Showing papers in "South African Journal of Botany in 2007"

TL;DR: It was found that germination was delayed at lower salinity levels and inhibited at higher salinity regimes, and the activity of proline oxidase (PROX) decreased and the γ-glutamyl kinase (γ-GK) activity increased.

TL;DR: The antifungal activities of acetone, hexane, dichloromethane and methanol leaf extracts of 24 South African Combretum species were determined against five fungal animal pathogens representing yeasts, moulds and dimorphic fungi.

TL;DR: Most plants used traditionally for treating wounds and retained placenta in animals are effective in combating infection and reduction of pain, suggesting that these plants are probably safe for use.

TL;DR: It is suggested that phylogenetic overdispersion of communities may be common throughout many of the Cape lineages, since interspecific interactions are likely intensified in lineages with large numbers of species restricted to a small geographic area.

TL;DR: Results implicate that the extracts contain compounds with therapeutic potential against C. albicans, and suggest that the plant extracts inhibited candidiasis growth.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the impact of residence time and potential range on the spread of invasive alien plants in South Africa, and showed that the potential range and residence time can affect which factors emerge as significant determinants of invasion effectiveness.

TL;DR: The combined effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and soil drought on the phenological development, photosynthetic pigments, ultraviolet absorbing compounds (eg flavonoids), physiological characteristics, biomass and yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L) under arid and semiarid field conditions were investigated in this paper.

TL;DR: The findings indicate that the genetic improvement of salt tolerance in wheat through selection will be problematic due to masking effects of the environment, and imply rigorous and careful selection of salt tolerant accessions.

TL;DR: Ruta graveolens and Schotia brachypetala, Mentha aquatica and Gasteria croucheri exhibited good MAO-B inhibition activity, which support these plants traditional use and may lead to the discovery of novel MAO inhibitors.

TL;DR: It seems that the decrease of growth under saline stress is not associated to a water (osmotic) effect, and the tolerance of the two populations is probably acquired by their better faculty to assure K+ selectivity and to compartmentalize Na+ ions in leaves.

TL;DR: The in vitro antibacterial and antimycobacterial activities may support the use of Salvia species in traditional medicine to treat microbial infections.

TL;DR: In this paper, extracts obtained from seven tree species used in Sudanese traditional medicine were screened for antibacterial, anti-cholinesterase activities and investigated for potential mutagenic effects using the Ames test.

TL;DR: Acetone and dimethylsulphoxide appear to be the safest solvents to use in fungal bioassays because of their low minimum inhibitory concentrations.

TL;DR: Ninety eight extracts obtained from 10 trees used in South African traditional medicine were investigated for antimycobacterial activity using the broth microdilution method, and dichloromethane extracts did not show activity against M. aurum at the highest concentration tested.

TL;DR: The in vivo hepatoprotective effects of Rhoicissus tridentata subsp.

TL;DR: The seasonal variation of the hydrodistilled essential oil was investigated, and three trees in the Johannesburg Botanical Garden indicated similar chemical profiles with fluctuation in the levels of the two major constituents.

TL;DR: Temperature plays a significant role in regulating growth of tubers, and application of moderate fertilizers and watering once per week at 25 °C is recommended for raising healthy D. dregeana seedlings.

TL;DR: This study suggests that V. lasiopus has a high potential for exploitation as a source of antimalarial agents and selectivity index of greater than 10 is suggested.

TL;DR: Transgenic plants with elevated accumulation of osmoprotectants seem to be better adapted to water stress, providing a perspective for future research of stress effects that have a principle role in the functional activity of plants.

TL;DR: The toxicity profile of the two oils evaluated against the human kidney epithelium cells indicated some degree of toxicity in comparison to 5′-fluoro-uracil, and in vitro pharmacological properties of the essential oils were evaluated.

TL;DR: It is suggested that invasion-associated upward shifts in seed mass may foster plant invasions by increasing the competitiveness of invasive species relative to natives.

TL;DR: The growth pattern of sugarcane may be ‘optimal’ for maximising sucrose yield, balancing delayed growth with decreased respiratory carbon loss.

TL;DR: The micromorphology and distribution of foliar trichomes of Nepeta congesta var .

TL;DR: Examination of the use of antimalarial plants among the Meru community of Imenti forest area and Gatunga, in Eastern Province, Kenya finds traditional remedies against malaria are practised among the rural communities because of ease of availability and convenience.

TL;DR: The results showed there to be a significant decrease in the modal diameter of Eucomis autumnalis bulbs prevalent in the markets between 1995 and 2001 from 8 cm to 4 cm respectively, and cultivation is necessary to mitigate the effects of further exploitation.

TL;DR: The relationship between bark thickness and stem diameter at breast height (dbh) was investigated for six species used medicinally in South Africa and the prevalence of bark of certain thicknesses in the medicinal markets was used to evaluate the change in tree size-classes over a 6-year period.

TL;DR: Mentha aquatica L. is used in Zulu traditional medicine for spiritual purposes and an ethanolic leaf extract has previously shown strong affinity to the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor, and Viridiflorol from the essential oil and ( S )-naringenin from an Ethanolic extract was isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation using binding to the neurotransmitter site.

TL;DR: The data reveal that Mozambiquan seaweeds are seriously understudied, with only 26% of the Kenyan flora having been recorded in that country, compared with 68% in Tanzania, 41% in Madagascar, and 43% in South Africa.