Hector R. Juliani

In vitro regeneration of Echinacea pallida from leaf explants

SummaryA method has been developed for the induction of adventitious shoots from leaf tissue of Echinacea pallida with subsequent whole-plant regeneration. Proliferating callus and shoot cultures were derived from leaf tissue explants placed on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine and naphthaleneacetic acid combinations. The optimum shoot regeneration frequency (63%) and number of shoots per explant (2.3 shoots per explant) was achieved using media supplemented with 26.6 μM 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.11 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooting of regenerated shoot explants was successful on Murashige and Skoog medium, both with and without the addition of indole-3-butyric acid. All plantlets survived acclimatization, producing phenotypically normal plants in the greenhouse. This study demonstrates that leaf tissue of E. pallida is competent for adventitious shoot regeneration and establishes a useful method for the micropropagation of this important medicinal plant.

Effects of Selected Synthetic and Natural Antioxidants on the Oxidative Stability of Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. paradoxa)

Shea butter is a plant fat extracted from kernels of shea nuts, the seeds of shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa). The extracted fat, which has a long history of use in sub-Saharan Africa for medicinal, culinary, and other applications, serves as cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) in the manufacture of chocolate and is an ingredient for cosmetics in the international market. Since shea butter contains relatively high levels of unsaturated fatty acids (more than 50 %), oxidation can occur during extraction and during post-harvest processing and storage. This study investigated the protective effects of synthetic butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and selected natural antioxidants (rosmarinic acid and gallic acid) on shea butter against oxidation. Each antioxidant (0.02%) was added to shea butter and the mixtures were placed at 90°C for 0, 72, and 144 h to accelerate oxidation. Measures of oxidation indicated the shea butter was protected from oxidation by addition of the antioxidants. The addition of antioxidants to shea butter produced no significant changes in the parameters used to measure oxidation (e.g. peroxide values, conjugated dienes and TBARS), as well as in the levels of major fatty acids. The natural antioxidants were almost as effective as the synthetic antioxidant. INTRODUCTION Shea butter, the plant fat extracted from shea nuts, the seeds of shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa) that belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Shea trees grow wild across a belt of savanna extending from Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon to further east in Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia (Chalfin, 2004; Goreja, 2004). Shea butter, which has served as a versatile fat to many Africans, is used in African cuisine as nutritional edible oil and in African traditional medicine as a treatment for rheumatism, nostril inflammation, leprosy, for soothing and healing following circumcision and preventing stretch marks during pregnancy (Tella, 1979; Chalfin, 2004; Goreja, 2004; Olaniyan and Oje 2007). Shea butter has been used in international markets as cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) for the manufacture of chocolate, especially Europe due to shea butter’s similar physical and chemical properties (Lipp and Anklam, 1998; Alander, 2004). More recently, shea butter market is expanding in cosmetics and personal care industries due to excellent emollient activity and medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities (Alander and Andersson, 2002; Alander, 2004; Maranz and Wiesman, 2004; Masters et al., 2004). Shea butter generally consists of more than 90% triglycerides and a minor, though significant, unsaponifiable fraction. The triglyceride fraction is Nahm et al.: Effects of Selected Synthetic and Natural Antioxidants on the Oxi

In Vitro Shoot Multiplication of Echinacea purpurea

ABSTRACT Cytokinin growth regulators, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KIN), and 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP), induced in vitro shoot multiplication from shoot explants of Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower). Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 17.76 μM 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.269 μM naphthalene acetic acid produced the greatest number of adventitious shoots, although all cytokinin treatments with or without naphthalene acetic acid were effective in inducing shoots. Subsequent rooting and growth of the induced shoots in a potting media in a greenhouse demonstrated the new plants developed normally.

Chemical Constituents of the Essential Oil of Hedeoma multiflorum Benth. (Lamiaceae)

The oil from the aerial parts of Hedeoma multiflorum Benth. (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. It was found that the major components were menthone (14.1%), isomenthone (8.9%) and pulegone (62.1%).

Community Knowledge Centers for Liberia: meeting Africa's millennium goals through a unique collaboration of communities, universities, libraries, and schools for Liberia's economic and social development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the need for libraries and rural community knowledge centers using appropriate technology. Design/methodology/approach – A case study discussing new ideas. Findings – An alternative to traditional libraries is proposed for the dissemination and teaching of agriculture, literacy, health information, etc. Research limitations/implications – The paper requires the development of prototypes and grant funding. Practical implications – Although the article discusses Liberia, the information represents any rural community in developing countries where often electricity, libraries, and internet connectivity do not exist. Originality/value – Rethinking existing ideas and creating new ones.