Agriculture and fishing are the primary source of almost all our food, as well as of many other products, so remain vital activities even though their share in the economy is small and in continuous decline. Partly for this reason public policy in these areas is almost entirely integrated at European level in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Forestry policies are also heavily affected by EU-level decision-making. As agriculture dominates in terms of direct contribution to GDP and numbers of people engaged in it, as well as accounting for the largest amount of public support expenditure, it is agriculture that will receive the greatest attention here.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Antiinflammatory effects of genipin, an active principle of gardenia

Anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological activities of cultured mycelia and fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris.

Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush), an abundant plant of Mexican and US-American deserts and its metabolite nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders and 2.8% of the population suffers from this disease throughout the world and it may cross 5.4% by the year 2025. Oral hypoglycemic agents like sulphonylureas and biguanides are still the major players in the management of the disease but there is growing interest in herbal remedies due to the side effects associated with the oral hypoglycemic agents. Herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine throughout human history. They are widely used today indicating that herbs are a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. The medicinal plants, besides having natural therapeutic values against various diseases and considerable works have been done on these plants to treat diabetes mellitus, describes that the antidiabetic activity of medicinal plants is due to the presence of phenolic compounds, avonoids, terpenoids, coumarins and other constituents which show reduction in blood glucose levels. Some of these herbal plants and their active chemical constituents which have a role in the management of diabetes mellitus are compiled here and discussed in this review.

Herbal medicines for diabetes mellitus: a review.

Studies on the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties of Alstonia boonei stem bark

Studies on the anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological properties of the aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark.

A methanol extract of Combretum micranthum leaves was studied for anti-inflammatory activity in rats and mice using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. The effect of the extract on cellular-type inflammation was also investigated in the cotton pellet granuloma in rats. The extract (50, 100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited oedema production induced by carrageenan in rats. Increased vascular permeability caused by acetic acid injection was also inhibited by the extract, within the same dose range. C. micranthum extract (100 mg/kg) inhibited granuloma formation in rats to a similar degree as indomethacin (5 mg/kg). These results provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory property of C. micranthum leaves.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory property of the extract of Combretum micranthum G. Don (Combretaceae)

1. In isolated guinea-pig lungs perfused through the pulmonary artery, histamine caused a rise in perfusion pressure which was converted to a fall by a prior injection of mepyramine.

2. Evidence is provided to show that at least part of the histamine effect was due to its direct action on pulmonary vascular tissue, and was largely independent of bronchomotor tone.

3. Neither the pressor nor the depressor effects were modified by adrenoceptor blocking agents, phentolamine and propranolol, in doses which reversed or blocked the effects of noradrenaline, adrenaline or isoprenaline. The actions of histamine could therefore not be attributed to catecholamine release. The involvement of cholinergic mechanisms was also excluded since atropine failed to influence the histamine effects.

4. It is suggested that the mepyramine-sensitive pressor, and the mepyramine-resistant depressor effects of histamine, were mediated by different receptors.

5. It is proposed that a vasodilator action of histamine leading to a partial obstruction of the pulmonary airways could be part of the explanation for the relative ineffectiveness of mepyramine in blocking anaphylactic bronchoconstruction in the guinea-pig.

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David T. Okpako

Papers

Studies on the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties of Alstonia boonei stem bark

Studies on the anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological properties of the aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory property of the extract of Combretum micranthum G. Don (Combretaceae)

A dual action of histamine on guinea‐pig lung vessels

Traditional African medicine: theory and pharmacology explored.