In vitro antioxidant activity of Argyreia cymosa bark extracts

The Argyreia cymosa bark extracts were subjected to in vitro antioxidant activity with different methods. The petroleum ether extract has shown antioxidant activity in ABTS, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical (by p-NDA) and lipid peroxidation methods. The ethyl acetate extract has shown antioxidant activity in DPPH, H(2)O(2) and hydroxyl radical (by deoxyribose) scavenging methods.     

Antioxidant properties and polyphenol contents of trembling aspen bark extracts

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) bark was extracted with water and the crude extract fractionated with tert-butyl-methyl ether (TBME), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (BuOH) to obtain four different fractions. The antioxidant properties of the bark hot water extracts and its fractions were determined by three in vitro experiments: DPPH assay, phosphomolybdenum assay and canola oil thermoxidation assay by DSC analysis. Most of the results of the reported tests showed that the crude hot water extract and its fractions exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, higher than the synthetic antioxidant BHT. The results of this study confirm that antioxidant activity is a property that strongly depends on the oxidation conditions used in the particular oxidation test. Among the fractions separated from the aqueous extracts of bark, BuOH, TBME and EtOAc soluble fractions exhibited the best antioxidant efficiency, in phosphomolybdenum assay, DPPH assay and canola oil thermoxidation, respectively. Total phenol, flavonoid and flavanol contents were also evaluated and the results confirmed that the polyphenols contained in the hot water extract of this bark are mainly composed of non-flavonoid compounds.     

Antifungal effect of bark extracts from some European tree species

The inhibitory effect of methanol bark extracts from six deciduous and three coniferous European tree species were bioassayed against eight fungi from the different damage categories, brown rot, white rot, canker and blue-stain. This is the first report providing data on the antifungal activity of several Europaen tree species against fungi within these damage categories. Generally the decay fungi were more inhibited by the bark extracts than the blue-stain fungi, while the lowest inhibition was found among the cancer fungi. The main pattern found between the fungal groups in relation to the bark extracts in this study is believed to be caused by the route of ingress. Acer platanoides bark extract proved to be the most efficient bark extract tested, significantly reducing the growth rate of all tested fungi. Betula pubescens bark extract generally gave the weakest reduction in growth rate. In this study, the conifer bark extracts were in general more active against the canker and blue stain ascomycete fungi than the deciduous trees extracts.     

Knotwood and bark extracts: strong antioxidants from waste materials

The antioxidant properties of hydrophilic extracts of knotwood of several industrially important tree species were evaluated by lipid-peroxidation inhibition and peroxyl-trapping capacity tests. The results were compared with the antioxidant properties of hydrophilic extracts of bark, and pure lignans and flavonoids isolated from knotwood extracts. The knot extracts from several tree species were stronger antioxidants than the bark extracts, which can, however, also be classified as strong antioxidants. In addition, the antioxidant properties of most of the knotwood extracts are stronger than the pure compounds. It is concluded that knotwood is a rich source of natural antioxidants.     

Biological activity of extracts fromCupressus lusitanica cell culture

Ethyl acetate extracts ofCupressus lusitanica suspension cell cultures were examined for their biological activities (viz., tyrosinase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities). The extract from elicitor-treated cells showed all of the biological activities, whereas the extract from cultures without elicitor was not bioactive to a discernible extent. The biological activities shown by the cell culture extracts were almost solely accounted for by-thuj aplicin contained in the extracts. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate extract ofC. lusitanica cells treated with the elicitor is a valuable bioactive source without isolation or purification of-thujaplicin.     

Antioxidant activity of extracts from the wood and bark of Port Orford cedar

Heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark of Port Orford cedar were extracted with methanol, and the extracts evaluated for antioxidant activity. The total phenol content (TPC) of the extracts was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Butylated hydroxytoluene was used as a positive control in the free-radical-scavenging activity tests and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrate disodium salt served as a positive control in the metal-chelating activity assay. All wood extracts showed significant freeradical-scavenging activity. In the radical-scavenging assay of 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (the ABTS assay), the inner bark extracts exhibited the strongest free-radical-scavenging activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) in the radical-scavenging assay against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate radical (DPPH) of the heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark extracts were 64.77, 29.03, 10.31, 19.87 μg·ml⁻¹, respectively. In the metal-chelating activity system, the sapwood extract demonstrated significant activity. The greatest TPC, 537.5 mg GAE/g dry extract, was detected in the inner bark. The lowest TPC of 136.9 mg GAE/g dry extract was observed in the heartwood dry extract. The results indicate that the antioxidant activities of the extracts are in accordance with the amounts of phenolics present; the inner and outer barks of Port Orford cedar are rich in phenolics and may provide good sources of antioxidants.     

Effects of stem bark and leaf extracts of Bridelia ferruginea on rat bladder smooth muscle

The effects of ethanol extracts of Bridelia ferruginea leaves and stem bark on purinergic neurotransmission in the rat bladder were investigated. The stem bark extract potentiated the contraction of the bladder evoked by exogenous adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) but depressed KCl-induced contractions in a dose-related pattern; these two opposite actions might account for the lack of effect on field stimulation of the bladder purinergic nerves. The leaf extract depressed purinergic nerve-mediated contraction of the rat bladder in a dose-related fashion. This action could be attributed to blockade of purinergic neurotransmission since the leaf extract did not affect KCl-induced contractions.     

An in vitro method for screening Colletotrichum gloeosporioides as a biological control agent for western hemlock dwarf mistletoe

An in vitro system using detached western hemlock branches infected with dwarf mistletoe was developed to screen the virulence of five isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a hyperparasite of dwarf mistletoe shoots and berries. Detached branches infected with dwarf mistletoe were placed in nutrient‐saturated rock‐wool blocks and mistletoe shoots were inoculated with a conidial suspension of C. gloeosporioides. One month after inoculation, lesions on mistletoe stems and berries were well developed. Infection levels for individual isolates varied from 40% to 60% of shoots and 60% to 80% of berries. Significant differences were found between the isolates and control (p = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively) while no differences were noted between the isolates for both the shoots and berries. Parallel inoculation of mistletoe shoots detached from hemlock branches on moist filter paper and in rock‐wool blocks failed because these shoots deteriorated rapidly, fragmenting into segments within a week. This in vitro test may provide an alternative method for rapid screening of potentially virulent C. gloeosporioides isolates.     

树皮厚度和树皮系数变化规律的研究

研究树皮厚度和树皮系数的变化规律从而揭示树皮的变化规律,对提高林分蓄积生长量的精度有着重要的现实意义。通过实地测量树木的直径和树皮厚度,经过相关公式计算统计分析,结果表明,树皮厚度随直径的增大而呈现增加的趋势,树皮系数随直径的增大而呈现减小的趋势。桦树和山杨总树皮系数分别为1．093和1．078,其变动系数桦树O．94％,山杨为0．81％。     

Comparative evaluation of successive extracts of leaf and stem bark of Albizzia lebbeck for mast cell stabilization activity

Successive chloroform, methanol and water extracts of bark and leaves of Albizzia lebbeck were tested for its in vitro mast cell stabilizing effect against compound 48/80. Methanolic extract of leaf and methanolic and water extracts of bark have shown maximum activity comparable to that of disodium chromoglycate.     

芒果果实套袋技术研究初报

云南省华坪县属金沙江流域干热河谷区，是芒果产区中纬度最高（北纬26°21′～26°57′）、海拔最高（1 100～1 450m，1 450m海拔地带也能生产优质芒果）特有的晚熟芒果产区。本区年平均温度19.8℃，县城平均降雨量1 043.1mm，雨季集中在5～9月，7、8两月降雨占全年一半以上。现有芒果种植面积1 600hm2，计划2010年发展到3 340hm2，其中投产面积超过550hm2，年产量3 540t。1997年以来，通过嫁接改良，良种面积已达400hm2，主要有红象牙、红吕宋、留香芒、乳芒、凯特、肯特、爱文、金煌、台农一号、海顿等30多个品种。为了提高芒果品质，生产…     

5种药用植物提取液对杨树灰斑病抑菌活性研究

为筛选出对杨树灰斑病菌具有抑制作用的中草药抑菌活性物质,采用3次浸渍提取法对丁香、肉桂、厚朴、毛茛、兴安白芷5种中草药进行提取,采用生长速率法和孢子萌发法,测定了提取液对菌丝生长和孢子萌发的影响。结果表明,5种药用植物提取液对杨树灰斑病原菌均有不同程度的抑制作用,其中丁香、肉桂、兴安白芷提取物对病原菌的菌丝生长抑制效果较好,丁香提取液浓度在16 mg/mL时,对病菌菌丝生长抑制率可达到98.02%,同样浓度的肉桂、兴安白芷提取液抑制率也可达到91%以上;5种药用植物提取液对孢子萌发抑制作用强于对菌丝生长的抑制作用,其中丁香、毛茛对病原菌的孢子萌发抑制效果最好。说明5种药用植物75%乙醇提取液中含有抗菌成分,为生物防治杨树灰斑病提供参考。     

Swelling properties of bark

Summary Swelling pressure of outer bark (rhytidome) of pine, larch, poplar, willow, oak, birch and black locust was investigated. Swelling pressure was determined on oven-dry samples moistened in water, using an accelerated method consisting of initial evacuation of air from the samples. Additionally, free swelling of bark, water-absorption capacity, and stress at proportional limit in compression of wet bark were investigated. Swelling pressure of bark ranges from 0.11 to 0.87 MPa, depending on the species and anatomical direction. These figures are 4 to 71% of respective values for the swelling pressure of wood of the same species. Swelling pressure of bark amounts to 11–71% of stresses at proportional limit when bark is subjected to compression in the wet state. With increasing bark density, a clear tendency was observed for an increase in swelling pressure and stress at proportional limit, as well as a decrease in water-absorption capacity.The author thanks Miss H. Drewek for her valuable technical assistance     

Hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities on the stem bark aqueous and ethanol extracts of Musanga cecropioides in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Daily oral administration of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Musanga cecropioides stem bark in normal and diabetic rats at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, for 14 days significantly lowered the fasting plasma glucose levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose-dependent fashion. The ethanol extract induced more significant antidiabetic effect than the aqueous extract.     

小蠹虫信息化合物作用研究概述

小蠹虫具有复杂的种间和种内信息化合物,其主要作用是调节和控制对寄主树木的选择、入侵及危害,进而调控小蠹虫在森林生态系统内的种群密度和生态分布。本文简要概述了信息化合物在小蠹虫寄主选择、入侵、定居、繁殖等一系列行为中的作用,并进一步阐述了小蠹虫寄主选择理论,重点阐明了寄主与非寄主植物挥发物的作用。     

Efficacy of neem oil against thrips (Thysanoptera) on mango panicles and its compatibility with mango pollinators

A field trial was conducted in a mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchard located on Penang Island, Malaysia, to determine the efficacy of neem oil at 1, 2 and 3% concentrations and imidacloprid, a commonly used synthetic insecticide, on populations of thrips and their toxicities to mango pollinators. Daily periodicities of several pollinators that frequently visited mango panicles were studied prior to the insecticide trial to determine the appropriate time of insecticide application. Pollinators were collected at 2-h intervals for 2?months in the dry season and 1?month in the wet season of 2009. Mean numbers of all pollinators were greater in the morning (0800?h) and peaked in the late afternoon, but remained low during other times of the day. After two consecutive applications at 7-day interval, both neem oil and imidacloprid effectively reduced thrips populations compared to an untreated plot. Imidacloprid was the most effective insecticide reducing 68.7% thrips adult and 80.7% larval populations, respectively. However, it caused 92.5% mortality in pollinator populations. Neem oil at 2% was effective against adult thrips 96?h after the second application (59.8% reduction) and caused only 24.9% mortality of pollinators. Proper timing of neem oil application such as at midday when pollinators are least active would control thrips populations satisfactorily but less detrimental to mango pollinators. Future improvement of neem oil formulation should be aimed at improving its efficacy against thrips and further reducing toxicity to pollinators.     

Antimicrobial activity of Anacardium occidentale bark

Anacardium occidentale bark 60% methanolic extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 13 out of 15 bacterial isolates at a concentration of 20 mg/ml.     

The hydrophobic properties of bark extractives

Summary The hydrophobic properties of benzene-soluble extractives from the bark of Pinus radiata were studied by determining the water-solid-air contact angle and the resistance to water penetration.The material contained in the bark extract possessed wax-like and film-forming properties. It was highly hydrophobic with a contact angle with water of about 98°. Wood samples were impregnated with bark extract in order to study the ability of the hydrophobic bark extractives to prevent preferential wetting with water and the displacement of the impregnant from the hydrophilic wood surface. The wax-like material deposited from the bark extracts showed a remarkable affinity for wood as revealed by the high degree of resistance to water penetration and wetting of the treated wood even after several wetting-drying cycles which otherwise tend to break down the bonds and adhesion between a hydrophilic solid and a hydrophobic coating.Hydrophobic or film-forming additives did not improve the ability of bark extractives to protect a hydrophilic solid from water. The properties of the bark extractives as a water repellent and a water barrier could therefore be assumed to be as near perfect as possible.Nature seems to have solved the problem of producing one single, although complex, material with two properties which are extremely difficult, maybe impossible, to combine in a single synthetic material: one of high affinity for a hydrophilic solid and another of extreme water repellency and resistance to water.The in situ conditions prevailing in the bark tissue, combining bark extractives and cell walls of various anatomical structures, must therefore represent a rather unique and for this specific purpose highly efficient two-phase hydrophobic-hydrophilic solid system.The authors would like to express their appreciation to Kalley Timber Development Corporation for the close co-operation and support for our research on bark products and would also like to thank Lewis and Everitt, Poly-Resin Products Ltd., Taeuber and Corssen, Farbenfabriken Bayer AG, Scado-Archer-Daniels, Triton Chemicals and Rohm and Haas for supplying samples and information.     

Antinociceptive activity of Wrightia tinctoria bark

The ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria bark showed antinociceptive activity on acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, their effects being comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid.