Spectral analysis, in vitro cytotoxicity and antibacterial studies of bioactive principles from the leaves of Conocarpus lancifolius, a common tree of Jazan, Saudi Arabia

The objective of the present study was to analyse the bioactive compounds of the leaves of Conocarpus lancifolius (C. lancifolius). The GC-MS analysis of the hot methanolic extract of the leaves (HMEL) of C. lancifolius exhibited the bioactive compounds such as 1-(3-Methoxy-2-nitrobenzyl) iso quinoline, morphin-4-ol-6,7-dione, 1-bromo-N-methyl-, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester, 2,2':4',2”-terthiophene, ethyl iso-allocholate, caryophyllene oxide, campesterol, epiglobulol, cholestan-3-ol, 2-methylene-, (3á,5à)-, dasycarpidan-1-methanol, acetate (ester) and oleic acid, eicosyl ester. The FT-IR analysis of HMEL of C. lancifolius showed a unique peak at 3184, 2413, 1657 cm-1 representing coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid. The HMEL of C. lancifolius was actively inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cells MCF-7 ATCC at the concentration of 72.66 ± 8.21 µg/ml as IC50 value. The HMEL of C. lancifolius also revealed a good spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cultures screened in this work. The activity observed has shown more or less similar effects against screened bacteria. However, the magnitude of potentiality was significantly lesser compared to standard ciprofloxacin disc at p< 0.001 level (99% confidence intervals). Furthermore, the study demonstrating the bioactive compounds can be isolated from the leaves of C. lancifolius.

Poisoning due to consumption of horse chestnut seed

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a common tree found on roads and parks. The shape of the fruit is very similar to that of the edible Korean chestnut (Castanea crenata); thus, people can eat it by mistake. However, reports of the side effects and toxicity from ingestion are very rare. A 46-year-old male who had no unusual findings in the past had eaten horse chestnut seed which he had mistaken to be Korean chestnut. He visited the emergency department (ED) with complaints of epigastric pain, nausea, and sweating. Blood tests showed a slight increase in the levels of liver enzymes, serum amylase, and pancreatic amylase. During the monitoring, he complained of palpitations, and electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. On the following day after conservative treatment, blood testing and electrocardiogram showed normal findings. He was discharged from the ED as he did not complain of any further symptoms. When a patient who has eaten horse chestnut visits the ED, blood examination and electrocardiogram monitoring are needed, and conservative treatment is required.

Electroantennographic Responses of Cerambyx welensii Küster to Host-Related Volatiles

Wood-boring insects, such as Cerambyx welensii Küster, are involved in oak decline in Mediterranean areas. To advance our understanding of the olfactory perception of C. welensii, we recorded electroantennographic (EAG) responses from male and female antennae to 32 tree volatile organic compounds typical of emissions from its main Quercus L. hosts, and also analysed the dose-dependent response. Cerambyx welensii antennae responded to 24 chemicals. Eight odorants elicited the highest EAG responses (normalized values of over 98%): 1,8-cineole, limonene-type blend, β-pinene, pinene-type blend, sabinene, α-pinene, turpentine and (E)-2-hexenal. Cerambyx welensii exhibits a broad sensitivity to common tree volatiles. The high EAG responses to both limonene- and pinene-type blends suggest the detection of specific blends of the main foliar monoterpenes emitted by Q. suber L. and Q. ilex L. (limonene, α- and β-pinene, sabinene and myrcene), which could influence the intraspecific host choice by C. welensii, and in particular, females may be able to detect oak trees with a limonene-type chemotype. In addition, C. welensii showed high antennal activity to some odorants that characterize emissions from non-host tree species (1,8-cineole, β-pinene, α-pinene, turpentine, δ3-carene and camphene). The results obtained may be applicable to optimize monitoring and mass-trapping programmes in an integrated pest management context.

Trade-Offs in Phosphorus Acquisition Strategies of Five Common Tree Species in a Tropical Forest of Puerto Rico

Tree species that are successful in tropical lowlands have different acquisition strategies to overcome soil phosphorus (P) limitations. Some of these strategies belowground include adjustments in fine-root traits, such as morphology, architecture, association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and phosphatase activity. Trade-offs among P-acquisition strategies are expected because of their respective carbon cost. However, empirical evidence remains scarce which hinders our understanding of soil P-acquisition processes in tropical forests. Here, we measured seven fine-root functional traits related to P acquisition of five common tree species in three sites of the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. We then described species-specific P-acquisition strategies and explored the changes in fine-root trait expression from 6 months before to 6 months after two consecutive hurricanes, Irma and María, passed over the island. We found that variations in root trait expression were driven mainly by the large interspecific differences across the three selected sites. In addition, we revealed a trade-off between highly colonized fine roots with high phosphatase activity and fine roots that have a high degree of branching. Furthermore, the former strategy was adopted by pioneer species (Spathodea campanulata and Cecropia schreberiana), whereas the latter was adopted by non-pioneer species (mostly Dacryodes excelsa and Prestoea montana). Additionally, we found that root trait expression did not change comparing 6 months before and after the hurricanes, with the exception of root phosphatase activity. Altogether, our results suggest a combination of structural and physiological root traits for soil P acquisition in P-poor tropical soils by common tropical tree species, and show stability on most of the root trait expression after hurricane disturbances.

Bauhinia variegate (Kanchnara), An ornamental Plant with significant value in Ayurvedic and Folk Medicinal system

Medicinal plants are important part of traditional medication system. These plants are also the primary source of modern drugs. One such important medicinal plant is Bauhinia variegate (orchid tree) commonly called as Kanchanara in Hindi and Mountain Ebony in English. It belongs to Caesalpiniaceae family. It is one of the most common tree species found throughout the India. This tree is known for its beautiful scented and aesthetic white pinkish flowers. It is traditionally used in many folk cultures around the country for various kind of disorders. It is commonly used plant species in Indian cuisine. Its flower buds are commonly used as vegetables in many regions of India. It holds a significant place in Ayurveda for its curative and healing properties in many diseases especially cervical lymphadenitis, hemorrhage, rectal prolapse, menorrhagia, leukoderma etc. It is used in many Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations as a main ingredient like Kanchanara Guggulu, Ushirasava, Vidangarishta etc. It has diverse nature of phytochemical constituents present in it which are responsible for extraordinary therapeutic properties like anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, haemagglutination, anti-oxidant, antigoitrogenic, nephroprotective. The aim of present review is to provide information related to phytochemistry, traditional uses in Ayurveda and folk medicinal system and therapeutic properties of Bauhinia variegate.

Strong variations in urban allergenicity riskscapes due to poor knowledge of tree pollen allergenic potential

Exposure to allergenic tree pollen is an increasing environmental health issue in urban areas. However, reliable, well-documented, peer-reviewed data on the allergenicity of pollen from common tree species in urban environments are lacking. Using the concept of ‘riskscape’, we present and discuss evidence on how different tree pollen allergenicity datasets shape the risk for pollen-allergy sufferers in five cities with different urban forests and population densities: Barcelona, Montreal, New York City, Paris, and Vancouver. We also evaluate how tree diversity can modify the allergenic risk of urban forests. We show that estimates of pollen exposure risk range from 1 to 74% for trees considered to be highly allergenic in the same city. This variation results from differences in the pollen allergenicity datasets, which become more pronounced when a city’s canopy is dominated by only a few species and genera. In an increasingly urbanized world, diverse urban forests offer a potentially safer strategy aimed at diluting sources of allergenic pollen until better allergenicity data is developed. Our findings highlight an urgent need for a science-based approach to guide public health and urban forest planning.

Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite).

P. glandulosa is a small to medium-sized thorny evergreen tree, native to northern Mexico (P. glandulosa is one of the most common tree species in Mexico) and the southwestern USA, mainly from California to Texas. It has also been widely introduced, but is most common as an exotic in Australia and South Africa. In Mexico, P. glandulosa wood is used for rustic construction projects, railroad ties and posts, and as firewood. P. glandulosa is an excellent soil improver; P. glandulosa foliage deposit an important layer of organic material as it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and its roots control the movement of dunes. In Mexico it is also used as forage for domestic animals, it serves as habitat for wildlife, it is used for bee forage, and its fruit is edible. The main uses of this species where exotic are for fodder, fuelwood, as a roadside, hedging, ornamental or shade tree, for dune retention, and for timber for cheap furniture. P. glandulosa is very invasive, and is seen as a weed on Mexican livestock ranges, in the USA, and where introduced.

Tree segmentation and classification of deciduous park trees in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany, using airborne and terrestrial lidar point clouds

&lt;p&gt;While automated, lidar-based tree delineation has proven successful for&lt;br&gt;conifer-dominated forests, deciduous tree stands remain a challenge. &amp;#160;But&lt;br&gt;automatic and reliable segmentation of trees at large spatial scales is a&lt;br&gt;prerequisite for a supervised classification into tree species. We propose an&lt;br&gt;aspect driven tree segmentation that clusters local elevation minima across&lt;br&gt;different aspects. These clusters define tree outlines that respect tree&lt;br&gt;inherent local elevation minima. We validate this approach with more than&lt;br&gt;25.000 mapped trees of the Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, using an airborne lidar&lt;br&gt;point cloud collected in 2018, and various terrestrial lidar scans for a large&lt;br&gt;fraction of the same park. Further, we demonstrate the tree segmentation by&lt;br&gt;supervised tree species classifications for the most common tree species using&lt;br&gt;random forests and Gaussian process classifiers with geometric parameters&lt;br&gt;derived from individual tree crowns.&lt;/p&gt;