Nothofagus nuda

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Nothofagus nuda
Scientific classification
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N. nuda
Binomial name
Nothofagus nuda
Steen.

Nothofagus nuda is a species of plant in the Nothofagaceae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is threatened by habitat loss.

In 1927 Nothofagus nuda was reported by J.R. Croft to account for 949 deaths throughout Papua New Guinea.[1] The plant is traditionally used as an herb in culinary dishes throughout the Puri Puri tribes of the Papua New Guinea highlands but results in hypoglycemic shock after ingestion of large doses.[2] Croft reported that wives within the polygamous tribes of the Puri Puri used the herb to poison the patriachs during tribal disputes that coincided with the winter solstice.[3]

Scientists in Macao Laboratory isolated the active molecule of the plant in late 2006.[4] The molecule was determined to be an IRS-1 adaptor molecule involved the insulin response cascade.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ http://www.pngplants.org/References/HandbooksPNG_1.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Four-Corners-Journey-Heart-Guinea/dp/0792274172/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
  3. ^ http://www.papuaweb.org/dlib/bk/french/03.pdf
  4. ^ http://www.gplmacao.com/index_en.asp
  5. ^ Phanstiel O (2008), "A delineation of diketopiperazine self-assembly processes: understanding the molecular events involved in Nepsilon-(fumaroyl)diketopiperazine of L-Lys (FDKP) interactions", Mol Pharm, 5 (2): 294–315, doi:10.1021/mp700096e, PMID 18254597 {{citation}}: More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)
  6. ^ Lambert S (1999), "Physiological roles of axonal ankyrins in survival of premyelinated axons and localization of voltage-gated sodium channels", J Neurocytol, 28 (4–5): 303–318, doi:10.1023/A:1007005528505, PMID 10739573 {{citation}}: More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)
  7. ^ Hewlings SJ (2006), "Atrophy and impaired muscle protein synthesis during prolonged inactivity and stress", J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 91 (12): 4836–41, doi:10.1210/jc.2006-0651, PMID 16984982 {{citation}}: More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)

Source