油茶叶乙醇提取物清除DPPH自由基作用的研究

用二苯基苦基肼自由基(DPPH·)法测定了油茶叶乙醇提取物的抗氧化活性,并与芦丁、二丁基羟基甲苯(BHT)进行了比较,在波长517 nm、反应时间40 min的条件下测定了DPPH·的清除率为50%时抗氧化剂的质量浓度(EC50)值.结果表明,油茶叶乙醇提取物时DPPH·具有明显的清除作用,且随着油茶叶乙醇提取物纯化程度的提高,其清除能力也相应增强.测得油茶叶粗提物、油茶叶精提物、芦丁和BHT清除DPPH·的EC50值分别为12.19、6.765、9.481和37.53 mg/L,清除DPPH·能力的大小顺序依次为油茶叶精提物＞芦丁＞油茶叶粗提物＞BHT.     

山杏叶提取物体外抗氧化活性研究

为研究山杏叶提取物的抗氧化活性,采用浸提、过柱、梯度洗脱和浓缩,制备山杏叶提取物,分别测定其DPPH自由基清除率、抑制羟自由基能力、总抗氧化能力、总酚和黄酮含量。结果表明:40%乙醇提取物清除DPPH自由基能力和抑制羟自由基能力均最强,分别为88.11%和174.25 U·m L-1,与黄酮和总酚含量呈显著相关和极显著相关性;而纯水提取物的总抗氧化能力最强,与黄酮和总酚含量相关性不显著。     

青钱柳叶提取物的抗氧化活性及其与黄酮含量的关系研究

根据溶剂萃取分离法,采用水、乙醇、石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇5种溶剂从青钱柳Cyclocarya paliurus叶中提取分离得到7种提取物样品,通过不同样品对DPPH自由基(1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基肼基自由基)、羟自由基和超氧阴离子自由基的清除作用研究青钱柳叶不同活性组分的抗氧化活性,并对各提取物中的总黄酮含量进行测定,分析总黄酮含量与抗氧化活性的相关性。结果表明,青钱柳叶各提取物均对DPPH自由基具有较强的清除作用,在0.04 mg·mL~(-1)浓度以下其清除率与浓度呈现良好的线性关系,清除能力最强的为醇提后的水提物,当浓度为0.1 mg·mL~(-1)时其清除率达到91.29%;对羟自由基的清除能力最强的为乙醇提取物,当浓度为1 mg·mL~(-1)时其清除率为53.55%,在试验浓度范围内除石油醚提取物外,其余样品的浓度与清除率均呈现一定的线性关系;而各样品对超氧阴离子自由基的清除率都明显小于Vc,且随浓度的增大其变化幅度较小;醇提后的水提物的总黄酮含量最高,为11.32%,其次为水提物,为10.94%;黄酮含量与DPPH自由基清除率呈极显著正相关,r=0.602,与羟自由基清除率呈显著正相关,r=0.427,与超氧阴离子自由基清除率呈正相关,但相关性不显著,r=0.210,说明黄酮类化合物可能是青钱柳叶中主要的抗氧化活性成分之一。     

煮熟和干燥处理对黄藤笋抗氧化活性的影响

通过测定黄藤熟笋、生笋(鲜切笋)、熟笋干和生笋干的水和4种不同浓度乙醇提取物中的自由基清除能力、总还原能力、总多酚含量和总黄酮含量,研究了煮熟、干燥加工方法对黄藤笋提取物抗氧化活性的影响。结果表明,煮熟处理能保持或提高提取物的抗氧化活性,干燥处理则相反。乙醇提取物比水提取物具有更高的抗氧化活性,以50%~75%的乙醇提取溶剂效果最好。熟笋在所有溶剂中的自由基清除能力、总还原能力、总多酚含量和总黄酮含量均表现出最高水平,表明煮熟是黄藤笋适宜的加工利用方式。     

铁皮石斛提取物的抗氧化活性研究

比较了4种栽培模式下铁皮石斛提取物的抗氧化活性,为铁皮石斛的栽培进一步开发利用提供理论依据。用煎煮法回流提取了4种栽培模式铁皮石斛,浓缩冻干得到铁皮石斛提取物,以抗坏血酸(Vc)为对照,分别测定了提取物的清除DPPH自由基、羟基自由基(·OH)、超氧阴离子自由基(O-2)能力。结果表明:4种栽培模式下铁皮石斛提取物均具有不同程度的抗氧化活性,且抗氧化活性与提取物质量浓度呈量效关系。林下床栽铁皮石斛提取物的·OH清除活性(IC50值为4.329mg/mL)在4种栽培模式中最好;林下附生铁皮石斛提取物的DPPH(IC50值为4.494mg/mL)和O-2(IC50值为2.773mg/mL)清除能力在4种栽培模式中均最强,且林下附生铁皮石斛提取物的O-2清除活性于对照抗坏血酸(Vc)的IC50值与无显著性差异。结论:铁皮石斛提取物可以抑制抗氧化活性,且林下仿野生栽培铁皮石斛的抗氧化活性优于大棚床栽。     

竹醋液及其提取物清除DPPH·自由基活性的研究

用DPPH·法测定了竹醋液及其提取物的抗氧化活性。结果表明,竹醋液及其提取物对二苯代苦味酰基自由基(DPPH·)具有较强的清除能力,但其提取物清除自由基能力(APR)是竹醋液的6.27倍;其反应动力学方程不符合线性关系。     

乌饭树果实提取物抗氧化活性研究

乌饭树是杜鹃花科越桔属的小浆果植物,有关乌饭树叶提取物抗氧化效果的研究报道较多,而对乌饭树果实抗氧化活性的研究报道却很少。为给其功能性品种的进一步选育和有效利用打下理论基础,对乌饭树果实中抗氧化物质的提取、含量及抗氧化活性等方面进行了研究。结果表明:乌饭果的水提取液清除DPPH自由基的效果为94.10%,其60%乙醇提取液的清除率为97.44%;乌饭叶的抗氧化物质(槲皮素)含量和清除DPPH自由基的效果都高于其果实;乌饭果的水提取液清除DPPH自由基的IC50值为0.32 mg·m L~(-1),当其清除率达到94.68%时所需水提液的浓度为2.08 mg·m L~(-1);乌饭果的水提取液清除50%DPPH自由基的用量是VC的97倍;乌饭树果实抗氧化物质(槲皮素)含量和水提取液抗氧化效果都呈现地理变化规律,较低纬度的赣南地区(南岭北坡)对选育优良品种具有重要意义。     

新疆药用植物黑桑的抗氧化性

为寻找一种天然的抗氧化材料,以新疆药用植物黑桑的根、枝、叶和果实的乙醇提取物为材料,进行总多酚、总黄酮、抗氧化能力以及螯合 Fe2+测定。结果显示：果实(桑椹)提取物(EEMF)的总多酚含量(0.9438 mg· mL -1)以及总黄酮含量(0.1747 mg·mL -1)与叶提取物( EEML)、枝提取物( EEMB)和根提取物( EEMR)相比并不高,但 EEMF的抗氧化能力最强,其清除羟基自由基、DPPH 自由基能力分别达到96.46%,96.83%,抑制脂质体氧化能力达到71.14%;此外,EEMF螯合 Fe2+能力也强于其他3种。表明黑桑4个部位都具有良好的抗氧化能力,且果实最佳。     

白苞蒿不同溶剂提取物多酚含量及抗氧化活性

以甲醇、无水乙醇、乙酸乙酯、氯仿为提取液,采用浸提法提取白苞蒿可溶性物质,福林酚法测定提取物的总酚含量,水杨酸法羟自由基清除作用实验测定提取物抗氧化性。结果表明4种溶剂中甲醇提取率最高,可达34.4%;乙酸乙酯提取物总酚含量最高,总酚含量为22.31μg·g~(-1);4种提取物清除羟自由基能力的强弱为甲醇提取物无水乙醇提取物氯仿提取物乙酸乙酯提取物,甲醇提取物清除羟自由基率可达95.5%。说明,白苞蒿具有较强的抗氧化活性,可作为药食两用的保健食品加以开发利用。     

胆木叶提取物的抗氧化活性研究

以胆木叶为原料,通过不同极性溶剂依次萃取50%醇提取物,分别得到石油醚萃取物(PEE)、氯仿萃取物(CE)、乙酸乙酯萃取物(EAE)、正丁醇萃取物(BE)和水萃取物(WE),它们的收率依次为0.62%、3.90%、0.68%、1.78%和6.06%.采用过氧化氢体系、超氧阴离子(O-2·)体系、羟基自由基体系(·OH)和Oyaizu法,以Vc为阳性对照,进行5个不同萃取部分抗氧化活性的测定和比较.结果表明,5种萃取部分均具有一定的抗氧化活性,随着浓度的增加而提高;且在不同的自由基产生体系中,其抗氧化活性强弱不尽相同.在过氧化氢体系中,对H2O2的清除能力强弱顺序依次为Vc>BE>CE>EAE>PEE>WE;在超氧阴离子体系中,对O-2·抗氧化活性强弱顺序依次为Vc>EAE>BE>PEE>WE>CE,在羟基自由基体系中,对·OH抗氧化活性强弱顺序依次为Vc>BE>CE>EAE>PEE>WE;而其还原能力强弱顺序依次为 BE>EAE>WE>CE>PEE.     

Growth of Phlebiopsis gigantea in wood of seven conifer species

Heterobasidion parviporum and Heterobasidion annosum are widely distributed root‐rot fungi that infect conifers throughout Europe. Infection of conifer stumps by spores of these pathogens can be controlled by treating fresh stumps with a competing non‐pathogenic fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea. In this study, growth of three Latvian strains of P. gigantea and the biological control agent ‘Rotstop’ strain was evaluated in stem pieces of Norway spruce, Scots pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas‐fir, Weymouth pine, Siberian larch and Sitka spruce. The growth rates of one H. parviporum and one H. annosum isolate were also measured in the same stem pieces. The growth rate of P. gigantea varied greatly in wood of different conifer species. It was higher in the three pine species, lower in Norway spruce and lowest in Sitka spruce and Siberian larch, and in Douglas‐fir, this fungus did not grow. The largest area of wood occupied by P. gigantea was in lodgepole pine. Growth of Latvian isolates of P. gigantea in the wood of Pinus and Picea species was comparable to that of the Rotstop isolate. Consequently, stump treatment with local P. gigantea isolates should be recommended. However, our results suggest that Douglas‐fir stump treatment against Heterobasidion by P. gigantea may be ineffective and other stump treatment methods should be considered.     

Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Defoliation by the Needle-shortening Pine Gall Midge,Thecodiplosis brachyntera,on Pines in Central Sweden

An outbreak of the needle-shortening pine gall midge, Thecodiplosis brachyntera , occurred on Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.) and lodgepole pine, P. contorta (Dougl.) in central Sweden during 1995-1998. The larval feeding of T. brachyntera kills current-year needles and heavy infestation causes severe defoliation. A pattern of fluctuating defoliation among years and sites was found on both pine species. Defoliation was evenly distributed in the crown of P. sylvestris during years of high as well as low infestation; apical whorls had as much defoliation as basal whorls. In P. contorta , however, there was a tendency for defoliation to be concentrated on branches in the most apical whorls. Growth ring increments on P. sylvestris with high levels of defoliation (71%) did not differ from trees with moderate levels (26%) of defoliation. Shoot lengths were significantly shorter, however, on heavily infested trees the year after defoliation.     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Boron in forest trees and forest ecosystems

This review critically examines the role of boron (B) in forests in view of recent findings on B nutrition and the continuing occurrence of B deficiency. Many perceptions about the role of B in plants and its uptake and mobility have been altered since the last review on B in forest trees in 1990. Now there is evidence for a fundamental role of B in the formation of the pectic structure in primary cell walls in plants, and further roles in membrane function are being explored. In plants, channel-mediated B uptake, active B uptake and B uptake by mycorrhizas have been shown, B transporters have been identified, and B retranslocation has been shown. We explore these findings and their consequences on forest trees and on ecosystems that they dominate. Particular emphasis is placed on B retranslocation and B in mycorrhizal symbiosis, given their importance in trees.     

Survival and Growth of Picea abies Regeneration after Shelterwood Removal with Single- and Double-grip Harvester Systems

Three stands in Sweden were followed for 7 yrs to study the survival and growth of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] regeneration after shelterwood removal with single- and double-grip harvester systems. The height of all seedlings within circular plots was recorded before and after final cutting. The tallest seedling and one randomly selected seedling on each circular plot were permanently marked and their annual height growth was measured each year during the period 1993-1999. No significant differences between single- and double-grip harvester systems were found with respect to their effects on regeneration density, survival or annual height growth. The annual height growth of the individual seedlings after shelterwood removal was significantly correlated with seedling height before shelterwood removal. Significant differences were found in annual height growth between seedlings with high and low vitality. Logging damage did not affect the annual height growth. Several practical conclusions were drawn. First, the choice of harvester system does not affect seedling height growth or survival after shelterwood removal. Secondly, the removal of a 200 m³ shelterwood with 200 stems ha^-1 does not seem to constitute a serious problem for seedling survival and growth. Finally, estimated vitality and seedling height both seem to be fairly good predictors of postrelease survival and growth.     

Development of Pinus sylvestris Main Stems Following Three Different Precommercial Thinning Methods in a Mixed Stand

Reducing competition by point cleaning may be an attractive alternative to conventional precommercial thinning in forestry. In this study, survival and development of main stems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) following point cleaning were examined in a mixed stand of mainly Scots pine and birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in northern Sweden. Treatments studied were: no precommercial thinning, conventional precommercial thinning, point cleaning of all secondary stems, and point cleaning of only the secondary stems that were higher than the main stem, within a radius of 0.8 m from the main stem, respectively. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was used. Measurements taken 13 growing seasons after these treatments showed that conventional precommercial thinning was the best treatment for retaining Scots pines as main stems. However, conventional precommercial thinning resulted in the poorest timber quality of the remaining Scots pines in terms of stem taper, thickest branch diameter and relative live crown height. In conclusion, point cleaning has to be followed by a complementary cleaning operation if the objective is to retain Scots pines as main stems in such mixed stands.