An Overview: The Toxicity of Ageratina adenophora on Animals and Its Possible Interventions.

Ageratina adenophora is one of the major invasive weeds that causes instability of the ecosystem. Research has reported that A. adenophora produces allelochemicals that inhibit the growth and development of food crops, and also contain some toxic compounds that cause toxicity to animals that consume it. Over the past decades, studies on the identification of major toxic compounds of A. adenophora and their toxic molecular mechanisms have been reported. In addition, weed control interventions, such as herbicides application, was employed to reduce the spread of A. adenophora. However, the development of therapeutic and prophylactic measures to treat the various A. adenophora-induced toxicities, such as hepatotoxicity, splenotoxicity and other related disorders, have not been established to date. The main toxic pathogenesis of A. adenophora is oxidative stress and inflammation. However, numerous studies have verified that some extracts and secondary metabolites isolated from A. adenophora possess anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation activities, which implies that these extracts can relieve toxicity and aid in the development of drug or feed supplements to treat poisoning-related disorders caused by A. adenophora. Furthermore, beneficial bacteria isolated from rumen microbes and A. adenophora can degrade major toxic compounds in A. adenophora so as to be developed into microbial feed additives to help ameliorate toxicity mediated by A. adenophora. This review presents an overview of the toxic mechanisms of A. adenophora, provides possible therapeutic strategies that are available to mitigate the toxicity of A. adenophora and introduces relevant information on identifying novel prophylactic and therapeutic measures against A. adenophora-induced toxicity.

Relevance of Major Allergens in Weed Pollen Allergy.

INTRODUCTION: Weed pollen allergy is an important and in prevalence increasing cause of pollinosis in Europe and across the world. In this study we focus on the value of common diagnostic tools for detection of a sensitization to mugwort and English plantain, especially with regard to the clinical relevance of the sensitization. METHODS: Eighty weed pollen sensitized patients (41 to mugwort and 39 to English plantain) were assessed retrospectively regarding their clinical anamnesis, in-vivo tests (skin prick test [SPT] and allergen specific provocation) and in-vitro tests (immunoglobulin E [IgE] reactivity to purified natural allergen extract and specific allergen components in serum). RESULTS: 85% of mugwort and 83% of English plantain sensitizations could be diagnosed by SPT alone. Distinction between allergic and non-allergic patients could be made with clinical challenges solely. IgE serology revealed IgE antibodies against the native pollen extracts for mugwort in 98% and for English plantain in 90% of patients. Detection of major allergens nArt v 1, nArt v 3 and Pla l 1 did not add accuracy to the diagnosis. A vast majority of the weed pollen allergic patients was sensitized to >1 allergen. Minor allergens were found to be of less importance. CONCLUSION: The exact diagnosis of weed pollen allergy can be challenging due to confounding components in anamnesis and diagnostic tests. IgE-serology does not delineate allergic from sensitized patients. Component resolved diagnostics (CRD) can confirm, but not replace, extract based diagnostic methods, such as SPT, provocation tests or serology to native extracts. Hence, these are the gold standard diagnostic tools in weed pollen allergy up to now.

Las malezas, plantas incomprendidas / Weeds, misunderstood plants

Etiquetadas por la agricultura moderna como pestes, las plantas de origen espontáneo, en los campos de cultivos son conocidas como malezas. Una denominación que denota una influencia negativa derivada de la conceptualización del ser humano sobre algunas especies vegetales. Nombrar maleza a una planta es, a juicio de los autores, un criterio sesgado. Un estado del arte poco robusto, sobre las bondades de una especie la condena a ser clasificada como una especie no deseada. En la agricultura moderna lo no deseado es eliminado. Las malezas han sido condenadas desde el inicio mismo de las labores agrícolas. No se les ha dado la oportunidad de mostrar que también pueden proveer bondades a los sistemas de producción. La erradicación de malezas no ha funcionado de forma permanente en los campos de cultivo. Las especies espontaneas se han abierto paso en la agricultura moderna. Han superado adversidades en toda la historia de la agricultura. Siempre presentes en los campos de cultivo las malezas nos desafían a convivir con ellas desde un enfoque diferente. Se han dado ya pasos importantes en la investigación del uso alternativo de estas especies. La investigación que implique la convivencia en detrimento de la eliminación es necesaria. Es momento de dejar de odiar a las malezas e iniciar a comprenderlas como parte importante del ecosistema agrícola.

Designated by modern agriculture as pests, the spontaneous plants, in the croplands are known as weeds. A denomination that denotes a negative influence on the conceptualization of the human being over some plant species. Naming a plant as weed is according to the authors a biased criterion. A weak state of art, on the kindness of a species condemns it to be classified as an unwanted species. In modern agriculture the unwanted is eliminated. Weeds have been doomed since the beginning of agriculture. They have not been given the opportunity to show that they can also provide benefits to production systems. The eradication of weeds has not been permanently effective in the fields. The spontaneous species have made their way in modern agriculture. They have overcome adversity throughout the history of agriculture. Always present in the fields, weeds challenge us to live with them from a different perspective. Important steps have already been taken in the investigation of the alternative use of these species. Research that implies coexistence to the detriment of elimination is necessary. It is time to stop hating weeds and begin to understand them as an important part of the agricultural ecosystem.

Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Weeds or "New Functional Crops"?

The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot of wild edible species, and their therapeutic and culinary uses have long been documented. Owing to the growing demand for wild edible species, there are increasing concerns about the safety, standardization, quality, and availability of products derived from these species collected in the wild. An efficient cultivation method for the species having promising nutraceutical values is highly desirable. In this backdrop, a hydroponic system could be considered as a reproducible and efficient agronomic practice to maximize yield, and also to selectively stimulate the biosynthesis of targeted metabolites. The aim of this report is to review the phytochemical and toxic compounds of some potentially interesting Mediterranean wild edible species. Herein, after a deep analysis of the literature, information on the main bioactive compounds, and some possibly toxic molecules, from fifteen wild edible species have been compiled. The traditional recipes prepared with these species are also listed. In addition, preliminary data about the performance of some selected species are also reported. In particular, germination tests performed on six selected species revealed that there are differences among the species, but not with crop species. "Domestication" of wild species seems a promising approach for exploiting these "new functional foods".

Outdoor pollen is a trigger of child and adolescent asthma emergency department presentations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the context of increased asthma exacerbations associated with climatic changes such as thunderstorm asthma, interest in establishing the link between pollen exposure and asthma hospital admissions has intensified. Here, we systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of studies on pollen and emergency department (ED) attendance. METHODS: A search for studies with appropriate search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL was conducted. Each study was assessed for quality and risk of bias. The available evidence was summarized both qualitatively and meta-analysed using random-effects models when moderate heterogeneity was observed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. The pollen taxa investigated differed between studies, allowing meta-analysis only of the effect of grass pollen. A statistically significant increase in the percentage change in the mean number of asthma ED presentations (MPC) (pooled results from 3 studies) was observed for an increase in 10 grass pollen grains per cubic metre of exposure 1.88% (95% CI = 0.94%, 2.82%). Time series studies showed positive correlations between pollen concentrations and ED presentations. Age-stratified studies found strongest associations in children aged 5-17 years old. CONCLUSION: Exposure to ambient grass pollen is an important trigger for childhood asthma exacerbations requiring ED attendance. As pollen exposure is increasingly a problem especially in relation to thunderstorm asthma, studies with uniform measures of pollen and similar analytical methods are necessary to fully understand its impact on human health.

An investigation of the effects of stage of ensilage on Nassella neesiana seeds, for reducing seed viability and injury to livestock.

The noxious weed Nassella neesiana is established on a wide range of productive land throughout southeastern Australia. N. neesiana seeds, when mature, are sharp, causing injury to livestock, thus posing a problem in fodder bales. To reduce infestations of agricultural weeds in situ, production of silage from weed-infested pastures is practised as part of integrated weed management (IWM). However, there is little data to demonstrate whether this process is useful to reduce infestations or the harmful properties of N. neesiana. Therefore, the minimum duration of ensilage required to reduce the viability of N. neesiana seeds was investigated, both with and without addition of ensilage inoculants in this process. Also, the decreasing propensity of the seeds to injure livestock, after various times and conditions of ensilage, was assessed. Ensilage inoculant reduced seed germination probability to zero after 35 days. When no inoculant was added, zero viability was achieved after 42 days. A qualitative assessment of the hardness of ensilaged seeds found seed husks were softer (and therefore safer) after 42 days, whether inoculant was used or not. Therefore, we suggest that both the viability of N. neesiana seeds and hardness of seed casings are significantly reduced after 42 days, thereby reducing the risks of seed dispersal and injury to livestock.

Conhecimento botânico medicinal sobre espécies vegetais nativas da caatinga e plantas espontâneas no agreste da Paraíba, Brasil / Botanical medical knowledge of native species of the Caatinga and spontaneous plants in the Agreste region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil

O bioma Caatinga apresenta diversas espécies vegetais amplamente empregadas pelas populações rurais, especialmente na fitoterapia, abrangendo diversos usos no tratamento de determinadas enfermidades. As plantas espontâneas, apesar de serem entendidas como espécies daninhas ou invasoras, concomitantemente apresentam propriedades fitoquímicas que podem ser aproveitadas no âmbito medicinal. Nesta concepção, o referente trabalho tem como objetivo identificar espécies vegetais nativas da Caatinga, assim como plantas espontâneas, empregadas na medicina popular através de estudo etnobotânico desenvolvido na zona rural do município de Serra da Raiz, Agreste da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. O levantamento das plantas de uso fitoterápico foi estabelecido através de questionamentos e entrevistas semiestruturadas com 57 famílias da região. Foram coletadas informações referentes a 55 espécies vegetais e seus empregos terapêuticos, destacando-se entre elas: Myracrodruom urundeuva Allemão (Aroeira), Genipa americana L. (Jenipapo), Solanum paniculatum L. (Jurubeba) e Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Angico) por serem amplamente utilizadas no tratamento de diversas enfermidades pelos moradores locais.

The Brazilian Caatinga has several plant species widely used by rural populations, especially in phytotherapy, covering many uses in the treatment of diseases. The spontaneous plants, although regarded as invasive plants or weeds, present phytochemical properties that can be exploited in medicine. This study aims to identify native plant species of the Caatinga and spontaneous plants used in medicine through an ethnobotanical study developed in the municipality of Serra da Raiz, Agreste area of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The survey of plants used in herbal medicine was established through the questioning of and semi-structured interviews with 57 families in the region. Information was record on 55 plant species and their therapeutic uses. The species most used in the treatment of various diseases were Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Genipa americana L., Solanum paniculatum L. and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan..

Full thickness burn caused by exposure to giant hogweed: delayed presentation, histological features and surgical management.

We report the case of a 10-year-old boy with a full thickness chemical burn on his right pretibial area due to phytophotodermatitis (PPD) following contact with giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). Although cutaneous burns due to plants are a well-established cause of chemical burn, previous reports described partial thickness burns that healed with conservative measures. This patient presented to our unit two weeks after the initial injury with an established full thickness burn. Debridement and split thickness skin grafting was required. We presented the histological features of the debrided skin specimen and discussed potential factors leading to this unexpected full thickness injury.