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Based on the current trend towards broad-bandwidth LED light spectra for basil productions in multi-tiered controlled-environment horticulture, a recently developed white broad-bandwidth LED light spectrum (400-780 nm) including far-red wavelengths with elevated red and blue light fractions was employed to cultivate basil. Four Ocimum basilicum L. cultivars (cv. Anise, cv. Cinnamon, cv. Dark Opal and cv. Thai Magic) were exposed to two different rising light intensity conditions (ILow and IHigh). In dependence of the individual cultivar-specific plant height increase over time, basil cultivars were exposed to light intensities increasing from ~ 100 to ~ 200 µmol m-2 s-1 under ILow, and from 200 to 400 µmol m-2 s-1 under IHigh (due to the exponential light intensity increases with decreasing proximity to the LED light fixtures). Within the first experiment, basils’ morphological developments, biomass yields and time to marketability under both light conditions were investigated and the energy consumptions were determined to calculate the basils’ light use efficiencies. In detail, cultivar-dependent differences in plant height, leaf and branch pair developments over time are described. In comparison to the ILow light conditions, IHigh resulted in accelerated developments and greater yields of all basil cultivars and expedited their marketability by 3-5 days. However, exposure to light intensities above ~ 300 µmol m-2 s-1 induced light avoidance responses in the green-leafed basil cultivars cv. Anise, cv. Cinnamon and cv. Thai Magic. In contrast, ILow resulted in consumer-preferred visual qualities and greater biomass efficiencies of the green-leafed basil cultivars and are discussed as a result of their ability to adapt well to low light conditions. Contrarily to the green-leafed cultivars, purple-leafed cv. Dark Opal developed insufficiently under ILow, but remained light-tolerant under IHigh, which is related to its high anthocyanin contents. In a second experiment, cultivars’ volatile organic compound (VOC) contents and compositions over time were investigated. While VOC contents per gram of leaf dry matter gradually decreased in purple-leafed cv. Dark Opal between seedling stage to marketability, their contents gradually increased in the green cultivars. Regardless of the light treatment applied, cultivar-specific VOC compositions changed tremendously in a developmental stage-dependent manner.

Essential oils (EOs) and their individual volatile organic constituents have been an inherent part of our civilization for thousands of years. They are widely used as fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics and contribute to a healthy diet, but also act as active ingredients of pharmaceutical products. Their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties have qualified EOs early on for both, the causal and symptomatic therapy of a number of diseases, but also for prevention. Obtained from natural, mostly plant materials, EOs constitute a typical example of a multicomponent mixture (more than one constituent substances, MOCS) with up to several hundreds of individual compounds, which in a sophisticated composition make up the property of a particular complete EO. The integrative use of EOs as MOCS will play a major role in human and veterinary medicine now and in the future and is already widely used in some cases, e.g., in aromatherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic complaints, for inhalation in the treatment of respiratory diseases, or topically administered to manage adverse skin diseases. The diversity of molecules with different functionalities exhibits a broad range of multiple physical and chemical properties, which are the base of their multi-target activity as opposed to single isolated compounds. Whether and how such a broad-spectrum effect is reflected in natural mixtures and which kind of pharmacological potential they provide will be considered in the context of ONE Health in more detail in this review.

Background Annual mass drug administrations (MDA) of ivermectin will strongly reduce Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae (mf) in the skin and in the onchocerciasis patients’ eyes. Ivermectin treatment will also affect the expression of immunity in patients, such that activated immune defenses may help control and contribute to clearance of mf of O. volvulus. Longitudinal surveys are a prerequisite to determining the impact of ivermectin on the status of anti-parasite immunity, notably in risk zones where parasite transmission and active O. volvulus infections persist. Methodology/Principal findings Onchocerciasis patients were treated annually with ivermectin and their Onchocerca volvulus antigen (OvAg) specific IgG and cellular responses were investigated before and at 30 years post initial ivermectin treatment (30yPT). Repeated annual ivermectin treatments eliminated persisting O. volvulus microfilariae (mf) from the skin of patients and abrogated patent infections. The OvAg-specific IgG1 and IgG4 responses were diminished at 30yPT to the levels observed in endemic controls. Prior to starting ivermectin treatment, OvAg-induced cellular productions of IL-10, IFN-γ, CCL13, CCL17 and CCL18 were low in patients, and at 30yPT, cellular cytokine and chemokine responses increased to the levels observed in endemic controls. In contrast, mitogen(PHA)- induced IL-10, IFN-γ, CCL17 and CCL18 cellular production was diminished. This divergent response profile thus revealed increased parasite antigen-specific but reduced polyclonal cellular responsiveness in patients. The transmission of O. volvulus continued at the patients’ location in the Mô river basin in central Togo 2018 and 2019 when 0.58% and 0.45%, respectively, of Simulium damnosum s.l. vector blackflies carried O. volvulus infections. Conclusions/Significance Repeated annual ivermectin treatment of onchocerciasis patients durably inhibited their patent O. volvulus infections despite ongoing low-level parasite transmission in the study area. Repeated MDA with ivermectin affects the expression of immunity in patients. O. volvulus parasite-specific antibody levels diminished to levels seen in infection-free endemic controls. With low antibody levels, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic responses against tissue-dwelling O. volvulus larvae will weaken. O. volvulus antigen inducible cytokine and chemokine production increased in treated mf-negative patients, while their innate responsiveness to mitogen declined. Such lower innate responsiveness in elderly patients could contribute to reduced adaptive immune responses to parasite infections and vaccines. On the other hand, increased specific cellular chemokine responses in mf-negative onchocerciasis patients could reflect effector cell activation against tissue invasive larval stages of O. volvulus. The annual Simulium damnosum s.l. biting rate observed in the Mô river basin was similar to levels prior to initiation of MDA with ivermectin, and the positive rtPCR results reported here confirm ongoing O. volvulus transmission. Author summary Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease, and a major cause of debilitating skin disease and ocular damage that can lead to irreversible blindness. Annual mass drug administrations (MDA) of ivermectin strongly reduces the load of Onchocerca volvulus microfilaria (mf) in the skin and in the patients’ eyes. Evolution of onchocerciasis as a disease is prevented by MDA, but recent studies have shown that O. volvulus transmission has not been completely interrupted. Repeated MDA with ivermectin affects immune responses, such that activated immune defenses may enhance clearance of mf of O. volvulus. Longitudinal surveys are required to determine the impact of ivermectin on the status of immunity, notably in risk zones where parasite transmission and active O. volvulus infections persist. We examined the changes of O. volvulus parasite-specific antibody and cellular immune responsiveness in patients treated annually with ivermectin for 30 years. Treatment prevented patent O. volvulus infections, whilst parasite antigen-specific cytokine and chemokine responses increased but O.volvulus-specific antibody responses declined. Such decreased antibody levels could weaken antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic responses to infective and tissue-dwelling O. volvulus larvae. Strengthened monocyte attracting and activation regulated chemokine responses could enhance effector cell migration and activation against larval stages of O.volvulus, possibly also eliciting resistance to further parasite infections.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is well known as the third most widely produced tropical fruit worldwide after mango and pineapple. The global papaya production has grown significantly over the last few years, mainly as a result of increased production in India. Global sharing of information on papaya was advanced by the 1st International Papaya Symposium held at Genting Highlands, Malaysia, in 2005. This congress has been followed by regular symposia every 4 years in different papaya-producing countries. Since more than 100 years, numerous articles related to production and use of papaya fruits have been published in various scientific and popular journals. However, a comprehensive review that summarised these long-standing research results and findings in a suitable form has been lacking until now. So, it is a very important step that this first comprehensive book authorized by an international team of experts at the forefront of research covering all important aspects of botany, biotechnology, production, postharvest physiology and processing, is now available. The book starts by providing a detailed overview about the origin, history, valuable ingredients and processing of papaya fruits. Subsequent sections deal mainly with the taxonomy, propagation and breeding of papayas. Further on, the fruit formation, the ripening process, various plant diseases, greenhouse cultivation, optimal storage conditions and quality characteristics are discussed in detail on a high scientific level. As mentioned by the authors, today analysis of the papaya genome promises new, faster breeding techniques to obtain improved cultivars. These and other advances are helping to tackle diseases like papaya ring spot viruses and major pests which still cause significant losses. This book can be recommended without any reservation as an exciting and instructive information to a broad range of readers. Not only does it provide valuable support to professional groups such as plant breeders, farmers, plant physiologists, food technologists and chemists, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for interested laypeople to obtain comprehensive information on the current state of knowledge of this important tropical fruit. A number of scientific articles are listed in each annex of the 16 sections, allowing readers to obtain more detailed information on the individual topics. Bibliography: Sisir Mitra, The Papaya – Botany, Production and Uses, CAB International 2020, 269 pages includes bibliographical references and index, price: 113,27 €, ISBN-13: 9781789241907 (hardback), ISBN 9781789241914 (ePDF), ISBN 9781789241921 (ePub)

This new and updated edition provides a broad, balanced review of the scientific knowledge of strawberries and their cultivation. The worldwide strawberry industry has grown substantially since the first edition was published 20 years ago. Furthermore, methods of cultivation have undergone extensive modifications. Important changes have been made to the taxonomy of strawberries and there is a much better understanding today of how its ancestors evolved. New disease and pest control methods have been developed and a large amount of genomic information has been generated. This information has greatly broadened our knowledge of how flowering and fruiting is regulated and will revolutionize the breeding of strawberries. This book covers various important aspects from taxonomy, ecology, morphology and genetics to environmental physiology, disease and pest control, fruit ripening, storage and processing. Drawing on extensive research and practical experience, the author provides in 8 chapters a thorough review of the evolution of strawberries (chapter 1) and the history of strawberry cultivation (chapter 3). Chapter 3 and 4 summarize the major cultivation systems employed across the world and describe the physiology behind these practices. Chapter 5 addresses strawberry anatomy and developmental physiology including temperature and photoperiod control of flowering. Chapter 6 highlights research work on the fruiting and postharvest physiology. Chapter 7 deals with the diseases and pests of strawberry and describes the individual consequences that came up with the abandonment of methyl bromide. The last chapter reviews strawberry breeding and genetic research, an area where tremendous progress continues to be made. Particularly in Mediterranean and other sub-tropical environments breeding activities increased dramatically over the last two decades. It is reported that strawberry breeders have begun to widely use molecular approaches in their programs including also marker-assisted and genomic selection. This book provides an excellent, concise overview of strawberries and their cultivation and can be therefore recommended without any reservation as an exciting and instructive information to a broad range of readers. Not only does it provide valuable support to students of horticulture and various professional groups such as plant breeders, strawberry farmers, plant physiologists, food technologists and chemists, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for interested laypeople to obtain comprehensive information on the current state of knowledge of strawberry science and cultivation. A number of scientific articles are listed in each annex of the 8 chapters, allowing readers to obtain more detailed information on the individual topics. Bibliography: James F. Hancock, Strawberries 2nd edition, CAB International 2020, 275 pages includes bibliographical references and index, price: 53,29 €, ISBN-13: 9781789242270 (hardback), ISBN 9781789242287 (ePDF), ISBN 9781789242294 (ePub)

Thymus spp. is one of the most important medicinal plants widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. In this research, different ecotypes of three Thymus species including T. daenensis, T. kotschyanus and T. lancifolius native to Iran were compared to two commercial cultivars of T. vulgaris (i.e. 'Varico 3' and 'Deutscher Winter') under identical conditions. Based on the results, there was a remarkable diversity among different ecotypes of Thymus species. The highest plant dry weight was found in T. daenensis (Malayer 2), T. kotschyanus (Azerbaijan gharbi), and T. lancifolius (Fars). The highest thymol percentage (>75%) was obtained by T. daenensis. The ecotype of Ilam belonging to T. daenensis gained highest essential oil percentage (7.83%). In all ecotypes of T. daenensis, thymol was the major constituent in their essential oil. Five chemotypes of citral, carvacrol-thymol, thymol-carvacrol, p-cymene-carvacrol, and geranyl acetate-citral were found in T. kotschyanus ecotypes, while four chemotypes of thymol, α-terpineol-linalool, carvacrol-thymol and thymol- geraniol were identified for T. lancifolius. In addition, in terms of growth, yield, and phytochemical traits, the elite genotypes within ecotypes were selected. Elite ecotypes and genotypes detected during this research could be used in Thymus breeding programs.

Geographic location and connected environmental and edaphic factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type, and composition influence the presence and the total content of specific plant compounds as well as the presence of a certain chemotype. This study evaluated whether geographic, edaphic, and climatic information can be utilized to predict the presence of specific compounds from medicinal or aromatic plants. Furthermore, we tested rapid analytical methods based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) coupled with gas chromatography/flame ionization (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical methods for characterization and classification metabolite profiling of Zataria multiflora Boiss. populations. Z. multiflora is an aromatic, perennial plant with interesting pharmacological and biological properties. It is widely dispersed in Iran as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here, we studied the effect of environmental factors on essential oil (EO) content and the composition and distribution of chemotypes. Our results indicate that this species grows predominantly in areas rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and aluminum, with mean rainfall of 40.46 to 302.72 mm·year−1 and mean annual temperature of 14.90°C to 28.80°C. EO content ranged from 2.75% to 5.89%. Carvacrol (10.56–73.31%), thymol (3.51–48.12%), linalool (0.90–55.38%), and p-cymene (1.66–13.96%) were the major constituents, which classified 14 populations into three chemotypes. Corresponding to the phytochemical cluster analysis, the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on NIR data also recognized the carvacrol, thymol, and linalool chemotypes. Hence, NIR has the potential to be applied as a useful tool to determine rapidly the chemotypes of Z. multiflora and similar herbs. EO and EO constituent content correlated with different geographic location, climate, and edaphic factors. The structural equation models (SEMs) approach revealed direct effects of soil factors (texture, phosphor, pH) and mostly indirect effects of latitude and altitude directly affecting, e.g., soil factors. Our approach of identifying environmental predictors for EO content, chemotype or presence of high amounts of specific compounds can help to select regions for sampling plant material with the desired chemical profile for direct use or for breeding.

Abstract Background The essential oil is an important compound of the root and rhizome of medicinally used valerian (Valeriana officinalis L. s.l.), with a stated minimum content in the European pharmacopoeia. The essential oil is located in droplets, of which the position and distribution in the total root cross-section of different valerian varieties, root thicknesses and root horizons are determined in this study using an adapted fluorescence-microscopy and automatic imaging analysis method. The study was initiated by the following facts:A probable negative correlation between essential oil content and root thickness in selected single plants (elites), observed during the breeding of coarsely rooted valerian with high oil content.Higher essential oil content after careful hand-harvest and processing of the roots. Results In preliminary tests, the existence of oil containing droplets in the outer and inner regions of the valerian roots was confirmed by histological techniques and light-microscopy, as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Based on this, fluorescence-microscopy followed by image analysis of entire root cross-sections, showed that a large number of oil droplets (on average 43% of total oil droplets) are located close to the root surface. The remaining oil droplets are located in the inner regions (parenchyma) and showed varying density gradients from the inner to the outer regions depending on genotype, root thickness and harvesting depth. Conclusions Fluorescence-microscopy is suitable to evaluate prevalence and distribution of essential oil droplets of valerian in entire root cross-sections. The oil droplet density gradient varies among genotypes. Genotypes with a linear rather than an exponential increase of oil droplet density from the inner to the outer parenchyma can be chosen for better stability during post-harvest processing. The negative correlation of essential oil content and root thickness as observed in our breeding material can be counteracted through a selection towards generally high oil droplet density levels, and large oil droplet sizes independent of root thickness.

Otto Appel (1867-1952) is best known for his research in the field of phytopathology, in particular for his discoveries on bacterial and fungal diseases of crops such as potato and cereals. His work ranged from fundamental research, like the discovery and description of pathogens and their ways to affect their host plants, to applied research on cultivation practices and storage methods. He published numerous scientific articles as well as practical recommendations for farmers in form of flyers and pocket books with the aim to improve yield and quality and to reduce losses and, thus, securing the supply with plant based food and materials. His commitment to applied research was also reflected in his long-term membership in the board of the Association for Applied Botany and later on in the awarding of Honorary Presidency of the Association. As director of the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in Berlin, he was the key player in setting up an efficient and well-organized plant protection service in Germany. Otto Appel’s achievements significantly influenced agricultural practices and generally enhanced food quality and safety in Germany and beyond. They are still remembered today, when the Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft awards the Otto Appel Medal to outstanding researchers in phytomedicine every two years.

In der 2. Auflage seines naturwissenschaftlich orientierten Standardwerks nimmt der Autor den Leser wieder mit auf eine faszinierende Entdeckungsreise durch die Welt der Gewürze und Kräuter. In 84 reich bebilderten Portraits erfährt er Vieles über Botanik, Anbau und Ernte, Gewinnung und Handelsformen, Inhaltsstoffe, Qualitätsmerkmale und Wirkungen der bekanntesten Gewürzpflanzen sowie deren Verwendung in Küche und Hausmedizin. In Anhängen werden 200 weitere, in Europa seltener genutzte Gewürze sowie 150 Gewürzmischungen beschrieben. Vom stinkenden Asant über den kostbaren Safran bis zum duftenden Zimt stellt der Autor insgesamt 300 Pflanzen sowie die daraus gewonnenen Gewürze vor allem aus naturwissenschaftlicher, pharmazeutischer und medizinischer Sicht vor. Dabei wird auch auf die jeweilige Kultivierung, die Gewinnung der Gewürzdrogen, deren unterschiedliche Handelsformen, sowie auf die Chemie und Analytik der wichtigsten Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe näher eingegangen. Darüber hinaus finden sich ...

A light-emitting diode (LED) system covering plant-receptive wavebands from ultraviolet to far-red radiation (360 to 760 nm, “white” light spectrum) was investigated for greenhouse productions of Thymus vulgaris L. Biomass yields and amounts of terpenoids were examined, and the lights’ productivity and electrical efficiency were determined. All results were compared to two conventionally used light fixture types (high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS) and fluorescent lights (FL)) under naturally low irradiation conditions during fall and winter in Berlin, Germany. Under LED, development of Thymus vulgaris L. was highly accelerated resulting in distinct fresh yield increases per square meter by 43% and 82.4% compared to HPS and FL, respectively. Dry yields per square meter also increased by 43.1% and 88.6% under LED compared to the HPS and FL lighting systems. While composition of terpenoids remained unaffected, their quantity per gram of leaf dry matter significantly increased under LED and HPS as compared to FL. Further, the power consumption calculations revealed energy savings of 31.3% and 20.1% for LED and FL, respectively, compared to HPS. In conclusion, the implementation of a broad-spectrum LED system has tremendous potential for increasing quantity and quality of Thymus vulgaris L. during naturally insufficient light conditions while significantly reducing energy consumption.

Dear colleagues, it is an honor to invite you to participate in the 2nd International Plant Spectroscopy Conference (IPSC-2019) which will be held in Berlin, Germany, March 25-28, 2019 (http://ipsc-2019.julius-kuehn.de/) The conference brings together internationally renowned spectroscopists and plant scientists. The meeting will gather experts from fundamental to applied research and will highlight applications from academia to industry. New developments in various fields of spectroscopy and their application in plant sciences will be presented and discussed. Registration is already open. Deadline for abstract submission and early-bird registration/ payment is October 31, 2018. Deadline for regular registration is December 31, 2018 (late registration will cost additional processing fee). Conference venue is the Henry Ford Building of the Freie Universitaet in Berlin. It provides a modern lecture hall and a large foyer for coffee breaks, exhibition and poster demonstration. Exhibitors of analytical instruments are welcome and will receive detailed information on request. Since we want to keep conference fees as low as possible, especially for young scientists, we are dependent on attracting suitable sponsors who are willing to support the conference financially. Depending on the sponsorship contribution you have made, you can then claim individual benefits listed in the corresponding sponsorship agreement: https://ipsc-2019.julius-kuehn.de/sponsoring.html. I would be delighted to personally welcome you to IPSC-2019 in Berlin next March. If you have any questions about our conference and the sponsoring, I am at your disposal. Titles of Plenary and Invited Lectures "Miniaturization in vibrational spectroscopy: state-of-the-art instrumentation and novel applications" (Heinz Siesler) "Raman imaging of plant cell wall: where do we stand and how to move forward" (Notburga Gierlinger) "Raman microscopy combined with AFM to get a deeper insight into complex biological samples" (Malgorzata Baranska) "Multivariate analytical strategies for spectral data of plants" (Andras Gorzsas) "Experimental design considerations for developing spectroscopic calibrations of plant materials" (Claudia Beleites) "Cheminformatics tools to query metabolomics across species, genotypes and metabolic modules" (Oliver Fiehn) "NMR in plant science - methods and selected examples" (Bernd Schneider) "An overview of NMR applications in metabolite profiling of small molecules for plant metabolism studies" (Catherine Deborde) "Hyperspectral imaging in combination with chemometric data analysis - a powerful duo in the quality control of herbal medicines" (Ilze Vermaak) "Recent advances in vibrational spectroscopic imaging studies of medicinal plants" (Christian Huck) The conference dinner will combine a 4-hour boat trip on the river Spree through the city center of Berlin with culinary delights in a relaxed setting. For more information and registration, visit us at https://ipsc-2019.julius-kuehn.de/ We are looking forward to seeing you in Berlin! On behalf of the international scientific and the local organizing committee, Dr. Hartwig Schulz Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality - Editor-in-Chief Direktor und Professor Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen Institut für ökologische Chemie, Pflanzenanalytik und Vorratsschutz Königin-Luise-Straße 19 14195 Berlin (Germany)

Das Buch stellt die Ernährung derjenigen Menschen in den Mittelpunkt, die über ein geschwächtes Immunsystem verfügen und daher dem Angriff von Infektionserregern in besonderem Maße ausgesetzt sind. Dies sind nach Aussage der Autoren insbesondere Patienten mit Immunsuppression, deren Zahl stetig zunimmt. Empfehlungen zur keimarmen Ernährung unterscheiden sich mitunter erheblich und sind oftmals nicht wissenschaftlich belegt. Es kann sogar vorkommen, dass die Lebensqualität durch eine rigorose keimarme Kost drastisch eingeschränkt wird. Im ersten Teil des Buches ... see PDF for complete review

UnlabelledThe evolution and persistence of ocular pathology was assessed in a cohort of Onchocerca volvulus infected patients treated annually with ivermectin for 23 years. Patients were resident in rural Central and Kara Region of Togo and ocular examinations included testing of visual acuity, slit lamp examination of the anterior eye segment and the eye fundus by ophthalmoscopy. Before ivermectin treatment, vivid O.volvulus microfilariae (MF) were observed in the right and left anterior eye chamber in 52% and 42% of patients (n = 82), and dead MF were seen in the right and left cornea in 24% and 15% of cases, respectively. At 23 years post initial treatment (PIT), none of the patients (n = 82) presented with MF in the anterior chamber and cornea. A complete resolution of punctate keratitis (PK) lesions without observable corneal scars was present at 23 years PIT (pTrial registrationwww.pactr.org PACTR201303000464219).

Tannins occur in many field herbs and legumes, providing an immense variability in structure and molecular weight. This leads to complications when measuring tannin content; comparability of different methods is problematic. The present investigations aimed at characterizing four different tannin extracts: quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii), mimosa (Acacia mearnsii), tara (Caesalpinia spinosa), and gambier (Uncaria gambir) and impact of storage conditions. Using photometrical methods as well as HPLC-ESI-MS, fundamental differences could be determined. Quebracho, mimosa, and gambier contained 164.3, 108.2, and 169.3 g kg-1 of tannin (calculated as procyanidin C1); tara reached 647.5 g kg-1 (calculated as epigallocatechin gallate). Alongside with compounds already described in the literature, several tannin molecules were found that have not been observed before in the analyzed sources. Extraction with hot water provided clear advantage over treatment with acetone or methanol; the organic solvents resulted in 9.2 to 15.3 % less tannin isolation. Tannin content decreased by a maximum of 1 % per year stored at room temperature compared to 4 °C, but proportions of some compounds slightly shifted. Oven drying of material should be avoided. In general, the tannin extracts proved to have very diverse structures, making application of an overall standard method difficult.

River blindness is a seriously debilitating disease caused by the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus, which infects millions in Africa as well as in South and Central America. Research has been hampered by a lack of good animal models, as the parasite can only develop fully in humans and some primates. This review highlights the development of two animal model systems that have allowed significant advances in recent years and hold promise for the future. Experimental findings with Litomosoides sigmodontis in mice and Onchocerca ochengi in cattle are placed in the context of how these models can advance our ability to control the human disease.