Effect of Extracts of the Bark of Saccoglottis gabonensis on the Microflora of Palm Wine

Direct addition of the bark of Saccoglottis gabonensis to fresh palm juice followed by microbial enumeration every 6 hr showed that the bark inhibited bacterial growth appreciably. The effect of various extracts of the bark on two bacterial species isolated from palm wine (Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum) was studied by using the paper disc method. It was observed that three of the five constituents of the bark showed inhibitory effect on the bacteria.     

Comparative analysis of volatiles from Drimys brasiliensis Miers and D. angustifolia Miers (Winteraceae) from Southern Brazil

The essential oils obtained from Southern Brazilian native Drimys brasiliensis Miers and Drimys angustifolia Miers were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oils from leaves of both species showed predominance of monoterpenoids, while the oils from stem barks were characterized by sesquiterpenoids. Bicyclogermacrene (20.0% in leaves and 25.4% in stem bark) and drimenol (1.4% in leaves and 26.2% in stem bark) were the most abundant in D. angustifolia, and cyclocolorenone (from 16.0% to 32.3% in fresh and dried leaves and almost 50% in stem bark) in D. brasiliensis. The oil from fruits of D. brasiliensis was also analyzed and presented 31.0% of cyclocolorenone. The predominance of this unusual aromadendrane-type sesquiterpene in D. brasiliensis essential oils could be used as a chemosystematic marker.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoceros antennatissimus</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov.: a mitosporic fungus capturing pollen grains

Mycoceros antennatissimus gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from pollen grains deposited on the bark of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Platanus?×?acerifolia in Hungary. This fungus is shown to capture pollen grains by its three-dimensional shape. It clearly shows seasonality and appears to be rare. The following factors determine its ecological niche: (1) the availability of fresh Pinaceae pollen grains deposited from the air on the bark of a nearby standing angiosperm tree with (2) water-retaining spongious bark, and (3) rainy weather. Conidia are mainly dispersed by stemflow rainwater, while they hardly become airborne. Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from single conidia made it possible to perform molecular phylogenetic investigation in order to clarify its taxonomic relationship within the Ascomycota.     

High-efficient extraction of principal medicinal components from fresh Phellodendron bark (cortex phellodendri)

There are three key medicinal components (phellodendrine, berberine and palmatine) in the extracts of Phellodendron bark, as one of the fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine. Different extraction methods and solvent combinations were investigated to obtain the optimal technologies for high-efficient extraction of these medicinal components. Results: The results showed that combined solvents have higher extracting effect of phellodendrine, berberine and palmatine than single solvent, and the effect of ultrasonic extraction is distinctly better than those of distillation and soxhlet extraction. Conclusion: The hydrochloric acid/methanol-ultrasonic extraction has the best effect for three medicinal components of fresh Phellodendron bark, providing an extraction yield of 103.12 mg/g berberine, 24.41 mg/g phellodendrine, 1.25 mg/g palmatine.     

Alcohol dehydrogenase and ethanol in the stems of trees : evidence for anaerobic metabolism in the vascular cambium

Anaerobic fermentation in plants is usually thought to be a transient phenomenon, brought about by environmental limitations to oxygen availability, or by structural constraints to oxygen transport. The vascular cambium of trees is separated from the air by the outer bark and secondary phloem, and we hypothesized that the cambium may experience sufficient hypoxia to induce anaerobic fermentation. We found high alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the cambium of several tree species. Mean activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in Populus deltoides was 165 micromoles NADH oxidized per minute per gram fresh weight in May. Pyruvate decarboxylase activity was also present in the cambium of P. deltoides, with mean activity of 26 micromoles NADH oxidized per minute per gram fresh weight in May. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was not present in any tree species we examined. Contrary to our expectation, alcohol dehydrogenase activity was inversely related to bark thickness in Acer saccharum and unrelated to bark thickness in two Populus species. Bark thickness may be less important in limiting oxygen availability to the cambium than is oxygen consumption by rapidly respiring phloem and cambium in actively growing trees. Ethanol was present in the vascular cambium of all species examined, with mean concentrations of 35 to 143 nanomoles per gram fresh weight, depending on species. Ethanol was also present in xylem sap and may have been released from the cambium into the transpiration stream. The presence in the cambium of the enzymes necessary for fermentation as well as the products of fermentation is evidence that respiration in the vascular cambium of trees may be oxygen-limited, but other biosynthetic origins of ethanol have not been ruled out.     

Tetrahydrodiospyrin: a reduced binaphthoquinone from the bark of Diospyros montana

A new reduced dimeric 7-methyljuglone isolated from the fresh bark of D. montana is shown to be 3′,7-dimethyl-5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-1′,5,5′-trihydroxy [2,2′-binaphthalene]-1,4,8′-trione.     

Hydrological properties of bark of selected forest tree species. Part I: the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark

Key message

The coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark allows for objective assessment of the degree of bark surface differentiation between different species.

Abstract

Inter-species differentiation of bark morphology and its variability progressing with tree age suggest that the hydrological properties of the bark of particular species depend on the degree of development of the outer bark surface of trees. The aim of the present research was to develop a method of calculating the actual bark surface with the use of the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark, describing the degree of development of the outer bark surface of trees. The primary aim was to show inter-species differentiation of the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark at breast height, as well as its variability within a single species, progressing with tree age. The present study shows the results obtained for 77 bark samples collected at the breast height of the following tree species: Pinus sylvestris L., Larix decidua Mill., Abies alba Mill., Picea abies L., Quercus robur L., Fagus sylvatica L., Acer pseudoplatanus L. and Betula pendula Ehrh. In all of the examined species, the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark shows a distinct relation to the breast-height diameter. The highest values of coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark among the thickest trees are reached by: L. decidua—2.56, Pinus sylvestris—2.28 and B. pendula—2.44, whereas the lowest values are reached by the bark of European beech F. sylvatica—1.07. The coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark describes the morphological differentiation of the outer bark surface of trees in an objective way. Owing to its mathematical form, the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark may be useful in the modelling of hydrological processes occurring in forest ecosystems.     

Evaluation of powdered pine bark for control ofMeloidogyne arenaria andHeterodera glycines on soybean

Commercially avaiable pine bark nuggets (composted) and fresh pine bark were ground into powders and added at rates of 0 to 50 g kg^–1 to field soil infested withMeloidogyne arenaria andHeterodera glycines. The treated soil was maintained moist in the greenhouse for 2 weeks, sampled, and planted with Davis soybean (Glycine max.). Eight weeks after planting, numbers ofM. arenaria andH. glycines in soil decreased with increasing amounts of composted or fresh pine bark. No juveniles were present in soil treated with 5% pine bark. The number of galls and cysts g^–1 root decreased in proportion to the amount of pine bark added to soil. Gall and cyst formation was completely eliminated at the 5% rate. Numbers of saprophagous nematodes were highest in soil with 4–5% pine bark. The activity of several soil enzymes was correlated with the addition of both composted and fresh pine bark. Fresh pine bark powder caused an increase in soil enzyme activity compared to composted pine bark, but did not provide consistent control of gall and cyst formation.Journal Series No. 18-933579 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station     

Seasonally fluctuating bark proteins are a potential form of nitrogen storage in three temperate hardwoods

The inner bark tissues of three temperate hardwoods contain specific proteins which undergo seasonal fluctuations. Increases in particular proteins, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, occur within the bark of several Acer, Populus and Salix spp. during late summer and early autumn. These proteins are abundant in the bark throughout the winter and their levels decline the following spring. Light and electron microscopy showed that the parenchyma cells of the inner bark are packed with spherical organelles throughout the overwintering period. These organelles are rich in protein and analogous to protein bodies found in cells of mature seeds. The protein bodies of the parenchyma cells are replaced by large central vacuoles during spring and summer, presumably as a result of the mobilization of the storage protein and fusion of the protein bodies. The high levels of specific proteins in inner bark tissues and the presence of protein bodies within the parenchyma cells indicate that the living cells of the bark act as a nitrogen reserve in overwintering temperate hardwoods.Abbreviations FW fresh weight - kDa kilodalton - M _r relative molecular mass     

The Lectins of Sophora japonica: II. Purification, Properties, and N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequences of Five Lectins from Bark

Five N-acetyl-galactosamine-specific lectins were isolated from the bark of the legume tree Sophora japonica. These lectins are immunologically and structurally very similar, but not identical, to the Sophora seed and leaf lectins. The carbohydrate specificities and hemagglutinin activities of these lectins are indistinguishable at pH 8.5 but their activities differ markedly at pH values below 8. All five lectins are tetrameric glycoproteins made up of different combinations of subunits of about 30,000, 30,100, 33,000 M_r containing 3% to 5% covalently attached sugar. These lectins are the overwhelmingly dominant proteins in bark, but they do not appear to be present in other tissues. Amino terminal sequence analysis indicates that at least two distinct lectin genes are expressed in bark.     

Pyrolysis molecule of Torreya grandis bark for potential biomedicine

Torreya grandis is a unique tree species in China. Although full use has been made of the timber, the processing and utilization of the bark has not been effective. In order to explore a new way to utilize the bark of Torreya grandis, a powder of T. grandis bark was prepared and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Differential scanning calorimetry (TG) and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS) revealed many bioactive components in the bark of T. grandis, such as acetic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol, D-mannose, and furfural. These substances have potential broad applications in the chemical industry, biomedicine, and food additives. The chemical constituents of the bark of T. grandis suggest a theoretical basis for the future development and utilization of the bark of T. grandis.     

Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) plant cytotoxicity and activity towards malaria parasites. Part I: Aspidosperma nitidum (Benth) used as a remedy to treat fever and malaria in the Amazon

Infusions of Aspidosperma nitidum (Apocynaceae) wood bark are used to treat fever and malaria in the Amazon Region. Several species of this family are known to possess indole alkaloids and other classes of secondary metabolites, whereas terpenoids, an inositol and the indole alkaloids harmane-3 acid and braznitidumine have been described in A. nitidum . In the present study, extracts from the wood bark, leaves and branches of this species were prepared for assays against malaria parasites and cytotoxicity testing using human hepatoma and normal monkey kidney cells. The wood bark extracts were active against Plasmodium falciparum and showed a low cytotoxicity in vitro, whereas the leaf and branch extracts and the pure alkaloid braznitidumine were inactive. A crude methanol extract was subjected to acid-base fractionation aimed at obtaining alkaloid-rich fractions, which were active at low concentrations against P. falciparum and in mice infected with and sensitive Plasmodium berghei parasites. Our data validate the antimalarial usefulness of A. nitidum wood bark, a remedy that can most likely help to control malaria. However, the molecules responsible for this antimalarial activity have not yet been identified. Considering their high selectivity index, the alkaloid-rich fractions from the plant bark might be useful in the development of new antimalarials.     

Klebsiella Biotypes Among Coliforms Isolated from Forest Environments and Farm Produce

Samples of water, soil, needles, and bark were collected from three different forest environments and from a pulp and paper mill. In addition, samples of fresh produce were obtained from a local supermarket. All samples were examined for total and fecal coliforms. The counts obtained from the forestrelated samples did not correlate with sample type or location. When 123 isolates were identified biochemically, 71% were Klebsiella, 19% Enterobacter, 8% Citrobacter, and 2% Escherichia. All the Citrobacter, 75% of the Enterobacter, and 65% of the Klebsiella were negative for growth in elevated coliform (EC) broth. All the Escherichia were EC positive. The counts obtained from the fresh produce were generally higher than the forest counts, but the distribution of biotypes was similar. Of the 146 isolates examined 64% were Klebsiella, 14% were Escherichia, 14% were Enterobacter, and 8% were Citrobacter. All the Enterobacter and Citrobacter were EC negative, whereas 25% of the Klebesiella and 80% of the Escherichia were EC positive.     

Kairomonal Responses of Natural Enemies and Associates of the Southern Ips (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to Ipsdienol, Ipsenol and Cis-Verbenol

Bark beetle infested pines are an ephemeral habitat utilized by a diverse assemblage of insects. Although many bark beetle insect associates have little or no measurable impact on bark beetle brood production, some reduce brood production by either competing with brood for the limited phloem tissue or by feeding on brood. Several studies have observed synchrony between the colonization of hosts by bark beetles and the arrival of insect associates. Some insect associates mediate synchrony with bark beetle mass attacks with kairomonal responses to bark beetle aggregation pheromones. The objectives of this study were to document the community of Coleoptera associated with the southern Ips (Ips avulsus, Ips calligraphus and Ips grandicollis) and to test the hypothesis that synchrony of insect associates with the southern Ips is mediated by kairomonal responses to aggregation pheromones. A large community of Coleoptera (109 species) was recorded from traps baited with southern Ips pheromones. A significant treatment effect was observed for the guilds of meristem feeders, natural enemies and woodborers. The southern Ips pheromone ipsenol was broadly attractive to meristem feeders, natural enemies and woodborers and in general blends were more attractive than individual compounds. These results demonstrate that a diverse community of Coleoptera is associated with the southern Ips and that several members of this community facilitate synchrony with kairomonal responses to southern Ips aggregation pheromones.     

A comparative study on root and bark extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus and their effects on human macrophages

BackgroundEleutherococcus senticosus or Siberian ginseng is a medicinal plant containing adaptogenic substances believed to regulate immune responses. Both, the root and stem bark are commonly used in traditional medicines.PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to chemically characterize E. senticosus root and bark extracts and to compare their effects on functions of human primary macrophages.Study design and methodsHPLC-DAD-MS analysis was used to characterize chemical constituents of alcoholic extracts from E. senticosus root and bark. The data obtained and available databases were combined for network pharmacology analysis. Involvement of predicted pathways was further functionally confirmed by using monocyte-derived human macrophages and endotoxin-free E. senticosus root and bark extracts.ResultsChemical analysis showed that the root extract contained more syringin, caffeic acid, and isofraxidin than the bark extract. At variance, bark extract contained more sesamin and oleanolic acid. Coniferyl aldehyde and afzelin were below the limit of quantification in both extracts. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that constituents of E. senticosus might affect the immune cell phenotype and signaling pathways involved in cell metabolism and cytoskeleton regulation. Indeed, both extracts promoted actin polymerization, migration, and phagocytosis of E. coli by macrophages pointing to macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype. In addition, treatment with E. senticosus root and bark extracts decreased phosphorylation of Akt on Ser473 and significantly reduced expression of the hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 by macrophages. Neither extract affected expression of CD11b, CD80, or CD64 by macrophages. In addition, macrophages treated with the bark extract, but not with the root extract, exhibited activated p38 MAPK and NF-κB and released increased, but still moderate, amounts of proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-6, anti-inflammatory IL-10, and chemotactic CCL1, which all together point to a M2b-like macrophage polarization. Differently, the root extract increased the IL-4-induced expression of anti-inflammatory CD200R. These changes in monocytes are in agreement with an increased M2a macrophage polarization.ConclusionThe ability of E. senticosus root and bark extracts to promote polarization of human macrophages towards anti-inflammatory M2a and M2b phenotypes, respectively, might underlay the immunoregulatory activities and point to potential wound healing promoting effects of this medicinal plant.     

Lichens on branches of Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) as indicators of atmospheric pollution in forests

The abundance distribution of different ecological groups of lichens depending on bark pH has been studied on 1- to 24-year shoots of Siberian fir in the mountains of southern Siberia. Along with acidophytic lichens commonly found on the Siberian fir (Usnea sp., Bryoria sp., etc.), its young shoots are also colonized by nitrophytic species (Physcia tenella, Melanelia exasperatula, etc.), which is evidence for the increasing pH of shoot bark. The proportion of thalli of nitrophytic lichen species shows a significant positive correlation with the pH of the upper (dusted) bark layer and is greater in the Eastern Sayan (at bark pH averaging 5.4) than in the Western Sayan (pH 4.7). The trends revealed in this study may be used for indication of pollution and ecological monitoring of forest ecosystems.     

NOTES ONXANTHORIATH. FR. III. TWO NEW SPECIES OF THEXANTHORIA CANDELARIAGROUP

Two new species ofXanthoriaare described and illustrated, and comments about their differences from related taxa are provided. These are:X. ascendensfrom bark and shrub remains in sea-shore sand dunes and hillsides in Argentina, Chile and Peru, andX. ucrainica, from bark, stones, and some man-made substrata in the Ukraine, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Asian Russia.     

四种类型栓皮栎栲胶含量

为了阐明不同类型(薄皮深裂、薄皮浅裂、厚皮深裂、厚皮浅裂)栓皮栎各器官栲胶含量,系统采集了秦岭南坡商州区4种类型的栓皮栎不同径级植株根、主干木材、叶片、枝条和树皮样品,用紫外光分光光度法(UV Spectrophotometry)测定了4种类型栓皮栎不同器官栲胶含量,分析了林木生长与栲胶含量的关系。结果表明,(1)4种类型栓皮栎的根、主干木材、叶片、枝条和树皮单宁含量平均值分别为2.64%—3.02%、1.74%—2.02%、6.63%—7.21%、4.69%—5.10%、8.87%—9.46%,叶片、枝条和树皮均可以作为栲胶生产主要原材料。(2)不同类型各器官单宁含量存在极显著差异(P0.01),4种类型的树皮、叶片、枝条单宁含量均表现为:厚皮深裂型厚皮浅裂型薄皮深裂型薄皮浅裂型;根部和主干木材在4种类型间单宁含量表现为:薄皮深裂型薄皮浅裂型厚皮深裂型厚皮浅裂型;厚皮深裂类型的栓皮栎是提取栲胶的最佳类型。(3)4种类型栓皮栎各器官单宁含量与胸径呈显著正相关,各器官单宁含量随着栓皮栎胸径增大而增多,并最终趋于稳定,在第Ⅳ径级(胸径20.1—25cm)时,栲胶含量均值最大。因此,栲胶生产可以高效利用第Ⅳ径级及其以上径级的栓皮栎,并对第Ⅳ径级以下栓皮栎进行定向培育和重点保护。