AGE AND GROWTH AFFECT OLEORESIN YIELD FROM COPAIBA TREES IN THE CERRADO-AMAZONIA ECOTONE

José Guilherme Roquette,Alexandre Ebert,Edila Cristina Souza,Ronaldo Drescher,Rubens Marques Rondon Neto,Leandro Ribeiro Teixeira,Fernando Henrique Gava,André Pereira Dias,Gilvano Ebling Brondani

doi:10.1590/01047760201824022527

Abstract

ABSTRACT Copaiba trees, of the genus Copaifera (Fabaceae), produce an oleoresin that has pharmacological applications. The yield from the trees is very variable, and factors affecting production are still unknown. We evaluated the yield of oleoresin from Copaifera spp. in the Cerrado- Amazonia ecotone, as well as its relationship with the growth and age of trees. We sampled 30 Copaifera trees by extracting oleoresin for 24 h with a metal borer. Increment cores were collected from 15 trees to determine their age by counting growth rings and to calculate the mean annual increment of the diameter at breast height. The cylinders were sanded and the number of growth rings was counting with a magnifying glass (10x). The ages of trees from which increment cores were not collected were estimated by simple regression analysis. The proportions of productive and non-productive trees were recorded. The best adjusted model for age estimation showed R²adjust. = 0.616 and Syx% = 4.42. The average productivity of oleoresin was 0.124 L per day, and 30% of the trees were productive. The proportion of productive trees increased with increasing diameter at breast height and age, but after a point, increasing diameter was associated with reduced productivity. The mean annual increment had an inverse relationship with diameter for the productivity of oleoresin. The results suggest that other factors could be triggering and controling the oleoresin production and not only the age.

Highlights

Copaiba trees, 46 species which belong to the genus Copaifera (Fabaceae), are found in the tropical regions of South and Central Americas, West Africa and maybe Asia (Martins-da-Silva, 2006)
The DBH and age variables both showed a normal distribution at the 0.05 significance level (DBH: W = 0.919, p-value = 0.189; age: W = 0.964, p-value = 0.760) and complied with the statistical assumptions for the simple regression analysis
After defining a regression equation that was adequate for estimating the age of the trees, we evaluated the yield of copaiba oleoresin and proportion of productive trees according to DBH class, age class, and mean annual increment (MAI) of DBH class (Figure 6)

Summary

Introduction

46 species which belong to the genus Copaifera (Fabaceae), are found in the tropical regions of South and Central Americas, West Africa and maybe Asia (Martins-da-Silva, 2006). Copaiba trees produce an oleoresin with multiple applications, which is used as a source of bioactive molecules in pharmacological applications (Veiga Junior and Pinto, 2002). Oleoresin has been used to treat a number of airway diseases and respiratory, dermal, and mucosal infections in humans, and it has aphrodisiac, anti-tetanus, anti-rheumatic, antiheadache, and anti-venom properties (Veiga Junior and Pinto, 2002; Pieri et al, 2009). It is used as a raw material in creams, shampoos, and soaps in the cosmetic industry and in varnishes, lacquers, paints, perfume fixatives, and papermaking (Ferreira and Braz, 2001)

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