Archaeology, history, ecology and ethnology are closely related to our understanding of landscape history but there are other cultural sources that deserve investigation. Here an attempt is made to ...look into related folklore. Two trees in particular epitomise the seasons - the holly and the hawthorn (may) - and this article considers why this should be so.
Most of our seasonal rituals have an ancient ancestry but their meanings have changed over time. The holly was constantly seen as the tree of the waning year while the may heralded the beginnings of spring. In Celtic mythology the Oak King would give way to the Holly King as the seasons turned and the holly provided protection for the home. The holly gradually found its way into Christian rituals and was brought as greenery into the church at Christmas. But the holly's dominance in winter also reflects its invaluable use as a winter fodder crop, especially during inclement weather.
The may, on the other hand, was invariably associated with spring when the hawthorn was bursting into flower. In Celtic and later rural rituals, it was a fairy tree invariably seen as sacred, symbolising love and protection, youth and sexuality, and associated with fertility. The church decried the unseemly rituals that took place and attempted to see it as the thorn associated with Christ's crucifixion. But rural May Day ceremonies rarely lapsed altogether - this tree was so closely seen as the harbinger of the fertility of crops and animals.
Ilex rotunda Thunb., has been used to treat common cold, tonsillitis, and eczema. It is also a source of antioxidants. However, information regarding its antioxidative phytochemical composition is ...still incomplete and limited. In this present study, we initially determined DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts of I. rotunda fruits, twigs, and leaves. Among them, the twig extract exhibited a potential of antioxidant capacity. Based on antioxidant effect guided experiments, extraction condition using 80% EtOH was then optimized. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were also performed for fractions. The n-butanol fraction showed the highest antioxidant effect. Using chromatographic methods, eight marker compounds (1-8) were further isolated. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and mass data. Method validation was employed to quantitate contents of these eight marker compounds. Subsequently, the HPLC-DPPH method was used to evaluate the contribution of certain compounds to total antioxidant activity of the extract. Lastly, parallel artificial membrane permeability assay for blood-brain barrier (PAMPA-BBB) was applied to investigate brain-penetrable antioxidants from I. rotunda extract. As a result, compound 7 (4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) showed significant antioxidant activity and penetration across the BBB via transcellular passive diffusion. Our findings suggested that compound 7 can be used as a therapeutic potential candidate in natural product-based central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery.
Ilex paraguariensis (Herb mate) is a native plant from South America, widely consumed through the infusion of dried leaves. The presence of antioxidant properties in herb mate may be relevant and ...contribute to evaluating the effect of its compounds against oxidative stress, which could cause neurodegenerative diseases. Despite having health benefits, there are reports of the presence of heavy metals in extracts obtained from the infusion. One of these metals is iron (Fe), found in large amounts in herb mate. To reverse the cumulative effects of metals and Fe in the body, the use of Deferoxamine (Dfx) is indicated, being a potent chelator of Fe. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the micro-encapsulated extract of I. paraguariensis (MEIP) supplemented with Dfx on zebrafish behavior and biochemical biomarkers. To evaluate the effect per se and the supplementation, four groups were established: the first group was the control (water); the second, fish treated with MEIP; the third group was formed of fish treated with Dfx; while the fourth group was treated with both MEIP and Dfx. When applied alone, Dfx presents an anxiogenic-like pattern on zebrafish (Danio rerio), while the MEIP shows an anxiolytic-like behavior. The antioxidant enzymes are re-modulated close to control when the MEIP + Dfx is applied. The cholinergic system shows an activation of the signaling, as well as the heme radical group formation, which is not affected by the Dfx-chelating effect. Thus, the supplementation of MEIP with Dfx is important to transform this extract into one that is safer and healthier for human consumption.
Resprouting species, such as English holly (Ilex aquifolium L.), can be severely affected by long-lasting forest management. In the present study, the clonal and fine-scale spatial genetic structure ...(FSGS) of English holly are evaluated in a sub-Mediterranean mixed forest of Central Spain, where this species was subjected to different and intense human interventions for centuries, including coppicing in dense structures and in open woody pastures. Using seven microsatellite loci, we assessed the contribution of clonal and sexual reproduction to the diversity of holly in both areas and the fine-scale genetic structure was evaluated. For the dense coppiced area, the results showed high clonal diversity derived mainly from stem resprouting. Stems were separated an average of 3 m and up to 10 m, and dense aggregations of stems sometimes included various genotypes. The results also showed recent seed recruitment leading to small unique and isolated genotypes. Furthermore, FSGS was detected at close distances as being stronger in the coppiced area than in the open woody pasture area, especially for individuals of greater diameter at breast height. The results obtained suggest that current management strategies are not negatively affecting the genetic diversity of this species.
Invisibility and death Delaney, Holly
CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association journal,
02/2014, Volume:
186, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
My second death was in May 2010. I was doing my obstetrics rotation. "You're worthless", they said. "You're below expectations". "Flat affect - poor interactions with patients." No lunch, just ...shoulder dystocia. Loving my patients but hating my attendings. Hating being there at all. Standing in ORs - not understanding anything. Not knowing. Being pimped and never having the answer. Shocked, angry stares.
Many holly species are dominant species in evergreen broad-leaved forests, and they play an important role in the formation and maintenance of forest ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions. ...Here, a new holly species (Ilex danxiaensis K. W. Xu & Q. Fan) of Aquifoliaceae was discovered from Guangdong, China, when conducting biodiversity investigations in the Danxia landform. We inferred the phylogenetic position of the new species based on sequences from three nuclear markers, namely internal transcribed spacer (ITS), external transcribed spacer (ETS), and chloroplast glutamine synthetase gene (nepGS). The results demonstrated a close relationship among the new species and members of I. sect. Lioprinos. The inferred phylogenetic position of the new species is also supported by morphological evidence that all of these species are characterized by having axillary cymes inflorescences and abaxially 1-sulcate pyrenes. However, the new species can be distinguished from others by having puberulent branchlets, petioles, peduncles, and pedicel; (1-)2-3-flowered cymes of male inflorescences; 1-flowered cymes of female inflorescences; ciliate sepals, 4-merous flowers, pink or white female flowers; and 4 pyrenes.
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