Circum-Mediterranean cultural heritage and medicial plant uses in traditional animal healthcare: a field survey in eight selected areas within the RUBIA project

During the years 2003¿2005, a comparative ethnobotanical field survey was conducted on remedies used in traditional animal healthcare in eight Mediterranean areas. The study sites were selected within the EU-funded RUBIA project, and were as follows: the upper Kelmend Province of Albania; the Capannori area in Eastern Tuscany and the Bagnocavallo area of Romagna, Italy; Cercle de Ouezanne, Morocco; Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park in the province of Huelva, Spain; the St. Catherine area of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt; Eastern and Western Crete, Greece; the Paphos and Larnaca areas of Cyprus; and the Mitidja area of Algeria. One hundred and thirty-six veterinary preparations and 110 plant taxa were recorded in the survey, with Asteraceae and Lamiaceae being the most quoted botanical families. For certain plant species the survey uncovered veterinary phytotherapeutical indications that were very uncommon, and to our knowledge never recorded before. These include Anabasis articulata (Chenopodiaceae), Cardopatium corymbosum (Asteraceae), Lilium martagon (Liliaceae), Dorycnium rectum (Fabaceae), Oenanthe pimpinelloides (Apiaceae), Origanum floribundum (Lamiaceae), Tuberaria lignosa (Cistaceae), and Dittrichia graveolens (Asteraceae). These phytotherapeutical indications are briefly discussed in this report, taking into account modern phytopharmacology and phytochemistry. The percentage of overall botanical veterinary taxa recorded in all the study areas was extremely low (8%), however when all taxa belonging to the same botanical genus are considered, this portion increases to 17%. Nevertheless, very few plant uses were found to be part of a presumed "Mediterranean" cultural heritage in veterinary practices, which raises critical questions about the concept of Mediterraneanism in ethnobotany and suggests that further discussion is required. Nearly the half of the recorded veterinary plant uses for mammals uncovered in this survey have also been recorded in the same areas in human folk medicine, suggesting a strong link between human and veterinary medical practices, and perhaps also suggesting the adaptive origins of a few medical practices. Since most of the recorded data concern remedies for treating cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, it would be interesting to test a few of the recorded phytotherapeuticals in the future, to see if they are indeed able to improve animal healthcare in breeding environments, or to raise the quality of dairy and meat products in the absence of classical, industrial, veterinary pharmaceuticals

The Proximate Compositions and Rumen Degradabilities of Some Tropical and Temperate Legumes

The proximate compositions and degradabilities in the rumen of tropical legumes (peas and beans) and temperate peas were studied with the aim of comparatively evaluating their nutritive potential for ruminants. The mean crude fibre content of temperat peas (11.3%) was higher than for tropical peas and beans. The mean gross energy contents ortropical peas (18.2 MJ/kg) and beans (18.6 MJ/kg) were higher than for temperate peas (17.0 MJ/kg) despite a higher mean ash value for the tropical types. Other proximate components were very similar for both tropical and temperate legumes although lima bean had a higher crude protein content. Generally the individual compositions of both the temperate peas and were within the range or published values for tropical legumes. The degradabilities of the dry matter and crude protein in the rumen of hay-fed cows were comparable for both tropical and temperate type legumes.Keywords: Legumes, Tropical, Temperate, Rumen Degradability, Proximate Compositio

Biomass and alcohol production potential of over-ripe plantains and their peels

Procedures for alcohol and protein-rich biomass production from over-ripe plantains and their peels are described. Chemical analyses indicated a significantly (P < 0.05) higher content of moisture, crude fat and protein; as well as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron and magnesium in ripe plantains than in their peels. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the total sugars, reducing sugars and amylose contents of ripe and over-ripe plantains.Alcohol yields of 14%, 12% and 8% were obtained from over-ripe plantains, over-ripe plantain/peels mix, and over-ripe plantain peels only respectively. Over-ripe plantain flour fermentation residue (OFR), mixed over-ripe plantain flour and peels fermentation residue (MPF) and over-ripe plantain peels fermentation residue (OPF) had protein contents of 36.6%, 32.8% and 28.9% respectively. Keywords: Over-ripe plantains, peels, alcohol, biomass

Seasonal effects on oestrus patterns and progesterone profiles of Yankasa ewes of different age-groups in the sub-humid tropics

Oestrus patterns and serum progesterone profiles of 10 adult and 10 yearling Yankasa ewes were investigated in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons in the subhumid tropical climate of Zaria, Nigeria. The proportions of ewes which came on heat once, twice or thrice within the experimental periods in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons were 25, 15 and 0%, and 5, 10 and 85% respectively, while mean oestrous cycle length was significantly longer (P<0.001) in the hot-dry season than in the late-wet season (30.9 vs 18.4 days) due to the higher incidence of anoestrus in the former. However, the mean duration of oestrus was not affected by season. Mean serum progesterone levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the late-wet season than in the late hot-dry season (1.57 vs 0.52 ng/ml). However, there was a highly significant (P<0.001) interaction between season and age group in mean serum progesterone levels due to a relatively greater depression in progesterone levels in yearling ewes during the hot-dry season compared with adult ewes. The observed disruptions in the oestrus cycle and serum progesterone levels of the ewes in the hot-dry season confirm the adverse effect of heat stress on the reproductive behaviour of ewes.Keywords: Oestrus, Yankasa, Progesterone, Season, Subhumid, Tropics

The influence of date of planting and fertilizer application on growth components of Columbus grass (Sorghum almum)

Trials were conducted at Gangara in the Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria during the 1990 and 1991 rainy seasons. The effects of date of planting (4th, 14th, 24th June and 4th July) and levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 5O, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) on growth components of Sorghum almum were investigated. Planting in mid-June (14th June) in 1990 and early-July (4th July) in 1991 resulted in superior stand establishment and dry matter yields (P < 0.05) than older dates. In mid-June and early-July planting 14 days post-planting, plant densities were 7 .0 and 9.0 culms/m2 while plant heights were 20.4 and 11.3cm for the respective years. It had high tillering capacity and irrespective of date of planting (except for early-June planting) plant densities by 56 days post-planting (OPP) were greater than, 100 culms/m2 Plant heights at this stage were greater than 100 culm//m2 and were generally above 200cm. Ninety DPP the pasture was at full bloom/hard dough stage. DM yields then ranged from 8.0 to 11.4 tDM/ha in 1990 and 9.6 to 14.7 tDM/ha in 1991. Similarly seed yield for the respetive years were 894.7 and 836.3 kg/ha. Fertilizer application (P < 0.05) plant vigour, tillering and dry matter yield up to the higliest N applied. In the first year's trial, plant density at 35 days post-planting ranging from 12.0 to 29.0 culms/m2 while in the second year the range was 13.0 to 26.0 culms/m2 'The corresponding values at 56 DPP (i.e.. 42 days following N application were 32.0 to 81.0 and 45.0 to 101.0 culms/m2 Dry matter yields rose steadily from 6.5 to 12.5 tDM/ha m 1990 and from 8.9 to 13.6 tDM/ha in 1991 as fertilizer was increased from 0 to 200 kgN/ha. Seed yield during the same period for the respective years varied from 416.0 to 753.0kg/ha. This study has shown that planting between mid-June and early-Joly with fertilizer application or 100 to 200 kgN/ha favour S. almum establishment and production in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.Key Words: Columbus grass, planting date, fertilizer, plant density, height, seed yield, Guinea Savanna

Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Dry Eye in an Aging Population

Dry eye (DE) is a prevalent ocular disease that primarily affects the elderly. Affecting up to 30% of adults aged 50 years and older, dry eye affects both visual function and quality of life. Symptoms of dry eye which include ocular pain (aching, burning), visual disturbances, and tearing can be addressed with therapeutic agents that target dysfunction of the meibomian glands, lacrimal glands, goblet cells, ocular surface and/or neural network. This review provides an overview of the efficacy, use, and limitations of current therapeutic interventions being used to treat DE