BACKGROUND Indigenous knowledge has become recognized worldwide not only because of its intrinsic value but also because it has a potential instrumental value to science and conservation. In Nepal, the indigenous knowledge of useful and medicinal plants has roots in the remote past. METHODS The present study reviews the indigenous knowledge and use of plant resources of the Nepal Himalayas al...

It is thought that the normal enteric microflora acts not only to prevent intestinal colonization but also to prevent subsequent systemic dissemination of ingested, potentially pathogenic bacteria. To determine the relative roles of specific components of the intestinal bacterial flora in bacterial translocation out of the gut, mice were given various antimicrobial agents to selectively elimina...

Woodlots are forest islands embedded within an urban matrix, and often represent the only natural areas remaining in suburban areas. Woodlots represent critical conservation areas for native plants, and are important habitat for wildlife in urban areas. Invasion by non-indigenous (NIS) plants can alter ecological structure and function, and may be especially severe in remnant forests where NIS ...

To date, regional surveys assessing the risk of transgene escape from GM crops have focused on records of spontaneous hybridization to infer the likelihood of crop transgene escape. However, reliable observations of spontaneous hybridization are lacking for most floras, particularly outside Europe. Here, we argue that evidence of interspecific reproductive compatibility derived from experimenta...

Purpose To investigate the effects of the long-term use of prostaglandin analogs for glaucoma treatment on the indigenous flora of the conjunctiva. Methods Bacterial isolates were collected from the conjunctival sacs of 68 patients at Miyata Eye Hospital from February to September 2014, who had been receiving continuous monotherapy with prostaglandin analogs for glaucoma for at least 1 year. ...

UNLABELLED ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL CONTEXT: Cape herbal medicine as a distinct and unique healing system is conceptualized for the first time, together with a first compilation of the authentic materia medica of the system. MATERIALS AND METHODS The early literature on Khoikhoi (Hottentot), San (Bushman) and Cape Dutch medicinal plants and medical practices is reviewed, with a focus on the Cape ...

Borrelia vincentii is usually considered to be present in small numbers as a part of the indigenous flora of the human mouth. When associated with the mixed flora of Vincent's infection or other inflammatory processes, however, its numbers are markedly increased. It has been noted in these laboratories also, that when pure cultures were contaminated with facultative or anaerobic organisms, the ...

The Mongolian gerbil is being increasingly used as a laboratory animal and as a pet. Both chinchillas and gerbils are used as animal models for otitis media and other otic research. Previously, only incomplete information was available regarding the indigenous bacterial flora of the lower intestinal tracts of these coprophagic animals. Using the strict anaerobic methodology of the Virginia Poly...

The indigenous microbial flora of the middle ear cavity of Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, was isolated, characterized, and identified, showing it to be sparse and transitory. Organisms, when found in the middle ear cavity, were most likely to be Staphylococcus epidermidis-like organisms. Cerumen from the external auditory canal of these animals yielded mostly staphylococci, corynefor...

Homeostasis between indigenous intestinal flora and host response may be broken in inflammatory bowel disease. The present study explores whether repeated oral administration of intestinal flora antigens can protect mice against dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. Sonicates of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, or anaerobic resident bacteria isolated from mouse intestinal flora were fed t...