Is ethnic density associated with health in a context of social disadvantage? Findings from the Born in Bradford cohort.

YesObjectives In this study we aimed to test the associations between area-level ethnic density and health for Pakistani and White British residents of Bradford, England. Design The sample consisted of 8610 mothers and infant taking part in the Born in Bradford cohort. Ethnic density was measured as the percentage of Pakistani, White British or South Asian residents living in a Lower Super Output Area. Health outcomes included birth weight, preterm birth and smoking during pregnancy. Associations between ethnic density and health were tested in multilevel regression models, adjusted for individual covariates and area deprivation. Results In the Pakistani sample, higher ethnic density was associated with lower birth weight (b -0.82, 95% CI -1.63; -0.02), and higher South Asian density was associated with a lower probability of smoking during pregnancy (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98; 1.00). Pakistani women in areas with 50-70% South Asian residents were less likely to smoke than those living in areas with less than 10% South Asian residents (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16;0.97). In the White British sample, neither birth weight nor preterm birth was associated with ethnic density. The probability of smoking during pregnancy was lower in areas with 10-29.99% compared to < 10% South Asian density (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64; 0.98). Conclusion In this sample, ethnic density was associated with lower odds of smoking during pregnancy but not with higher birth weight or lower odds of preterm birth. Possibly, high levels of social disadvantage inhibit positive effects of ethnic density on health.Hall Dorman studentship , also Wellcome and NIH

Recircumscription and distribution of elements of the ‘Ceterach cordatum’ complex (Asplenium: Aspleniaceae) in southern Africa

Ceterachoid aspleniums in southern Africa have long been treated as a single widespread and variable taxon, Asplenium cordatum (Thunb.) Sw. (= Ceterach cordatum Thunb.). In addition to A. cordatum, a further two ceterachoid taxa are now recognized as occurring in the Flora of southern Africa (FSA) region, namely A. capense (Kunze) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis and A. phillipsianum (Kümmerle) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis. We provide full descriptions and distributions of these three taxa.http://www.sanbi.org/products/publications/bothalia.ht

Triandra pellabergensis (Hyacinthaceae subfam. Urgineoideae), a new genus and species from Pella se Berge, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of subfamily Urgineoideae based on morphological, genetic and phytogeographic data covering numerous samples from its whole range of distribution, we here describe a new genus and species from Pella se Berge in northwestern South Africa. Triandra gen. nov. is easily characterized by the absence of stamens associated with the outer tepal whorl, therefore having only three stamens per flower, a character previously unknown in Hyacinthaceae. Triandra pellabergensis sp. nov. produces hypogeal bulbs with filiform proteranthous leaves, spurred bracts, lax racemes with few, nodding, nocturnal flowers and erect capsules with the withered tepals persisting atop. The new species resembles Urginea revoluta in general morphology, although this latter species has six stamens per flower, a different seed morphology, a distinct phytogeographic pattern, and a distant phylogenetic relationship. A complete morphological description is presented for the new genus and species, including data on its biology, ecology and distribution.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), and the grants ACIE18–03 UAUSTI18–02 and UAUSTI19-08 from the University of Alicante

ISOFLAVONES FROM CALPURNIA AUREA SUBSP. AUREA AND THEIR ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Background: Calpurnia aurea is an African medicinal plant used in many countries in Africa to treat a range of medical conditions or disorders. Extracts of the plant were shown to be active in antibacterial and antioxidant assays as well as against lice, ticks and maggots. The aim of the study was to isolate the phytochemical constituents from the plant and to test them in appropriate bioassays dependent on the compounds isolated in order to provide a rationale for the use of the plant in ethno-medicine or to provide some information on its constituents. Materials and methods: The stem and bark of the plant was extracted with organic solvents of varying polarity and the extracts separated and purified using column chromatography. The isolated compounds were identified by NMR spectroscopy and the compounds were tested for their in vitro anticancer activity against breast (MCF7), renal (TK10) and melanoma (UACC62) human cell lines using an in house method developed at the CSIR, South Africa. Results: The isoflavones, 4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (1), 7,3′-dihydroxy-5′-methoxyisoflavone (2), 7-hydroxy-4′,8-dimethoxyisoflavone (3), 7-acetoxy-4′,8-dimethoxyisoflavone (4) and 3',7-dihydroxy-4′,8-dimethoxyisoflavone (5), a pterocarpan (3-acetoxy-9-methoxypterocarpan) and a quinolizidine alkaloid (calpurnine) were isolated from the stem and bark of Calpurnia aurea. The tetrasubstituted isoflavone 5 was found to be the most active in the three cell lines amongst all the compounds tested. This was followed by trisubstituted isoflavone 2. Conclusion: The isoflavones showed moderate activity against the renal, melanoma and breast cancer cell lines tested against, with the isoflavones 2 and 5 showing the best activity of the compounds tested. These isoflavones may have a synergistic effect with other anticancer drugs

Vera-duthiea zebrina (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from eastern South Africa, and a first genus record for southern Africa

In the course of revising the subfamily Urgineoideae of the Hyacinthaceae it became evident, based on molecular and morphological data, that some plants usually named ‘Drimia indica’ from northeastern South Africa represent rather an undescribed species of Vera-duthiea. This is the first record of this genus occurring in southern Africa. The new species (V. zebrina) was collected and illustrated some 50 years ago, but never validly published. We here provide data on its morphology, ecology, and distribution.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh)

Asphodelaceae : Alooideae. Gasteria croucheri subsp.Pondoensis, a new cremnophyte from Pondoland, South Africa

We describe a new subspecies of Gasteria croucheri (Hook.f.) Baker from northern Pondoland, Eastern Cape, an obligate cremnophyte belonging to Gasteria Duval sect. Longifl orae Haw. ser. Longifoliae Haw. The members of this series are all characterized by narrow, elliptical, comparatively dull-coloured fl owers in which the swelling in the upper half approximates the rather unpronounced basal gasteriform portion (Van Jaarsveld et al. 1994). Mature specimens of the new taxon produce both leaves (up to 1.5 m long) and fl owers (up to 50 mm long) that are exceptionally long in the genus. To date, plants have only been found in the Msikaba and Mtentu River systems adjacent to Mkambati Game Reserve (Figure 8), the topography of which is characterized by rugged plateaux of 100–500 m, dissected deeply by narrow river gorges. This distribution falls within the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism (Van Wyk & Smith 2001). Specimens grow on cliffs both fully exposed on southern aspects, as well as within the shaded margins of riverine forest. It is a clump-forming species with long, angular and often sickle-shaped leaves, most of which are pendulous in mature specimens (Figure 9).http://www.sanbi.or

Kalanchoe winteri Gideon F.Sm., N.R.Crouch & Mich.Walters (Crassulaceae), a new species from the Wolkberg Centre of Endemism, South Africa

A new Kalanchoe species, K. winteri Gideon F.Sm., N.R.Crouch & Mich.Walters, is described from rocky grasslands of the Wolkberg region of Limpopo province, South Africa. The species is closely allied to both K. thyrsiflora Harv. and K. luciae Raym.-Hamet, from which it is readily separable on vegetative and reproductive characteristics.Eine neue Kalanchoe-Art, K. winteri Gideon F. Sm., N. R. Crouch & Mich.Walters, wird aus felsigen Grasländern der Wolkberg- Region in der Provinz Limpopo, Südafrika, beschrieben. Die Art ist nah mit K. thyrsiflora Harv. und K. luciae Raym.-Hamet verwandt, von denen sie leicht durch vegetative und generative Merkmale unterschieden werden kann.http://www.bcss.org.uk/brad.phpam2017Centre for Wildlife Managemen

The African plants initiative (API) in South Africa

Given the ongoing and often destructive impact of humans on the natural environment, the need for sound and robust taxonomies has become critically important (see for example Godfray & Knapp, 2004). The difficulty with naming organisms is especially acute in African countries, where resources and facilities for taxonomic research are limited (Klopper & al., 2002), and biodiversity is usually relatively high. South Africa, for example, incorporates the world’s richest temperate flora with 19,581 indigenous plant species from 2267 genera and 349 families of vascular plants (Germishuizen & al., 2006; Steenkamp & Smith, 2006). Approximately 65% of the country’s vascular plant species are endemic (Raimondo & al., 2009), with many occurring in its three regions and 15 centres of plant endemism (Van Wyk & Smith, 2001). Expertise as well as preserved and living material of the biodiversity of developing nations—typically former colonies of imperialist nations—are often located in developed countries and not available in the country of origin (Figueiredo & Smith, 2010). The CBD recognises this impediment and in Article 17 calls on signatory parties to exchange and repatriate information to facilitate research (Global Taxonomy Initiative, 2001). To overcome the obstacle of having to physically ship valuable—and essentially irreplaceable—pressed plant specimens between herbaria around the world, the African Plants Initiative (API) was conceived. The notion was to scan type specimens and make electronic images of them available online. This approach efficiently enables both virtual repatriation of information, and access by researchers of other herbaria to the most important accessioned material, thus removing some of the constraints to taxonomic work. It has been six years since the inception of the API, and this paper reports on its achievements in South Africa, one of the founding countries of the thrust

A revised generic classification for <em>Aloe</em> (Xanthorrhoeaceae subfam. Asphodeloideae)

Grace, Olwen M., Klopper, Ronell R., Smith, Gideon F., Crouch, Neil R., Figueiredo, Estrela, Rønsted, Nina, Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2013): A revised generic classification for Aloe (Xanthorrhoeaceae subfam. Asphodeloideae). Phytotaxa 76 (1): 7-14, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.76.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.76.1.

Reinstatement of Aloe candelabrum A.Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a tree-like aloe of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Aloe candelabrum A.Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a stately, single-stemmed species from the KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa, which had been included in the synonymy of A. ferox Mill. for some years, is reinstated. The entire distribution range of A. candelabrum falls within the Maputoland-Pondoland Region of Endemism on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In contrast, Aloe ferox occurs widely in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, the southern Free State province, as well as southern Lesotho. It does not occur in KwaZulu-Natal.Aloe candelabrum A. Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), eine stattliche, einstämmige Art aus der Provinz KwaZulu-Natal im östlichen Südafrika, die jahrelang in die Synonymie von A. ferox Mill. gestellt wurde, wird wieder anerkannt. Das gesamte Verbreitungsgebiet von A. candelabrum liegt innerhalb der Endemismus- Region Maputoland-Pondoland an der östlichen Meeresküste von Südafrika. Im Gegensatz dazu ist Aloe ferox weit verbreitet in den südafrikanischen Provinzen Western Cape und Eastern Cape, der südlichen Provinz Free State sowie im südlichen Lesotho; in KwaZulu-Natal kommt sie nicht vor.http://www.bcss.org.uk/brad.phpam2017Plant Scienc