Multilocus DNA sequencing of the whiskey fungus reveals a continental-scale speciation pattern.

Baudoinia was described to accommodate a single species, B. compniacensis. Known as the 'whiskey fungus', this species is the predominant member of a ubiquitous microbial community known colloquially as 'warehouse staining' that develops on outdoor surfaces subject to periodic exposure to ethanolic vapours near distilleries and bakeries. Here we examine 19 strains recovered from environmental samples near industrial settings in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a portion of the nucLSU rRNA gene confirms that Baudoinia is a monophyletic lineage within the Teratosphaeriaceae (Capnodiales). Multilocus phylogenetic analysis of nucITS rRNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and partial nucLSU rRNA, beta-tubulin (TUB) and elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) gene sequences further indicates that Baudoinia consists of five strongly supported, geographically patterned lineages representing four new species (viz. Baudoinia antilliensis, B. caledoniensis, B. orientalis and B. panamericana).

Intestinal smooth muscle spasmolytic actions of the aqueous extract of the roots of Taverniera abyssinica.

A room temperature aqueous extract of the roots of Taverniera abyssinica antagonized the contractile responses of the guinea-pig ileum to acetylcholine and histamine. The extract also relaxed the smooth muscle of the rabbit duodenum, abolished the pendular contractions and antagonized the effects of acetylcholine and histamine on this tissue. The results confirm that there may be a sound pharmacological basis for the ethnomedical use of the roots of this plant to treat stomach ache.

Antiulcerative properties and acute toxicity profile of some African medicinal plant extracts.

The aqueous extract of the stem bark of Tetrapleura tetraptera Schum et Thonn., Guibourtia ehie Leonard and the root extract of Taverniera abyssinica A. Rich. were used for the treatment of gastrointestinal related clinical problems in African ethnomedicine. HCl/EtOH-induced ulceration was used in fasted rat stomach to investigate the anti-ulcerative properties of the extracts. The acute cytotoxicity of the extracts using brine shrimp larvae was also investigated. The aqueous extracts of Tav. abyssinica (250-500 mg/kg), Tet. tetraptera (500-1000 mg/kg), G. ehie (500-1000 mg/kg) and a combination of Tet. tetraptera and G. ehie (1:4) (500-1000 mg/kg) produced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition (54-80%, 86-98%, 48-80% and 54-92%, respectively) of the HCl/EtOH-induced ulceration of the stomach compared with controls. The acute cytotoxic concentrations of the extracts which killed 50% (LC50) of brine shrimp within 24 h was 438 micrograms/ml for Tet. tetraptera, 220 micrograms/ml for the 1:4 combination of Tet. tetraptera and G. ehie and 1409 micrograms/ml for Tav. abyssinica. None of the shrimp were killed by G. ehie, even at 2 mg/ml.