plants or plant parts for treatment of various ailments. Also about 2% of the total population of Bangladesh are scattered among more than twenty tribes residing within the country's borders. The various tribes have their own tribal practitioners, who use medicinal plants for treatment of diseases. The objective of the present survey was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes and tribal practitioners to determine which species of plants belonging to the Verbenaceae family are used by the practitioners. The Verbenaceae family plants are well known for constituents having important bio-active properties. The present survey indicated that 13 species belonging to 8 genera are used by the folk and tribal medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh. A comparison of their folk medicinal uses along with published reports in the scientific literature suggests that the Verbenaceae family plants used in Bangladesh can potentially be important sources of lead compounds or novel drugs for treatment of difficult to cure debilitating diseases like malaria and rheumatoid arthritis.

Complex genetic, photothermal, and photoacoustic analysis of nanoparticle-plant interactions

Understanding the nature of interactions between engineered nanomaterials and plants is crucial in comprehending the impact of nanotechnology on the environment and agriculture with a focus on toxicity concerns, plant disease treatment, and genetic engineering. To date, little progress has been made in studying nanoparticle-plant interactions at single nanoparticle and genetic levels. Here, we introduce an advanced platform integrating genetic, Raman, photothermal, and photoacoustic methods. Using this approach, we discovered that multiwall carbon nanotubes induce previously unknown changes in gene expression in tomato leaves and roots, particularly, up-regulation of the stress-related genes, including those induced by pathogens and the water-channel LeAqp2 gene. A nano-bubble amplified photothermal/photoacoustic imaging, spectroscopy, and burning technique demonstrated the detection of multiwall carbon nanotubes in roots, leaves, and fruits down to the single nanoparticle and cell level. Thus, our integrated platform allows the study of nanoparticles' impact on plants with higher sensitivity and specificity, compared to existing assays.

Orchids : A review of uses in traditional medicine, its phytochemistry and pharmacology

Many of the epiphytic orchids are used as traditional medicine. Chemical components and pharmacology have been studied in recent 15 years. Medicinal orchids, in general, are not subjected to detailed pharmacological studies. A wide range of chemical compounds are presented including alkaloids, bibenzyl derivatives, flavonoids, phenanthrenes and terpenoids which have been isolated recently from this species. Extracts and metabolites of these plants, particularly those from flowers and leaves, possess useful pharmacological activities. Particular attention has been given to diuretic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, hypoglycemic activities, antimicrobial, anticonvulsive, relaxation, neuroprotective, and antivirus, activities. A comprehensive account of chemical constituents and biological activities is presented and a critical appraisal of the ethnopharmacological issues is included in view of the many recent findings of importance of these orchids. A large number of orchids have been empirically used for treatment of different diseases, thus, several studies have been undertaken to provide scientific proof to justify the medicinal use of various plants in treatment of diseases. The aim of this review is to up-date and to present a comprehensive analysis of traditional and folklore uses, pharmacological reports and phyto-constituents isolated from the orchids family. Key words: Orchids, medicinal plant, traditional uses, chemical constituents, biological activities.

Nanoparticle penetration and transport in living pumpkin plants: in situsubcellular identification

BackgroundIn recent years, the application of nanotechnology in several fields of bioscience and biomedicine has been studied. The use of nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of substances has been given special attention and is of particular interest in the treatment of plant diseases. In this work both the penetration and the movement of iron-carbon nanoparticles in plant cells have been analyzed in living plants of Cucurbita pepo.ResultsThe nanoparticles were applied in planta using two different application methods, injection and spraying, and magnets were used to retain the particles in movement in specific areas of the plant. The main experimental approach, using correlative light and electron microscopy provided evidence of intracellular localization of nanoparticles and their displacement from the application point. Long range movement of the particles through the plant body was also detected, particles having been found near the magnets used to immobilize and concentrate them. Furthermore, cell response to the nanoparticle presence was detected.ConclusionNanoparticles were capable of penetrating living plant tissues and migrating to different regions of the plant, although movements over short distances seemed to be favoured. These findings show that the use of carbon coated magnetic particles for directed delivery of substances into plant cells is a feasible application.

Homeopathic Treatment ofArabidopsis thalianaPlants Infected withPseudomonas syringae

Homeopathic basic research is still in the screening phase to identify promising model systems that are adapted to the needs and peculiarities of homeopathic medicine and pharmacy. We investigated the potential of a common plant-pathogen system, Arabidopsis thaliana infected with the virulent bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, regarding its response towards a homeopathic treatment. A. thaliana plants were treated with homeopathic preparations before and after infection. Outcome measure was the number of P. syringae bacteria in the leaves of A. thaliana, assessed in randomized and blinded experiments. After a screening of 30 homeopathic preparations, we investigated the effect of Carbo vegetabilis 30x, Magnesium phosphoricum 30x, Nosode 30x, Biplantol (a homeopathic complex remedy), and Biplantol 30x on the infection rate in five or six independent experiments in total. The screening yielded significant effects for four out of 30 tested preparations. In the repeated experimental series, only the homeopathic complex remedy Biplantol induced a significant reduction of the infection rate (p = 0.01; effect size, d = 0.38). None of the other four repeatedly tested preparations (Carbo vegetabilis 30x, Magnesium phosphoricum 30x, Nosode 30x, Biplantol 30x) yielded significant effects in the overall evaluation. This phytopathological model yielded a small to medium effect size and thus might be of interest for homeopathic basic research after further improvement. Compared to Bion (a common SAR inducer used as positive control), the magnitude of the treatment effect of Biplantol was about 50%. Thus, homeopathic formulations might have a potential for the treatment of plant diseases after further optimization. However, the ecological impact should be investigated more closely before widespread application.

Biotechnological War against Biofilms. Could Phages Mean the End of Device-Related Infections?

Microorganisms universally attach to surfaces, resulting in biofilm formation. These biofilms entail a serious problem in daily clinical practice because of the great prevalence of implantable device-related infections. Differences in antibiotic activity against planktonic and sessile bacteria may relate to clinical failures in the treatment of biofilm-related infections (BRI). Bacteriophages have several characteristics that make them potentially attractive therapeutic agents in some selected clinical settings, like for example BRI. They are highly specific and very effective in lysing targeted bacteria, moreover, they appear to be safe for humans. Many studies have shown the potential of phages for the treatment of infectious diseases in plants and animals, including infections with highly drug-resistant bacteria. The therapeutic use of bacteriophages, possibly in combination with antibiotics, may be a valuable approach in BRI. However, many important questions still remain that must be addressed before phages can be endorsed for therapeutic use in humans.

Automatic detection of ‘yellow rust’ in wheat using reflectance measurements and neural networks

Excessive use of pesticides for plant disease treatment increases costs and raises the danger of toxic residue levels on agricultural products. As pesticides are among the highest components in the production costs of field crops and have been identified as a major contributor to ground water contamination, their use must be minimised. This can be achieved by more precise targeting of pesticides to those places in the field where they are needed. Therefore, a simple and cost-effective optical device is needed for remote disease detection, based on canopy reflectance in several wavebands. In this study, the difference in spectral reflectance between healthy and diseased wheat plants was investigated at an early stage in the development of the “yellow rust” disease. In-field spectral images were taken with a spectrograph mounted at spray boom level. A normalisation method based on reflectance and light intensity adjustments was developed. An innovative technique for visualisation of data properties and interrelations between variables is presented, based on Self-Organizing Maps. Disease detection algorithms were developed, based on neural networks. Through the use of neural networks and more specifically multilayer perceptrons, classification performance increased from 95% to more than 99% using a total of 5137 leaf spectra for evaluation. These results encourage prospects for the development of a cost-effective optical device for recognising diseases at an early stage.

Interactions of metal ions with chitosan-based sorbents: a review

Abstract Metal cations can be adsorbed by chelation on amine groups of chitosan in near neutral solutions. In the case of metal anions, the sorption proceeds by electrostatic attraction on protonated amine groups in acidic solutions. However, the presence of ligands and the pH strongly control sorption performance (sorption isotherm) and the uptake mechanism (changing the speciation of the metal may result in turning the chelation mechanism into the electrostatic attraction mechanism). Several examples are discussed with precious metals (Pd, Pt), oxo-anions (Mo, V) and heavy metals (Cu, Ag). Sorption performance (equilibrium uptake but also kinetics) is also strictly controlled by other structural parameters of the polymer (degree of deacetylation, crystallinity for example) that control swelling and diffusion properties of chitosan. The identification of the limiting steps of the sorption process helps in designing new derivatives of chitosan. Diffusion properties may be improved by physical modification of chitosan (manufacturing gel beads, decreasing crystallinity). Selectivity can be enhanced by chemical modification (grafting, for example, sulfur compounds). Several examples are discussed to demonstrate the versatility of the material. This versatility allows the polymer to be used under different forms (from water soluble form, to solid form, gels, fibers, hollow fibers …) for polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration and sorption processes. These interactions of metal ions with chitosan can be used for the decontamination of effluents, for the recovery of valuable metals but also for the development of new materials or new processes involving metal-loaded chitosan. Several examples are cited in the design of new sorbing materials, the development of chitosan-supported catalysts, the manufacturing of new materials for opto-electronic applications or agriculture (plant disease treatment …).

Recent Developments in the Chemotherapy of Plant Diseases

The search for chemical substances to control plant and animal diseases started as soon as the microbial nature of the diseases. was established early in the nineteenth century.. At present several chemical substances, both inorganic and organic, are being used for combating these diseases. But the study of plant chemotherapy i, e. the treatment of plant diseases with chemicals which act within the host plant is a relatively recent subject and more and more attention, is being paid to it at present in the United States of America and in England. An attempt is made here to bring together the latest developments and findings in plant chemotherapy.

TECHNIQUES IN THE BIOASSAY OF SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDES

In the limited time at my disposal, it would be out of the question to attempt an exhaustive survey of the techniques used in testing compounds for the internal treatment of plant diseases, particularly as some of these tests will be considered by the later speakers. This talk will, in fact, be devoted largely to describing the test which we have developed at Long Ashton, and I will try to indicate some of the difficulties which we have encountered. However, before I deal with the particulars, I will try to outline some general principles.

The California Vine Disease . By Newton B. Pierce. Bulletin No. 2. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 222 p, pl. 25, charts 2.; Report on the Experiments made in 1891 in the Treatment of Plant Diseases . By B. T. Galloway. Bulletin No. 3. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 76 p. pl.

<i>The California Vine Disease</i> . By Newton B. Pierce. Bulletin No. 2. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 222 p, pl. 25, charts 2.; <i>Report on the Experiments made in 1891 in the Treatment of Plant Diseases</i> . By B. T. Galloway. Bulletin No. 3. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 76 p. pl.

Ballistic Galvanometer

Ballistic Galvanometer

The California Vine Disease . By Newton B. Pierce. Bulletin No. 2. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 222 p, pl. 25, charts 2.; Report on the Experiments made in 1891 in the Treatment of Plant Diseases . By B. T. Galloway. Bulletin No. 3. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 76 p. pl.

<i>The California Vine Disease</i> . By Newton B. Pierce. Bulletin No. 2. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 222 p, pl. 25, charts 2.; <i>Report on the Experiments made in 1891 in the Treatment of Plant Diseases</i> . By B. T. Galloway. Bulletin No. 3. Division of Vegetable Pathology, U.S. Dep't. Agric. Washington, 1892. 76 p. pl.

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part III

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part III

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part II. Treatment of Pear Leaf-Blight and Scab in the Orchard

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part II. Treatment of Pear Leaf-Blight and Scab in the Orchard

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part I. Treatment of Black Rot of Grapes

Experiments in the Treatment of Plant Diseases. Part I. Treatment of Black Rot of Grapes