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Blepharis cf. maderaspatensis (L.) B.Heyne ex Roth Bas.: Acanthus maderaspatensis L. Subshrub, in wooded savannah. F.Monteiro 261 (LUAI, LISC), Published as part of Monteiro, Francisca, Costa, Esperança Da, Kissanga, Raquel, Costa, José Carlos & Catarino, Luís, 2022, An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Quiçama National Park, Angola, pp. 1-67 in Phytotaxa 557 (1) on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.557.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6985699

Amended key to the species of Sect. Acanthodium in Somalia Blepharis eilensis keys out along with B. forgiariniii and B. diplodonta at couplet 4 of the Blepharis key in Flora of Somalia vol. 3 (Thulin 2006: 378), although the seemingly trifid 3-toothed leaves might cause some confusion with B. trifida (couplet 1). But this species, the only member of sect. Biflora, is easily distinguished, by having stamens with a forward-directed appendage and flowers arranged in a reduced spike enclosed by four pairs of decussate bracts with four flower of which two develop and two abort (Vollesen 2000). Blepharis eilensis is easily identified among the related species by the stalked glandular hairs on bracts, the mostly 3-toothed leaves covered with stiff bulbous-based white hairs and, the subsessile (1���)2���4-flowered spikes. Therefore the couplets 2 and 4 of Flora of Somalia are modified and a new couplet, 4a, is added: 2. Spikes 2���many-flowered with each flower subtended by a bract......................................................................................................3 - Spikes 1-flowered with 4 pairs of bracts............................................................................................................................................7 3. Corolla with 3-lobed limb; upper and lower calyx-lobes subequal; lower pair of filaments without appendage............................4a - Corolla with 5-lobed limb; upper and lower calyx-lobes distinctly unequal; lower pair of filmanents branched at the top or with a tooth-like appendage........................................................................................................................................................................5 4a. Bracts with stalked glandular hairs; spikes (1���)2���4-flowered, subsessile.......................................................................... B. eilensis - Bracts glabrous or with simple hairs; spikes 4���many-flowered, peduncle more than 2 mm long...................................................4b 4b. Leaves whitish sericeous, with entire margin; spikes 8���14-flowered............................................................................. B. forgiarinii - Leaves glabrous, toothed; spikes 4-flowered................................................................................................................. B. diplodonta Alternatively the species can be keyed out like this: 4a. Stem and leaves glabrous; spikes 4-flowered; fertile bracts with 2���3 pairs of single or double spines........................ B. diplodonta - Stem and leaves hairy; spikes 2���14-flowered; fertile bracts with single spines only......................................................................4b 4b. Leaves glossy witish sericeous, with entire margin, hairs non bulbous-based; spikes 8���14-flowered; bracts with simple hairs................................................................................................................................................................................................. B. forgiarinii - Leaves not glossy or sericeous, with stiff white bulbous-based hairs, mostly 3-toothed; spikes (1���)2���4-flowered; bracts with stalked glandular hairs......................................................................................................................................................... B. eilensis, Published as part of Baldesi, Giacomo & Vollesen, Kaj, 2022, A striking new species of Blepharis (Acanthaceae) from north-eastern Somalia, pp. 62-68 in Phytotaxa 539 (1) on pages 65-66, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.539.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/6345954, {"references":["Thulin, M. (2006) Flora of Somalia 3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 626 pp.","Vollesen, K. (2000) Blepharis (Acanthaceae) a taxonomic revision. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 342 pp."]}

Blepharis eilensis Baldesi & Vollesen, sp. nov. ( Figs. 1���3) Typus: ��� SOMALIA, Nogal (Nugaal) region, Eyl district, E of Eil (Eyl), 24 Nov. 1970, R. Bavazzano & J. Lavranos s.n. (holotypus FT [FT0008061!]) Diagnosis: ��� Blepharis eilensis sp. nov. affinis B. forgiarinii J.-P.Lebrun & Stork sed apice foliorum plerumque tridentato, bracteis sterilibus acriter spinescentibus, spica (1���)2���4-flora et indumento bractearum stipitato-glanduloso distincta. Inter species sectionis Acanthodii etiam sepalis dorsali ventralique subaequantibus, limbo corollae trilobato et pare anteriori staminium non appendiculati insignis. Description: ��� Dwarf shrub, 5���10 cm tall, very spiny, cushion shaped and intricately branched; young branches greyish, densely pubescent with whitish hairs, densest at nodes, older stems with brown corky bark. Leaves stiff and leathery, mostly crowded at the end of branches, covered with appressed forwardly directed bulbous-based hairs; lamina elliptic-lanceolate to oblanceolate, spathulate or narrowly obovate, 5���20 x 1���5 mm, terminating in a tridentate apex with each tooth ending in a spiny mucro, 1���3 mm long, or occasionally with a single apical mucro, leaf base cuneate or attenuate into a petiole-like base up to 2 mm long. Spikes ca. 2 cm long (excl. bracts), (1���)2���4-flowered, subsessile. Sterile bracts 2���3 pairs, modified into rigid spines 15���25 mm long, upper pair with reduced lamina, lower without, sparsely glandular pubescent and ciliate, greenish-white, ending in a hard trifurcate spine of which the central spine 1.0��� 1.5 cm long; the lateral spines 3���7 mm long, occasionally the lowermost pair ending in a single spine. Fertile bracts greenish with whitish veins, 3-veined from the base, ciliate and minutely glandular pubescent with stalked capitate glands and with distinct ellipsoid green gland-dots; lower bracts elliptic; upper bracts obovate-oblanceolate, 18���28 x 3���8 mm, tip narrowing into a hard apical spine 5���10 mm long and 1���2 pairs of spinose teeth per side 2���5 mm long. Bracteoles 10���15 x 2���3 mm, linear-lanceolate, ending in a pungent mucro 2���3 mm long, glandular pubescent and ciliate, white on mid-vein and margin. Sepals whitish with green nerves and conspicuous scarious margin, minutely ciliate and glandular pubescent; dorsal sepal 10���13 mm long, 3-veined from the base, ovate or ovate-elliptic, narrowing gradually into a strongly mucronate apex c. 2 mm long; ventral sepal as dorsal but 2-veined from the base, veins merging into the apical spine; lateral sepals ca. 5 mm long, ovate-elliptic, with broad scarious margin, finely white veined. Corolla blue-violet with darker veins and cream-coloured throat, 15���20 mm long of which the tube ca. 2 mm long; limb 3-lobed, with basal lobes much reduced, central lobe obovate-spathulate, 6���8 mm wide, as long as or longer than wide, apex rounded to truncate, strongly constricted at the base, finely pubescent beneath, puberulous above with staight and hooked downward-directed bulbous-based hairs; callus not ribbed; filaments ca. 7 mm. long, glabrous apically, hairy towards the base, appendages absent; anthers 2���3 mm long; style ca. 10 mm long, deeply bifid, lobes ca. 1 mm long. Capsule and seeds not seen. Ecology and distribution: ���The type collection was made in in the Eyl area (Fig. 4) in north-eastern Somalia. It is recorded as growing on limestone reefal at around 50���100 m altitude. According to Abbate et al. (1994) the geological substrate east of Eyl town is characterized by the Hafun (Xaafuun) succession composed of Miocene biogenic reefal limestones. This formation is widespread in Somalia and B. eilensis potentially has a wider distribution. Etymology: ���The specific epithet ��� eilensis��� refers to the town of Eyl where this new Blepharis species was collected. Risk assessment: ��� B. eilensis is known only from the type locality. No information was recorded about its abundance at the type locality. Due to the present political situation in this part of Somalia it has also been impossible to gather any further material or any information about the present conditions of the vegetation in the Eyl area. In view of the absence of any data about the status of its habitat and the nature and extent of threats (Ullah & Gadain 2016), this species has to be assessed as Data Deficient (DD) (IUCN 2019). Affinities: ��� Blepharis eilensis is related to B. forgiarinii but differs in the mostly tridentate leaf apex, the sterile bracts being tranformed into sharply acuminate spines, the (1���)2���4-flowered spikes and the bract indumentum of stalked glandular hairs. It is distinctive among most species of sect. Acanthodium by having subequal dorsal and ventral sepals, a 3-lobed corolla limb and non-appendaged anterior pair of stamens. Blepharis eilensis is related to B. forgiarinii and B. d iplodonta, also both endemic to north-eastern Somalia. These three species share the following feature not found otherwise in sect. Acanthodium: 3-lobed corolla limb (or with basal lobes much reduced) combined with the anterior filaments lacking a forward-directed appendage and the dorsal and ventral sepals appearing subequal. It is assumed that the presence of subequal dorsal and ventral sepals is a primitive character. The corolla in sect. Acanthodium is also typically 5-lobed limb and reduction to a 3-lobed limb is considered a derived condition. It is not clear if the absence of anther appendage in these species of sect. Acanthodium is primitive or the result of a secondary loss, although the combination with an advanced charcter like the 3-lobed corolla limb would suggest a derived state. On the other hand the presence of stalked capitate glands on the bracts is considered to be an advanced stage. This type of hairs is found in many species of sect. Scorpioidea on floral leaves, bracts and sepals and in sect. Inopinata on sepals only. Glandular hairs are reported in sect. Blepharis only for a single collection of B. integrifolia from N Kenya (Gillett 13663), but otherwise have not been found in any species of sect. Acanthodium (Vollesen 2000)., Published as part of Baldesi, Giacomo & Vollesen, Kaj, 2022, A striking new species of Blepharis (Acanthaceae) from north-eastern Somalia, pp. 62-68 in Phytotaxa 539 (1) on pages 63-65, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.539.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/6345954, {"references":["Abbate, E., Sagri, M. & Sassi, F. P. (Eds.) (1994) Geological map of Somalia. Scale 1: 1.500.000. Somali National University and Ministry of mineral and water resources, Mogadishu. Available from: https: // som-mine. com / smlive / wp-content / uploads / somali-geologicalmap. jpg (Accessed 15 December 2021)","Ullah, S. & Gadain, H. (2016) National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Somalia. FAO-Somalia, 164 pp.","IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2019) G uidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 13. Available from: [http: // www. iucnredlist. org / documents / RedListGuidelines. pdf]","Vollesen, K. (2000) Blepharis (Acanthaceae) a taxonomic revision. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 342 pp."]}

Blepharis saudensis, from small islands in the Red Sea of Jazan Provence, Saudi Arabia, is described as a new species and illustrated. This species differs from other known species in this genus by having a combination of long stems, oblong-lanceolate to linear leaves with entire margins and pubescence. Keywords: Blepharis, Acanthaceae, New species, Saudi Arabia, Red sea islands

Hitherto characters derived mostly from macromorphology were used to distinguish among the members of Acanthopsis Harv., a taxonomically difficult group of plants endemic to arid parts of southern Africa. The taxonomic significance of leaf and bract indumentum in Acanthopsis was investigated using light, and scanning electron microscopy. Five non-glandular and three glandular trichome types were distinguished on the leaves and floral bracts. None of these trichome types are unique to the genus. Although the indumentum is variable in Acanthopsis, the density/dominance of specific trichome types was useful to distinguish among certain taxa, particularly on the abaxial surfaces of leaves and bracts. Each species of Acanthopsis has a characteristic trichome complement as far as dominant trichome types on both leaves and bracts are concerned. However, no obvious association between the type of trichomes and habitat (degree of aridity) or geographical distribution was evident.

Phytoremediation uses green plants for in-situ removal, degradation, and containment of contaminants in soils, surface waters and groundwaters. However, little research has been conducted on the phytoremediation potential of plant species in removing heavy metals in the contaminated soils within the gold mining concession areas. Therefore, this study assessed and classified the phytoremediation potentials of selected plant species around gold mining areas in restoring the environments contaminated by heavy metals. The geographic focuses of the study were the Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) and Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in Tanzania. The shoots and roots of plant species surrounding the mining areas and the samples of associated soils were collected and analysed for total concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Routine soil analysis was performed to provide an impression of the fertility status of soils in these gold mining areas. Further, the plants were classified based on their ability to accumulate or exclude heavy metals from the soils. Results indicated that the soils from study areas were loamy textured and slightly acid (pH 6.1–6.5), soil organic carbon and organic matter were low (0.6–2.0%), total nitrogen was very low (

Ethnopharmacological relevance Blepharis is an Afro-Asiatic genus belonging to the family Acanthaceae. It comprises about 126 species that occur in arid and semi-arid habitats. Some species of Blepharis are used in traditional medicines in different countries mainly for their anti-inflammatory, wound healing activities along with treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and bone fractures. Aim of the review The present review aims to collate and analyze the available data and information on distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Blepharis. Methods Scientific information of genus Blepharis was retrieved from the online bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science and Google Scholar and secondary resources including books and proceedings. Results Seven species of Blepharis were found to be reported frequently as useful in folklore in African and Asian countries. B. maderaspatensis was found to be widely used in Indian traditional medicines whereas the B. ciliaris and B. edulis were common in folklore of Egypt, Jordan, and Arabia. Active phytochemicals of Blepharis are flavonoids from B. ciliaris, alkaloids from B. sindica, phenolic acid derivatives, and phytosterols, and derivatives of hydroxamic acids from B. edulis resulted in possessing diverse biological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. Conclusions Various species of Blepharis were found to be used in traditional medicine systems in African and Asian countries. Few of these species were studied for their bioactive chemical constituents however the activity guided isolation studies are not performed. Similarly, detailed pharmacological studies in animal models to explore their mechanism of action are also not reported. Future studies should focus on these aspects related to the medicinally used species of Blepharis. The detailed and comprehensive comparative analysis presented here gives valuable information of the currently used Blepharis species and pave the way to investigate other useful species of Blepharis pertaining to ethnobotany, phytochemistry and discovery of new drugs.

Background: Blepharis constitutes an important part of the vegetation of the Jordanian arid and semi-arid regions, yet whether one or more species of this genus occurs in the Jordanian area is uncertain. We addressed this question by assessing morphological characters and testing Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers from three populations of Blepharis: two northern (lower slopes of Kufranjah valley and the Dead Sea region) and one southern (Wadi al Yutm). Results: Shoots from randomly chosen Blepharis plants were harvested from each of the three populations for morphological and molecular analyses. In the northern populations, spikes were lax and bract width was significantly shorter than length of the longest lateral spine compared to the southern population. A multivariate linear discriminant analysis distinguished the northern populations from the southern one by internode length, bract width, longest lateral spine length, and bract width to spine length ratio. The ISSR analysis revealed that 44 markers across eight primers were polymorphic with major allele frequency of 83.6% and an average of 5.5 polymorphic markers per primer. The genetic resemblance among individuals ranged from 0.27 to 0.96. The three Blepharis populations were accordingly clustered into two distinct groups, similar to the analysis of morphological differences and corresponding with the “northern” and “southern” population designations. Conclusions: Our results strongly indicate the occurrence of two discrete Blepharis species in Jordan and reject the hypothesis that the genus is represented by only one species. We propose that the Blepharis species in Jordan are B. attenutata Napper (represented by the northern populations) and B. ciliaris (L.) B. L. Burtt (represented by the southern population). These findings are important for informing and revising floristic work within the region and an updated key has been included in our findings.

Merus freidbergi, a new species of the Palaeotropical genus Merus, developing on Blepharis attenuata (Acanthaceae), is described from Israel, based on two specimens (male and female) collected in the Jordan Valley – the northern part of the Great Rift Valley. Description of the external morphology and genitalia of both sexes is given and illustrated with photographs and line drawings. The species has Afrotropical affinities and belongs to the Afrotropical denticulatus species group, being its northernmost representative. The new species is characterized by a narrow slender body about 4 mm long and elytral pattern composed of white longitudinal stripes covering incompletely interstriae 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9 with scaled parts of the 3rd interstria corresponding to bare parts of 4th interstria and vice versa; a thick, cylindrical, slightly bent rostrum that is as long as the pronotum; medially toothed femora, with the profemur having an additional denticle anterior to the tooth; and the tibia bearing a long acute mucro, a stout premucro and rounded ventral tooth. The specimens were reared in 1973, no additional specimens have been found since then; thus, the species can be endangered or extinct. This is the first record of the genus Merus from the Western Palaearctic and from the East Mediterranean, the fourth species of the predominantly tropical Mecysolobini in the Western Palaearctic fauna, the first host record and an additional evidence of the existence of Afrotropical elements in the Jordan Valley fauna., מין חדש של חדקונית, המתפתחת על ריסן דק (קוציציים), מתואר מישראל, משני פרטים (זכר ונקבה), שנאספו באזור צומת אדם ושפך נחל תרצה, בבקעת הירדן. מובא בזאת תיאור של המראה החיצוני ומבנה אברי ההזדווגות של שני הזוויגים, בתוספת צילומים ואיורים קוויים. המין החדש שייך לסוג פליאוטרופי, הידוע בעיקר מאפריקה דרומה לסהרה, דרום מזרח אסיה והמזרח הרחוק, ובתוכו לקבוצת המינים האפרוטרופית, בת כתריסר מינים, החיים במזרח, מרכז ודרום אפריקה, לרוב לאורך השבר הסורי-אפריקאי. המין החדש הינו הנציג הצפוני ביותר לקבוצת מינים זו. מלבד תיאור מין חדש זהו הדיווח הראשון של נציג הסוג במערב האיזור הפליארקטי והמזרח הציכון, והנציג הרביעי של השבט כולו במערב פליארקטיקה, הדיווח הראשון של צמח הפונדקאי בקבוצת מינים זו, והוכחה נוספת לקיומה של הכמות המשמעותית של האלמנטים האפרוטרופיים בפאונה של בקעת הירדן. הפרטים גודלו בשנת 1973, ומאז לא נמצאו פרטים נוספים; ייתכן והמין נתון לסכנת הכחדה או נכחד. המין החדש נקרא על שמו ולכבודו של דר' אמנון פרידברג, המומחה העולמי לטקסונומיה של זבובים בכלל ושל משפחת הפריזבוביים בפרט, שהנחה את המחבר בעבודת המוסמך, והיה למורה, מנהל וחבר שלו במשך כ-25 שנה, לכבוד יום הולדתו ה-75. במשך הקריירה המדעית בת יותר מ-50 שנה, התגלה אמנון כחוקר דגול, אספן מעולה ואוצר אוסף אחראי. יעידו על כך שני הפרטים של המין החדש, שגודלו במקרה וכלאחר יד, כתוצר לוואי של סקר הפריזבוביים בישראל, בעודו אמנון סטודנט במחלקה לזואולוגיה, אוניברסיטת תל אביב. אף על פי שלא היה זאת מתפקידו, כבר אז הקפיד אמנון לאסוף, לשפד ולפתק את הפרטים הנדירים האלו, וכך הם היגיעו לידי המחבר במצב מעולה ועם כל המידע החשוב

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and a remarkable number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources. Higher plants, as sources of medicinal compounds, have continued to play a dominant role in the maintenance of human health since ancient times. Over 50% of all modern clinical drugs are of natural product origin and play an important role in drug development programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Blepharis is an Afro-asiatic genus comprising 129 species, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, widely distributed in arid and semi-arid habitats. Some of the species include B. attenuata Napper, Blepharis edulis, , B. sindica, and B. maderaspatensis. These plants exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-ulcer and cytotoxic activities. Some established pharmacological activities of these plants have been discussed in this article. The plant species being widely distributed can be used as an alternative to the conventional medicines. Hence, there is a need to know the feasibility of using extracts and bioactive compounds derived from such plants for the control of chronic diseases as claimed by traditional healers.

The subgenus Pseudomegachile Friese of the large genus Megachile Latreille is revised for the Western Palaearctic region, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. Twenty species are recognized, of which five are new: Megachile blepharis Dorchin & Praz from Israel, M. plumigera Dorchin & Praz from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, M. syriaca Dorchin & Praz from Syria and Turkey, M. yezidica Dorchin & Praz from Turkey and Iran, and M. maxschwarzi Dorchin & Praz from Iran and Central Asia. The following new synonymies are proposed: M. inermis Radoszkowski 1893 (as well as the replacement name M. mitis Cockerell 1899), M. albifasciata Rebmann 1970 and M. transgrediens Rebmann 1970 are placed in synonymy with M. saussurei Radoszkowski 1874; M. tuberculata Radoszkowski 1893 (as well as the replacement name M. tuberculosa Dalla Torre 1896) is placed in synonymy with M. seraxensis Radoszkowski 1893; M. rubripes Morawitz 1875 and M. persica Rebmann 1972 are placed in synonymy with M. flavipes Spinola 1838; M. stolzmanni Radoszkowski 1893 and M . flavidula Rebmann 1970 are placed in synonymy with M. tecta Radoszkowski 1888. Lectotypes are designated for M. cinnamomea Alfken 1926, M. nilotica Perez 1897, M. inermis , M. seraxensis , M. tuberculata , M. farinosa Smith 1853, M. derasa Gerstacker 1869, M. erythrocnemis Alfken 1930 and M. xanthocnemis Alfken 1938. An identification key is provided, a phylogenetic hypothesis including most species in the subgenus is presented, and the biology of the species is briefly summarized.

Blepharis ciliaris is an important medicinal plant and endemic species in Saudi Arabia. This study reported the complete chloroplast genome of B. ciliaris, the second to be sequence in non cystolit...

Background: Blepharis sindica – T. Anders of family Acanthaceae is an important medicinal plant which is mainly used as an invigorating tonic, given to cattle to increase milk production and its roots are used for urinary discharge and dysmenorrhea. It is commonly known as “Bhaṅgāī”. It is extensively used traditionally as Vāīkāraka and Vṛṣya (Aphrodisiac) by vaidyas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The seeds of Blepharis sindica T. Anders are the parts of the plant valued for their medicinal value. Aims: The present investigation deals with the pharmacognostic studies of the root, stem, seed and seed powder. Materials and Methods: The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, preliminary phytochemical analysis and physicochemical evaluation using methods given in Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. Results: Physicochemical parameters such as total ash value, acid insoluble ash value and water soluble ash value were determined to be 21.449 &3177; 2.629%w/w, 0.986%w/w, 18.746%w/w respectively. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of extracts were carried out. Different extracts contain carbohydrate, protein, alkaloids, phenols, saponins and steroids prominently. Calcium, zinc, potassium and iron were also present. These secondary metabolites are the active constituents and may be responsible for B. sindica's pharmacological activities. Chief characters of transverse section of stem include ringed vascular bundles, radial striped pith rays and parenchymal pith. Seed shows presence of scalariform tracheids and lignified walls. Conclusions: The result of the present study can be useful for the identification and preparation of a monograph of the plant.

Bio-guided fractionation of the total MeOH extract (TME) of the aerial parts of Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt. (Acanthaceae) growing in Saudi Arabia was carried out to evaluate its hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Successive chromatographic separations of the potent hepatoprotective n-BuOH fraction afforded two new flavonol glycosides, blepharisides A (1) and B (2), along with quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (3). Their structures were established by UV, IR, 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectral data, in addition to comparison with literature data. Co-treatment of CCl4 hepatic injured rats with the total MeOH extract (TME) and its fractions significantly restored the hepatic marker enzymes and total bilirubin to near-normal values compared to silymarin (reference drug). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. They displayed significant antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) in relation to propyl gallate (positive control) (% inhibition of 88.2, 87.9, and 74.2, respectively). Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in the carrageenin induced paw edema method at a dose of 10 mg/kg.

The preservation of traditional folk knowledge, preference of traditional medicine over others, and conservation of biodiversity have gained popularity among various communities, researchers, academicians, and policy makers. Traditional medicinal knowledge (a source of low-cost herbal medicine) requires novel approaches for its preservation for its sustainability among indigenous communities. The present study provides the traditional uses of the medicinal plants of the deserts of Sindh. Overall, 45 important plant species are commonly used to cure various diseases. The most commonly reported plant families are Fabaceae, with six species, followed by Amaranthaceae with four species and Asteraceae with three species. In life forms, most of the species belong to herbs (31 species) followed by trees (7 species). The most frequently cited species are Blepharis scindica, Oxalis corniculata, and Portulaca oleracea, while least documented species are Achyranthes bidentata followed by Euphorbia caducifolia. Most used plant parts are leaves with 30 reports followed by seeds (20 reports) and roots (18 reports), while least used plant part is latex followed by gum (3 reports) and shoots (4 reports). In modes of utilization, powders (26 reports) and decoctions (25 reports) are frequently used, while ash, smoke, raw forms, and oil are less frequently used modes of utilization. Plant biodiversity in deserts of Sindh-Pakistan provides many important plant species that are used in traditional medicine for curing various diseases. The plant species with the most commonly cited traditional uses yet whose potential applications in drug development have not been adequate should be preferred. In addition, species with only a few documented traditional uses may be further explored for preservation of traditional knowledge to them.

A new stigmasterol ester: stigmasterol tetracosanoate (3), along with 7 compounds: β-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2), (2S,3S,4R)-2[(2'R)-2'-(hydroxyeicosanoyl amino) octadecane-1,3,4-triol (4), apigenin (5), β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranose (7), and apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) were isolated from Blepharis ciliaris aerial parts. Compounds 1, 2, and 5-7 are reported here for the first time from the plant and 4 for the first time from the family. GCMS analysis revealed the presence of 45 fatty acids, 53 hydrocarbons, and 24 sterols. The different fractions exhibited mild cytotoxic in brine shrimp assay and anti-hyperglycaemic activities. The EtOAc fraction and TME (total MeOH extract) showed weak anti-malarial activity against P. falciparum. The CHCl3 fraction gave potent -anti-inflammatory activity compared with indomethacin.

Taxonomic keys, illustrations, descriptions, synonymy, distribution maps, and an index to collectors' names and numbers are given for the Neotropical taxa belonging to Elaphoglossum Schott ex J. Sm. sect. Squamipedia Mickel & Atehortua. Eighteen taxa are recognized herein, consisting of 16 species, with one of the species, E. peltatum (Sw.) Urb., having three forms. Three new species are described: E. anthracinum A. Vasco, Mickel & R. C. Moran, E. blepharis A. Vasco, Mickel & R. C. Moran, and E. rhomboideum A. Vasco, Mickel & R. C. Moran. The following name is lectotypified: Acrostichum flabellatum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. var. sphenophyllum Kunze. Four species are atypical in the genus by having divided laminae: E. colombianum (Maxon) Mickel and E. moorei (E. Britton) Christ have pinnately divided laminae, E. peltatum (Sw.) Urb. has isodichotomously divided laminae, and E. tripartitum (Hook. & Grev.) Mickel has ternately divided laminae. The Neotropical species of the section can usually be dist...

A phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt. led to the isolation of one new isoflavone glycoside caffeic acid ester: genistein-7-O-(6″-O-E-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) (4), along with seven known compounds: methyl veratrate (1), methyl vanillate (2), protocatechuic acid (3), naringenin-7-O-(3″-acetyl-6″-E-p-coumaroyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) (5), naringenin-7-O-(6″-E-p-coumaroyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) (6), apigenin-7-O-(6″-E-p-coumaroyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) (7), and acteoside (8). Their structures were established on the basis of detailed analyses of physical, chemical, and spectral data. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 were isolated for the first time from this plant. The antioxidant activity of the different extracts as well as for some of the isolated compounds was evaluated.

Blepharis gypsophila Thulin & Vollesen, a gypsum endemic from south-eastern Ethiopia, is described, illustrated and compared with similar species. Information on the ecology, distribution and conservation status of the new species is provided.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The highlands of Northern Balochistan are the hot spots of medicinal and endemic plant in Pakistan. These plants are still commonly used for medicinal purposes by local people in their daily lives. This study first documented the information about the medicinal uses of endemic species of Balochistan-province Pakistan. Materials and methods A survey was performed using open ended questionnaires, free listening and personal observations with 152 informants (54% female, 46% male). In addition, the use value (MUV), use report (UR), fidelity level (FL), frequency citation (FC), relative frequency citation (RFC), family importance value (FIV) of species were determined and the informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated for the medicinal plants included in the study. Results A total of 24 endemic plants belonging to 19 genera and 14 families were used by the local inhabitants to treat 12 categories of various diseases. The most common families of endemic plant species as depicted by its number of species (6 species) and FIV (9.9) was Fabaceae as the dominant family. The endemic plant species comprised perennial herbs (30%), annual herbs (25%), shrubs (29%) and under shrubs (16% each), no endemic tree species was reported in the study area. The highest number of species were used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (12 species). The main route of administration is oral injection (62%) while the most frequently used form of external administration of herbal medicine was paste (5.4%) and the most commonly applied methods of preparation are powder (48.2%). Highest use report were calculated for Allium baluchistanicum and Viola makranica, (8 UR each), and least use report were calculated for two species Heliotropium remotiflorum and Tetracme stocksii (1 UR for each). Use values of the recorded plant species have been calculated which showed a highest use value of (0.73) for A. baluchistanicum and (0.56) for Berberis baluchistanica while the lowest UVs were attained for T. stocksii (0.13). Highest RFC value were calculated for Achillea millefolium (0.19) and least RFC were calculated for Blepharis sindica (0.02). The endemic species with 100% fidelity level was calculated for two plant species i.e. Seriphidium quettense and B. baluchistanica. Conclusions The Balochistan is rich in endemic and other medicinal plants, still needs more exploration and study. Thus, it is important to document and reconstitute the remainders of the ancient medical practices which exist in Balochistan and other areas of the world, and preserve this knowledge for future generations. The endemic species which are used in traditional medicine in the region lacks phototherapeutic evidence. It is necessary to perform phytochemical or pharmacological studies to explore the potential of plants used for medicinal purposes. Overgrazing, urbanization and unsustainable harvesting of such rare and endemic medicinal plants in this region is facing severe threats of extinction. It is thus recommended that cultivation techniques be formulated, especially for the most important endemic plant medicinal species of the region.

Meiotic chromosome numbers are reported for 12 species in eight genera of Acanthaceae from Madagascar. Chromosome numbers of 11 species are reported for the first time. Counts in Mendoncia (n = 19) and Neuracanthus (n = 20) are the first for these genera. A new chromosome number (n = 30) is reported in Justicia. Systematic implications of the chromosome counts are addressed and basic chromosome numbers for these eight genera of Malagasy Acanthaceae are discussed.

We used DNA sequence data from four regions ([1] nrITS; the chloroplast [2] rps16 intron, [3] trnG-S spacer, and [4] trnL-F intron and spacer) to study phylogenetic relationships within tribe Acantheae (Acanthaceae). Our sample includes 18 of 20 recognized genera and 82 of ca. 500 species (plus two Justicieae as out-groups). Results of parsimony and Bayesian analyses were entirely congruent and provided strong support for monophyly of two sub-lineages of Acantheae, referred to here as the ‘one-lipped corolla’ and ‘two-lipped corolla’ lineages, reflecting notable differences in corolla morphology. Subsequent analyses were of the two sublineages separately in order to include all characters (a hypervariable region of trnG-S could not be aligned across the full range of taxa but could be aligned within sublineages). The ‘one-lipped corolla lineage’ comprises six clades of Old World taxa related as follows: [Crossandra (Sclerochiton clade {Cynarospermum [Blepharis (Acanthus clade + Acanthopsis)]})]. ...

The studies of woody organs-affecting diseases of Platanus · acerifolia can be hampered by the finding of fungi whose identification is difficult with mycological techniques. In a previous study on Platanus · acerifolia affected by severe cankers, Fomitiporia mediterranea/ punctata-like fungi, not associated with fruit bodies and Libertella sp. were recovered. Due to the severity of the associated symptoms, a characterization of fungal ribosomal DNA genes was undertaken in the present study, aimed to specific identification of the pathogens. From DNA of Fomitiporia-vegetative isolates and Fomitiporia-fruit body isolates, included in the study for comparison (from fruit body on plane trees typical of F. mediterranea/punctata), and Libertella sp., DNA fragments were amplified in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the use of ITS5/ITS4 and 5.8S-R/LR7 primer pairs. Sequence alignments showed that Fomitiporia-vegetative/fruit body isolates had highly homologous ITS5/ITS4 sequences, with a nucleotide identity of 98–100%. All the Fomitiporia isolates from plane tree showed 97–100% and 91–94% of nucleotide identity respectively with ITS5/ITS4 sequences of known strains of F. mediterranea and F. punctata, extracted from GenBank. The strong similarity of these identity ranges with those obtained within F. mediterranea (98–100%) and between the two Fomitiporia species (90–94%) confirms the identification of the isolates from plane tree as F. mediterranea. Sequence comparison between Libertella sp. from plane tree and known strains of Eutypa lata/L. blepharis showed 94–99% of nucleotide identity. The comparison with eight additional species of Eutypa showed 90–93% of nucleotide identity. As previously reported for the different taxa within Diatrypaceae, also ITS5/ITS4 sequence of Libertella sp. from plane tree exhibited 11-bp tandem repeats motifs. Results of sequence alignments, of phylogenetic trees, and of the putative restriction map, identify the Fomitiporia isolates of this work as F. mediterranea, and the isolates of Libertella sp. as E. lata/L. blepharis. For comparative purposes, ITS5/ITS4 sequences of Spongipellis pachyodon and Fomes fomentarius from plane tree, were also obtained in this work.