Taxonomic studies in Cyperaceae

Part I deals with the supra-specific classification of the subfamily Cyperoideae (excluding the tribe Rhynchosporeae) on a world-wide basis. It involves a broad survey of comparative exomorphic and endomorphic characters, with an analysis and synthesis of all available information from the literature. Many microscopic features of the leaf, culm, glume; hypogynous perianth bristle, stamen, style, stigma and fruit have been examined, many of them for the first time. Most of these features, together with the already known characters commonly used in the classification of genera in the subfamily Cyperoideae, have been employed to form the basis of the supra-specific classification presented here. The two large Linnaean genera, viz: Scirpus and Cyperus, have been split into a number of small, natural genera. Four distinct taxa, previously included in Scirpus a.l., are for the first time accorded generic status, though formal generic names have not been given to 3 of these. These 3 unnamed genera have been temporarily called Genera A, B and C. Cyperus, in the restricted sense used here, is found still to be partly unnatural, but further studies are needed before attempting to change its circumscription. Of the 47 genera adopted in this work, 25 are monotypic and/or geographically restricted; the rest being widely distributed. The maximum concentration of species and genera is found to occur in the tropics. Formal taxonomic treatments have been given to all the 47 genera in the conclusion, except for those genera which were not personally investigated; for the latter only keys for their identification and appropriate literature references have been given. An informal tribal and subtribal grouping has been proposed to accommodate the narrower, more natural genera adopted, since the limits of the traditional tribes Cypereae and Scirpeae no longer stand. New nomenclatural combinations, as well as the list of species and citation of voucher specimens studied anatomically, have been given in Appendices. Part II deals with the revision of the entire subfamily Cyperoideae as it is represented in the area covered by the Flora of Turkey (Davis 1965-). 47 species representing 21 genera are found in this area. This number includes taxa either seen by me or accepted from reliable records in the literature. Descriptions, synonymy, habitats, specimen citations on a grid basis, notes on the variability of Turkish species, and a key for their identification have been included in this account. Two new taxa have been discovered, for which English diagnoses have been given. Finally, an attempt has been made to explain some of the apparent disjunctions in the distribution of certain species in Turkey

Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Toxicological Aspects of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert.: A Review

Capparis erythrocarpos is a shrub plant with a large natural distribution used in traditional medicines to cure various illnesses. The study sought to review and compile all data available on this medicinally important plant, which will help inform scientists and researchers the gap needed to be filled in studying the plant. The present review summarizes information concerning the ethnopharmacology, morphology, phytochemistry, toxicology and biological activities of C. erythrocarpos. Scientific databases such as NCBI/PubMed, Google scholar, Sci finder, Science direct were searched for published article on the plant. The active phytochemicals; flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phytosterols, glycosides, tannins, coumarins and saponins have been identified from various parts of the plant. Pharmacological and biological studies on the plant have revealed its antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-diabetic and anti-dyslipidemia activities, with no reported toxic effect. It is recommended that future studies should focus on identification, separation, purification and quantification of the most bioactive constituents of C. erythrocarpos due to the paucity of information in this area

Working with Indigenous, local and scientific knowledge in assessments of nature and nature's linkages with people

Working with indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) is vital for inclusive assessments of nature and nature's linkages with people. Indigenous peoples' concepts about what constitutes sustainability, for example, differ markedly from dominant sustainability discourses. The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) is promoting dialogue across different knowledge systems globally. In 2017, member states of IPBES adopted an ILK Approach including: procedures for assessments of nature and nature's linkages with people; a participatory mechanism; and institutional arrangements for including indigenous peoples and local communities. We present this Approach and analyse how it supports ILK in IPBES assessments through: respecting rights; supporting care and mutuality; strengthening communities and their knowledge systems; and supporting knowledge exchange. Customary institutions that ensure the integrity of ILK, effective empowering dialogues, and shared governance are among critical capacities that enable inclusion of diverse conceptualizations of sustainability in assessments

The IPBES Conceptual Framework - connecting nature and people

The first public product of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is its Conceptual Framework. This conceptual and analytical tool, presented here in detail, will underpin all IPBES functions and provide structure and comparability to the syntheses that IPBES will produce at different spatial scales, on different themes, and in different regions. Salient innovative aspects of the IPBES Conceptual Framework are its transparent and participatory construction process and its explicit consideration of diverse scientific disciplines, stakeholders, and knowledge systems, including indigenous and local knowledge. Because the focus on co-construction of integrative knowledge is shared by an increasing number of initiatives worldwide, this framework should be useful beyond IPBES, for the wider research and knowledge-policy communities working on the links between nature and people, such as natural, social and engineering scientists, policy-makers at different levels, and decision-makers in different sectors of society

ASSESSMENT OF PLANT BIODIVERSITY IN WECHIAU COMMUNITY HIPPOPOTAMUS SANCTUARY IN GHANA

Volume: 1Start Page: 549End Page: 55

Knowing our Lands and Resources: Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Africa

International audienc

Securing biodiversity and ecosystem services in Africa: Notes from the 2015 Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Accra, Ghana

The first Satoyama Initiative Regional Workshop in Africa was held in Accra, Ghana, from 10 to 12 August 2015. The objective of the workshop was to contribute to the sustainable development agenda in the region within the scope of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning by strengthening the knowledge base related to the Satoyama Initiative, a global effort ‘to realize societies in harmony with nature’ through the revitalisation and sustainable development of ‘socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes’. This short report summarises some of the main points arising from the workshop

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanomaterial from Cassia sieberiana and determination of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

Utilization of plant extracts for the synthesis of nanomaterials is a green technology that is safe to the environment. In the current study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was synthesised using the methanolic root bark extract of Cassia sieberiana as capping and stabilizing agents for the first time. The ZnO NPs were then characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles were analyzed by egg albumin (EA) denaturation assay and DPPH free radical scavenging assay respectively. The agar well diffusion method was also used to access the antimicrobial activity of the ZnO NPs against S. aureus (gram-positive), E. coli (gram-negative), S. typhi (gram-negative) and C. albicans (yeast). Saponins, anthracenosides, triterpenes and polyphenols were the phytochemicals present in the plant extract. The average particle size (TEM) determined was 12.9 ± 3.1 nm with spherical shapes. ZnO NPs demonstrated good antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.480 ± 0.018 mg mL−1) and dose-dependently inhibited the heat-induced denaturation of egg albumin (IC50 = 0.676 ± 0.000 mg mL−1). In general, the synthesized ZnO NPs showed a positive anti-microbial activity against the selected microbes. The ZnO NPs showed a significant zone of inhibition for S. typhi (20.0 mm), S. aureus (24.0 mm), whereas the zone of inhibition was less for E. coli (13.7 mm) and C. albicans (11.7 mm) at 25 mg/mL. The green synthesized ZnO NPs may be used as an effective drug delivery system