The Chemical Profiling of Essential Oils from Different Tissues of Cinnamomum camphora L. and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Cinnamomum camphora L. is grown as an ornamental plant, used as raw material for furniture, as a source of camphor, and its essential oil can be used as an important source for perfume as well as alternative medicine. A comparative investigation of essential oil compositions and antimicrobial activities of different tissues of C. camphora was carried out. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation with a Clevenger apparatus and their compositions were evaluated through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), enantiomeric composition by chiral GC-MS, and antimicrobial properties were assayed by measuring minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Different plant tissues had different extraction yields, with the leaf having the highest yield. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 18, 75, 87, 67, 67, and 74 compounds in leaf, branch, wood, root, leaf/branch, and leaf/branch/wood, respectively. The significance of combining tissues is to enable extraction of commercial quality essential oils without the need to separate them. The oxygenated monoterpene camphor was the major component in all tissues of C. camphora except for safrole in the root. With chiral GC-MS, the enantiomeric distributions of 12, 12, 13, 14, and 14 chiral compounds in branch, wood, root, leaf/branch, and leaf/branch/wood, respectively, were determined. The variation in composition and enantiomeric distribution in the different tissues of C. camphora may be attributed to the different defense requirements of these tissues. The wood essential oil showed effective antibacterial activity against Serratia marcescens with an MIC of 39.1 μg/mL. Similarly, the mixture of leaf/branch/wood essential oils displayed good antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus while the leaf essential oil was notably active against Trichophyton rubrum. C. camphora essential oils showed variable antimicrobial activities against dermal and pulmonary-borne microbes.

FIBER MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BRANCH AND STEM WOOD OF HAWTHORN (CRATAEGUS AZAROLUS L.) GROWN IN ZAGROS FORESTS

This study aims at investigating the effect of three altitude levels (below 1800 m, 1800-2000 m and above 2000 m) on the physical and biometric properties of stem-wood and branch-wood of hawthorn species. Moreover, the relationship between wood dry density and volumetric swelling, fiber length, fiber diameter, cell wall thickness were studied. Results indicated that altitude had significant effects on the dry density, volumetric swelling and fiber length of stem wood while did not significant effects on the density of branch wood. Additionally, some physical and biometric properties had relatively greater correlation coefficients in branch wood than in stem wood whereas others had higher coefficients in stem wood compared to branch wood. Deep understanding of properties this wood species will provide a fresh insight into the relationship between wood properties and environmental factors.

Variation analysis of the difference in anatomical properties and chemical composition of the bark and branch wood of Pteroceltis tatarinowii at different annual rings

The bark of Pteroceltis tatarinowii is one of the main raw materials for the manufacturing of Xuan paper. In order to guide the production of Xuan paper, the anatomical properties and chemical compositions of the bark and branch wood from P. tatarinowii at different years of age were analyzed in this study. The results from a variation analysis of the anatomical properties indicated that the ratio of the length to width of the bark and branch wood was greater than 30, while the ratio of the lumen diameter to the wall thickness was less than 1. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the length and the ratio of length to width of the bark and branch wood. The results from a variation analysis of the chemical composition indicated that the lignin content of branch wood at various ages (years) was greater than the lignin content of bark. Additionally, the cellulose extractive and pentosan contents of the branch wood was less than the contents in the bark. Based on the analysis of the anatomical and chemical composition, barks that were 2 to 3 years old were the most suitable raw materials for the manufacturing of Xuan paper.

Biochar hydrological characteristics in related to branch wood properties

Branch wood possesses unique properties that may affect biochar characteristics. Despite the abundance of broad studies on biochar, the correlation between feedstock properties and biochar hydrological characteristics has yet to be elucidated. Therefore, in this work the tree branch wood properties of three feedstocks (Acacia gerrardii Benth., Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst., and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn.) were investigated and compared with the characteristics of biochar produced by pyrolysis at 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C. It was found that a higher lumen fraction resulted in a more porous structure, thus increasing the ability of biochar to absorb and retain water. Acacia gerrardii absorbed 403% and retained 73.6% water, whereas T. aphylla and E. camaldulensis held 396% and 342%, and then retained 71.5% and 68.1% water, respectively. The water holding capacity and water retention ability were lower in biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C than 500 °C. The present findings demonstrate that fiber lumen diameter and parenchyma properties provide indicators of biochar hydrological characteristics generated from tree branch wood.

Dynamics of nitrogen content in the branches of the apple trees

The aim of the conducted research was to study the dynamics of nitrogen content in various organs of apple trees (spurs, annual shoots, branch wood) in the fruit-bearing orchard in different periods of the growing season. Nitrogen content was monitored at the end of the growing season (November), during the beginning of the growing season (April) and during the period of active fruit growth (July). The research was carried out in an intensive apple orchard in the Tambov region on the next varieties: ‘Antonovka Obyknivennaya’, ‘Zhigulevskoye’, ‘Orlik’, ‘Spartan’, ‘Bogatyr’, grafted on rootstock 62-396. The nitrogen content was determined in dried and crushed plant material according to the Kjeldahl method. As a result of research, it was found that the high content of nitrogen in the wood of apple trees was recorded in the autumn period, in the future the level of nitrogen decreased and reached the minimum value by the spring. In summertime, the content of nitrogen in 2-4 and 5-6 years old wood of all studied varieties increased in comparison to autumn and spring. The largest content of nitrogen was found in wood of ‘Zhigulevskoye’ variety was 0,82 % (2-4 years old wood) and 0,86 % (5-6 years old). This is more than in autumn on 0,30 % and 0,24 %, and in spring on 0,39 % and 0,35 % respectively. Based on the data obtained, the content of this nutrient in the apple tree wood in the autumn could be corrected by the application of nitrogen fertilizers during growing season, which directly affect the accumulation of reserve substances and tissue aging. It makes a positive impact on the development of the future crop and the preparation of trees for the winter.

KERAGAMAN KERAPATAN KAYU BATANG DAN CABANG KOMUNITAS POHON DI HUTAN GUNUNG PAPANDAYAN, JAWA BARAT

Wood density is the functional character which has important role in the function of ecosystem. Stem and branch wood density have different trait and effect on its ecosystem processes. The objectives of this research are to know the diversity of stem and branch wood density and to analyze whether branch wood density could be used to estimate stem wood density in the Mount Papandayan. Six plots of 0.1 ha at different sites (three plots each in interior and edge forest) were established. Branches were collected from trees with diameter at breast height larger than 10 cm, while stem wood density data were obtained from some wood density sources. Research results showed that stem wood density ranges were 0.35–0.82 g/cm3, while branch wood density ranges were 0.33–0.61 g/cm3. Average of branch wood density was lower (0.48 ± 0.09 g/cm3) than stem wood density (0.61 ± 0.1 g/cm3). Linear regression analysis indicated that branch wood density could be used to estimate stem wood density of trees in Mount Papandayan which is showed by R2 value and correlation coefficient of 0.28 and 0.55 (p value < 0.001) respectively.

Yield, Phytochemical Constituents, and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from the Leaves/Twigs, Branches, Branch Wood, and Branch Bark of Sour Orange (Citrus aurantium L.)

In the present work, essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of sour orange Citrus aurantium (green leaves/twigs, small branches, wooden branches, and branch bark) were studied through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Furthermore, the EOs in the amounts of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 µL were studied for their antibacterial activity against three pathogenic bacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya solani, and Erwinia amylovora. The main EO compounds in the leaves/twigs were 4-terpineol (22.59%), D-limonene (16.67%), 4-carvomenthenol (12.84%), and linalool (7.82%). In small green branches, they were D-limonene (71.57%), dodecane (4.80%), oleic acid (2.72%), and trans-palmitoleic acid (2.62%), while in branch bark were D-limonene (54.61%), γ-terpinene (6.68%), dodecane (5.73%), and dimethyl anthranilate (3.13%), and in branch wood were D-limonene (38.13%), dimethyl anthranilate (8.13%), (-)-β-fenchol (6.83%), and dodecane (5.31%). At 25 µL, the EO from branches showed the highest activity against A. tumefaciens (IZ value of 17.66 mm), and leaves/twigs EO against D. solani and E. amylovora had an IZ value of 17.33 mm. It could be concluded for the first time that the wood and branch bark of C. aurantium are a source of phytochemicals, with D-limonene being the predominant compound in the EO, with potential antibacterial activities. The compounds identified in all the studied parts might be appropriate for many applications, such as antimicrobial agents, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.