Morphological and phytochemical features of secretory structures in Hypericum richeri (Clusiaceae)

Structural and complementary chemical studies were carried out on Hypericum richeri, a lesser known species amongst those reported for folk medical use. We found only one type of secretory glands consisting of black dots which are present even in early emerging leaves. In the fully expanded leaves the nodular structure appears to be composed by a cluster of cells. These become unfunctional and disassembled towards the end of their development, and are used only as reservoirs of secretion products. HPTLC analyses showed that flower buds and flowers are the plant parts richest in active compounds. However, the spectrum of active compounds accumulated by H. richeri was both quantitatively and qualitatively similar to those reported for the pharmaceutically utilized. H. perforatum, and thus could potentially represent a possible alternative to this species

THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF RUST INFECTION AGAINST OZONE, SULFUR-DIOXIDE AND PARAQUAT TOXICITY SYMPTOMS IN BROAD BEAN

A localized but highly protective effect of rust infection towards injury induced by the air pollutants ozone and sulphur dioxide, either alone or in mixture and the herbicide paraquat was found. The effect was proportional to inoculum density, was non-translocatable, and dependent on temperature. Protection continued even after the infection was no longer active, and was induced by different strains of the fungus in cultivars of both broad bean and pea. Protection was not due to the exclusion of pollutants resulting from stomatal closure. Histopathological investigations indicated that the effect was present in uncolonized tissues adjacent to the site of infection. Ultrastructural studies showed normal cell structure in the green islands surrounding the infection centres, even when nearby regions had collapsed. Peroxidase activity was increased rapidly in the infected tissues both in the colonized and in the adjacent non-colonized cells. Such activity was not detectable at significant levels in non-parasitized tissues. The results are discussed in connection with the possible mechanisms involved

Assessing total cost of ownership: Effective asset management along the supply chain

Firm purchasing models are an important tool for effectively managing business costs over the different time horizons and business cycles of the organisation. However, there is a lack of a clear understanding of the optimum method for supporting purchasing decisions for businesses and less knowledge of the costs over the entire supply chain of a product or service. Total cost of ownership (TCO) method helps the purchaser to compare different goods or service providers with regard to total cost rather than choosing a supplier due to their lowest initial price alone. The mining industry is an important sector in which to investigate the TCO as it is a valuable sector to the economy and the long-time horizons and large-scale projects require careful planning and management. This paper investigates models for purchasing and assesses the optimal performance issues accorded to purchasing and firm costs in the mining sector by the various methodologies. The notion and use of TCO as a basis for reviewing supplier selection models will be explored and investigated in detail. This review outlines the impediments of feasible TCO analysis execution and reveals common obstacles that must be attentively considered in the supply chain across mining industries assets

Calagem e adubação fosfatada promovem crescimento inicial e produção de hipericina em erva-de-São-João Liming and phosphate fertilization promote initial growth and hipericin production in St. John's wort

A erva-de-São-João é uma planta medicinal empregada no tratamento antidepressivo. A hipericina é considerada um dos compostos que contribui para o efeito medicinal da planta. Uma vez que a concentração e a quantidade do princípio ativo pode ser afetada pela nutrição das plantas, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do pH do solo e da adubação fosfatada sobre o crescimento inicial e a produção de hipericina em erva-de-São-João. O experimento foi realizado em Lages, SC, de julho a dezembro de 2003, em casa de vegetação. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado (fatorial 4 x 3), correspondendo a quatro valores de pH (4,1; 5,5; 6,0 e 6,5) e três doses de P (0, 50 e 100 mg kg-1 de solo), com quatro repetições. Foram cultivadas duas plantas por vaso, em um Cambissolo Húmico Álico. Avaliou-se a produção de massa seca, a altura e o número de ramificações da parte aérea, o número de glândulas escuras nas folhas e a concentração e a quantidade total de hipericina na parte aérea. A produção de massa seca da parte aérea aumentou com a adição de P e, em maior magnitude, com a calagem. A altura das plantas somente foi influenciada pela calagem. O número de ramificações e de glândulas escuras e a concentração de hipericina aumentaram com a aplicação de P apenas na ausência de calagem, e com a calagem na ausência de P. Os maiores conteúdos de hipericina por vaso foram verificados nos tratamentos com pH 6,0 e 6,5 e doses de P de 50 e 100 mg kg-1 de solo.<br>St. Jonh's wort is a medicinal plant used for anti-depressive treatment. Hypericin is considered one of the compounds that contribute to the medicinal effect of the plant. Since the concentration and the total quantity of active ingredients may be affected by plant nutrition, this work was conducted to investigate the effects of soil pH and phosphorus (P) addition to the soil on initial growth and hypericin production of St. John's wort. The experiment was carried out in Lages, SC, from July until December of 2003, in a greenhouse. It followed a completely randomized factorial design (4 x 3), with four levels of pH (4.1, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5) and three doses of P (0, 50, and 100 mg kg-1 of soil), and four replicates. Two plants were cultivated per pot, under a Humic Inceptisol. Plants were harvested and assessed for aerial dry matter production, height, number of lateral shoots, number of dark glands in the leaves, aerial hypericin content and aerial total hypericin production. The aerial dry matter production increased with P addition and, in a larger amount, with liming. The plant height was only affected by the liming. The number of lateral shoots and dark glands in the leaves as well as the hipericin concentration only increased with P application in the soil without liming, and with liming in the soil that did not receive P. The highest total hypericin production per pot was achieved in the treatments with pH values of 6.0 and 6.5 and P doses of 50 and 100 mg kg-1 of soil