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Showing papers on "Bark published in 2009"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pentacyclic triterpenes are secondary plant metabolites widespread in fruit peel, leaves and stem bark display various pharmacological effects while being devoid of prominent toxicity and are promising leading compounds for the development of new multi-targeting bioactive agents.
Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpenes are secondary plant metabolites widespread in fruit peel, leaves and stem bark. In particular the lupane-, oleanane-, and ursane triterpenes display various pharmacological effects while being devoid of prominent toxicity. Therefore, these triterpenes are promising leading compounds for the development of new multi-targeting bioactive agents. Screening of 39 plant materials identified triterpene rich (> 0.1% dry matter) plant parts. Plant materials with high triterpene concentrations were then used to obtain dry extracts by accelerated solvent extraction resulting in a triterpene content of 50 - 90%. Depending on the plant material, betulin (birch bark), betulinic acid (plane bark), oleanolic acid (olive leaves, olive pomace, mistletoe sprouts, clove flowers), ursolic acid (apple pomace) or an equal mixture of the three triterpene acids (rosemary leaves) are the main components of these dry extracts. They are quantitatively characterised plant extracts supplying a high concentration of actives and therefore can be used for development of phytopharmaceutical formulations.

531 citations


ReportDOI
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, the estimation of biomass for 156 tree species found in North America for use in national forest inventory applications is presented, with specific gravities based on average green volume as well as 12 percent moisture content volume for calculation of oven-dry biomass.
Abstract: This paper reports information for the estimation of biomass for 156 tree species found in North America for use in national forest inventory applications. We present specific gravities based on average green volume as well as 12 percent moisture content volume for calculation of oven-dry biomass. Additional information is included on bark thickness, bark voids, and bark percentages by species and green and dry weight of wood and bark.Note: Values in Table 5 were corrected on Feb. 10, 2010. See page 35 of this publication.

244 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Phytochemical characterization and the effect of bark and leaf extracts of Indian spice plant, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cz), against the growth of two species of dematiaceous moulds demonstrate that the Cz bark and leaves contain certain fungicidal constituents exhibiting potential antimould activity against A. solani and C. lunata.
Abstract: Dematiaceous moulds are pathogenic microorganisms and act as etiological agents of mycoses with different degrees of severity in humans and animals. These moulds also cause loss of food crops and storage food products. The information regarding antimicrobial efficacy of the plant preparations on these moulds is scanty. The present study reveals phytochemical characterization and the effect of bark and leaf extracts of Indian spice plant, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cz), against the growth of two species of dematiaceous moulds, Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata. Cz bark and leaf samples were sequentially extracted in different solvents using Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical analyses of extracts were done as per standard protocols. The antifungal bioassay of extracts was done by hanging drop technique. The inhibition of fungal spore germination was monitored under influence of three different concentrations of extracts. The lowest test concentration (50 μg/ml) of extracts of Cz bark prepared into acetone and that of Cz leaf into petroleum ether and ethanol exhibited complete inhibition (100%) of spore germination in both the moulds. At 100 μg/ml concentration all the extracts showed about 50 to 100% inhibition. However, the treatment of the spores of the two fungal species with highest concentration (500 μg/ml) of bark and leaf extracts in all the solvents showed 100% fungicidal activity as it completely arrested the germination of spores. Relatively lower activity of aqueous extracts at 50 and 100 μg/ml concentrations suggests that the antifungal ingredients present in Cz bark and leaf are more soluble in organic solvents than water. The results demonstrated that the Cz bark and leaves contain certain fungicidal constituents exhibiting potential antimould activity against A. solani and C. lunata.

156 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results showed that the stem bark extract of the plant possessed the active principles e.g. terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides, which could be a potential source of antimicrobial agents.
Abstract: Acacia nilotica was assessed for active principles. The results showed that the stem bark extract of the plant possessed the active principles e.g. terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was assayed against Streptococcus viridans,Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Shigella sonnei using the agar diffusion method. The plant extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the test microorganisms. B. subtilis was the most susceptible to the plant extract while Candida albicans was the most resistant. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the stem bark extract of the plant ranged between 35 and 50 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration ranged between 35 and 60 mg/ml. A. nilotica could be a potential source of antimicrobial agents. Key words: Acaacia nilotica, active principles, microorganisms.

144 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the potential of chestnut shell and eucalyptus bark extracts as phenol substitutes in the formulation of adhesives, as chrome substitutes in leather tanning and as a source of antioxidants compounds has been studied.

125 citations


01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: Since 1990, native bark beetles have killed billions of trees across millions of acres of forest from Alaska to northern Mexico, and several of the current outbreaks, which are occurring simultaneously across western North America, are the largest and most severe in recorded history as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Since 1990, native bark beetles have killed billions of trees across millions of acres of forest from Alaska to northern Mexico. Although bark beetle infestations are a regular force of natural change in forested ecosystems, several of the current outbreaks, which are occurring simultaneously across western North America, are the largest and most severe in recorded history.

124 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, HPLC method was employed to quantify the amount of azadirachtin and nimbin present in the seed, leaf and the bark extracts of neem.
Abstract: The leaf and bark fraction extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem) grown in the foothills (subtropical region) of Nepal were evaluated for their antioxidant activity, total phenolic (TP) and total flavonid (TF) contents. HPLC method was employed to quantify the amount of azadirachtin and nimbin present in the seed, leaf and the bark extracts of neem. The result showed that the highest azadirachtin content was found in the methanolic extract of the seed (3300 ig/g dw). Similarly, the hexane fraction of bark showed the highest nimbin content (271 ig/g dw) followed by the methanolic extract (260 ig/g dw). Antioxidant activity was determined by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, DNA protection assay, metal chelating and the inhibition of peroxidation using linoleic acid system and their results were found at different magnitudes of potency. The results of TP content expressed in tannic acid equivalents ranged from 66.63 to 629.04 ig/mg in the bark extracts and 23.85 to 237.00 ig/mg in the leaf extracts. Likewise, the content of TF expressed in quercetine equivalents ranged from 12.87 to 17.07 ig/mg in the bark and 13.72 to 93.17 ig/mg in the leaf extracts.

118 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comparative study on the chemical composition of oak cork and corresponding industrial residues and birch ( Betula pendula L.) outer bark is reported in this article, which revealed that C18 and C22 ω-hydroxyfatty acids (including mid-chain epoxy- and dihydroxy-derivatives), followed by α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, are the main components in both suberins.

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, rice bark was evaluated as a carbon source by complete enzymatic hydrolysis and monosaccharide composition (GC-MS of derived alditol acetates).

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Some bacteria associated with bark beetles directly affects fungal sym- bionts and interact with tree chemistry to affect fungal growth and sporulation, and the strongest effects were induced by bacte- ria associated with beetles adapted to attacking living trees with vigorous defenses, and on fungal reproductive structures.
Abstract: Bark beetles are associated with diverse assemblages of microorganisms, many of which affect their interactions with host plants and natural enemies. We tested how bacterial associates of three bar...

105 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Three new compounds, magnolianone, erythro-honokitriol, and threo-honkitriol are identified and studied for anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities in Magnolia officinalis.
Abstract: Three new compounds, magnolianone (1), erythro-honokitriol (2), and threo-honokitriol (3), together with 14 known compounds, magnaldehyde (4), magnatriol B (5), randaiol (6), obovatol (7), magnolignan B (8a and 8b), magnolol, honokiol (9), p-hydroxylbenzaldehyde, coniferaldehyde, coniferol alcohol, syringaldehyde, syringaresinol, and acteoside, were isolated from the MeOH-soluble part of a water extract of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis. Among these compounds, 2-8b were studied for anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. Compound 7 displayed more potent antioxidative potential than 9. Compounds 4-7 effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO production, whereas 5 and 6 were more potent than 9.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results obtained indicated that S. buxifolia has a great potential to prevent disease caused by the overproduction of free radicals and also it might be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant agents.

01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is a member of a group of insects known as bark beetles, whose entire life cycle is spent beneath the bark of host trees.
Abstract: The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is a member of a group of insects known as bark beetles. Its entire life cycle is spent beneath the bark of host trees, except when adults emerge from brood trees and fly in search of new host trees.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This is the first study to provide data on the ability of trees to close wounds after bark harvesting in West Africa, and develops a decisional step method to help forest managers select the best techniques for managing medicinal tree species as an alternative to bark harvesting.
Abstract: Summary 1The growing interest in medicinal plants from both international industry and local markets requires management of tree bark harvesting from natural forests in order to prevent inappropriate exploitation of target species. This study was designed to determine the bark re-growth response of a selected number of medicinal tree species as a basis for the development of an optimal bark harvesting method. 2In 2004, bark was harvested from 925 trees belonging to 12 species in 38 sites in a dry forest in Benin, West Africa. Two years later, the response of trees to bark harvesting was examined with respect to re-growth (edge or sheet), development of vegetative growth around the wound, and the sensitivity of the wound to insect attack. 3Two species, Khaya senegalensis and Lannea kerstingii, showed complete wound recovery by edge growth. At the other extreme, Afzelia africana, Burkea africana and Maranthes polyandra had very poor edge growth. M. polyandra showed good sheet growth, whereas the other 11 species had none or poor sheet growth after total bark harvesting. In contrast, partial bark removal allowed better sheet growth in all 12 species studied. 4Insect sensitivity was species-specific. Insect attacks were negatively correlated with non-recovered wound area, but there was a marked species effect for the same rate of regeneration. L. kerstingii and K. senegalensis had very good and similar re-growth, but L. kerstingii was very susceptible to insect attack, whereas K. senegalensis appeared to be very resistant. Only a few individuals developed vegetative growth, and each tree usually developed only one or two agony shoots, but there was no significant difference between species. 5Synthesis and applications. This is the first study to provide data on the ability of trees to close wounds after bark harvesting in West Africa. We report large variability in the response of different species to our bark harvesting technique, and identify just two out of the 12 study species as suitable for sustainable bark harvesting. Based on our results, we developed a decisional step method to help forest managers select the best techniques for managing medicinal tree species as an alternative to bark harvesting, for example, coppice management, harvesting leaves instead of bark, stand establishment, and collaboration with timber companies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Lipophilic extracts from these species can be regarded as potential sources of anti-inflammatory principles and reduced the Croton oil-induced ear dermatitis in mice.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2009

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that R.mucronata is a potential source of botanical insecticides(s) and the bulk of the active compounds are sequestered in the bark, pith and stem wood with the least being found in the leaves.
Abstract: The insecticidal and antifeedant activity of extracts derived from different parts of the mangrove tree Rhizophora mucronata (Rhizophoraceae) Lam. is reported. The 70% ethanol extracts of leaves, bark, stem wood and pith were tested for toxicity against adults of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal), the 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.) and the 1st instar larvae of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (Leach). Antifeedant activity of the extracts was assessed through tests conducted on S. gregaria adults by the paper feeding protection bioassay. In tests carried out on A. aegypti mosquito larvae, bark and pith extracts showed high toxicity with 48 hour LC50’s of 157.4 ppm and 168.3 ppm respectively. Stem wood extracts had low activity with an LC50 of 1003.4 ppm while leaf extracts did not exhibit toxic effects at a concentration of 1000 ppm. A similar trend in activity was observed with antifeedant tests conducted on the desert locust S. gregaria and on toxicity tests carried out on A. salina larvae. The bulk of the active compounds are sequestered in the bark, pith and stem wood with the least being found in the leaves. The results indicate that R.mucronata is a potential source of botanical insecticides(s).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the feasibility of applying two kinds of mudar (Calotropis gigantea) fibers, namely bark fibers and seed fibers, as an alternative raw material for fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) is investigated.
Abstract: In this study the feasibility of applying two kinds of mudar (Calotropis gigantea) fibers, namely bark fibers and seed fibers, as an alternative raw material for fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) is investigated. The chemical analysis of the bark and seed fibers indicates that their main components are holocellulose 76 and 69%, cellulose 57 and 49%, lignin 18 and 23%, and alkali soluble substances 17 and 15%, respectively. There are statistically significant differences in the bark and seed fiber dimensions. The bark fibers are long, with a thin wall relative to their diameter, and are therefore lightweight. The seed and bark fibers are very similar to hard- and soft-woods, in terms of chemical compositions and fiber dimensions, respectively. The mechanical properties of the mudar bark fibers are: tensile strength 381 MPa, strain at break 2.1% and Young's modulus 9.7 GPa. In general, both types of fibers have enough potential for replacing or supplementing other fibrous raw materials as reinforcing agent.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, ultrasonic assisted extraction of Betula alleghaniensis was investigated and compared with conventional maceration, and the results indicated that the foliage extract has the most potent radical scavenging capacity while wood and twigs extracts exert the highest inhibitory effects on the production of NO in LPS/INFγ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Journal ArticleDOI
Marc Gaugler1, Warren J. Grigsby1
TL;DR: In this paper, the thermal degradation behaviors of various radiata pine bark extracts have been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and results suggest pine bark extract fractions may be readily processed at temperatures below 200°C if co-extracted polysaccharides contents are minimized.
Abstract: In order to understand the influence of the inherent chemistry on the relative thermal stability of condensed tannins, the thermal degradation behaviors of various radiata pine bark extracts have been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Generally, results suggest pine bark extract fractions may be readily processed at temperatures below 200°C if co-extracted polysaccharides contents are minimized. Those extracts possessing greater carbohydrate content and lower tannin purity tend to have decreased thermal stability. The initial onset temperature for degradation of relatively crude extracts with high proportions of carbohydrate contents were relatively low (ca. 150°C), whereas extract purification to < 5% carbohydrate content gave increases in thermal stability of at least 50°C. The complicity of the carbohydrate content in the degradation of the tannin samples was also supported by calculated Ozawa activation energies and modulated TGA experiments. While no increase in the therma...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The tertiary and quaternary alkaloids isolated from the stem bark, root bark and seeds of Peschiera fuchsiaefolia are reported and the tertiary alkaloid crude extract from the root bark of the same plant is more active than voacamine, and is particularly rich in dimeric alkal steroids.
Abstract: The tertiary and quaternary alkaloids isolated from the stem bark, root bark and seeds of Peschiera fuchsiaefolia are reported The tertiary alkaloid crude extract from the stem bark was tested in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum on the basis of the antimalarial use of the plant It showed good activity against both the D6 strain (IC50 = 495 ng/ml) and chloroquine-resistant W2 strain (IC50 = 817 ng/ml) and voacamine was the most active of the tested alkaloids (IC50 = 238 ng/ml for D6 and 290 ng/ml for W2) The tertiary alkaloid crude extract from the root bark of the same plant is more active than voacamine (IC50 = 179 ng/ml for D6 and 282 ng/ml for W2 strain), and is particularly rich in dimeric alkaloids (022% of the vegetable material)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the results showed that by using either hot water or a sulfite medium, a reasonable amount of tannin yield can be obtained by using a combination of water and sulfite.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results showed promising antibacterial activity of all the extracts of both leaf and bark against E. coli, followed by S. aureus, a property that supports traditional use of the plant in the treatment of some diseases as broad spectrum antibacterial agents.
Abstract: The antimicrobial activity and phytochemicals of the leaves and bark of Vitex negundo L. was evaluated against three Gram-positive bacteria viz.Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and five Gram-negative bacteria viz. Escherchia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio alginolyteus. Both polar and nonpolar extracts viz. petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts were prepared and studied for antibacterial activity using disc diffusion, agar cup and broth dilution methods. Results showed promising antibacterial activity of all the extracts of both leaf and bark against E. coli, followed by S. aureus. Ethanol and methanol extracts of the leaf showed inhibition activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria where as petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of bark had better antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. MIC showed that 5% of the extracts were active in a concentration of 0.312 mg/ml; 27.5% in a concentration of 0.625 mg/ml and 88.75% in a concentration of 1.25 mg/ml; were active against different human pathogenic bacteria. At concentration about 2.5 mg/ml, 100% of inhibition was recorded against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The result obtained with ethanol and methanol extracts of leaves; petroleum ether and chloroform extract of bark exhibited significant antibacterial activity, a property that supports traditional use of the plant in the treatment of some diseases as broad spectrum antibacterial agents. Key words: Antibacterial activity, similipal biosphere reserve, MIC, Vitex negundo,phytochemical, medicinal plant activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pinusspecies other than P.maritimadefinitively possess high biological activities, and therefore present a huge potential to be utilised in the food and the pharmaceutical industries.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The most common commercially available pine bark extract is Pycnogenol  , a standardised extract of Pinus maritima, which has been reported to have cardiovascular benefits and enhance microcirculation. The present study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of four pine bark extracts, assess their biological activities and to compare the results with Pycnogenol  . RESULTS: The Pinus species were analysed by LC and LC-MS; extracts of P. brutia and P. nigra showed higher levels of phenolic constituents compared to P.sylvestrisand P.pinea .I n particular,P.brutia contained extremely high concentrations of taxifolin (18.5%).ThehighestradicalscavengingactivitieswereattainedwithP.pinea(88.6%),P.nigra(87.2%)andP.brutia(86.4%)bark extracts. Additionally, anticarcinogenic effects of the extracts and their kinetics were determined in four cell lines including human prostate (PC-3, DU 145, LNCaP) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) by the MTT assay. Cell viability was reduced to 40% by extracts of P.pinea,andP.sylvestrisin PC-3 cells showing a similar effect like the positive control, CPT-11. CONCLUSION: Pinusspecies other than P.maritimadefinitively possess high biological activities, and therefore present a huge potential to be utilised in the food and the pharmaceutical industries. c � 2009 Society of Chemical Industry

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Field studies to evaluate insect infestation of green logs and lumber with varying amounts of bark after heat treatment and the presence of live insects represented treatment failure or infestation after treatment found that survival of bark beetles was greater in square patches versus rectangular patches of the same surface area.
Abstract: Wood packaging material (WPM) is a major pathway for international movement of bark- and wood-infesting insects. ISPM 15, the first international standard for treating WPM, was adopted in 2002 and first implemented in the United States in 2006. ISPM 15 allows bark to remain on WPM after treatment, raising concerns that insects could infest after treatment, especially if bark were present. We conducted field studies to evaluate insect infestation of green logs and lumber with varying amounts of bark after heat treatment. In a log study, Cerambycidae and Scolytinae (ambrosia beetles and bark beetles) readily infested and developed in logs with bark after heat treatment. In a lumber study, Cerambycidae and bark beetles laid eggs in all sizes of bark patches tested (approximately 25, 100, 250, and 1,000 cm2) after heat treatment but did not infest control or heat-treated lumber without bark. Cerambycidae completed development only in boards with bark patches of 1,000 cm2, whereas bark beetles completed development on patches of 100, 250, and 1,000 cm2. Survival of bark beetles was greater in square patches (10 by 10 cm) versus rectangular patches (2.5 by 40 cm) of the same surface area (100 cm2). In surveys at six U.S. ports in 2006, 9.4% of 5,945 ISPM 15-marked WPM items contained bark, and 1.2% of 564 ISPM 15-marked WPM items with bark contained live insects of quarantine significance under the bark. It was not possible to determine whether the presence of live insects represented treatment failure or infestation after treatment.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the LaserBark™ automated tree measurement system was combined with an 11-month stemflow database for a broadleaved deciduous forest in eastern North America, and it was found that bark microrelief values significantly differed between the two species [P = 0·000, F (1,19) = 49·32].
Abstract: Stemflow is a spatially concentrated hydrologic input at the tree base. Prior work has documented the differential effects of stemflow from a wide range of plant species on ecohydrological processes, such as the alteration of soil pH and spatial patterning of understory vegetation. No known work has coupled stemflow yield with high resolution measurements of bark microrelief that definitively ascribe differential stemflow yield to bark microrelief. As such, our research objectives were to: (1) correlate inter- and intraspecific variation in stemflow yield to a quantitative bark microrelief scale and (2) compare and contrast stemflow for two co-occurring deciduous species—Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech) and Liriodendron tulipifera L. (yellow poplar). Using a newly developed instrument to measure bark microrelief, namely the LaserBark™ automated tree measurement system, in combination with an 11-month stemflow database for a broadleaved deciduous forest in eastern North America, it was found that bark microrelief values significantly differed between the two species [P = 0·000, F (1,19) = 49·32]. Funneling ratios [P = 0·000, H (1, 990) = 339·20] and stemflow generation [P = 0·000, H (1, 990) = 146·75] also significantly differed between the two species. Our results indicate that bark microrelief exerts a considerable effect on stemflow yield from F. grandifolia and L. tulipifera, possibly affecting water and solute flux to the forest floor. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HR-TGA) was developed as a rapid, low-cost method for analyzing large numbers of willow biomass samples.
Abstract: Rapid determination of biomass composition is critical for the selection of shrub willow varieties with optimized biomass properties for conversion into fuels or chemicals. In order to improve the process for identifying and selecting shrub willow clones with distinct biomass composition, high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HR-TGA) was developed as a rapid, low-cost method for analyzing large numbers of willow biomass samples. In order to validate the HR-TGA method, bulk biomass collected from 2-year-old stems of a selected set of 25 shrub willow clones was analyzed using traditional wet chemistry techniques in addition to HR-TGA. The results of the wet chemistry and the HR-TGA method were compared using regression analysis resulting in R-squared values above 0.7 for the three main wood components, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Bark was removed from duplicate stem samples of the same clones, the proportion of bark was determined, and the debarked wood was used for HR-TGA analysis of composition. While there were significant differences in the proportions of lignin and cellulose in debarked wood compared to bulk biomass, as well as significant differences in bark percentage among clones, there was no correlation between bark percentage and bulk biomass component analysis. This work validates the effectiveness, precision, and accuracy of HR-TGA as a reasonably high-throughput method for biomass composition analysis and selection of shrub willow bioenergy crop varieties.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The result of this experimental study indicates that both the ethanolic extract posses’ anti-diabetic effect against STZ induced diabetic rats and also showed the possible mechanism due to inhibition of generation of free radical.
Abstract: Thespesia Populnea is a reputed ever green tree belonging to the family malvaceae; commonly known as Indian tulip tree. The plant is distributed in tropical regions and coastal forest in India. It is well known and all the parts are used in Indian system of medicine. The plant has been used as astringent, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, haemostatic, anti-diarroheal and anti-inflammatory. The ethanolic extract of the plant bark (TPBE) and leaf (TPLE) were evaluated for its effect on blood sugar, against the streptozotocin (STZ)–induced diabetic rats and compared it with standard drug glibenclamide. The result of this experimental study indicates that both the ethanolic extract posses’ anti-diabetic effect against STZ induced diabetic rats and also showed the possible mechanism due to inhibition of generation of free radical.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results from this study show that old beech trees infected by fungi, with a higher bark pH, are the most valuable trees for epiphytes of conservation concern.
Abstract: Many epiphytes in Swedish beech forests are associated with old and damaged trees. In this study we examined the impact of bark, soil and stemflow pH, water-holding capacity and bark structures on this association. We also analyzed whether the influence of these factors differed between species of conservation concern (red-listed and indicator species of woodland key habitats) and species not of conservation concern. One hundred and one age-determined living beech trees (range 58-277 yrs) in 13 beech-dominated stands were surveyed in a forest landscape in southern Sweden. We recorded 119 species in total (76 lichens, 43 bryophytes) of which 21 were red-listed and 17 indicator species (26 lichens, 12 bryophytes). NMS ordination showed that the species composition of lichens changed primarily with tree age and along the gradient of smooth bark versus moss cover. Bark pH and tree vitality were the most important gradients for bryophyte composition. The combination of old damaged beech trees and high bark pH resulted in the highest mean number of species of conservation concern for both lichens and bryophytes. The link between these factors is partly explained by a positive effect of tree age on the stemflow pH. Species number of bryophytes not of conservation concern increased with bark pH, whereas the corresponding group of lichens was favored primarily by increased light availability. Neither the water-holding capacity of bark nor soil pH affected patterns of species number. The results from this study show that old beech trees infected by fungi, with a higher bark pH, are the most valuable trees for epiphytes of conservation concern.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study demonstrated low frequencies of tree pathogenic fungi carried by I. typographus during its outbreaks and that the beetle does not require them to successfully attack and kill trees.
Abstract: The bark beetle Ips typographus has different hibernation environments, under the bark of standing trees or in the forest litter, which is likely to affect the beetle-associated fungal flora. We isolated fungi from beetles, standing I. typographus-attacked trees, and forest litter below the attacked trees. Fungal identification was done using cultural and molecular methods. The results of the two methods in detecting fungal species were compared. Fungal communities associated with I. typographus differed considerably depending on the hibernation environment. In addition to seven taxa of known ophiostomoid I. typographus-associated fungi, we detected 18 ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi, five wood-decaying basidomycetes, 11 yeasts, and four zygomycetes. Of those, 14 fungal taxa were detected exclusively from beetles that hibernated under bark, and six taxa were detected exclusively from beetles hibernating in forest litter. The spruce pathogen, Ceratocystis polonica, was detected occasionally in bark, while another spruce pathogen, Grosmannia europhioides, was detected more often from beetles hibernating under the bark as compared to litter. The identification method had a significant impact on which taxa were detected. Rapidly growing fungal taxa, e.g. Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Ophiostoma, dominated pure culture isolations; while yeasts dominated the communities detected using molecular methods. The study also demonstrated low frequencies of tree pathogenic fungi carried by I. typographus during its outbreaks and that the beetle does not require them to successfully attack and kill trees.