The Importance of Pine Species in the Ethnomedicine of Transylvania (Romania).

The geographical and ecological features of Transylvania enable the wide ethnobotanical use of pine species. The aim of this study was to survey the current ethnomedicinal and other traditional use of pine species of Hungarian-speaking ethnic groups in Transylvania and to compare them with earlier reports performed in Transylvania and from other countries related to the Carpathian Basin. Information on pine species was obtained using semi-structured interviews with 515 Transylvanian informants from 18 villages in the period 2007-2019. The young shoots of Abies alba Mill., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold, and Pinus sylvestris L. were applied to treat respiratory diseases, while the resin was used for dental problems. Syrup and decoction were made from the cones of all species, except Abies alba. Picea abies was the most frequently documented with seven preparations from different parts (even needles), and this species was mentioned in the treatment of 21 diseases. The least recorded was Abies alba, which was applied for coughs and decayed teeth. We recorded the use of the cones and needles of Picea abies for dyspnoea, thyroid glands, and kidney disorders, previously unknown in ethnomedicinal literature. Our data on the pine species confirm their current use and significance in Transylvania.

Ethnomedicine survey on folk dermatology in Transylvania, Romania.

From the beginning of recorded history through the present day, dermatologic disorders have been treated with ethnomedicine remedies. We present the ethnodermatologic practices in Transylvania, Romania. We conducted ethnomedicine surveys in 35 villages in Transylvania (2007-2019). The 650 people interviewed were questioned about the treatment of dermatologic disorders by drugs derived from plant, animal, human, or other origins. Collected data were compared to earlier records of the regions and other European countries, completed with relevant pharmacologic studies of some plants. A total of 180 drugs were documented for 45 skin problems, including 112 plants, 1 fungus, 19 animals, 5 humans, and 43 other materials used in 11 preparation forms. Among these, 144 drugs were mentioned in humans, 10 in veterinary medicines, and 26 included in both therapies with overlapping human/animal (eg, Petroselinum crispum) and specific uses (eg, Daphne mezereum, Scrophularia nodosa). Compared to data from other countries, the local use of 32 plants and various animals and minerals was described only in the study area. The present study demonstrates that ethnomedicine practices are a valuable source of knowledge for skin diseases and highlight the relevance of fieldwork in the selected regions of Transylvania.

Contrasting mtDNA and microsatellite data of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus breeding populations on a small geographic scale.

The great reed warbler has two genetically distinguishable haplogroups: "Clade A" occurs in higher proportions in Western Europe and Kazakhstan, and colonised Europe and Asia from a refugium in South-West Europe; and "Clade B", which is more common in Eastern Europe, and colonised parts of Europe from a refugium in the Middle East. Our aims were (i) to analyse the rate of differentiation in Hungarian breeding populations in order to see whether European-scale pattern is visible or not on as a small scale as the territory of Hungary and (ii) to compare the results obtained with mtDNA sequencing and microsatellite markers. To analyse the genetic differentiation, the mtDNA control region II was sequenced in 68 adult breeding birds, and 51 were fingerprinted at 11 microsatellite loci, while both analyses were performed on 36 birds (a total of 83 birds). The microsatellite data gave a better resolution and represented the fine-scale pattern of the suspected recolonisation. The lack of genetic differentiation among the breeding populations based on mitochondrial data seems to support this finding, because the admixture of the clades in this particular geographic region obliterates differentiation. Accordingly, the Fst values from different branches are significantly based on microsatellite data only. The mtDNA methods only give reliable results when a geographic and ecological factor plays a role in the population subdivision, but in the case of an intermixing population larger-scale studies are needed.

Determination of polyphenols and in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.

Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull belonging to Ericaceae family occurs mostly at sour habitats in subalpine regions in Europe. The species is cultivated in many countries, but it is known as medicinal plant because of polyphenols and aucubin as main compounds. In this work, the polyphenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content, as well as the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the aerial part, were evaluated. In phytochemical analyses, methanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content, followed by ethanol, methanol/water, and aqueous extracts. In antimicrobial tests, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water extracts inhibited the growth of S. aureus and MRSA, while butanol and water fractions were effective against E. coli, and water extract for E. coli ESBL and K. pneumoniae ESBL. Water extract showed the most inhibitory effect for the tested 2 g-positive and 3 g-negative strains including both bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity. Data analysed by Pearson coefficient correlation showed positive correlation between polyphenol and flavonoid content. The determined antioxidant capacity of the herb ranged from 0.145 to 0.296 mg/mL. The results highlight the significance of the plant as possible antioxidant source and as an antimicrobial agent for further studies.

Survey of traditional beliefs in the Hungarian Csángó and Székely ethnomedicine in Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania, part of Romania, has a long-standing culture of Hungarian ethnomedicinal practices. The aim of this study was to review the unexplored ethnopharmacological use of plants, animals and other materials, focusing mainly on the beliefs surrounding them; and compare them with traditional uses from other countries and with scientific literature. An ethnobotanical inventory was conducted among Csángó and Székely Hungarians in three areas of the country between 2007 and 2012. Questionnaires included medical and non-medical uses of plants, animals, and other substances with rational and irrational elements. Altogether 22 plants, twelve animals, and ten other substances had documented uses for various beliefs. The treatments utilize magical numbers, like 3 and 9, to define peculiar order, tools, and like-minded aspects. Plants were used for prediction (e.g. Phaseolus vulgaris L.), protection (e.g. Corylus avellana L.), and as symbols (e.g. Arctium lappa L.). In addition to the use of animals (e.g. Salamandra salamandra L.) or no longer used elements (use of Lytta vesicatoria L.), the employment of other substances (e.g. ash, milk) was also documented. The frequency of the documented uses is in continuous decline due to environmental and social changes, and the increased prevalence of conventional healthcare. Hence, the priority of their conservation is of pivotal importance nowadays. .

The taxon-specific paralogs of grapevine PRLIP genes are highly induced upon powdery mildew infection.

PRLIP (pathogenesis-related lipase) is a gene family encoding class 3 lipase-like proteins originally described and first characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nine paralog genes of Arabidopsis can be separated into two groups based on expression characteristics and pathogen responses. Genes of Group 1 are clustered on chromosome 5 and show either high inducibility to different stress hormones and in response to pathogen attack or are undetectable at the transcript level. Group 2 contains the remaining genes, spread over the genome and are expressed constitutively in all the tissues tested. The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of these two groups among plants, and to verify their differential expression. Orthologs of constitutively active members (Group 2) were found in all angiosperms, with available genome sequences. They are referred to as "core PRLIPs". In contrast, the gene cluster containing the pathogen-inducible PRLIPs (Group 1) was unique for Arabidopsis. Among other angiosperms, grapevine also possesses such a unique genome-specific group of PRLIP genes. To investigate whether these genes are also counterparts in pathogen responses, their expression pattern was tested under stress conditions. Two of the specific Vitis PRLIPs were highly induced in response to both powdery mildew infection and benzothiadiazole (BTH) treatment. Core Vitis PRLIPs, however, were not responsive to either pathogen attack or the chemical inducer. Our data provide insights into the distribution of a pathogenesis-related gene family in different plant lineages, and might reveal common characteristics with other inducible defense-related gene families.

The phylogenetic relationships among some Randia (Rubiaceae) taxa.

Phylogenetic relationships among some Randia (Rubiaceae, Gardenieae) taxa were estimated based on sequence variation in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and rps 16 intron (cpDNA). During the investigation of rpsl6 intron of 9 studied Central American Randia species, two well supported subclades were separated. Analysis of ITS data of 16 Randia species shows 3 major clades. A group of mainly lowland, South American Randia species is moderate supported (75%). Species from Mexico form a strongly supported (97%) clade, but the Central American and Mexican Randia species are low supported (58%). However the last two groups are well supported together (95%). The molecular delimination is well in line with the size of leaves combined with the texture of exocarp.