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Production of Essential Oils
Published in K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Gerhard Buchbauer, Handbook of Essential Oils, 2020
Essential oils can occur in many different parts of the plant. They can be present in flowers (rose, lavender, magnolia, bitter orange, and blue chamomile) and leaves (cinnamon, patchouli, petitgrain, clove, perilla, and laurel); sometimes the whole aerial part of the plant is distilled (Melissa officinalis, basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, verbena, and peppermint). The so-called fruit oils are often extracted from seed, which forms part of the fruit, such as caraway, coriander, cardamom, pepper, dill, and pimento. Citrus oils are extracted from the epicarp of species of Citrus, such as lemon, lime, bergamot, grapefruit, bitter orange as well as sweet orange, mandarin, clementine, and tangerine. Fruit or perhaps more correctly berry oils are obtained from juniper and Schinus species. The well-known bark oils are obtained from birch, cascarilla, cassia, cinnamon, and massoia. Oil of mace is obtained from the aril, a fleshy cover of the seed of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). Flower buds are used for the production of clove oil. Wood and bark exudations yield an important group of essential oils such as galbanum, incense, myrrh, mastix, and storax, to name but a few. The needles of conifers (leaves) are a source of an important group of essential oils derived from species of Abies, Pinus, and so on. Wood oils are derived mostly from species of Santalum (sandalwood), cedar, amyris, cade, rosewood, agarwood, and guaiac. Finally, roots and rhizomes are the source of oils of orris, valerian, calamus, and angelica.
Autofluorescence as a Parameter to Study Pharmaceutical Materials
Published in Victoria Vladimirovna Roshchina, Fluorescence of Living Plant Cells for Phytomedicine Preparations, 2020
Victoria Vladimirovna Roshchina
Flavonoids and polyphenols are visible fluorescent components that are formed or intensively accumulated under stress and influence the quality of phytomaterials for pharmacy (Kumar and Pandey 2013). In many cases, this is a defense by plants. But also, the metabolites may be included in insect nutrition. Phenolic compounds were oxidized, hydrolyzed, or modified in various ways through the digestive tract of larvae (Vihakas 2014). High concentrations of complex flavonoid oligoglycosides were found in the hemolymph (the circulatory fluid of insects) of birch and pine sawflies. The larvae produced these compounds from simple flavonoid precursors present in the birch leaves and pine needles. Flavonoid glycosides were also found in the cocoon walls of sawflies, which suggested that flavonoids were used in the construction of cocoons. Salt in soil or ozone induces the formation of new phenol compounds, mainly flavonoids.
Tree pollen allergens
Published in Richard F. Lockey, Dennis K. Ledford, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy, 2020
Rosa Codina, Fernando Pineda, Ricardo Palacios
Ecological niches appropriated for particular plants to grow are often distributed over long or short distances; sometimes they can be specific. Trees belonging to the order Fagales show distinct geographic distributions. For example, birch is prominent in various areas of Northern Europe and America. On the contrary, oak trees are abundant in warmer areas of the world. It is worth noting that oak species hybridize and speciate easily, and that a number of oak species prevail in particular locations; for example, in Florida [11,23].
Medicinal plants consumption against urinary tract infections: a narrative review of the current evidence
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2021
Efthymios Poulios, Georgios K. Vasios, Evmorfia Psara, Constantinos Giaginis
Okragla and coworkers obtained the microtox test, in order to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of herbal infusions, used in UTIs. Herbs used were lingonberry leaf, birch leaf, wild thyme extract, dwarf everlast flower, goldenrod, restharrow, agrimony, rowanberry, black elderberry, and juniper berry. This study evaluated which of the herbal infusions applied for the treatment and reduction of UTIs symptoms exert the highest efficiency, and at which concentration levels (5.85 mg/mL; 0.59 mg/mL; 0.29 mg/mL). The findings of this study supported evidence that the Microtox test may be effectively utilized to evaluate the therapeutic potential of herbal infusions. According to this study, both in preventative medicine, as well as in aiding UTIs treatment, the principal benefit was carried out by herbal infusions of wild thyme and birch leaf (at all concentrations), and also by infusions at higher concentrations (approximately 5.85 mg/mL) of lingonberry leaf, dwarf everlast flower, agrimony, goldenrod, artichoke herb, and juniper berry [49]. In another study, Ukah and coworkers reported a reduced risk of antimicrobial-resistant UTIs, induced by intestinal acquisition of antimicrobial-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), related with apples, nectarines, peppers, fresh herbs, and peanuts consumption [50].
Dermatology for the internist: optimal diagnosis and management of atopic dermatitis
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2021
Shanthi Narla, Jonathan I. Silverberg
Patients and caregivers are commonly concerned about foods being potential causes or triggers of AD. Across studies, the prevalence of food allergy in children with AD varies significantly between 20 and 80 percent due to different study populations, AD severities, and a lack of consistency of defining criteria for food allergy [70]. Up to 53% of children with AD have demonstrable positive food-specific IgE and/or positive skin prick tests (SPTs) with up to 15% demonstrating signs of food allergy on oral food challenge [71]. However, many of these positive tests are false positives without clinical relevance. Food challenge proven immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy (a more refined definition) may be present in up to one-third of moderate-severe AD patients [72]. In infants, cow’s milk, hen’s eggs, peanut, and soy and in older children, wheat, fish, tree nuts, and shellfish are the most common food allergens [73]. Birch-associated foods were also described as potential triggers of AD in children as well as in adults [73].
Update on pollen-food allergy syndrome
Published in Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 2020
Pascal Poncet, Hélène Sénéchal, Denis Charpin
This distinction between PFAS and OAS has an obvious impact on epidemiological figures. In a survey performed by a group of US allergists [6], the prevalence of food allergy in patients suffering from pollen allergy was considered to be as low as 5% in children and 8% in adults. These prevalences vary in different studies, which means that the definition of the condition is not properly understood. It is commonly estimated that 30–60% of European patients with food allergy also suffer from an associated pollen allergy [3]. In agreement with Price et al. [7], we suggest using the term PFAS instead of OAS. However, the prevalence of PFAS is much higher in northern Europe because of birch pollen allergy. Osterballe et al. [8] estimated that 40–50% of birch-allergic patients had PFAS. In Mediterranean countries lacking birch and ragweed, the prevalence of PFAS seems to be around 20% [9].