Major Pests and Pest Management Strategies in the Sweet Pepper (<em>Capsicum annuum</em>)

Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) (Solanaceae) fruits have been used as a food ingredient in Peru for more than 8,000 years. Then gradually, the plant has been cultivated in several countries worldwide. The fruits of the plant can be added to soups and stews as spices. These were reported to treat fevers, seasickness, muscle sprains, or soreness. Thrips, whiteflies, mites, and aphids were critical pests in sweet peppers. Therefore, effectively managing this important fruit to improve its yields and quality is very important. Pesticides have harmful effects on the environment and health of people. Therefore, alternative pest management strategies become more advisable to control pests of sweet pepper. These strategies including intercropping of sweet pepper with other plants, oviposition deterrents, natural enemy release, use of resistant cultivars, and eliciting plant defenses are implemented as environment-friendly control methods

Toxicity study in mice of resins of three Commiphora species

Acute toxicity studies of crude extracts of resins of Commiphora myrrha, C. guidottii and C. erlangeriana, and pure compounds isolated from C. erlangeriana were conducted on Swiss albino mice. The extract from C. erlangeriana had a mean LD50 of 410 mg/kg body weight. However the extracts from C. myrrha and C. guidotti were not toxic at the doses tested. The pure compound isolated from C. erlangeriana, erlangerin D (1) demonstrated a mean LD50 of 140 mg/kg body weight. On the other hand erlangerin A (2) was not toxic to the mice at even four times the LD50 value of erlangerin D (1). Key words/phrases: Commiphora erlangeriana, C. guidotti, C. myrrha, myrrh, opopanax SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.26(2) 2003: 151-15

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of leaves of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) herb

Background: Leaves and flowering parts of Ocimum basilicum are believed to be rich of different phytochemicals and are traditionally used as antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, galactogogue, stomachic, and tonic agents. Hence, the study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of the leaves of sweet basil (O. basilicum) herb.Methods: The leaf extract was used for screening of phytochemicals. A small amount of the powdered leaves of the plant was subjected to hydrodistillation to extract the essential oil, and the components of the essential oil were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy instrument. The extract was tested in vitro for its antibacterial activity against two bacteria; Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against two fungi; Aspergillus niger and Rhizoctonia bataticola by paper disc diffusion method.Results: Results revealed the presence of many phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, cholesterol, terpernoids, glycosides, phenols, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, and phlobatannins. The essential oil extracted from the leaves of O. basilicum was found to have estragole (38.22%) as a major constituent followed by 1-isopropyl-4-methylenecyclohex-1-ene (11.10%). Tests of antimicrobial activity showed that the hydrodistilled oil was effective against all the tested bacterial and fungal strains. However, the crude extract was found not to have antimicrobial activity toward the tested bacteria and fungi.Conclusion: So, the study has showed that the observed antimicrobial effect of O. basilicum essential oil on the bacterial and fungal isolate, though in vitro appear interesting and promising. So, emphasize have to made on the antimicrobial activities of the plant during the time of drug extraction

Triterpenes from the resin of Boswellia neglecta

The resin of Boswellia neglecta yielded four triterpenes canaric acid, a -amyrin, a -amyrone and epi-a -amyrin. Canaric acid and epi-a -amyrin are isolated here for the first time from the family Burseraceae. The compounds were identified using 1D and 2D NMR techniques. (Received March 13, 2002; revised May 17, 2002) Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2002, 16(1), 87-90

Dammarane triterpenes from the resins of Commiphora confusa

The resin of Commiphora confusa afforded two new dammarane triterpenes, (3R,20S)-3,20-dihydroxydammar-24-ene and (3R,20S)-3-acetoxy-20-hydroxydammar-24-ene along with the known triterpenes, cabraleadiol 3-acetate and a -amyrin. (Received March 13, 2002; revised May 17, 2002) Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2002, 16(1), 81-86

Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of essential oils from resin of Commiphora species

ABSTRACT. Essential oils (EOs) were prepared by the hydro-distillation technique from the resins of four Commiphora species and analyzed by GC-MS. Major constituents of EOs were a-copaene (22.71%), β-caryophyllene (28.03%) and β-caryophyllene oxide (13.89%) for C. sphaerocarpa; a-pinene (29.1%) for C. africana; hexadecane (14.1%) for C. habessinica and δ-cadinene (31.5%) for C. schimperi. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of EOs in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by measuring nitric oxide (NO). The effect in mRNA or protein level after EO treatment were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Among four Commiphora species, C. sphaerocarpa EO demonstrated a significant inhibition of LPS by 27.2±3.6% at 10 μg/mL and 62.3±5.2% at 20 μg/mL. C. sphaerocarpa EO inhibited LPS mediated iNOS over expression in both protein and mRNA level with dose dependent manner. It inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, ATF2. The enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of the EO of the plant was due to HO-1 expression by ROS dependent Nrf2 activation in RAW264.7 cells. These findings indicate C. sphaerocarpa EO inhibits the pro-inflammatory responses by inhibiting MAPK/ATF2, and triggering ROS/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Therefore, C. sphaerocarpa EO could have potential for useful therapeutic candidate preventing and treating inflammatory diseases. &nbsp; KEY WORDS: GC-MS, Anti-inflammatory, C. africana, C. habessinica, C. sphaerocarpa, C. schimperi &nbsp; Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(2), 399-415.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i2.13 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp

A comparative study of volatile components of propolis (bee glue) collected from Haramaya University and Assela Beekeeping Centers, Ethiopia

The investigation of the volatile compounds of essential oils of propolis from two geographic origins of Ethiopia (Haramaya and Assela) was made by GC-MS. A total of 62 components of the oil were identified from both samples. The identified constituents of the oils may be divided into seven different groups: oxygenated monoterpenes (29.81% Haramaya, 9.45% Asella), sesquiterpenes (15.20% Haramaya, 19.05% Assela), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (11.86% Haramaya, 18.56% Assela), aromatic (14.93% Haramaya, 4.25% Assela), oxygenated aromatic (17.59% Haramaya, 4.58% Assela), aliphatic (5.06% Haramaya, 7.62% Assela) and oxygenated aliphatic (7.84% Haramaya, 25.17% Asella). The major volatile compounds of Haramaya propolis consist of calamenene (13.82%), 4-terpineol (8.57%), epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene (8.37%), 4-(2-acetyl-5,5-dimethylcyclopent-2-enylidene)butan-2-one (7.83%) and 3-isopropyl-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(3-oxobutyl)-cyclo- hexanecarbaldehyde (5.90%). Whereas the most abundant constituents of Assela propolis were 5,6,7,8-tetramethylbicyclo[4,1,0]hept-4-en-3-one (15.01%), acoradien (13.77%), epicedrol (6.80%) and (6E,6E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,6,10,14-hexadecatetraen-3-ol (6.14%). Ten compounds which were found in both samples of propolis were trans-pinocarveol, α-cadinol, cis-verbenol, α-campholenal, 4-terpineol, p-cymen-8-ol, p-menth-1-en-8-ol, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, calamenene and 3-isopropyl-6-methyl-2-oxo-1-(3-oxobutyl)-cyclohexanecarbaldehyde.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v26i3.

Phytochemical Investigation and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Foeniculum vulgare Leaves Extract Ingredient of Ethiopian Local Liquor

Medicinal plants are of great interest to the researcher in the field of biotechnology, as natural products, including medicinal plants, accounts 25% of prescribed drugs. Plants are sources for fragrances, drink colors and flavors in several countries including Ethiopia. All parts of Foeniculum vulgare were traditionally used as antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, galactagogues, stomach and kidney ailment. Foeniculum vulgare leaves extract was investigated for its phytochemicals as well as antimicrobial effects. The petroleum ether, CHCl3, CHCl3/CH3OH (1:1) and CH3OH crude extract were subjected to phytochemicals screening test which revealed that it is rich in any primary and secondary metabolites such as steroids, tannins, flavonoids, cholesterol, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, and proteins. The essential oil of the plant leaves was investigated by GC?MS and was found to have (64.92%) anethole, as a major constituent followed by (30.88%) estragole and (3.21%) fenchyl acetate. The crude extracts, oil, and the isolated compound were tested against four bacterial species (Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri; Gram positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyrogenes) and two fungal species (Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger) using paper disc diffusion method. Tests of antimicrobial activity showed that all crude extracts and isolated pure compound were active against all the tested bacterial and fungal species. However, the hydrodistillation extract was found to have no antibacterial activity towards the tested bacterial species but active against the two fungal species and thus the present study supported the traditional claims of the plant