Quantitative analysis of biologically active substances and the investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of some extracts of Osage orange fruits

Biologically active substances, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of aqueous, 70% ethylate and ethyl acetate extracts of fruits of maclura orange (Osage Orange), a representative of the Moraceae genus growing in the Ararat region of Armenia have been studied. It is found that plant extracts are rich in a wide range of pharmacologically active substances, in particular, tannins, flavonoids, organic acids, vitamins, anthocyanins, micro- and microelements, etc. Based on the investigations performed, extracts of maclura orange can be recommended as a source of biologically active substances (BAS), as well as a preventive and corrective agent in deficiency or imbalance of macro- and microelements in tissue and cellular structures in various pathological processes in the body. An ethanol extract of maclura fruits exhibits the antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis 1820, E. Coli 5002, Serratia marcescens 5251 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-6538 strains. Maclura extracts can be used as an environmentally friendly source of antioxidants against early aging.

Osage Orange, Honey Locust and Black Locust Seed Meal Adhesives Employed to Fabricate Composite Wood Panels

Seed meal of three trees common to the Midwest region of the USA (Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos L., family Fabaceae), Osage orange (Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid., family Moraceae) and Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., family Fabaceae) were tested for their adhesive abilities. Seed meals were employed at dosage levels of 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100% reinforced with Paulownia elongata L. wood (PW) or Osage orange wood (OOW) chips to fabricate composite wood panels (CWPs). A comparison of the flexural properties of various tree seed meal CWPs reinforced with PW showed that their flexural properties met or exceeded European Union standards. However, their dimensional stability properties were inferior to nominal standards. Therefore, tree seed meal CWPs could probably have applications in interior environments where such CWPs accept negligible dimensional stability standards.