The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation and solvent free microwave extraction from the aerial parts of Artemisia tournefortiana were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Forty-six components representing 82.3% of the hydrodistilled oil and thirty-nine components representing 81.0% of the solvent free microwave extraction oil of the plant were identified. The main components of the water-distilled oils were (Z)-ß- farnesene (34.2%) and nonadecane (8.1%), whereas in the microwave extraction method 2-propenoic acid, 2-ethyl hexyl ester (30.0%) and spathulenol (19.5%) were the major constituents. The water-distilled oil of Artemisia tournefortiana was rich with regard to sesquiterpenes (64.5%), whereas the solvent free microwave extraction oil was rich with regard to sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (40.0%) and non-terpenoid compounds (39.3%) and the monoterpene hydrocarbon fraction was relatively small, representing 1.7% of the total oil. According to this study, the composition of the two oils showed significant differences in the contents of the main components.

Oxysporone, possessing a 4H-furo(2,3-b)pyran-2(3H)-one structure, is a fungal metabolite, first isolated from Fusarium oxysporum. Later, this compound was also reported from the fungal genera, Diplodia, Pestalotia and Pestalotiopsis. Oxysporone was patented as an antibiotic for the treatment of dysentery, and its phytotoxic property has been well-established. Interesting biological and chemical properties of oxysporone make this compound attractive for its potential biotechnological applications in agriculture, especially as a new agrochemical with a lower environmental impact. However, it requires further extensive bioactivity screening looking at beyond its established phytotoxicity and preliminary antifungal property. It has a simple chemical structure (C7H8O4), and the hydroxyl group at C-4 provides options for synthesising numerous analogues by simply incorporating various functionalities at C-4, whilst keeping the main skeleton intact. This mini-review provides a critical overview on the occurrence, production, synthesis, structure elucidation and bioactivities of oxysporone.

In this work, a phytochemical analysis on the total aerial parts of Galeopsis ladanum subsp. angustifolia (Ehrh. ex Hoffm.) Gaudin collected in Abruzzo region (Central Italy) has been reported. Nine compounds were identified belonging to five different classes of natural compounds. Additional chemotaxonomic markers were recognized than our previous study, as well. Their presence is perfectly in accordance with the current botanical classification of the species and shows the possibility of a pronounced metabolic variability. The observed phytochemical composition may also suggest the possible use of this species in the ethnopharmacological field just like most Galeopsis species since they are endowed with several medicinal properties. Furthermore, no potential toxic component was identified in the studied accession.

The present investigation was carried out to determine the stability over years among seventeen genetic stocks of turmeric assembled from different localities in India for high and stable rhizomes yield. The observed differences among genetic stocks, years and g×e interactions were highly significant for rhizome yield. The stable genetic stocks were selected on the basis of stability parameters, high mean, regression coefficient (bi) around unity and mean square deviations from regression (s2di) near zero. The environmental indices for rhizome yield also indicated clear effects over the year’s, i.e. 1.85 in year I followed by 9.95 in year II; -6.31 in year III and -5.29 in the year IV. The largest AMMI1 gain of the grand mean occurs over years for picking stable genotypes/clones. Further partitioning of genotypes on the basis of AMMI and Eberhart and Russell (1966) model, the clones/genotypes T-8, T-12 and T-13 were highly stable; T-11 and T-14 adapted to the average stable in low yielding environment/year and T-9 and T-17 genotypes/clones with below average stable suitable for high yielding environment were recommended for commercialization.

Tuberculosis kills approximately two million people annually. This study aimed at evaluating some selected medicinal parts that are used traditionally in Adamawa State, to treat tuberculosis and related symptoms against a microorganism that causes respiratory ailments. In this investigation, for new anti-tuberculosis lead molecules, ten medicinal plants species were selected and investigated for antimycobacterial activities following report of their therapeutic use in traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The stem-bark of the plants was extracted with methanol using soxhlet extractor. The crude extracts were screened for antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the broth microdilution method. The extract of Anogeisus leiocarpus showed strong activity at 0.312 mg/mL followed by Boswellia dalzielii with an activity of 0.625 mg/mL. Extracts of Acacia tortilis, Bombax constantum, Ceiba pentandra and Fiscus platyphylla showed activity at 1.25 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL and 5.0 mg/mL, respectively. However, the extracts of Echinaceae angustifolia, Fiscus trichopoda, Fiscus sycomorus and Isoberlinia doka did not exhibit any significant antimycobacterial activity. The results from this study indicated that these six plants are viable potential sources of products active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This report also demonstrated the efficacy of Nigerian medicinal plants as potential agents in treatment/management of tuberculosis and related symptoms. The results have also validated traditional knowledge from the local people regarding the use of these plants to treat tuberculosis. Therefore, the six plants have potential to be developed on new anti- tuberculosis drugs.