Showing papers on "Bark published in 2010"
TL;DR: Wood production of the entire main trunk and whole crown both increased with size and age up to and including the largest and oldest trees the authors measured, and the strongest determinant of tree energy balance was the ratio of aboveground cambium area to leaf area.
183 citations
TL;DR: An extensive survey of bark thickness within and among species of trees in the tropical rain forests of French Guiana found bark to provide an average of 10% of the flexural rigidity of tree stems, which was substantially less than that found in the only other study of bark stiffness.
Abstract: The complex structure of tree bark reflects its many functions, which include structural support as well as defence against fire, pests and pathogens. Thick bark, however, might limit respiration by the living tissues of the trunk. Nevertheless, little research has addressed community-level variation in bark thickness, and to the best of our knowledge, no one has tested multiple hypotheses to explain variation in bark thickness. We conducted an extensive survey of bark thickness within and among species of trees in the tropical rain forests of French Guiana. Trunk bark thickness increased by 1.2 mm per 10 cm increase in stem diameter, and varied widely at all taxonomic levels. Mean trunk bark thickness was 4.5 mm (range: 0.5-29 mm), which was less that found in two Amazonian rain forests in previous studies. This survey of bark thickness should be of use for forest management since tree survival through fire is strongly predicted by bark thickness. We combined the survey data with multiple datasets to test several functional hypotheses proposed to explain variation in bark thickness. We found bark to provide an average of 10% of the flexural rigidity of tree stems, which was substantially less than that found in the only other study of bark stiffness. Bark thickness was uncorrelated with species' association with fire-prone habitats, suggesting that the influence of fire on bark thickness does not extend into moist Forests. There was also little evidence that bark thickness is affected by its function as a defence against herbivory. Nor was there evidence that thick bark limits trunk respiration. A re-analysis of previously collected anatomical data indicated that variation in rhytidome (non-conducting outer bark) thickness explains much of the variation in overall bark thickness. As rhytidome is primarily involved in protecting the living tissues of the trunk, we suggest that bark thickness is driven mostly by its defensive function. Functional explanations for the variation in bark thickness were not clear-cut. Nevertheless, this study provides a foundation for further investigation of the functional bases of bark in tropical trees.
111 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of species, fiber content and size on the flexural and tensile properties of the composite were investigated and were found to be highly significant and the effect of content on mechanical properties was more important than size.
Abstract: Black spruce and trembling aspen bark fibers and high density polyethylene were used to process bark–plastic composites by extrusion. Fibers of fine, medium, and coarse size and contents of 50% and 60% based on oven-dry weight were used. The effects of species, fiber content and size on the flexural and tensile properties of the composite were investigated and were found to be highly significant. Black spruce bark composites exhibited higher strength but showed more brittle behavior than aspen bark composites. The effect of content on mechanical properties was more important than size. Compared to wood flour composites, those from bark showed lower strength.
110 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that pine bark is of great potential for PAHs removal and can be significantly promoted by acid hydrolysis for environmental application.
101 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the chemical composition of the cork and of the interspersed phloemic tissues in the rhytidome of Quercus cerris var. cerris from mature trees from Turkey was investigated in relation to summative composition, monomeric composition of suberin, non-polar extractives composition, elemental analysis and ash composition.
98 citations
TL;DR: The study highlighted the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of C. siamea stem bark and determined the cytotoxic activity on KB and Vero cell lines.
96 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that Scots pine bark supports enzyme production and provides nutrients to fungi, thus pine bark may be suitable fungal substrate for bioremediation applications.
87 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the chemical composition of the lipophilic extracts of Eucalyptus globulus harvesting residues and bark generated by the pulp industry was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
81 citations
Abstract: When exposed to a surface fire, the probability of a tree to survive widely varies, depending on its capability to protect the cambium from lethal temperatures above 60 °C. Thereby, the bark, the entirety of all tissues outside the cambium, serves as an insulation layer. In laboratory experiments, the heat production of a surface fire was simulated and the time span τ60 until the temperature of 60 °C is reached in the inner bark surface was measured. Thereby, τ60—as a measure of the fire resistance—was quantitatively determined for seven tree species. In addition, the influence of bark thickness and moisture content on bark heat insulation capacities was examined. Independent of the tree species and bark moisture content a power function correlation between bark thickness and τ60 was found. Our results also show that fire resistance increases with decreasing bark density. The seven tree species examined can be classified in two groups differing highly significant in their bark structure: (1) tree species with a faintly structured bark, which show a low fire resistance, and (2) tree species with an intensely structured bark, showing a high fire resistance. Furthermore a mathematical model simulating heat conduction was applied to describe the experimental results, and some ideas for a transfer into biomimetic materials are presented.
76 citations
TL;DR: Charles Eliot Timothy Paine*, Clément Stahl, Elodie A. Courtois, Sandra Patiño, Carolina Sarmiento and Christopher Baraloto are contributors to ENGREF.
Abstract: Charles Eliot Timothy Paine*, Clément Stahl, Elodie A. Courtois, Sandra Patiño, Carolina Sarmiento and Christopher Baraloto ENGREF, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Campus Agronomique, BP 709, 97387 Kourou Cedex, French Guiana; INRA, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Campus Agronomique, BP 709, 97387 Kourou Cedex, French Guiana; Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 CNRS ⁄ Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France; and CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, BP 792, 97337 Cayenne, French Guiana
71 citations
TL;DR: Terpene composition in the stem bark may be related to resistance of Norway spruce against I. typographus and C. polonica and significant changes in (-)-beta-pinene, (--beta-phellandrene and some other compounds are observed.
TL;DR: In this article, the methylxanthines, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of mate bark (residual biomass) and compare with those of mate leaves were determined.
TL;DR: It is concluded that sexual reproduction served as preadaptation for oribatid mites allowing them to exploit new habitats and new resources on the bark of trees as well as harsh abiotic conditions are assumed to favor parthenogenesis.
Abstract: The community structure, stable isotope ratios (15N/14N, 13C/12C) and reproductive mode of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) were investigated in four habitats (upper tree bark, lower tree bark, dry grassland soil, forest soil) at two sites in the Central Alps (Tyrol, Austria). We hypothesized that community structure and trophic position of oribatid mites of dry grassland soils and bark of trees are similar since these habitats have similar abiotic characteristics (open, dry) compared with forest soil. Further, we hypothesized that derived taxa of oribatid mites reproducing sexually dominate on the bark of trees since species in this habitat consume living resources such as lichens. In contrast to our hypothesis, the community structure of oribatid mites differed among grassland, forest and bark indicating the existence of niche differentiation in the respective oribatid mite species. In agreement with our hypothesis, sexually reproducing taxa of oribatid mites dominated on the bark of trees whereas parthenogenetic species were more frequent in soil. Several species of bark-living oribatid mites had stable isotope signatures that were similar to lichens indicating that they feed on lichens. However, nine species that frequently occurred on tree bark did not feed on lichens according to their stable isotope signatures. No oribatid mite species could be ascribed to moss feeding. We conclude that sexual reproduction served as preadaptation for oribatid mites allowing them to exploit new habitats and new resources on the bark of trees. Abiotic factors likely are of limited importance for bark-living oribatid mites since harsh abiotic conditions are assumed to favor parthenogenesis.
TL;DR: The pseudolaric acids are diterpenoids isolated from the root bark of Pseudolarix amabilis, or the golden larch, and are the major antifungal and anti-angiogenic congeners of this family of compounds.
TL;DR: In this paper, the Turkish red pine (Pinaceae) was used as a biomonitor for detecting trace element pollution in Western Anatolia, and the maximum values of Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Cu for the needles of P. brutia in these areas were 12.1, 0.54, 12.5, 10.4, and 10.1 μg g-1 in dry weight, respectively.
Abstract: The increase in industrial activities and human population and the high urbanization in the study area have made the area one of the most rapidly developing areas in Turkey. However, because of this, environmental problems have rapidly increased in Western Anatolia. The Pinus brutia (Pinaceae) (Turkish red pine) is a widespread evergreen tree in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey. The needles and bark of P. brutia were tested as a possible biomonitor of trace element pollution in Western Anatolia. Samples were collected from 30 different stations in the industrial, suburban, roadside, rural and control areas. Throughout the region, an area covering approximately 1/8th of Turkey was investigated. The concentration of lead, cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel and copper (μg g -1 , dry weight) in the needles and bark of the red pine was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest concentration of all these elements was measured in the industrial areas. The maximum values of Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Cu for the needles of P. brutia in these areas was 12.1, 0.54, 12.12, 595.5, 10.4, and 10.1 μg g-1 in dry weight, respectively and for the bark of P. brutia in these areas was 20.03, 0.71, 3.17, 1274.04, 18.87, and 15.30 μg g-1 in dry weight, respectively. This study demonstrates that the bark of P. brutia can be used as a biomonitor for detecting the
01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: The aqueos and ethanol extracts of the leaves, bark and roots of Senna hirsuta, Landolphia dulcis and Daniella oliveri were examined for possible sources of antimicrobial activities and phytochemical composition.
Abstract: The aqueos and ethanol extracts of the leaves, bark and roots of Senna hirsuta, Landolphia dulcis and Daniella oliveri were examined for possible sources of antimicrobial activities and phytochemical constitu ents. The preliminary evaluations of both the aqueous and ethanol extracts exhibited app reciable inhibitory activities on the tested pathogenic bacterial isolates at concentrati on of 20mg m/L. S.hirsuta showed more therapeutic activity where the aqueous extract of t he leaves displayed inhibitory potency (30-37mm) in diameter on the tested bacterial isola tes. The ethanol extract of the leaves showed inhibitory halo of between (30-38mm) in diameter. However, the leaves extracts of other plants as well demonstrated higher antibac terial potency than the bark and roots extracts. Saponins and alkaloids were recorded pres ent in all the plants parts. While highest saponins constituent (5.10±0.11%) was recor ded in the leaves extracts of L.dulcis , alkaloids was also highest in its leaves extract with a value of 2.98±0.12 %. The MIC of the extracts was similar in all the plants p arts. The values ranged between 1.2510mg/ ml. Keyword: Antibacterial; Medicinal plants .
TL;DR: Medicinal plants used to treat infectious diseases in Bunda district, Tanzania, were screened for activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Type 2, and only a few extracts were active against HIV-2.
Abstract: Medicinal plants used to treat infectious diseases in Bunda district, Tanzania, were screened for activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1, IIIB strain) and Type 2 (HIV-2, ROD strain). Antiplasmodial activity was observed for the 80 % MeOH extract of Ormocarpum kirkii (root; MIC = 31.25 microg/mL), Combretum adenogonium (leaves), Euphorbia tirucalli (root), Harrisonia abyssinica (root), Rhynchosia sublobata (root), Sesbania sesban (root), Tithonia diversifolia (leaves), and Vernonia cinerascens (leaves; MIC value of 62.5 microg/mL). With regard to HIV, 80 % MeOH extracts of Barleria eranthemoides (root), Combretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark), Elaeodedron schlechteranum (stem bark and root bark), Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark), Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark), Acacia tortilis (stem bark), Ficus cycamorus (stem bark) and Indigofera colutea (shoot), as well as H2O extracts from Barleria eranthemoides (root), Combretum adenogonium (leaves and stem bark), and Terminalia mollis (stem bark and root bark) exhibited IC50 values below 10 microg/mL against HIV-1 (IIIB strain). The highest anti-HIV-1 activity value was obtained for the B. eranthemoides 80 % MeOH root extract (IC50 value 2.1 microg/mL). Only a few extracts were active against HIV-2, such as the 80 % MeOH extract from Lannea schweinfurthii (stem bark) and Elaeodedron schlechteranum (root bark), showing IC50 values < 10 microg/mL.
TL;DR: The data generated clearly show that the trunk bark for Z. zanthoxyloides and the leaves for A. leiocarpus and C. molle could be used for the treatment of malaria instead of roots and stem bark and no good activity was found with extracts from roots of S. latifolius.
Abstract: In order to prevent the destruction of the ecology and to sustain the flora mainly for medicinal plants, we investigated on alternative parts taken from four plants already known to display antiplasmodial activities and largely used by traditional healers in sub-Saharan Africa. The evaluated parts are bark of trunk for Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and leaves for Sarcocephalus latifolius instead of roots, and leaves for Combretum molle and Anogeissus leiocarpus instead of stem bark. The antiplasmodial activity of extracts of these plants was evaluated in vitro using the multi-resistant strain (W2) of Plasmodium falciparum. Antiproliferative activity was also assessed, using K562S human monocyte cell lines, along with calculation of the selectivity index (SI) of each extract. The highest in vitro antiplasmodial activity was found in the alkaloid extract of trunk bark from Z. zanthoxyloides and from the MeOH extract of A. leiocarpus leaves (IC(50) = 1.2 microg/mL and 4.9 microg/mL, respectively) with good selectivity index. Moderate activity was found in the MeOH extract (IC(50) = 5.7 microg/mL) and MeOH/H2O extract (IC(50) = 7.9 microg/mL) of C. molle leaves. Moderate activity was also found in the MeOH/H20 extract (IC(50) = 5.2 microg/mL) and the decoction (IC(50) = 8.2 microg/mL) from leaves of A. leiocarpus. No good activity was found with extracts from roots of S. latifolius. All extracts tested displayed low levels of cytotoxicity against K562S cells. The data generated clearly show that the trunk bark for Z. zanthoxyloides and the leaves for A. leiocarpus and C. molle could be used for the treatment of malaria instead of roots and stem bark.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the different bark types constitute different ecophysiological niches that can be occupied by the algae and thatCan be distinguished by their capacity to recover from desiccation after different times in the dry state.
Abstract: The rough bark of orchard trees (Malus) around Darmstadt is predominantly covered in red to purple-brown layers (biofilms) of epiphytic terrestrial alga of Trentepohlia umbrina. The smooth bark of forest trees (Fagus sylvatica L. and Acer sp.) in the same area is covered by bright green biofilms composed of the green algae Desmococcus, Apatococcus and Trebouxia, with a few cells of Coccomyxa and 'Chlorella' trebouxioides between them. These algae are desiccation tolerant. After samples of bark with the biofilms were kept in dry air in darkness for various periods of time, potential quantum yield of PSII, F(v)/F(m), recovered during rehydration upon rewetting. The kinetics and degree of recovery depended on the length of time that the algae were kept in dry air in the desiccated state. Recovery was better for green biofilm samples, i.e. quite good even after 80 days of desiccation (F(v)/F(m) = ca. 50% of initial value), than the red samples, where recovery was only adequate up to ca. 30-40 days of desiccation (F(v)/F(m) = ca. 20-55% of initial value). It is concluded that the different bark types constitute different ecophysiological niches that can be occupied by the algae and that can be distinguished by their capacity to recover from desiccation after different times in the dry state.
TL;DR: Results of this study indicate that microarthropods may be limited by the quality of resources at high altitudes and by the amount of Resources at deeper soil layers, and that the bark of trees and the soil are habitats of similar quality for oribatid mites.
Abstract: Microarthropod communities in the soil and on the bark of trees were investigated along an elevation gradient (1,850, 2,000, 2,150, 2,300 m) in a tropical montane rain forest in southern Ecuador. We hypothesised that the density of microarthropods declines with depth in soil and increases with increasing altitude mainly due to the availability of resources, i.e. organic matter. In addition, we expected bark and soil communities to differ strongly, since the bark of trees is more exposed to harsher factors. In contrast to our hypothesis, the density of major microarthropod groups (Collembola, Oribatida, Gamasina, Uropodina) was generally low and decreased with altitude. However, as we predicted the density of each of the groups decreased with soil depth. Density of microarthropods on tree bark was lower than in soil. Overall, 43 species of oribatid mites were found, with the most abundant higher taxa being Poronota, pycnonotic Apheredermata, Mixonomata and Eupheredermata. The oribatid mite community on bark did not differ significantly from that in soil. The number of oribatid mite species declined with altitude (24, 23, 17 and 13 species at 1,850, 2,000, 2,150 and 2,300 m, respectively). Rarefaction curves indicate that overall about 50 oribatid mite species are to be expected along the studied altitudinal gradient. Results of this study indicate (1) that microarthropods may be limited by the quality of resources at high altitudes and by the amount of resources at deeper soil layers, and (2) that the bark of trees and the soil are habitats of similar quality for oribatid mites.
TL;DR: It is hypothesized that the changed pollution climate, with strong decreases in both sulphur dioxide and ammonia concentrations over the past two decades and a concomitant general increase in bark pH, has made epiphytes less sensitive to pH.
TL;DR: The condensed tannins extracted from the leaf, stem bark and root bark all showed a very good DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power.
Abstract: The structures of the condensed tannins from leaf, stem bark and root bark of Acacia confusa were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis, and their antioxidant activities were measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The results showed that the condensed tannins from stem bark and root bark include propelargonidin and procyanidin, and the leaf condensed tannins include propelargonidin, procyanidin and prodelphinidin, all with the procyanidin dominating. The condensed tannins had different polymer chain lengths, varying from trimers to undecamers for leaf and root bark and to dodecamers for stem bark. The condensed tannins extracted from the leaf, stem bark and root bark all showed a very good DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing power.
TL;DR: The stem bark of Croton gratissimus (Euphorbiaceae) yielded four cembranolides, including the first reported example of a 2,12-cyclocembranolide, whose structure was confirmed by means of single crystal X-ray analysis.
TL;DR: It is concluded that GABA and arginine potentially contribute to adjust storage processes in the bark of poplar trees to seasonal changes in environmental conditions.
Abstract: Summary Seasonal tree-internal nitrogen cycling is an importantstrategyfortreestoachievehighefficiencyintheuseof nitrogen (N). Key processes of this N redistribution are autumnal leaf senescence and storage of released N as bark storage proteins(BSP)inperennialtissues.Whiletheregulationofleaf senescence has been intensively analysed in trees, the coordination of the complementary storage processes is still poorly understood. Therefore, we ascertained relationships between physiological-level and molecular-level processes and environmental factors under natural conditions in the bark of Populus×canescens. We analysed amino‐N concentrations, total soluble protein concentration and transcript abundances of BSP genes in the bark of field-grown P .× canescens harvested during two annual growth cycles. By correlation analysis and linear modelling, we assessed interactions between biological data and meteorological conditions. Day length correlated with BSP expression, and air temperature correlated strongly with total protein concentration (r = −0.92), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA; r = 0.76) and arginine (r = −0.70). GABA and arginine also correlated significantly with total protein concentration and transcript abundances of BSP genes. We conclude that GABA and arginine potentially contribute to adjust storage processes in the bark of poplar trees to seasonal changes in environmental conditions.
TL;DR: Two new bisindole alkaloids, bisnicalaterines B and C (1 and 2) consisting of an eburnane and a corynanthe type of skeletons, were isolated from the bark of Hunteria zeylanica and showed potent vasorelaxant activity on isolated rat aorta.
Abstract: Two new bisindole alkaloids, bisnicalaterines B and C (1 and 2) consisting of an eburnane and a corynanthe type of skeletons, were isolated from the bark of Hunteria zeylanica. Their absolute structures were determined by combination of NMR, CD, and computational methods, and each of them was shown to be in an atropisomeric relationship. Bisnicalaterines B and C (1 and 2) showed potent vasorelaxant activity on isolated rat aorta.
TL;DR: Metal sorption on UTB is less sensitive to pH and more adsorbed metal ions are retained compared to NTB, and the potential use of urea-treated bark for treatment of waste water containing DOC and low concentrations of metals is discussed.
TL;DR: A significant linear relationship between antioxidant potency, antiradical activity and the content of phenolic compounds of bark extracts was observed.
Abstract: Phenolic compounds are present at very high concentrations in the bark of Acacia mangium. These compounds are known to have strong antioxidant activity and thus different beneficial effects on human health. Phenolic compounds in bark of A. mangium were extracted and their antioxidant activities were investigated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. A central composite design has been employed to optimize the experimental conditions for a high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The desirability function approach has been employed to simultaneously optimize the three responses: total phenols, antiradical activity and FRAP. An extraction time of 90 min, liquid-solid ratio of 5, and temperature of 50 °C was predicted for the optimum experimental conditions using the desirability function. A significant linear relationship between antioxidant potency, antiradical activity and the content of phenolic compounds of bark extracts was observed. The structures of condensed tannins isolated from A. mangium were characterized by MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Condensed tannin oligomers from A. mangium were shown to be heterogeneous mixtures consisting of procyanidin and prodelphinidin structural units with polymerization degrees up to 9.
TL;DR: Results suggest that a combination of compounds may be responsible for affecting the germination of Tillandsia recurvata, a tropical dry forest of Mexico, where there are trees with few epiphytes.
Abstract: Tree species are potential hosts for epiphytes; however in some forests epiphytes have a biased distribution among hosts. In a tropical dry forest of Mexico, previous research showed that there are trees with few epiphytes. It is possible that the bark of these hosts contain allelochemicals that influence epiphyte seed germination. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether hosts with low epiphyte abundance (Ipomoea murucoides, I. pauciflora and Lysiloma acapulcense) would inhibit seed germination of Tillandsia recurvata through aqueous and organic bark extracts, (2) to determine whether germination of T. recurvata would differ among the hosts with low epiphyte abundance and a host with high epiphyte abundance (Bursera copallifera) and (3) to relate the chemical composition of organic bark extracts with inhibition of T. recurvata seed germination. Hexanic and dichloromethanic extracts were partially chemically characterized. Total phenolics and flavonoids concentrations of methanolic extracts were analysed. Aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts with few epiphytes inhibited T. recurvata seed germination. Aqueous and dichloromethanic extracts of B. copallifera inhibited slightly the germination of T. recurvata. There was a positive correlation between concentration of flavonoids and inhibition of seed germination. Results suggest that a combination of compounds may be responsible for affecting the germination of T. recurvata. This study demonstrates the chemical effect of aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts on germination of an epiphytic bromeliad.
01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: Interestingly the methanolic bark extract of B.prionitis bark showed much more potent activity against all the tested oral fungi, than the standard drug amphotericin -B thus having a great potential to control candidiasis and other oral fungal infections.
Abstract: Oral health is integral to general well being and relates to the quality of life that extends beyond the functions of craniofacial complex. Plants have traditionally provided a source of hope for novel drug compounds, as plant herbal mixtures have made large contributions to human health and well-being. We report in this work for the first time, the potent antifungal activity of Barleria prionotis L. bark on two Candida albicans strains and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, involved in oral diseases of human. Acetone, methanol, ethanol, aqueous (hot and cold) extracts of Barleria prionitis bark were screened for in vitro activity against four oral bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and three oral fungi C.albicans strain 1, C.albicans strain 2 and S.cerevisiae. This plant was selected due to its traditional use for the treatment of oral infections. Three clinical strains namely Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Candida albicans strain 2 were isolated from dental caries affected patients. The antimicrobial activity of B.prionitis extracts on the agar plates varied in different solvents. The methanolic bark extract of B. prionitis was the most effective against all the four oral bacteria and the three oral fungi. Bacillus sp. was found to be the most sensitive pathogen which survived upto 12.5mg/ml, thus having an MIC of 25mg/ml. The antimicrobial potential of B.prionitis bark against Bacillus sp. was comparable with the standard antibiotic drug, the positive control, ciprofloxacin which produced a 29.65mm inhibition zone. Interestingly the methanolic extract of B.prionitis bark showed much more potent activity against all the tested oral fungi namely S.cerevisiae, C.albicans strain 1 and C.albicans strain 2, than the standard drug amphotericin -B thus having a great potential to control candidiasis and other oral fungal infections. (New York Science Journal 2010;3(11):5-12). (ISSN: 1554-0200).