Terpene is a natural compound with various medical properties and found in both plants and animals (Gershenzon 2007). Among natural products that mediate antagonistic and beneficial interactions within the organism, terpene play a variety of roles (Gershenzon 2007). Terpene protects many living organisms like microorganisms, animals and plants from abiotic and biotic stresses (Gershenzon 2007). Terpene can ward off pathogens, predators, and competitors. Living organisms use terpene for multiple reasons like medicinal purposes and communications about food, mates, or enemies (Gershenzon 2007). It is impressive how different organisms use terpene for common purposes even though terpene contain many forms and varieties (Gershenzon 2007). So far only a small percentage of terpene is investigated (Franklin et al. 2001). Cannabis is one of the most common sources for the medicinal terpene (Franklin et al. 2001). This plant contains many medicinal properties like anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antihyperglycemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic (Franklin et al. 2001). Terpene is also used to enhance skin penetration, prevent inflammatory diseases (Franklin et al. 2001). Nowadays modern medication use large scales of terpene for various treatment drugs (Franklin et al. 2001). There are commonly used plants like tea (Melaleuca alternifolia), thyme, Cannabis, Salvia lavandulifolia (Spanish sage), citrus fruits (lemon, orange, mandarin) etc. that provide wide range of medicinal values (Perry et al. 2000). Tea tree oil has increased in popularity in recent years when it comes to alternative medicine (Perry et al. 2000). Tea tree oil is a volatile essential oil and is famous for its antimicrobial properties, and acts as the active ingredient that is used to treat cutaneous infections (Carson et al. 2006) Apart from the flavor that gives to food, essential oil contain antimicrobial properties (Bound et al. 2015). Thyme is one of plants that synthesize terpene alcohols and phenols which contain powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties (Bound et al. 2015). Terpene synthesized from cannabis also long served as medicines (Perry et al. 2000). They also contain psychoactive properties and used against many infectious diseases (Perry et al. 2000). Salvia lavandulifolia is famous for anti-dementia (current memory-enhancing) drugs by enhancing Table 15.1 Different types of terpenes and their properties Classification Carbon atoms Species produced from Medicinal uses References Monoterpenes C 10 Quercus ilex Fragrances, repellent Loreto et al. (2002) Sesquiterpenes C 15 Helianthus annuus Treat malaria, treat bacterial infections, and migraines Chadwick et al. (2013) Diterpenes C 20 Euphorbia, salvia miltiorrhiza Anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular diseases Vasas and Hohmann (2014), Zhang et al. (2012) Triterpenes C 30 Centella asiatica Wound healing, increases circulation James and Dubery (2009) D. Cox-Georgian et al.

This review will focus on stem cell origins, role of signaling pathways, stem cell markers and therapeutic approaches specific to lung cancer.

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Background In certain unisexual flowers, non-functional sexual organs remain vestigial and unisexuality can be overlooked leading to the ambiguous description of the sexual systems. Therefore, to accurately describe the sexual system, detailed morphological and developmental analyses along with experimental crosses must be performed. Cylindropuntia wolfii is a rare cactus endemic to the Sonoran Desert in southern California and northern Baja California that was described as gynodioecious by morphological analysis. The aims of our project include accurately identifying the sexual system of C. wolfii using histological and functional studies and characterizing the developmental mechanisms that underlie its floral development. Methods Histological analyses were carried out on different stages of C. wolfii flowers and controlled crosses were performed in the field. Result Our results identified C. wolfii to be functionally dioecious. The ovule and anther development differed between staminate and pistillate flowers. In vivo pollen germination tests showed that the pollen of staminate and pistillate flowers were viable and the stigma and style of both staminate and pistillate flowers were receptive. This suggests that there are no genetic or developmental barriers in the earlier stages of pollen recognition and pollen germination. Conclusions Despite being functionally dioecious, we observed that functionally pistillate individuals produced fruits with a large number of aborted seeds. This implies that not only does this species have low reproductive success, but its small population sizes may lead to low genetic diversity.

We have investigated the impact of recognized biogeographic barriers on genetic differentiation of grey box (Eucalyptus moluccana), a common and widespread tree species of the family Myrtaceae in eastern Australian woodlands, and its previously proposed four subspecies moluccana, pedicellata, queenslandica, and crassifolia. A range of phylogeographic analyses were conducted to examine the population genetic differentiation and subspecies genetic structure in E. moluccana in relation to biogeographic barriers. Slow evolving markers uncovering long term processes (chloroplast DNA) were used to generate a haplotype network and infer phylogeographic barriers. Additionally, fast evolving, hypervariable markers (microsatellites) were used to estimate demographic processes and genetic structure among five geographic regions (29 populations) across the entire distribution of E. moluccana. Morphological features of seedlings, such as leaf and stem traits, were assessed to evaluate population clusters and test differentiation of the putative subspecies. Haplotype network analysis revealed twenty chloroplast haplotypes with a main haplotype in a central position shared by individuals belonging to the regions containing the four putative subspecies. Microsatellite analysis detected the genetic structure between Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW) populations, consistent with the McPherson Range barrier, an east-west spur of the Great Dividing Range. The substructure was detected within QLD and NSW in line with other barriers in eastern Australia. The morphological analyses supported differentiation between QLD and NSW populations, with no difference within QLD, yet some differentiation within NSW populations. Our molecular and morphological analyses provide evidence that several geographic barriers in eastern Australia, including the Burdekin Gap and the McPherson Range have contributed to the genetic structure of E. moluccana. Genetic differentiation among E. moluccana populations supports the recognition of some but not all the four previously proposed subspecies, with crassifolia being the most differentiated.

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