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Past and Present Uses of Toxic Medicinal Plants: The World Tour

Historically, poisonous plants have been used for medicine, decoration, and religious rituals, and even as a source of immortality around the globe. Recently, there has been a push to turn to more plant-based medicine in the hopes of decreasing drug side effects while still maintaining their effectiveness. Get ready for a journey through the past and present medicinal uses of some of the world’s most dangerous plants.

Vermicompost: The Solution for the Use of Inorganic Substances in our Food Systems

Investigating replacements for inorganic chemical controls of pests and pathogens is essential to preserve the productivity and longevity of our agricultural lands. One solution is vermicomposting, a safe, scalable, and regenerative method of managing organic waste that involves the use of worms to convert organic matter into compost. This literature review examines the effects that vermicompost and vermicompost teas have on harmful accumulations of pests, pathogens, and toxins found within our agricultural systems.

The Plant With 50,000 Uses

Cannabis, hemp, pot – are these all synonyms for the same plant? Also known as Cannabis sativa L., hemp is a tall, leafy green plant, with an herbaceous stem and palmate, serrated leaves. Each part of the plant has a use, from food products to construction materials to clothing. However, hemp and marijuana are unfortunately frequently conflated as the same plant, despite having significantly different chemical and physical properties and separate historical uses. Hemp is a misunderstood, underutilized plant crop, and its textile use is an untapped source in American markets.

Unraveling the Molecular Evolution of Nightshade Plants: A Lab Spotlight with Dr. Yann-Ru Lou

Dr. Yann-Ru Lou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Biology. Her lab focuses on implementing synthetic biology and biochemistry approaches to investigate the evolutionary trajectories of plant chemical diversity. I joined Dr. Lou’s lab in the Spring Quarter of my first year and enjoyed every moment of learning about research practices and working with nightshade plant metabolites. Nightshade plants belong to the Solanaceae family, including tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. The Solanaceae family produces acyl sugars, which are specialized metabolites for plant herbivory defense against insects and other pests. I would like to thank Dr. Lou for sharing her thoughts on science communication and giving us an opportunity to learn more about her research. Hope everyone enjoys this lab spotlight!