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- Natural forests are an important source of livelihood for various communities. Yet economically important fruit tree species endemic to sub Saharan Africa e.g. Sclerocaryea birrea (Marula) are critically endangered due to over-exploitation and climate change. Effective conservation, management and utilization of native fruit trees require accurate quantitative information on how the trees interact with their environment. In this study we investigated the water use patterns and fruit yield dynamics of S. birrea, and another widely used species Strychnos spinosa (Monkey orange) growing on nutrient poor sandy soils in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The study aimed to understand how the water use and yield of these species are influenced by climate and soils. These data are essential to support biodiversity conservation and management, and agroforestry programs. Transpiration was measured on co-occurring trees of each species over two years using the heat ratio sap flow method. The sap flow and environmental data were used to develop and test a simple Penman-Monteith transpiration model. The model provided insights on how environmental factors affected water use and yield in the trees’ natural habitats. The two species had similar diurnal transpiration trends characterized by midday stomatal closure. Peak transpiration per unit leaf area was higher for S. spinosa (∼2.3 L/m2/d) than S. birrea (∼1.4 L/m2/d). S. birrea transpiration responded strongly to rainfall pulses with the soil water deficit explaining ∼ 65% of the variation in tree water use. S. spinosa transpiration, on the other hand, was largely driven by the atmospheric evaporative demand rather than by soil water availability (R2 < 0.10), suggesting that the two species had different mechanisms to cope with drought stress. Despite the contrasting water relations, transpiration could be determined accurately using the combination model. The model has potential applications in agroforestry and species-specific conservation programs by providing accurate information on their water requirements.
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- Introduction: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are important players in the development of diabetes complications, making their inhibition a key therapeutic target. This study examined the inhibitory effects of extracts from four antidiabetic medicinal plants, Murraya koenigii (curry leaf), Psidium guajava (guava leaf), Sclerocarya birrea (cider tree stembark), and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon stembark), on the formation of AGEs. Plants were chosen for their hypoglycemic attributes. Methods: Extracts were incubated at 37 °C for 20 days using bovine serum albumin (BSA) with fructose/glucose models. The generation of AGEs was evaluated using spectrofluorometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of extracts was also performed. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed quinones, phenols, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids, and tannins in the extracts. The findings indicated substantial suppression of fluorescence AGEs (FAGEs), total immunogenic AGEs (TIAGEs), and specific AGEs, including Nε -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε - (carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), by the plant extracts. The inhibitory effects of the plant extracts exceeded the efficacy of aminoguanidine, a recognized inhibitor of AGEs (P<0.05). Polar extracts demonstrated enhanced inhibitory effects, indicating that phenolic and flavonoid components may be pivotal in anti-glycation. Conclusion: This work emphasizes the prospect of these medicinal herbs as natural sources of AGEs inhibitors, offering therapeutic possibilities for the management and prevention of diabetes problems. Further research is advised to discover, isolate, and describe specific bioactive chemicals responsible for these effects to aid in the development of innovative medicinal treatments.
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- 2021| Entomological Societ...Mopane worm is the edible larva of Imbrasia (Gonimbrasia) belina (Westwood, 1894), a species of emperor moth that is generally found in central and southern African tropical regions. Both over-harvesting of larvae and the destruction of the mopane woodlands are threatening its biodiversity. An insect with a description matching that of I. belina was observed in the northern coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal, a subtropical biota. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the potential of the northern coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal as a sanctuary for I. belina. The presence of I. belina in the subtropical biota of the coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal was confirmed through mitochondrion CO1 gene sequences, this being so far its southernmost occurrence. Field surveys revealed the occurrence of four morphologically distinct variants within the uMkhanyakude District, inclusive of the protected iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve from the beginning of September to early November as do most of the populations in the mopane woodlands but differs from them by having one outbreak per season instead of two. Imbrasia belina is polyphagous and feeds off hosts including marula (Sclerocarya birrea [(A. Rich.) Hochst.] [Anacardiaceae]) and seven other tree species. There is therefore scope to use the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastal region as a sanctuary for biodiversity conservation of I. belina. There are initiatives to cultivate marula for its fruit in the region, which further increases the potential of the area as a sanctuary for I. belina by farming marula for both its fruit and I. belina. The protected nature reserves present in the region will ensure areas of controlled use by humans.
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