Botanicals and plant strengtheners for potato and tomato cultivation in Africa

This review provides a summary of botanicals and plant strengtheners that have potential uses for disease and pest management in potato and tomato cultivation in African.We discuss their possible use to prevent major diseases and pests which infest potato and tomato,such as early and late blight,bacterial wilt,potato tuber moth,and tomato leafminer.There are several examples of the successful uses of botanicals for pathogen and pest control relevant for different African climatic conditions;however,most of these studies have been conducted in vitro and often lack field verification.Plant strengtheners(substances that induce and improve crop resistance,yield,and quality)are little studied and used in Africa in comparison to North America and Europe.The possible benefits of using botanicals and plant strengtheners instead of conventional pesticides are discussed here in relation to human health and the environment as well as their modes of action and accessibility to farmers.Lack of knowledge of the composition and active ingredients of extracts,environmental concerns,uncertainties regarding stability and formulation,lack of legislation and limited support from governments,hamper the development of botanicals and plant strengtheners for use in sustainable African agriculture.

Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The rapid appraisal method was used to identity the botanicals used ethnomedicinally from a total of 300 randomly selected respondents drawn from the existing three geo-political zones of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The results obtained revealed that about 40% of the 71 botanicals identified presently rare. Most of the presently abundant botanicals are species primarily cultivated for other purpose other than medicine. Most of the identified species are valued for their curative effects on malaria and fever, the predominant diseases in the study area. The need for the conservation of the rare species cannot be over emphasised as most rural dwellers in the study area depend mostly on herbs from these species. Strategies towards the attainment of this goal are proposed.

Optimum Insecticide Doses Determination of Seed Oil of Three Botanicals Jatropha Curcas L., Helianthus Annus L. and Cocos Nucifera L. against Maize Weevil Sitophilus Zeamais Mots.

The insecticidal effect of four dosage rates of three botanicals namely Jatropha curcas, Heliathus annus and Cocos nucifera was tested on the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Mots.. This is done for the purpose of finding a replacement for conventional insecticides which has been found to be harmful to man. The seed oil was applied topically at the rate of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mL per insect. There were a total of 20 insects per Petri-dish. There were four replicates per treatment. Insect mortality was recorded on 12 hourly basis for 48 hours. The results of insects treated with all dosage rates of C. nucifera showed a significantly higher mortality when compared with the control. In the case ofH. annus, insect mortality ranged from 40-100, 70-100, 60-100 and 80-100% and for J. curcas the result ranged from 0.0-100, 40-100, 80-100 and 80-100% for rates of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mL, respectively, from 12 hrs to 48 hrs post application. The control experiment remained at 0% level throughout the period of the experiments.

<i>In Vitro</i>Efficacy of Botanicals against Rice Blast Pathogen <i>Magnaporthe oryzae oryzae</i>

Rice is the most staple cereal crop of Bangladesh and rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae oryzae (MoO) has become a major factor limiting rice yield in Bangladesh and throughout the world. Eight botanicals extracted both in water and ethanol namely Kalijira (Nigella sativa), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Ginger (Zingiber officinalis), Garlic (Allium sativum), Onion (Allium cepa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica) and Aloevera (Aloe vera) were tested against MoO in vitro in the Mycology Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. All the botanicals significantly reduced radial growth of the tested pathogen. Maximum mycelia growth inhibition of MoO was achieved with water extract of turmeric (1:1 w/v) and ethanol extracts of neem (1:4 w/v) with 86.57% and 92.62% mycelia growth inhibition at 14 DAI, respectively.

Supplementation of vitamin E or a botanical extract as antioxidants to improve growth performance and health of growing pigs housed under thermoneutral or heat-stressed conditions

Background Heat stress has severe negative consequences on performance and health of pigs,leading to significant economic losses.The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplemental vitamin E and a botanical extract in feed or drinking water on growth performance,intestinal health,and oxidative and immune status in grow-ing pigs housed under heat stress conditions.Methods Duplicate experiments were conducted,each using 64 crossbred pigs with an initial body weight of 50.7±3.8 and 43.9±3.6 kg and age of 13-week and 12-week,respectively.Pigs(n=128)were housed individually and assigned within weight blocks and sex to a 2×4 factorial arrangement consisting of 2 environments(thermo-neutral(21.2℃)or heat-stressed(30.9℃))and 4 supplementation treatments(control diet;control+100 IU/L of D-α-tocopherol in water;control+200 IU/kg of DL-α-tocopheryl-acetate in feed;or control+400 mg/kg of a botanical extract in feed).Results Heat stress for 28 d reduced(P≤0.001)final body weight,average daily gain,and average daily feed intake(-7.4 kg,-26.7%,and-25.4%,respectively)but no effects of supplementation were detected(P>0.05).Serum vitamin E increased(P<0.001)with vitamin E supplementation in water and in feed(1.64 vs.3.59 and 1.64 vs.3.24),but not for the botanical extract(1.64 vs.1.67 mg/kg)and was greater when supplemented in water vs.feed(P=0.002).Liver vitamin E increased(P<0.001)with vitamin E supplementations in water(3.9 vs.31.8)and feed(3.9 vs.18.0),but not with the botanical extract(3.9 vs.4.9 mg/kg).Serum malondialdehyde was reduced with heat stress on d 2,but increased on d 28(interaction,P<0.001),and was greater(P<0.05)for antioxidant supplementation compared to control.Cellular proliferation was reduced(P=0.037)in the jejunum under heat stress,but increased in the ileum when vitamin E was supplemented in feed and water under heat stress(interaction,P=0.04).Tumor necrosis factor-αin jejunum and ileum mucosa decreased by heat stress(P<0.05)and was reduced by vitamin E sup-plementations under heat stress(interaction,P<0.001).Conclusions The addition of the antioxidants in feed or in drinking water did not alleviate the negative impact of heat stress on feed intake and growth rate of growing pigs.

Efficiency of Botanical and Chemical Pesticides on the Control of Field Insect Pests under Cowpea Production

The pulse cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] holds a significant agricultural position in Uganda, ranking fourth among legume crops, following common beans, groundnuts, and soybeans. Known for its versatility, cowpeas are consumable at various developmental stages, from early seedling to maturity. However, the crop faces persistent pest challenges at each stage, leading to substantial yield losses. In Uganda, chemical insecticides are the primary pest control means, but their increased and excessive use raises environmental, health, and economic concerns. This has prompted a quest for alternative and sustainable solutions, prompting an exploration of botanical insecticides. This study, conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK), aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three selected botanical insecticides versus four established chemical insecticides for managing cowpea insect pests under field conditions. The treatments included: Carbofuran, Cypermethrin 10% EC, Dimethoate, Pestwin, Pyrethrum ewc , Pyrethrum 5ew, Profenofos 40% Cypermethrin 4% EC mix, and Untreated, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The significant pests studied were aphids, thrips, pod-sucking bugs, and legume pod borer. Results indicated substantial impacts of the treatments on pest infestation, with Profenofos 40% Cypermethrin 4% EC being the most effective against most pests. The plant parameter, plant height, was significantly affected by treatments in 2016B, while the number of pods was impacted in 2017A. Pestwin, a botanical insecticide blend (containing Azadirachtin indica, Pongamia pinnata, and Ricinus communis extracts) demonstrated superior efficacy against cowpea aphids. Moreover, it positively influenced plant height, number of pods, and pod biomass, surpassing many chemical insecticides. Pestwin’s environmental friendliness positions it as a potential contributor to reducing environmental pollution, making it a promising candidate for inclusion in IPM programs. Overall, the study underscores the importance of exploring botanical alternatives to chemical insecticides for sustainable pest management in cowpea cultivation.

Ecofriendly Management of Wheat Panicle Blast Caused by Magnaporthe oryzae triticum

In this study, three wheat varieties were tested to determine seed germination and the incidence of Magnaporthe oryzae triticum (MoT). Among these varieties, BARI Gom 24 (Prodip) wheat seed exhibited the highest seed germination rate (93%) but also had the highest incidence (30%) of MoT. To manage blast disease in an ecofriendly manner, seven treatments were employed: T1 = Control, T2 = Garlic clove extracts, T3 = Aloe vera leaf extracts, T4 = Black cumin seed extracts, T5 = Neem leaf extracts, T6 = Nativo 75 WG, and T7 = Provax 200 WP. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) layout with three replications using Prodip wheat variety that exhibited highest MoT infection severity based on laboratory analysis among collected varieties. Data were collected on blast disease incidence (%), disease severity, and various growth and yield parameters of wheat. The experiment’s results indicated that among all the treatments, T7 (Seed treatment with Provax 200 WP) and T5 (Foliar spraying with Neem leaf extract) performed better in controlling blast disease in wheat. The lowest blast disease incidence (%) was observed with T7 (Provax 200 WP), with values of 7.86, 9.86, and 10.19 recorded during the milking stage, soft dough stage, and hard dough stage of wheat, respectively. T5 (Neem leaf extract) also demonstrated a statistically equivalent reduction in blast disease incidence (%). In terms of disease severity, T7 (Seed treatment with Provax 200 WP) showed the lowest values of 1.03, 1.23, and 1.63 during the milking stage, soft dough stage, and hard dough stage of wheat, respectively. Foliar spraying with neem leaf extract also exhibited similar result as of Provax 200 WP regarding panicle blast severity. As a result of these findings, it can be concluded that T5 (Neem leaf extract) is recommended as an ecofriendly management approach for blast disease in wheat.

Efficacy of Plant Extracts on Morphology and Cultural Characteristics of Bipolaris sorokiniana, Causing Black Point Disease of Wheat in Bangladesh

Black point of wheat caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Bs) is very destructive disease of wheat in Bangladesh and all over the world. The symptoms of diseases caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana can vary depending on the host plant and environmental conditions. The conidia of Bs germinate from two poles, which differ physiologically as indicated by the rate, growth character, of length, breadth and number of septa on different media. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected plant extracts on the morphology and cultural characteristics of the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana causing black point disease in wheat crops in Bangladesh. The efficacy of fifteen plant extracts on the growth and characteristics of Bs was conducted in vitro in 2019-2020. The treatments were: Untreated control, T1—Black berry Leaves, T2—Guava Leaves, T3—Lantena camera leaves, T4—Eucalyptus Leaves, T5— Turmeric Leaves, T6—Khoksha Leaves, T7—Papaya leaves, T8-Gurlic Bulb, T9—Chili dust, T10—Nigella seeds, T11—Turmeric dust, T12—Cloves, T13— Bohera fruits, T14—Black pepper and T15—Neem leaves. After 15 days of inoculation of Bipolaris sorokiniana, colony color and shapes were Gerrish blackish, greenish blackish, greyish blackish and shapes were round or irregular. In our study, conidia color was dark brown to light brown, conidiophore color was brown, dark brown, grayish brown, dark olivaceous, light brown and conidia shapes were elliptical, oblong or slightly curved. The septation of conidia was 2 - 5 and highest septation was seen in T4 and T14 treatments. The highest conidial length was 17.79 μm recorded in T2 treatment and lowest was 6.62 μm T9 treatment where conidial breath was 8.27 μm in control and lowest was 3.79 μm in T8 treatment. Mycelial growth rate of Bipolaris sorokiniana was different in different treatments in different days after inoculation (DAI) where at 7 DAI, % reduction of mycelial growth over control was highest in Bohera and Neem Leaves treatments respectively.

In Vitro Efficacy Assessment of Botanical Extracts against Botrytis gladiolorum Causing Gladiolus Leaf Blight

An experiment was conducted at the Mycology laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh to find out the efficacy of selected botanical extracts against Botrytis gladiolorum (Bg) causing gladiolus leaf blight. Infected leaves samples were collected from gladiolus farmers’ field and brought to the laboratory for study. Ten selected botanicals were used against the colony growth of (Bg). The botanicals were Mehendi, Chrysanthemum, Basil (Tulsi), Onion, Neem, Bael, Arjuna, Garlic, Aloevera (Ghritkumary) and Turmeric. Botanical extracts were applied at the rate of 5%, 10% and 20%. The radial mycelia growth was found minimum (11.60 mm) in garlic extract treated plate at the dose of 5% at 5 DAI, which was statistically similar with turmeric extract treated (14.00 mm) plate and the inhibition of growth was 60% and 51.72%, respectively. Similar trend was found at 10 DAI and 15 DAI. At 15 DAI, garlic and turmeric extract gave the best result against Bg, which was statistically similar with onion (50.07% inhibition) and mehendi (49.93%). All botanicals showed significantly different results over control and found effective in reducing the mycelial growth at the dose of 10%. At 5 DAI, no radial mycelia growth was found in garlic treated plate, which was statistically similar with onion treated plate, means that the inhibition of growth was 100%. Similar trend was also found at 10 DAI, and 15 DAI but at 15 DAI, onion (30.20 mm) gave the statistically similar results with Garlic (30.10 mm) and the mycelia growth inhibition was (57.70%) and (57.84%), respectively. In case of 20% dose, garlic extract showed the best result at 5 DAI and the radial mycelia growth was found minimum (00.00 mm) which was statistically similar with onion extract treated (00.00 mm) plate and turmeric extract treated plate. The inhibition of growth was 100%. At 15 DAI, the inhibition of fungal growth was found (73.74%), (71.23%) and (66.90%), respectively with treated by turmeric (18.80 mm), garlic (20.60 mm) and onion (23.70 mm).

Toxic and Antifeedant Effects of Different Pesticidal Plant Extracts against Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)

The beet armyworm(BAW),Spodoptera exigua(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)is a highly destructive pest of vegetables and field crops.Management of beet armyworm primarily relies on synthetic pesticides,which is threatening the beneficial community and environment.Most importantly,the BAW developed resistance to synthetic pesticides with making it difficult to manage.Therefore,alternative and environment-friendly pest management tactics are urgently required.The use of pesticidal plant extracts provides an effective way for a sustainable pest management program.To evaluate the use of pesticidal plant extracts against BAW,we selected six plant species(Lantana camara,Aloe vera,Azadirachta indica,Cymbopogon citratus,Nicotiana tabacum,and Ocimum basilicum)for initial screening experiment.Four out of six plant species such as A.indica,N.tabacum,C.citratus and O.basilicum showed promising mortality of more than 50%.Therefore,we selected these four plant extracts for the subsequent experiments.Through contact bioassay,A.indica showed high mortality 66.63%,followed by the N.tabacum 53.33%,at 10%w/v concentration.Similarly,N.tabacum showed the highest mortality rate,66%at 10%w/v concentration,followed by the A.indica 46%through feeding bioassay.Furthermore,the feeding deterrence assay showed that C.citratus had a high antifeedant index(−50)followed by A.indica(−39),and N.tabacum(−28).In living plant assay,the N.tabacum extract showed a low mean damage score 3.6 on living cotton plant followed by C.citratus 4.5 and A.indica 5.5.Hence,extracts of three plant species provided promising results against the BAW,which can minimize the use of synthetic chemicals,particularly for small landholding farmers.Further studies are also required to evaluate the effects of these plant extract against BAW on cotton plants under field conditions to optimize the further use.

Insecticidal Activity and Physicochemical Characterization of Nanoparticles from Foliar Extract of Capsicum chinense

This work was carried out to evaluate the insecticidal effect of mono,bi and trimetallic nanoparticles(NPs)from leaf extract of habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.)on the red flour beetle(Tribolium castaneum herbst.)and cotton mealybug(Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley).The results showed that Cu NPs,Cu/Mn NPs and Zn/Cu NPs had high insecticidal effect against T.castaneum(63%-80% mortality after 96 h).The Cu NPs and Zn/Cu NPs showed also insecticidal effect against P.solenopsis,but to a lesser extent(20%–28% after 96 h).With regards to the physicochemical characterization,Cu NPs had a zeta potential of 21.1 mV,whereas Cu/Mn NPs and Zn/Cu NPs exhibited zeta potentials of 200 mV.The polydispersity index(PDI)values for Cu NPs,Cu/Mn NPs,and Zn/Cu NPs were 10.1,29.16,and 14.34,respectively.The TF-IR spectra of the NPs varied from 600 to 4000 cm−1.The EDX weight percentages showed the presence of Cu(0.29%–2.4%),Mn(1.4%),and Zn(2.6%)in Cu/Mn NPs and Zn/Cu NPs,respectively.

Seed Germination and Vegetative Propagation of Promising Decorative Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.), Introduced into the Tashkent Botanical Garden (Uzbekistan)

Seed germination (in laboratory and field conditions) and vegetative reproduction (by cuttings) of a promising decorative species—Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) was studied for the first time in the conditions of introduction of the Tashkent Botanical Garden of Uzbekistan. Thus, the optimal temperature for germination of L. tatarica seeds in laboratory conditions is +20°C + 22°C, at which germination was 73%. The germination rate of seeds sown in autumn in the field was 62%, and the germination rate of seeds sown in spring was 71%. It was noted that in greenhouse conditions at an air temperature of 20°C - 22°C and a relative humidity of 49% - 53%, the rootability of cuttings was 75%. It was revealed that the studied species adapted well to the conditions of introduction. Taking into account the effectiveness of vegetative reproduction of L. tatarica, it can be recommended for improving the aesthetic condition and landscaping of cities, landscaping and landscape design.

Enlightenment of COVID-19 Treated by Botanical Drugs on the Development of Drugs for Rare Diseases in China

Objective To study the feasibility of developing botanical drugs to treat intractable diseases and play an important role in dealing with major public health crises.Methods From January 1990 to May 2021,a bibliographic search was carried out on the use of botanical drugs,rare disease drugs,related registration management policies and regulations in PubMed and CNKI.The following keywords were searched in the database:Rare disease policies and regulations,orphan drugs,botanical drugs for intractable diseases,botanical drugs for the treatment of new coronary pneumonia,traditional Chinese medicine,and emergency guidelines for major public health crisis.Other data were obtained from“Chinese Pharmacopoeia”and relevant Chinese government websites for sorting and analysis.Results and Conclusion Based on 39 Chinese corresponding policies and regulations,challenges and opportunities of developing and researching drugs for treating rare diseases were found out after the analysis and comparison.Based on the study of national policies on drugs for rare diseases,the priority review and approval procedures in the drug registration,as well as China’s emergency guidelines and policies for major public health events,some problems in the use of drugs for rare diseases are found out.Therefore,it is recommended to actively adopt the property rights protection system,explore the folk prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine and the potential of hospital preparations,and the registration review strategy of giving priority to the use of botanical drugs for rare diseases.Thus,the international status of botanical drugs for rare disease and the influence of responding to major public health events can be enhanced.

Former Botanical Garden of ORSTOM(Côte d’Ivoire):What Remain after Thirty Years of Abandonment and Forest Restoration

Botanical gardens represent important places for ex situ conservation.One of these botanical gardens has been abandoned in Côte d’Ivoire for 30 years.This is the former botanical garden of ORSTOM.This study was conducted to determine the level of diversity of this former garden in order to assess the opportunity for its rehabilitation.The authors carried out inventories in 18 quadrats of 500 m2 through the vegetation to collect woody species.Dendrometric measurements(height,diameter)were also recorded to assess the structure of the site.A total of 190 species have been identified.They belong to 141 genera and 47 families.This former botanical garden contains important species because of their origin,status or particularity(threatened,endemic,rarity,etc.).A total of 19 threatened species including 2 endangered and west African endemic(Chrysophyllum azaguieanum J.Miège,Placodiscus pseudostipularis)were found at the site.Also,Chrysophyllum azaguieanum is declared extinct from Côte d’Ivoire.Four species are rare in the flora of Côte d’Ivoire:Balanites wilsoniana,Chrysophyllum azaguieanum,Gilletiodendron kisantuense and Loesenera kalantha.The most abundant species is Hopea odorata.Although this introduced species is considered globally vulnerable,it presents a risk of invasion in the forest of Côte d’Ivoire.The diameter and height structures show that all the stages of development are presented indicating a good regeneration on the site.Ultimately,this botanical garden deserves to be rehabilitated and especially urgent management of Hopea odorata is needed to prevent an invasion of this species.

Control Effect of Botanical Pesticides against Ectropis oblique hmpulina and Empoasca pirisuga in Tea Plantation

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the effects of several botanical pesticides against two pests in tea plantation. [ Method] Using randomized block de- sign, different concentrations of botanical pesticides were sprayed during the young larvae periods of Ectropis oblique hmpulina Wehrli and peak periods of Empoasca pirisuga, the reduction rate of population and control effects were investigated after spraying for 1,3,7 and 10 d. [ Result] 5% rotenone EC 800 times had the best control effect against E. oblique hmpulina, and 0.5% veratridine soluble liquid 800 times had the best control effect against E. pirisuga. 0. 5% veratridine soluble liquid, 0.2% celangulin EC, 0.3% matrine water agent and 7.5% rotenone EC could be selected as the pesticides for the control of E. oblique hmpulina; 0. 5% veratridine soluble liquid, 0. 2% celangulin EC, 0.3% azadirachtin EC, 0.3% matrine water agent and 7.5% rotenone EC could be selected as the pesticides for the control of E. pirisuga, of which 0. 3% azadiraehtin EC 600 times showed the best durable effect against E. pirisuga with control effect of 100% after spraying for 7 d. [ Conclusion] The results provided basis for application of botanical pesticides in pests control in tea plantation.

Effort on planting and product development of Azadirachta indica in Southwest China

Twenty-four provenances of two species （Azadirachta siamensis and Azadirachta indica） have been introduced to China from South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa Since 1995. This paper summarizes the researches on the introduction and planting of Azadirachta indica and analyzes the morphological, phenological characteristics, the growth rhythm, pollinating and seed yielding features of the intro- duced 24 provenances of the two species as well as the variations of filial generation plants. The experiments showed that most of the prove- nances of,4. indica have normal growth and can blossom and fruit in the dry-hot valleys with tropical climate conditions in Yunnan Province, China. The normal regions for A. indica were classified and the selection criteria for superior plants were put forward in this paper, more- over, the major contents of industry planning and technical approaches for A. indica plantation establishment were discussed and the countermeasures to reduce the neem-based pesticide products were also proposed.

Analysis on the Main Botanical Characters of 41 Cucurbita moschata Varieties

In order to scientifically evaluate the values of Cucurbita moschata cultivars, main botanical characters including the initial flowering date, the first fruiting node, fruit length, fruit stem length, stem diameter, internode length, the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the largest leaf, single fruit weight, flesh thickness and soluble solid content of 41 cultivars were measured for conducting diversity, correlation and cluster analysis. The results revealed that the pumpkin cultivars showed large variations in fruit stem length, single fruit weight, fruit length and flesh thickness, but small variations in initial flowering date. Significant, even highly significant correlations were found among the tested traits. Cluster analysis demonstrated that the 41 old Cucurbita moschata cultivars were divided into three groups, of which multiple traits of Group 1 were better than those in the other two groups. High similarities existed in three groups and the cultivars in each group. This research provided basis for selecting excellent traits and parents for the breeding of hybrids.

Fifty Years of Botanical Gardens in China

The development, distribution and features of one hundred and forty botanical gardens (BGs) in China are reported and their functions on research, conservation, display and utilization of biodiversity are summarized in this paper. The contributions to the social and economic development in the early stage of Chinese BGs with the researches of economic plant (tobacco), medicinal plant (yam) and wild fruit tree resources are evaluated. The theoretical and applied achievements in recent years in seed science, plant conservation, economic plant introduction, acclimatization and breeding are also described. A general scope of living plant collections in Chinese BGs is presented and the outstanding ones, including Magnoliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cycadaceae, medicinal plants, Actinidia and Rhododendron are particularly mentioned. With special reference to Chinese penjing art garden and silicified wood garden, the development of scientific popularization and tourism in BGs is reviewed.

Lethal effects of pyrethrins on spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana)

Spruce budworm （Choristoneura fumiferana （Clemens）） is one of the most serious forest insect pests in North America. Laboratory bioassays were performed to determine the lethal doses and lethal time of pyrethrins （a botanical insecticide） on 4th instar larvae of spruce bud-worm using larval dip assay. Results show that the LT50 values（time of 50% larval mortality）for spruce budworm at the pyrethrins concentra-tions of 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg·L-1 were 94.78, 45.54, 20.36, 14.39 and 11.37 h, respectively. The percentage of cumulative mortality at the pyrethrins concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 μg·L-1 was approxi-mately 50%, 67%, 93%, 100% and 100% within 120 h, respectively. The LC50 value （concentration of 50% larval mortality） for the 4th instar lar-vae was 16.1μg·L-1. Thus, larval mortality of spruce budworm increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and lethal time decreased with increasing pyrethin concentrations. These findings suggest that pyrethrins have a potential in controlling spruce budworm populations.

Self-medication with nutritional supplements and herbal over-the-counter products

In recent years,the popularity increased for nutritional supplements and herbal products.Prescription drugs,but not herbal therapies are paid by health insurances.They are sold over-the-counter(OTC)on the patients’own expense.However,there are potential risks of self-medication,e.g.incorrect self-diagnosis,severe adverse reactions,dangerous drug interactions,risk of addiction etc.They are often used by patients at their own discretion without knowledge of and control by their physicians.Certain users are at risk of intoxication.Multiple medications taken by older patients increase the risk for adverse drug reactions,drug-drug interactions,and compliance problems for this age group(polypharmacy).Herbals should be discontinued prior to operations to avoid interactions with anesthetics or anticoagulants.Herbal preparations may also be carcinogenic or interfere with cancer treatments.Pregnant women use various OTC preparations.However,in many cases,it is unclear whether their use is safe for mother or baby.Self-medication with herbals is also largely distributed among anxious and depressive patients,and patients with other conditions and symptoms.The popularity of herbal products has also brought concerns on quality,efficacy and safety.Cases of botanical misidentification,contaminations with heavy metals,pesticides,radioactivity,organic solvents,microbials as well as adulteration with chemical drugs necessitate the establishment of international quality control standards.Hepatotoxic effects have been reported for more than 300 plant species,and some commonly used herbs have been demonstrated to interact with Western medication.Health care professionals have a critical responsibility assessing the self-care ability of their patients.Databases are available for pharmacists with information on action,side effects and toxicities as well as herbdrug interactions.There is a need for established guidelines regarding the correct use of nutritional supplements and herbal OTC preparations(phytovigilance).Physicians,pharmacists,and other health care professionals have to counsel patients and the general public on the benefits and risks associated with herbal drugs.Information centers for consumers and general practitioners are needed,and convincing evidence on safety and efficacy of herbal products has to be demonstrated in placebo-controlled,double blind and randomized clinical trials.