Mint family

About: Mint family is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 201 publications have been published within this topic receiving 4003 citations.

Salvinorin A: A potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous κ opioid selective agonist

Abstract: Salvia divinorum, whose main active ingredient is the neoclerodane diterpene Salvinorin A, is a hallucinogenic plant in the mint family that has been used in traditional spiritual practices for its psychoactive properties by the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico. More recently, S. divinorum extracts and Salvinorin A have become more widely used in the U.S. as legal hallucinogens. We discovered that Salvinorin A potently and selectively inhibited 3H-bremazocine binding to cloned κ opioid receptors. Salvinorin A had no significant activity against a battery of 50 receptors, transporters, and ion channels and showed a distinctive profile compared with the prototypic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide. Functional studies demonstrated that Salvinorin A is a potent κ opioid agonist at cloned κ opioid receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney-293 cells and at native κ opioid receptors expressed in guinea pig brain. Importantly, Salvinorin A had no actions at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, the principal molecular target responsible for the actions of classical hallucinogens. Salvinorin A thus represents, to our knowledge, the first naturally occurring nonnitrogenous opioid-receptor subtype-selective agonist. Because Salvinorin A is a psychotomimetic selective for κ opioid receptors, κ opioid-selective antagonists may represent novel psychotherapeutic compounds for diseases manifested by perceptual distortions (e.g., schizophrenia, dementia, and bipolar disorders). Additionally, these results suggest that κ opioid receptors play a prominent role in the modulation of human perception.

The Application of Medicinal Plants in Traditional and Modern Medicine: A Review of Thymus vulgaris

Abstract: Medicinal plants have played an essential role in the development of human culture. Medicinal plants are resources of traditional medicines and many of the modern medicines are produced indirectly from plants. This study illustrates the importance of traditional and modern medicines in the treatment and management of human diseases and ailments. It has been confirmed by WHO that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80 percent of the world’s population; especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries. Meanwhile, consumers in developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modern health care and are seeking alternatives. Thymus vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiacea. Thymus is a widely used medicinal plant in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among different species of Thymus, Thymus vulgaris is used more than other species in therapeutic dosage forms. In Traditional medicine T. vulgaris is cultivated in many countries by most people especially in rural areas depending on herbal medicines to treat many diseases including inflammation-related ailments such as rheumatism, muscle swelling, insect bites, pains, etc. Also the modern medicine in essential oil of thyme has demonstrated that the compounds have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. In this review the objective is to consider the past and present value of medicinal plants such as Thymus vulgar is used in traditional and modern medical practices as bioactive natural compounds.

Weeds of the Northeast

Abstract: About This Book How to Identify a Weed Shortcut IdentificationTables Vegetative Key to the Weeds Spore Producers Bryophyta Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family) Monocots Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family) Cyperaceae (Sedge Family) Juncaceae (Rush Family) Liliaceae (Lily Family) Poaceae = Gramineae (Grass Family) Dicots Aizoaceae (Carpetweed Family) Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family) Apiaceae = Umbelliferae (Carrot Family) Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family) Asteraceae = Compositae (Aster Family) Brassicaceae = Cruciferae (Mustard Family) Campanuaceae (Bellflower Family) Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family) Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family) Convolvulaceae (Morningglory Family) Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family) Dipsacaceae (Teasel Family) Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family) Fabaceae = Leguminosae (Pea or Bean Family) Geraniaceae (Geranium Family) Lamiaceae = Labiatae (Mint Family) Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family) Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Onagraceae (Eveningprimrose Family) Oxalidaceae (Woodsorrel Family) Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family) Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Portulacaceae (Purslane Family) Primulaceae (Primrose Family) Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Rosaceae (Rose Family) Rubiaceae (Madder Family) Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family) Solanaceae (Nightshade Family) Urticaceae (Nettle Family) Violaceae (Violet Family) Woody Plants Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family) Bignoniaceae (Trumpetcreeper Family) Caprlfoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family) Celastraceae (Stafftree Family) Liliaceae (Lily Family) Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Rosaceae (Rose Family) Simaroubaceae (Quassia Family) Solanaceae (Nightshade Family) Vitaceae (Grape Family) Hardwood Seedlings Comparison Tables Glossary Bibliography Index About the Authors

Genome-wide identification and characterization of novel genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Abstract: Terpenoids are the largest class of plant secondary metabolites and have attracted widespread interest. Salvia miltiorrhiza, belonging to the largest and most widely distributed genus in the mint family, is a model medicinal plant with great economic and medicinal value. Diterpenoid tanshinones are the major lipophilic bioactive components in S. miltiorrhiza. Systematic analysis of genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis has not been reported to date. Searching the recently available working draft of the S. miltiorrhiza genome, 40 terpenoid biosynthesis-related genes were identified, of which 27 are novel. These genes are members of 19 families, which encode all of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the universal isoprene precursor isopentenyl diphosphate and its isomer dimethylallyl diphosphate, and two enzymes associated with the biosynthesis of labdane-related diterpenoids. Through a systematic analysis, it was found that 20 of the 40 genes could be involved in tanshinone biosynthesis. Using a comprehensive approach, the intron/exon structures and expression patterns of all identified genes and their responses to methyl jasmonate treatment were analysed. The conserved domains and phylogenetic relationships among the deduced S. miltiorrhiza proteins and their homologues isolated from other plant species were revealed. It was discovered that some of the key enzymes, such as 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase, are encoded by multiple gene members with different expression patterns and subcellular localizations, and both homomeric and heteromeric geranyl diphosphate synthases exist in S. miltiorrhiza. The results suggest the complexity of terpenoid biosynthesis and the existence of metabolic channels for diverse terpenoids in S. miltiorrhiza and provide useful information for improving tanshinone production through genetic engineering.