Seychelles

Imported Inorganic Chemical Elements, Oxides and Halogen Salts in Seychelles, 

Country of Origin Rank Value (000 US ) % Share Cumulative % 

Source Philip M. PARKER, Professor, INSEAD, copyright 2002, www.icongrouponline.com 

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The nil IB usually soluble in 3 volumes of 70 per ocnl. alcohol, except in the case nl Seychelles oil, which requires up to Itl volumes. 

Several recent epidemiological studies have involved examination of populations that consume unusually high levels of fish. One of these, conducted in the islands of the Seychelles, has not so far revealed behavioral and learning impairments in children whose mothers exhibited mercury levels (measured in hair) higher than those typically seen in the United States and European countries. But another study, conducted in the Faroe Islands, turned up evidence of cognitive and behavioral impairments in children. Scientists have struggled to understand why two well-done studies have produced such different outcomes, and some possible reasons have been suggested. The EPA and public health officials have acted on the basis of the Faroe data, out of both caution and also because they seem to be supported by other, more limited data, and by experimental studies. The debate is not so much about whether methylmercury is a developmental toxicant, but rather over the dose required. 

Giant tortoises [Gcochcloncgigantca) on Aldabra Island in the Seychelles archipelago are more likely to feed on certain plant species, the less tannins they contain (Swain 1979 Fig. 11.19). 

Basil oil, methylchavicol-type (Reunion type, exotic type) is obtained by steam distillation of the flowering tops or whole plants of Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae). This oil is produced mainly in Reunion, the Comores, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. It is a light yellow liquid with a fresh, green, spicy odor characteristic of methylchavicol (estragole) [140-67-0]. 

Cinnamon leaf oil is produced by steam distillation of the leaves of the cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl. (C. verum J.S. Presl). The main countries in which the oil is produced are Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, southern India, Madagascar, and the Comoro Islands. It is a reddish-brown to dark brown liquid with a characteristic spicy odor, reminiscent of clove buds. 

Kalihinols G (277) and H (278) were trace components of a species of Acanthella from Guam and kalihinol X (279) was isolated from a Fijian species of Acanthella. All inhibited growth of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans [278]. 10-Epi-isokalihinol H (280) and 15-isothiocyanato-l-epi-kalihinene (281) were isolated from Acanthella cavernosa from the Seychelles [279]. A Japanese specimen of A. cavernosa contained a sesquiterpene isothiocyanate (282) and 10 3-formamido-5p-isothiocyanatokalihinol A (283). Structures were assigned by spectral data interpretation [280]. Phakellia pulcherrima from the Philippines contained the minor diterpene isothiocyanates kalihinol L (284), 10-isothiocyanatokalihinol G (285), 10-epi-kalihinol H (286) and 10-isothiocyanatokalihinol C (287) [281]. 10-Epi-kalihinol I (288) and 5,10-bisisothiocyanatokalihinol G (289) were isolated from an Acanthella sp. from Okinawa [282]. 

These insectivorous pitcher plants are found from the Seychelles and Madagascar to Australia and New Caledonia. They are often cultivated as novelties. 

On the basis of maternal hair concentration, the third study (conducted in the Seychelles) did not find any association between prenatal methylmercury exposure and adverse neuro-psychologic effects (Myers et al. 2003). Reasons for the discrepancies are not known but have been suggested to include differences in the child s age at testing, genetic susceptibilities of the populations, patterns of exposure (episodic vs continuous), and coexposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in the Faroes but not Seychelles populations (Rice et al. 2003). 

Myers, G.J., P.W. Davidson, C. Cox, C.F. Shamlaye, D. Palumbo, E. Cernichiari, J. Sloane-Reeves, G.E. Wilding, J. Kost, L.S. Huang, and T.W. Clarkson. 2003. Prenatal methyl mercury exposure from ocean fish consumption in the Seychelle child development study. Lancet 361(9370) 1686-1692. 

The hydrocarbon systems of mature D. simulans of both sexes are very similar and mainly consist of 7-monoenes (Jallon, 1984). A geographical polymorphism concerning linear hydrocarbons with 23 and/or 25 carbons (especially 7-T and 7-P) occurs in both sexes. When 29 populations of D. simulans were compared for their cuticular hydrocarbons (Rouault et al., 2001), only flies around the Benin Gulf in Africa showed higher levels of 7-P compared to those of 7-T, while the cumulative amounts of both hydrocarbons (7-T + 7-P) were essentially constant. For example, Cameroon strain 7-T is 22.7 percent and 17.7 percent of total hydrocarbons in females and males, respectively, 7-P males up 38.5 and 37.7 percent of hydrocarbon in females and males, respectively. The Seychelles strain is typical of the general type (7-T is 55.0 and 47.6 percent in females and males, respectively and 5.4 and 7.3 percent 7-P, respectively). 

This is a very favorable system to study genetic control of pheromone production, as there is no sexual isolation between the two D. simulans strains and the absence of qualitative sexual dimorphism allows both sexes to be used for analyses. Thus an exhaustive investigation of all potential hereditary factors could be performed by a set of crosses between both morphs (Cameroon X Seychelles). 

The ratio (7-T/7-P) appears to be controlled by a Mendelian factor carried by the second chromosome (Ferveur, 1991). A primary gene was mapped on chromosomal location 2-65.3 and called Ngbo. There are two alleles at this locus, Seychelles and Cameroon, which may act codominantly on the (7-T/7-P) ratio in an either hypomorphic or hypermorphic fashion. These alleles affect the absolute production of 7-P codominantly. However, the production of 7-T seems under polygenic control with epigenetic interactions with Ngbo and other loci on the second and third chromosomes (Ferveur, 1991). 

The second prospective study of in utero exposure to methylmercury was initiated in the Republic of Seychelles and enrolled about 800 mother-infant pairs (Myers et al., 1995). In contrast to the Faroe Islands study, the investigation in the Seychelles did not find evidence of methylmercury-related adverse effects on the neuro-behavioural development of children through nine years of age (Myers et al., 2003). In some instances, prenatal mercury exposure was actually associated with precocious behaviour, and important developmental milestones were reached more quickly in the most highly exposed subjects. 

The differences in the outcomes of the studies in the Faroes and the Seychelles have been the subject of much deliberation (NTP,... 

Myers GJ, Davidson PW, Cox C, Shamlaye CF, Palumbo D, Cernichiari E, Sloane-Reeves J, Wilding GE, Kost J, Huang LS, Clarkson TW (2003) Prenatal methylmercury exposure from ocean fish consumption in the Seychelles child development study. Lancet, 361(9370) 1686-1692. 

Sri Lanka is the major cinnamon-producing country in the world and it controls 60% of the world cinnamon trade. About 24,000 ha are under cinnamon cultivation in Sri Lanka, producing 12,000t quills (long, compound rolls of cinnamon bark measuring up to lm in length) per year. Sri Lanka produces the best quality of cinnamon bark, mainly as quills. It also produces annually around 1201 leaf oil and 4-51 bark oil. Cinnamon leaf oil is produced in Sri Lanka and the Seychelles, though the bark... 

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