**9. References**

126 Antimicrobial Agents

(through Food and Drug Administration) have been continually issuing and updating a number of regulations and list of food additives and supplements that have been authorised and considered safe for human consumption. In particular, some antimicrobial essential oils like cinnamon oil, clove oil, lemon grass oil and their respective active substances (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and citral) have been generally recognized as safe (GRAS

However, the classification of plant-based products as pharmacologically active substances or medicaments is less clear. They can only be included in foodstuff legislation if not proven as being medicaments. The main obstacle on the legal establishment of these molecules or mixtures originates from potential risks to the consumers health. The risks arise from any toxic effect, unknown to date. Several studies have to be performed on the metabolic effects, physical and chemical characterization of the molecules, microbiological studies, safety assays, and the cost of performing these experiments is high. This financial cost can be an

Medicaments are molecules with properties of treatment or prevention of human diseases, or with pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action. Plant-based medicaments are regulated, within European Union, by Directive 2004/24/CE. Each member country has to integrate onto their own legislation the contents of this Directive. It comprises not only antimicrobial herbs and plants, but any pharmacologically active vegetable product, in particular those utilized in Chinese traditional medicine and ayurvedic medicine. The European Commission issued it in order to establish concepts and regulate the trade. They define traditional plant-based medicaments as products, of vegetable origin, targeted to treat some illnesses, in use for at least 30 years (including 15 years of use within European Union borders) and that are to be employed without medical supervision and whose administration does not include injection or parenteral use. This usage must be proven by documentation. Some examples of species employed in the production of plant-based medicaments have already been listed along this chapter, as *Calendula officinalis*, *Echinea* 

Although being natural products (and sometimes with a long tradition of medicinal use), some of these substances may be harmful to patients and this is why European Union requires specific authorization for these products (which are included in general pharmaceutical legislation) to be placed in the market. The objective is to guarantee quality, safety and efficiency. Neverthless, taking in account the financial burden that some laboratory tests and clinical assays represent, the European Union has introduced a more simplified registration procedure without forgeting the forementioned requirements of quality, safety and efficiency. The companies that produce or trade the plant-based medicaments must present unquestionable documentation proving the innocuity to human health and the established

Spices, condiments and herbs, used fresh or as extracts have a very much reported ability to inhibit some microorganisms. However, analysis of scientific literature shows that researchers must take care when comparing results because experimental standardization

therapeutic use (30 years of use and 15 years within European Union).

denomination) by the American FDA as food additives.

excessive burden to small companies.

*purpurea* or *Pimpinella anisum*.

**8. Conclusion** 

has not been achieved yet.


**7** 

*India* 

**An Alternative Approaches** 

**for the Control of Sorghum Pathogens** 

Varaprasad Bobbarala1,**\*** and Chandrasekhar K. Naidu2

*2Department of Botany, College of Science and Technology,* 

*Andhra University, Visakhapatnam* 

**Using Selected Medicinal Plants Extracts** 

*1Translational Research Institute of Molecular Sciences (TRIMS), Visakhapatnam, AP,* 

Sorghum (*Sorghum vulgare* L.) belongs to the tribe Andropogonae of the grass family Poaceae. The genus Sorghum is characterized by spikelet's borne in pairs. Sorghum is treated as an annual, although it is a perennial grass and in the tropics it can be harvested many times. Sorghum crop production has considerably increased in several countries during the past few years. Sorghum is the fifth important cereals after wheat, rice and maize and are significant dietary food for one-third of the world population, these crops are the principal sources of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for millions of the poorest people in these regions and sustain the lives of the poorest rural people and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. India is the world's second largest producer of Sorghum. Like all crops, grain Sorghum is subject to infectious diseases which can sometimes limit production. Sorghum is susceptible to fungal and bacterial micro flora under certain environmental conditions. These mycoflora not only threaten plant growth but also affect food quality, causing huge economic losses. Every year, seed and seedling diseases of grain Sorghum are common in India. Grain Sorghum root rot can be a considerable problem in

Synthetic pesticides are nowadays widely used for the control of plant diseases throughout the world because of their higher effectiveness in controlling disease causing organisms. However, excessive and unsystematic application of these chemicals has created several environmental and health hazards and also some phytopathogens have been developed resistance (Rhouma et al., 2009**)**. Therefore, there is an urgent need to search for effective, safe and biodegradable alternative pesticides. Diseases of cultivated crops remain the major limitation to increased agricultural production. Therefore, protection of plants from pathogens remains a primary concern of agricultural scientists. Despite serious environmental implications associated with the increased use, chemical fungicides remain

the first line of defense against bacterial and fungal pathogens.

**1. Introduction** 

Sorghum production.

Corresponding Author

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