BACKGROUND : Degradation of components of the extracellular matrix such as elastin and collagen by elastase and collagenase accelerates skin aging. Phytochemicals that inhibit the activity of these enzymes can be developed ...

Polymyxins have previously been described to have activity against M. tuberculosis (MTB), but further research was abandoned due to systemic toxicity concerns to achieve the required MIC. Colistin methanesulfonate (CMS), ...

Over-consuming amino acids is associated with reduced survival in many species, including honeybees. The mechanisms responsible for this are unclear but one possibility is that excessive intake of amino acids increases ...

The advancements in genotyping have opened new approaches for identification and precise mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in plants, particularly by combining linkage and association mapping (AM) analysis. In this ...

Mucuna bean (Mucuna pruriens L.) is grown in many parts of Kenya as a green manure/cover crop. The bean contains a high content of crude protein. However, it remains a minor food crop due to the presence of anti-nutritional ...

Culinary herbs and spices are widely used as a traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes and its complications, and there are several scientific studies in the literature supporting the use of these medicinal ...

Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae) is a medicinal plant indigenous to Southern Africa that has been widely evaluated for its use in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. In recent studies, the anti-proliferative ...

Head-space volatiles of the edible pulp of the mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia) were extracted using solid phase microextraction (SPME), and their identities determined by GC–FID and GC–MS systems. The SPME method ...

Plants defend themselves from pathogens by producing bioactive defense chemicals. The biochemical mechanisms relating to quantitative resistance of potato to root infection by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea ...

Root rot of citrus trees caused by Phytophthora nicotianae is responsible for severe economic losses in citriculture. Use of resistant rootstocks is an effective method of managing this problem, however, breeding and ...