Articles tagged with Medicinal Plants
Eight South African plant extracts have been found to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, a potential treatment for high blood pressure. The study identified Tulbaghia violacea, commonly known as wild garlic, as the most promising plant with over 50% ACE inhibition in both extract forms.
A $3 million NSF grant is enabling researchers to combine expertise and solve classification problems for flowering plants. The new system has broken up traditional groups and shuffled others, with Amborella forming the base of the tree.
The team sequenced the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering mustard, enabling scientists to study genes controlling basic plant functions. The knowledge gained will aid in improving crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans, as well as identifying genes in the human sequence.
Researchers found 46% of Peruvian plant extracts inhibited Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacterium. This discovery could lead to developing new pharmaceuticals to combat the disease.
Researchers propose a 10-year effort to understand Arabidopsis genes and their interactions. The goal is to build a complete "wiring diagram" of the plant's biological pathways and create a 'clickable plant' for interactive exploration.
A CSIRO trial found that plant sterol-enriched margarine can reduce LDL cholesterol by an average of 9.6%. The study showed that including the spread in the diet for three weeks resulted in a 10% reduction in cholesterol levels, which may lower the risk of heart disease.
A team of 200 scientists has reconstructed the evolutionary relationships among all green plants, revealing a single common ancestor that spawned every plant species on Earth. The research also clarifies the relationships between plants and animals, overturning traditional categories.
Researchers at UNC-CH have synthesized ginkgolide B, a compound isolated from the ginkgo tree, which has been used as herbal medicine for thousands of years. The successful synthesis may lead to new treatments for dementia, multiple sclerosis, and other illnesses.
Researchers at Virginia Tech successfully cultivated pharmaceutical-producing tobacco, with the goal of producing human proteins for use in pharmaceuticals. The high-density plant cultivation method produced encouraging data and demonstrated flexibility in tobacco varieties.
Valery Terwilliger's research on plant growth in Central America aims to inform reforestation efforts and capitalize on native species. The study reveals how well plants use carbon dioxide and water in tropical forests, which can aid in restoring lost ecosystems.