Drugs from the sea? Darwin may not have considered this concept when he was thinking about mechanisms that drove diversification of life on earth. In recognition of his 200th year, and celebration of the publication in 1859 of his "On the origin of species", we review the global status of marine biodiscovery in medicinal fields, with a focus on the South Pacific. Furthermore, in the Darwinian s...

BACKGROUND Panax ginseng cannot be cultivated on the same land consecutively for an extended period, and the underlying mechanism regarding microorganisms is still being explored. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and BIOLOG methods were used to evaluate the microbial genetic and functional diversity associated with the P. ginseng rhizosp...

The antifungal effect of twenty powdered spice plants and their extracts at concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 1, 3, 6%, respectively was evaluated in relation to the radial mycelial growth of various soilborne fungi causing damping-off disease. The spice powder or extract were added to the culture medium PDA to obtain the proposed concentrations. Concentration of 8% of powdered spices and 6% of the...