Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus L., Scrophulariaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, diarrhea and other pulmonary problems. The objective of this study was to assess the biological activity of Common Mullein extracts and commercial Mullein products using selected bench top bioassays, including antibacterial, antitumor, and two toxicity assays-- brine shrimp and radish seed. Extracts were prepared in water, ethanol and methanol. Antibacterial activity (especially the water extract) was observed with Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Agrobacterium tumefaciens- induced tumors in potato disc tissue were inhibited by all extracts. Toxicity to Brine Shrimp and to radish seed germination and growth was observed at higher concentrations of the extracts. From the Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Quercetin is a flavonoid and more specifically a flavonol. It is the aglycone form of a number of other flavonoid glycosides, such as rutin and quercitrin found in citrus fruit. Quercetin is found to be the most active of the flavonoids in studies,[citation needed] and many medicinal plants owe much of their activity to their high quercetin content. Quercetin has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity because of direct inhibition of several initial processes of inflammation. For example, it inhibits both the manufacture and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In addition, it exerts potent antioxidant activity and vitamin C- sparing action. From Wikipedia

June 12, 2003 - Food allergies may trigger life- threatening asthma attacks, according to results of a case-controlled study published in the July issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) and released early on the JACI Web site. Half of children hospitalized for asthma had food allergies, especially to peanuts, compared with 10% of controls. From Medscape

I am rather partial to the apple. This time of year you can get so many wonderful varieties. Organic apple skins are a great source of quercitin (see above article) Also I just read a book about Johnny Appleseed to my son and so apples are on my mind! Here is a link to some recipes that may give you some new ideas about what to do with all of those apples! Yum!