1,196 research outputs found

    A phytosociological investigation on the mixed hemycryptophitic and therophitic grasslands of the Cornicolani mountains (Lazio Region – central Italy)

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    Abstract In this paper a phytosociological study on the dry grasslands of the Cornicolani mountains is presented. The Cornicolani are a group of isolated limestone hills which emerge from the slightly ondulating grounds of the Rome countryside in the Tyrrhenian side of the central Italy. Eighty-nine relevés were performed using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach. These were further subjected to hierarchical classification and to NMDS ordination. Five major types of grasslands were distinguished: short therophytic grasslands developed on shallow soils dominated, in turns, by Hypochaeris achyrophorus, Plantago lagopus and Plantago bellardii; sub-nitrophilous detriticolous perennial grasslands dominated by Dittrichia viscosa and Helichrysum italicum; Dasypyrum villosum and Vulpia ligustica lawn and fallow annual tall-grasslands; Ampelodesmos mauritanicus grasslands of the rocky S-facing slopes and sub-mesophilous Lolium perenne and Cynodon dactylon grasslands of the flat and pastured areas. From a syntaxonomical standpoint a new associations named Plantaginetum afrae-bellardii was proposed and included in the class Stipo-Trachynetea. In addition the association Helichryso italici-Inuletum viscosae Trinajstić 1965 (nom. inval.) was here validated

    Aromatic Plants in Eurasian Blue Tit Nests: The ‘Nest

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    The ‘Nest Protection Hypothesis’ suggests that some birds add aromatic plants to their nests to repel or kill ectoparasites. This behavior has been described for several species, including the Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We studied the reproductive performance, based on 26 nests (in nest boxes), of this species in mixed forested areas of Quercus spp. and Pinus pinea in the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, the largest park of Lisbon, Portugal. The frequency of aromatic plants in nests was compared with frequency of these plants in the study area. The three most frequent aromatic plants (Dittrichia viscosa, Lavandula dentata, Calamintha baetica) in nests were used more than expected from their availability in the study area. We could not reject the null hypothesis that nest survival rate is independent of the presence of aromatic plants in the nest

    A preliminary check-list of the Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) of the Maltese Islands

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    A list of 147 species of Chalcidoidea from the Maltese Islands is presented 73 of which are here reported for the first time from this territory. They belong to 15 families as follows: Agaonidae (3); Aphelinidae (20 including 3 new records); Azotidae (1 new record); Chalcididae (3 new records); Encyrtidae (23 including 13 new records); Eulophidae (35 including 19 new records); Eupelmidae (7 including 2 new records); Eurytomidae (5 including 4 new records); Leucospidae (4); Mymaridae (2); Ormyridae (1 new record); Pteromalidae (33 including 21 new records); Signiphoridae (2); Tetracampidae (1 new record); Torymidae (7 including 5 new records). Out of the 73 new records, 55 were exclusively found in Malaise trap samples at Verdala Palace near Buskett, a semi-natural wooded area dominated by Pinus halepensis. Thirty species mentioned in the present study were reared from plant-galls, either during the present study or in former studies pertaining to Malta. Of these 8 are gall inducers and the rest are primary or secondary parasitoids of the gall inducers. This list must represent only a small proportion of the actual species richness expected to be found in the Maltese Islands since absolutely no field work was carried out in other diverse and potentially rich habitats, such as steppe, garigue, maquis, coastal habitats and valley systems, present on these islands.peer-reviewe

    Expansión de Dittrichia graveolens (L.) Greuter (Asteraceae) por las carreteras del Pirineo y su relación con el uso de glifosfato

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    Damos cuenta de la rápida expansión de la compuesta Dittrichia graveolens por las carreteras del Pirineo aragonés occidental, especie de fenología otoñal que estaba ausente hasta el momento de su flora. Ligamos esta súbita aparición al uso primaveral del herbicida glifosato para el mantenimiento de las cunetas.We describe the rapid expansion of Dittrichia graveolens (Compositae) on the roads of Western Aragonese Pyrenees.This species has an autumnal phenology and was absent at the time of the West Pyrenean flora. This sudden appearance we believe that is due to the use of the herbicide glyphosate in the spring, for removing herbs of drainage ditches

    Polyphenols, antioxidant activity and mode of action of antimicrobial compounds of Dittrichia viscosa extracts

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    In order to promote the spontaneous plant Dittrichia viscosa known by its use in traditional medicine, the content of phenolic compound in the aqueous and ethanolic extracts was determined according to the colorimetric method based on the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and the antioxidant activity which was evaluated by two methods: DPPH and FRAP. For antimicrobial activity, the microtiter microplate method was applied to the yeast Candida albicans and to two bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Regarding the mode of action of the extracts of tested germs, an evaluation of the nucleic acids released during the lysis of the treated cells was carried by the spectrophotometric assay at wave length 260 nm. The results revealed that the extracts have an interesting content of polyphenols, which is higher in the ethanolic extract. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are higher for the alcoholic extract than the decoction. The MIC for E. coli is 0.28 ± 0.05 mg / ml, 2.290 ± 0.20 mg / ml for Staphylococcus aureus and 33.33 ± 0.33 mg / ml for C. albicans. The alcoholic extract  and decocted of  D. viscosa act  respectively by damaging the bacterial and yeast wall

    Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Dittrichia viscosa subsp viscosa on Helicobacter pylori

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    Dittrichia viscosa subsp. viscosa (Compositae) is found on edges, wood clearings and in waste places of the Iberian Peninsula. Aerial parts of D. viscosa were collected at flowering phase in September-October 2001 around Lisbon, Portugal and the essential oils isolated by hydro-distillation for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Preliminary examination of the essential oils allowed the identification of 32 components. Only four components reached percentages over 5%: fokienol (11.8%), T-muurorol (7.9%), (E)-nerolidol (5.5%) and delta-cadinene (5.0%). The essential oils were tested against Helicobacterpylori and Listeria monocytogenes. Essential oils did not have antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes. The essential oil at 0.88 to 22.22 mu g.ml(-1) did not inhibit the growth of H. pylori, affected the growth slightly at 44.40 mu g.ml(-1), and completely inhibited the growth at 88.80 to 133.20 mu g.ml(-1) Results show that use of D. viscosa essential oil in the treatment of gastric disorders caused by H. pylori can be effective

    Evaluation of Dittrichia viscosa performance in substrates with moderately low levels of As and Cd contamination

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    none7We evaluated the ability of Dittrichia viscosa to extract cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) from agarized substrates with moderately low levels of contamination. This plant species spontaneously colonizes contaminated soils and has already been recognized as suitable for metal phytoremediation. D. viscosa retains As mainly in the roots and translocates it in limited amount to the aerial parts. We compared D. viscosa subpopulations to other plant species (Solalun lycopersicum L., Nicotiana tabacum L. and Daucus carota L.) and observed that their minor cultural needs not always accompanied higher phytoextraction performances. Different subpopulations exhibited different behavior. Based on the results obtained on the analyzed plants, we suggest that D. viscosa is a promising candidate for the phytoextraction of Cd and As from soils with relatively low contamination, cautioning that specific genetic improvements have to be pursued in order to prepare D. viscosa for widespread adoption.openPapadia P.; Barozzi F.; Angile F.; Migoni D.; Piro G.; Fanizzi F.P.; Di Sansebastiano G.-P.Papadia, P.; Barozzi, F.; Angile, F.; Migoni, D.; Piro, G.; Fanizzi, F. P.; Di Sansebastiano, G. -P

    Bio-monitoring of metal(loid)s pollution in dry riverbeds affected by mining activity

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    The aim of this study was to evaluate the most abundant native plants that could be used as a bio-monitor of metal(loid) concentration in dry riverbeds affected by mining activities. Three plants species and their respective rhizospheric soils were sampled from the El Beal (Piptatherum miliaceum, 15 samples), La Carrasquilla (Foeniculum vulgare, 10 samples), and Ponce (Dittrichia viscosa, 12 samples) dry riverbeds from the mining district of Cartegena-La Unión (SE Spain). There is scanty bibliography of the capacity of these species to be used as bio-monitors in the dry riverbeds. Plants categorized as a bio-monitor were established according to the bioaccumulation factor (BF), mobility ratio (MR), and linear correlations between metal(loid) concentrations in plants tissues (root or stem)-rhizospheric soils. The rhizospheric soils were highly contaminated for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn (Cf ≥ 6), and moderately contaminated for Mn (1 ≤ Cf < 3). Piptatherum miliaceum presented on Cd similar mean concentrations on rhizospheric soil and root, BF = 1.07, with a strong correlation soil–root (r = 0.61, p = 0.02). Therefore, of the three species with the capacity to grow in the area, Piptatherum miliaceum showed characteristics to be considered as a bio-monitor for Cd, with a BF > 1, and a positive–significant correlation between the rhizospheric soil and roots.This research (Proyecto PID2019-110311RB-C22) received funding from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033

    Assessment of antigenotoxic activity of Dittrichia viscosa

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    Dissertação de mestrado em Genética MolecularA resistência do nosso genoma é testada diariamente não só por agentes exógenos, de natureza física, química e biológica, mas também por fatores endógenos, que podem causar genotoxicidade e citotoxicidade. Para contra-atacar estes efeitos nocivos, as células possuem vários mecanismos capazes de reparar o ADN ferido, no entanto, em algumas situações os danos estão para além da reparação e a patogénese ocorre. Os investigadores têm a oportunidade de criar novas estratégias terapêuticas com plantas que têm sido usadas na medicina tradicional desde há séculos. Esta possibilidade pode ser muito benéfica para o bem-estar dos seres humanos, por exemplo, para travar ou retardar o desenvolvimento de várias doenças associadas ao envelhecimento. Uma dessas plantas de interesse é a Dittrichia viscosa, típica dos países que circundam o mar Mediterrâneo e consequentemente empregada pela sua população na medicina tradicional. O objetivo deste estudo é verificar se o extrato aquoso de Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta tem atividades biológicas, concretamente, atividade antigenotóxica. E se assim for, compreender o seu mecanismo de ação. Os resultados dos ensaios in vitro, da atividade antioxidante pela captura do radical livre DPPH e da quantificação do conteúdo fenólico total, sugerem que o extrato estudado tem atividade antioxidante devido ao seu conteúdo fenólico, em parte. Além disso, foram realizadas experiências in vivo com o organismo modelo, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, onde foram avaliados as viabilidades, a morfologia nuclear e os comprimentos das leveduras tratadas com o extrato da planta, hidroxiureia e a combinação de ambas. Os resultados obtidos desses testes indicam que o extrato da planta afetou a atividade de HU, um inibidor da replicação do ADN, após um longo período de tempo. Em conclusão, a o extrato aquoso de Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta exibiu atividade antigenotóxica parcialmente explicada pela sua atividade antioxidante.The resistance of our genome is tested on daily basis by not only exogenous agents of physical, chemical and biological nature, but also, by endogenous factors, that can cause genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. To counterattack these harmful effects, cells possess several mechanisms capable of repair injured DNA, nevertheless, in some situations the damage is beyond reparation and pathogenesis takes place. Investigators have the opportunity to create new therapeutic strategies with plants that have been used in traditional medicine from centuries ago. This possibility could be very beneficial for the wellbeing of humans, for example, to halt or retard the development of several diseases associated with ageing. One of those plants of interest is Dittrichia viscosa, typical from countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and consequently employed by their population in traditional medicine. The objective of this study is to verify if Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta aqueous extract has biological activities, concretely, antigenotoxic activity. And if so, comprehend its mechanism of action. The results from in vitro assays, DPPH radical scavenging activity and the quantification of total phenolic content, suggest that the studied extract has antioxidant activity due to their phenolic content, in part. Moreover, in vivo experiments were performed with the model organism, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, where the viability, nuclear morphology and lengths of yeasts cells treated with the plant extract, hydroxyurea and the combination of both, were assessed. The obtained results from those tests point out that the plant extract affected the HU activity, an inhibitor of DNA replication, after a long period of time. In conclusion the Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta aqueous extract had antiogentotoxic activity partially explained by its antioxidant activity
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