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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=rabiah_sol@hotmail.com href="mailto:rabiah_sol@hotmail.com">rabiah al
nur</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org
href="mailto:MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org">MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 30, 2004 10:37
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [MPWG] Conservation focus of
MPWG</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR><BR></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>
<P>I would like to see what you area doing especially in the reintroduction
area. a great step in bringing the topic back to the original intent
would be generating the same kinds of conversations, with as much gusto
and to the point<BR>respectfully </P>
<P>rabiah<BR></P></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</FONT><BR><BR>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Rabiah,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Botresearch <?xml:namespace
prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:country-region><st1:place>USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> is
currently working with plants in one of the largest medicinal plant families,
that being the Lamiaceae/ Labiatae family. Most people are familiar with those
species eg. Mint, thyme ,basil and oregano which have culinary applications,
but far fewer are familiar with<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>those which have recently been found to have medicinal applications. A
case in point is that of Agastache rugosa which has shown inhibitory reactions
to <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>HIV-1 <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>virus. While this native of
<st1:country-region><st1:place>Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> is not
currently threatened or endangered now, its future in light of new research is
likely to lead to<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>one of concern
as a result of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>high demand.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Since only a small percentage
of the species in this family have been researched for potential medicinal
applications or as a potential source for new pharmaceuticals, what is to
say that other Agastache species eg. A. scrophulariifolia, A nepetoides, or A.
foeniculum could not have similar potential. These species which so far have
not been evaluated<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>are currently
on the threatened and endangered species by state list in
<st1:place><st1:City>Connecticutt</st1:City>,
<st1:State>Iowa</st1:State></st1:place>,
<st1:State><st1:place>Kentucky</st1:place></st1:State>,
<st1:State><st1:place>Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>,
<st1:State><st1:place>New Jersey</st1:place></st1:State>,
<st1:State><st1:place>Vermont</st1:place></st1:State>, and Tennesee as being
of Special Concern, Threatened or Endangered. What will happen if they turn
out to have a similar value to A. rugosa ?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As a result of this,
Botresearch
<st1:country-region><st1:place>USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> is taking
a proactive stance and utilizing biotechnology to mass produce these species
via tissue culture and retuning them to their natural habitats utilizing
university students, and interested conservation organizations.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We would challenge others to
join with us, or begin work on medicinal species in other plant families to
prevent or reverse the conditions which currently or could in the future cause
concern for these species. I hope this answers your query as to what we are
doing currently.</P>Regards,<BR>J.N.Covanes<BR>Director of
Research<BR>Botresearch USA<BR>23410 Harpergate<BR>Spring, Texas
77373<BR>USA<BR>fax: (281)355-1857<BR><A
href="http://www.botresearch.com">www.botresearch.com</A></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>