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Ocimum americanum (Basil) encompasses various uses. The plant is valued both as a food additive for its aromatic qualities and in folk medicine for treating various ailments. However, its uses, distribution, and the associated community knowledge have not been properly and systematically documented. Therefore, a survey was conducted to explore the bio-prospecting potential of Ocimum americanum and gather baseline information on its community knowledge. Purposive and proportional samplings were used to select districts, villages, users, and growers who participated in the study. The selected districts - Dembiya, Gonder Zuria, Takusa, Alefa, Bahir Dar city, and Bahir Dar Zuria Districts - were selected based on the plant’s growth potential and user availability. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, group discussions, and field observations. The findings revealed that basil is used for various purposes: ailment treatment (32.67%), food flavoring (26.6%), food preservative (7.7%), and to impart aroma to different foods (8.33%). Specifically, 32.67 % of the respondents used Ocimum americanum for traditional medicine purposes, primarily to treat depression/headaches, stomach aches, and ward off evil spirits. The methods for preparation and administration included concoction (21.05 %), direct application of plant parts (15.79%), grinding (15.79%), melting (5.26%), Fumigation (10.53%), and inhalation (31.58%). Medicinal dosage varied among users depending on the intensity, type, experience, and the severity of the disease. Nine traditional foods spiced, with basil were identified, with the highest fidelity level for basil use being food flavoring (18.33%) followed by preservation (18.33%). The direct matrix analysis indicated that chilli pepper spice was the most preferred local food sweetened by basil, followed by hot-spiced pepper. This study highlights the traditional foods spiced with basil and providesvaluable insights for bio-prospecting companies in the food and pharmacological industries.

Ocimum americanum (Basil) encompasses various uses. The plant is valued both as a food additive for its aromatic qualities and in folk medicine for treating various ailments. However, its uses, distribution, and the associated community knowledge have not been properly and systematically documented. Therefore, a survey was conducted to explore the bio-prospecting potential of Ocimum americanum and gather baseline information on its community knowledge. Purposive and proportional samplings were used to select districts, villages, users, and growers who participated in the study. The selected districts - Dembiya, Gonder Zuria, Takusa, Alefa, Bahir Dar city, and Bahir Dar Zuria Districts - were selected based on the plant's growth potential and user availability. Data collection methods included semistructured interviews, group discussions, and field observations. The findings revealed that basil is used for various purposes: ailment treatment (32.67%), food flavoring (26.6%), food preservative (7.7%), and to impart aroma to different foods (8.33%). Specifically, 32.67 % of the respondents used Ocimum americanum for traditional medicine purposes, primarily to treat depression/headaches, stomach aches, and ward off evil spirits. The methods for preparation and administration included concoction (21.05 %), direct application of plant parts (15.79%), grinding (15.79%), melting (5.26%), Fumigation (10.53%), and inhalation (31.58%). Medicinal dosage varied among users depending on the intensity, type, experience, and the severity of the disease. Nine traditional foods spiced, with basil were identified, with the highest fidelity level for basil use being food flavoring (18.33%) followed by preservation (18.33%). The direct matrix analysis indicated that chilli pepper spice was the most preferred local food sweetened by basil, followed by hot-spiced pepper. This study highlights the traditional foods spiced with basil and providesvaluable insights for bio-prospecting companies in the food and pharmacological industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of research articles and studies on the pharmacognosy and medicinal properties of mangrove plants. The articles discuss the chemical constituents, biological activities, and potential anticancer effects of different mangrove species. The studies highlight the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties of mangrove extracts, as well as their potential as a source of natural products for cancer treatment. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on mangrove plants and their potential medicinal applications. [Extracted from the article]

Medicinal or herbal spices are grown in tropical moist evergreen forestland, surrounding most of the tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Himalayas in India (Sikkim, Darjeeling regions), Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, a few Central Asian countries, Middle East, USA, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. According to the cultivation region surrounded, economic value, and vogue, these spices can be classified into major, minor, and colored tropical spices. In total, 24 tropical spices and herbs (cardamom, black jeera, fennel, poppy, coriander, fenugreek, bay leaves, clove, chili, cassia bark, black pepper, nutmeg, black mustard, turmeric, saffron, star anise, onion, dill, asafoetida, celery, allspice, kokum, greater galangal, and sweet flag) are described in this review. These spices show many pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and antioxidant activities. Numerous bioactive compounds are present in these selected spices, such as 1,8-cineole, monoterpene hydrocarbons, γ-terpinene, cuminaldehyde, trans-anethole, fenchone, estragole, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, piperine, linalool, malabaricone C, safrole, myristicin, elemicin, sinigrin, curcumin, bidemethoxycurcumin, dimethoxycurcumin, crocin, picrocrocin, quercetin, quercetin 4'-O-β-glucoside, apiol, carvone, limonene, α-phellandrene, galactomannan, rosmarinic acid, limonene, capsaicinoids, eugenol, garcinol, and α-asarone. Other than that, various spices are used to synthesize different types of metal-based and polymer-based nanoparticles like zinc oxide, gold, silver, selenium, silica, and chitosan nanoparticles which provide beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, enzyme retardation effect, and antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles can also be used in environmental pollution management like dye decolorization and in chemical industries to enhance the rate of reaction by the use of catalytic activity of the nanoparticles. The nutritional value, phytochemical properties, health advantages, and both traditional and modern applications of these spices, along with their functions in food fortification, have been thoroughly discussed in this review [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening of bacteria from landfill sites has not only potential for use as bioremediation but also may be potentially pathogenic that may trigger significant risk to human health. The 16s rRNA gene sequences of bacteria isolated from landfill soil revealed the dominance of Bacillus species. Bacteria identified in this study such as Pseudomonas stutzeri, Micrococcus lylae were found to be reported with potential bioremediation properties which need further functional characterization. Some potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas stutzeri and Acinetobacter pitti were also identified. This study highlights the importance of using an integrative approach for effective environmental monitoring and health risk assessment of the landfill sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture can benefit from the biotechnological use of animal venom biodiversity. We explored the patent database to find the prevailing applications of scorpion, snake, spider, bee, and wasp venoms for agricultural purposes. We searched for patents registered worldwide using the keywords “animal species” AND “venom” associated with the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) subclasses, based on Google Patents by November 2020. The results indicate an increasing frequency in patents related to animal venoms. Scorpion, snake, and wasp appeared most frequently, besides other species. The inventors concentrate on two subclasses, namely new plant varieties development (A01H) and biopesticides (A01N). Monsanto and other giant agricultural and biotechnology companies lead the list in the number of patents. New varieties of crops, like soybean, corn, cotton, rice, and wheat, are the most frequent inventions. The benefits of using natural venoms in insect-resistant plant varieties and biopesticides are pertinent to agriculture, the environment, and human health.

Though innovations for sustainable management of natural resources have emerged over time, the rising demand for nature based health solutions and integration of endemic flora into global value chains could have adverse impacts on ecosystems. The ecological risks in the exploitation of the wild endemic medicinal plant resources are exacerbated by a myriad of agrotechnological risks and challenges that highly constrain their domestication. Successful exploitation and commercialisation of medicinal plants thus require a clear understanding of their demand and production systems or value chain analysis. Accordingly there is need for innovative approaches towards their integration into global value chains. Since quality and safety, traceability, certification, as well as consumer tastes and preferences are critical drivers in purchasing decisions by global consumers, they are inadvertently exploited to weaken Indigenous knowledge (IK), undermine common property rights and entrench value chains that favour a few elite buyers. This tend to create pervasive incentives for overexploitation of medicinal plant resources and environmental degradation. Potential solution lies in the recognition of drivers of vulnerability to environmental degradation and the innovative use of policy bricolage, feedback loops and interactions between knowledge, power and agency on one hand, and collective action and property rights institutions on the other hand. We conceptualise a framework that can mediate a transformational agenda and enhance systematic understanding of sustainability lenses in endemic medicinal plant resources value chains. This could strengthen IK, enhance collective action and promote participation of local actors with positive impact on the utilisation and integration of endemic medicinal plant resources into global value chains.

The aim of the study is to list out the economically important species of Ramalina genus based on the worldwide studies and data collected. From the early time of civilization, lichen species have been utilized by various ethnic groups. Certain ethno-botanically important Ramalina species are used as spices in flavouring vegetables and meat, prepared as cold dish in Yunnan marriages, as a natural dye on fabrics, in perfume industries, as an efficacious medicine for jaundice and hydrophobia, as an ingredient of medical decoction called sciba. Ramalina species possess important bioactive secondary metabolite compounds which show antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antiviral and antiinflammatory activities and ability to fight against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, life threatening Staphylococcus aureus infections. The sustainable use of lichens over other artificially prepared products could prevent us from side effects of certain chemical constituents. Even air pollution could be bio-monitored by this lichen genus. The world needs to have an attention over the immense and significant uses of Ramalina species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic region is a new frontier as natural sources for bio-prospecting purposes. Its extreme cold temperature may provide unique enzyme characteristics that have valuable potential for industrial and biotechnological applications. This study was designed to discover proteases that are activate and can work at very low temperatures. Soil samples from the Antarctic region were screened for protease activity on skim milk agar at 4°C. Bacteria that showed clear halo zone around the colonies were selected and identified through 16S rDNA sequencing. Out of 35 bacteria, 10 bacteria that showed rapid halo zone formation were selected and further analyzed by enzymatic assay. By using azocasein as a substrate, the reaction was measured using spectrophotometer at OD340 nm. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence, phylogenetic analysis showed that 88% of the bacteria producing protease were from Pseudomonas sp., 9% from Arthrobacter sp. and 3% from Paenibacillus sp. For enzymatic assay analysis, sample SC8 showed the highest protease activity compared to other 10 samples. This preliminary study successfully demonstrated cold active protease producers that can be further investigated for bioprospecting. In future, purification and characterization of this enzyme is required in order to optimize the enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical ultramafic regoliths (derived from iron‑magnesium‑nickel-rich mantle rocks) can yield significant nickel and cobalt ore reserves and are mined across the Asia-Pacific Region. In some instances, ultramafic laterite deposits are also enriched in scandium. However, the behaviour of scandium in soil-plant systems, and any potential geobotanical relationships with economic resources of scandium, have rarely been examined. In this study, we applied biogeochemical prospecting techniques to a known scandium deposit in Central Queensland, Australia. > 80 species originating from 24 families were sampled, all species were typical of semi-arid climate on Ferralsols. Intensive washing with hexane proved to be effective for removing soil contamination. The foliar scandium concentrations were strongly correlated to foliar chromium and aluminium concentrations (likely due to contamination), and two plant specimens had foliar Sc >1 μg g−1 (maximum of 1.46 μg g−1). The usefulness of plant foliar analyses for Sc in biogeochemical prospecting remains unknown. • A perspective on the usefulness of plant foliar analyses for Sc biogeochemical prospecting. • Soil dust contamination should be assessed in biogeochemical prospecting studies to avoid the publication of spurious values. • Attention should be given to the used method with elements present at naturally low concentration in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue biotechnologies implement marine bio-resources for addressing practical concerns. The isolation of biologically active molecules from marine animals is one of the main ways this field develops. Strikingly, cnidaria are considered as sustainable resources for this purpose, as they possess unique cells for attack and protection, producing an articulated cocktail of bioactive substances. The Mediterranean sea anemone Anemonia viridis has been studied extensively for years. In this short review, we summarize advances in bioprospecting of the A. viridis toxin arsenal. A. viridis RNA datasets and toxin data mining approaches are briefly described. Analysis reveals the major pool of neurotoxins of A. viridis, which are particularly active on sodium and potassium channels. This review therefore integrates progress in both RNA-Seq based and biochemical-based bioprospecting of A. viridis toxins for biotechnological exploitation.

The ethno-botanical knowledge of the Kani people related to a plant identified as ‘arogyapacha’ was utilised to develop, transfer, produce and internationally market ‘Jeevani’ as an anti-fatigue, adaptogenic and immuno-enhancing formula by the Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute, India. Showcased and acclaimed internationally as a model benefit-sharing arrangement, various issues have been posed upon deeper analysis relevant to benefits accrued in the context of indigenous peoples with regards to genetic resources associated to traditional knowledge. This model is also placed in the specific context of the non-implementation of the laws on land rights in Kerala and absence of even such a law in Tamil Nadu, and the violations of rights of Kanis to forests as stipulated in the forest laws and the denial of the rights to self-governance under the Constitution to Scheduled Tribes by these two states. The new national legal regimes in compliance with Convention on Biodiversity and TRIPS, rather than recognising the rights of Adivasis or Indigenous Peoples, further infringes their rights accorded in the limited international laws related to territorial rights, rights to resources and self-governance/self-determination.

Highlights: [•] A cost-effective strategy for cultivation of indigenous microalgae was proposed. [•] Diversity decreased when microalgae were grown in secondary effluent. [•] Scenedesmus sp., Keratococcus sp. and Golenkinia sp. were the predominant genera. [•] High carbohydrate content was observed for microalgae growth in secondary effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that small mounds of the termite Tumulitermes tumuli (Froggatt) can successfully be used as a geochemical sample medium for detecting Au mineralization concealed beneath transported cover. This finding is in contrast to the use of large mound forming species typically targeted for exploration in northern Australia and Africa. Large areas of Australia not only have small mound forming termites present but also have subterranean termites and ants. Subterranean termites can have large nests hidden sub-surface. When foraging they sheath their food sources with soil in order to create a microclimate. Here we investigate the use of this material along with nest material from an ant species as sampling media for geochemical exploration in the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Samples were collected along a transect at the Garden Well Au deposit in the Duketon Greenstone Belt of the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. Elevated Au concentrations (above a background level ~2ppb) were found in all 3 nest structure types over the mineralization. The mound forming termite (T. tumuli), which forms structures to 60cm in height, had up to 7.4ppb Au. The subterranean termite (Schedorhinotermes actuosus) had up to 8.4ppb, in the sheath material, and an ant species (Rhytidoponera mayri) recorded Au up to 24.4ppb, in the nest material. Vertical movement of Au, Cu and Zn from at least 1.4m deep is supported by evidence in the form of XRD studies and mineral grain counts of nests. These show vertical movement of calcite-rich fragments associated with elevated Au. This is the first investigation of the suitability of subterranean termites for use in geochemical exploration and results suggest that they and ants in the same area represent a potentially useful sample media. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Much has been written about indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights (IPRs) in fields like anthropology and law. However, it remains an under-examined topic in business and management literature. In this article, we review the emerging contentious discourse, definitional issues and underlying assumptions of the western IPR and indigenous knowledge management systems. We highlight the similarities and differences between the two approaches. We argue that adopting a view that law is socially constructed with ethical underpinnings helps sort out the thorny issues related to indigenous knowledge 'expropriation'. To do this, we draw on the role of ethical norms in the historical evolution of IPRs regimes. Finally, grounded in Stakeholder Theory, we conclude with a discussion of managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005–2006, I conducted 14 months of fieldwork on the political economy of bio-prospecting in Madagascar. I was in the deep south of Madagascar investigating the industrial production of the prized medicinal plant, rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). The goal of my research was to examine how foreign pharmaceutical companies gain and maintain access to the plant and if Malagasy benefited from the trade. During that time I had the unusual opportunity to observe a sacrificial ram ceremony. In the moment, the sacrifice seemed irrelevant to my work. It was quick and before I knew it, it was over and the local periwinkle collectors were getting back to the hustle and bustle of market day. It did not seem very significant to any of them, so I let it pass as well. However, after a full review of my data back home, I realized that the sacrifice was one in a series of ‘mechanisms of access’ that companies will employ to overcome the social barriers to production and continue the flow of periwinkle out of the area. Drawing on my own experiences in Madagascar, I describe the importance of keeping detailed field notes to the success of the overall research project. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia) is one of the potential underutilized plant species having huge multipurpose benefits including economic and ecological. Comparative study of fruit morphology, architecture, and juice yield productivity revealed that fruit berries of Seabuckthorn in Mana valley was found superior and can provide higher economic return than the berries of other plant species. Moreover, awareness programmes related to nutritional worth and development and demonstration of value added product resulted in economy generation for local inhabitants. Several countries are commercially and ecologically harnessing the potential of Seabuckthorn for livelihood enhancement and environmental conservation. Correspondingly, in Indian Himalayan region, Seabuckthorn plant can also offer benefits of nutrition, food, medicine, cosmetic, etc., to the rural people for their socioeconomic development. Findings presented here have important connotations in light of upcoming organic food and nutraceutical industries in the country. The current study will also help in developing value chain of Seabuckthorn in Uttarakhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge is often portrayed as static and traditional, while indigenous people are considered victims of exploitation. In the name of development and empowerment NGOs as well as scientists may run the risk of representing indigenous communities that fit their definition of the “correct” way to be indigenous. However, for indigenous people knowledge is not necessarily a static condition in a binary position to science or the ‘modern’ world. Rather, it is a dynamic condition that draws from experience and adapts to a changing environment. The perspective advanced in this paper is that all forms of knowledge, including indigenous knowledge(s), are situated and hybrid. Our argument draws from research carried out in Chiapas, Mexico, regarding the ICBG-Maya bio-prospecting project that was initiated in the 1990s and later terminated due to accusations of bio-piracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ways of protecting biodiversity in India. It is economically unfeasible for developed countries and big pharmaceutical companies to demand low-cost access to biodiversity and respect for IPR from developing nations. Respecting local rights can be the first step to nurture respect for IPR. Developing countries should also ensure that the trilogy of objectives work in tandem with trade objectives.

Poplar bud resinoids are a potential source of natural antioxidants. As poplar culture today involves many hybrids, a simple screening test to assess antioxidant properties was proposed. This method used the second derivative of the UV spectra at 233 nm of the iron induced peroxidienes resulting from linoleic acid peroxidation. Kinetic data showed a lag period followed by a quadratic increase in peroxidienes. These two phases were more clearly separated using the square root of the data. An acceptable linear fitting of the length of the lag phase with antioxidant concentration was observed. Calibrating the experimental test with BHA therefore allowed an antioxidant assessment as ‘BHA equivalent’. First results clustered well with taxonomic data, with typically 0.5, 0.15 and 0.08 ‘BHA equivalent’ for P. nigra, P. X euramericana and P. X interamericana, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The primary theme of this paper is the normative case against ownership of one's genetic information along with the source of that information (usually human tissues samples). The argument presented here against such “upstream” property rights is based primarily on utilitarian grounds. This issue has new salience thanks to the Human Genome Project and “bio-prospecting” initiatives based on the aggregation of genetic information, such as the one being managed by deCODE Genetics in Iceland. The rationale for ownership is twofold: ownership will protect the basic human rights of privacy and autonomy and it will enable the data subjects to share in the tangible benefits of the genetic research. Proponents of this viewpoint often cite the principle of genetic exceptionalism, which asserts that genetic information needs a higher level of protection than other kinds of personal information such as financial data. We argue, however, that the recognition of such ownership rights would lead to inefficiency along with the disutility of genetic discoveries. Biomedical research will be hampered if property rights in genes and genetic material are too extensive. We contend that other mechanisms such as informed consent and strict confidentiality rules can accomplish the same result as a property right without the liabilities of an exclusive entitlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carpophores of mesophilic basidiomycetes were isolated from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. These isolates were screened for manganese peroxidase and laccase with high temperature optima. This bio-prospecting has led to the discovery of a thermostable laccase, which exhibits an optimum temperature of 70 °C. The enzyme remains fully active after 9 h incubation at 60 °C. The laccase is also capable of catalyzing the oxidative coupling of 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid and 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone, which are characterized as manganese peroxidase specific substrates. The wide temperature range, thermostability, and potentially wider than usual substrate range, make this an excellent candidate enzyme for industrial application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pharmaceutical drug discovery is reliant on innovative research and development approaches that uncover novel agents that could service a drug pipeline. Development of novel drugs to combat human disease is largely dependent on the availability of safe and effective drugs, many of which are under development and evaluation--the so-called "drug pipeline". While the costs involved in novel drug discovery, research, development and clinical evaluation are quite significant, one approach that can prove both cost-effective and a viable source of bio-therapeutic agents involves bio-prospecting for therapeutically active compounds commonly found in natural resources including microorganisms, plants, invertebrates or reptiles. In a recent issue of Proteomic Insights, Hang Fai Kwok et al provide a historical and current perspective of proteomic and genomic approaches on lizard venoms that have allowed us to understand and appreciate not only this valuable resource of discovering biologically active molecules, but also to alert us to the need of conservation of such invaluable and beneficial natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native microalgae were collected and isolated from various coastal habitats of Eastern coast of India and were scrutinized in a biodiesel viewpoint. 55 unialgal marine cyanobacteria were obtained by rapid isolation method developed for the present work. The isolates represented 8 genera and 10 species. To identify the promising candidate for biodiesel, all the isolated microalgae were studied for its total lipid content. The study has identified 6 promising strains with 15% lipid and above. In terms of biomass as a growth component Spirulina subsalsa BDU51591 and Oscillatoria sp. BDU51731 turned to be the best among the six high lipid yielders with 1.45 ± 0.02 g L-1 and 1.63 ± 0.01 g L−1 end point biomass and the chlorophyll a counts were 7.8 ± 0.03 and 9.2 ± 0.06 μg respectively. Transesterification of lipid fraction produced total fatty acid content of 68.97% and 74.79% in Spirulina subsalsa BDU51591 and Oscillatoria sp. BDU51731 respectively, with higher concentrations of c16:0, c18:0 and c18:1n-9 in both the isolates. Thus, the findings highlight the suitability of the marine cyanobacteria as a biodiesel feedstock. The study emphasizes the significance of bioprospecting of strains from native habitats and has further identified two promising marine cyanobacteria for commercial biodiesel. • Survey of Eastern coastline of India, resulted in 55 unialgal isolates from 8 genera. • Development of rapid isolation technique for separation of unialgal marine cyanobacteria. • Lipid bioprospecting of the isolates identified 6 species with a higher lipid of 15% and above. • Characterization of high lipid producing organisms showed presence of ideal fattyacids for good quality biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue biotechnologies implement marine bio-resources for addressing practical concerns. The isolation of biologically active molecules from marine animals is one of the main ways this field develops. Strikingly, cnidaria are considered as sustainable resources for this purpose, as they possess unique cells for attack and protection, producing an articulated cocktail of bioactive substances. The Mediterranean sea anemone Anemonia viridis has been studied extensively for years. In this short review, we summarize advances in bioprospecting of the A. viridis toxin arsenal. A. viridis RNA datasets and toxin data mining approaches are briefly described. Analysis reveals the major pool of neurotoxins of A. viridis, which are particularly active on sodium and potassium channels. This review therefore integrates progress in both RNA-Seq based and biochemical-based bioprospecting of A. viridis toxins for biotechnological exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]