Wood Apple Research Articles

Historical Background, Origin, Distribution & Present Status of Wood Apple

Wood apple (Feronia limonia L.; Rutaceae family) commonly known as poor man’s fruit in India due to its several nutraceutical importance, is native to South India and Sri Lanka. Sanskrit term, “kapittha,” receives several mentions in a number of ancient texts including “Hinduism: an Alphabetical Guide”. Buddhist scholar mentioned wood apple as an Indian fruit while, military commander and poet Chauvundaraya (940-989AD) listed wood apple in numerous medicinal remedies and also mentioned in Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Wood apple has been planted extensively or being allowed to grow naturally in the reserved forests throughout Southeast Asia, Northern Malaysia and on Penang Island. In India, it is more common in Deccan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhatishgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha, however, no data is available for its area and production. Unfortunately, the lack of attention has meant that their potential value is under-exploited and they are in danger of continued genetic erosion, ultimately leading to disappearance. Therefore, it is necessary to spread the awareness of its importance among common people and researches to identify superior genotypes, production problems of wood apple for their ex-situ collection, conservation, evaluation and utilization that is being explained by this study after having various literatures available in different forms from different sources. This review article will help future researchers to conserve as well as explore the possible benefits of this crop to the common people harnessing societal value of growers.

A systematic review on processing and health benefits of wood apple

A systematic review on processing and health benefits of wood apple

Effect of Three Different Types of Biochar on Bioelectricity Generated from Plant Microbial Fuel Cells under Unsaturated Soil Condition.

Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is an emerging technology, showing promise for environmental biosensors and sustainable energy production. Despite its potential, PMFCs struggle with issues like low power output and limited drought resistance. Recent studies proposed that integrating biochar may enhance PMFC performance due to its physicochemical properties. The influence of different biochar types on PMFC efficiency has been minimally explored. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the performance of PMFCs integrated with various biochar types under unsaturated soil conditions. The study found that the addition of biochar types─specifically reed straw biochar (RSB), apple wood biochar (AWB), and corn straw biochar (CSB)─significantly influenced the performance of PMFCs. RSB, with its large surface area and porous structure, notably increased the current output by reducing soil resistance and enhancing electron transfer efficiency in microbial reduction reactions, achieving a peak power density of approximately 1608 mW/m2. AWB, despite its less porous structure, leveraged its high cation exchange capacity and hydrophilic functional groups to foster microbial community growth and diversity, thereby also increasing bioelectricity output. Conversely, CSB, with its large surface area, showed the least improvement in PMFC performance due to its layered structure and lower water retention capacity. Additionally, under drought conditions, PMFCs with added RSB and AWB exhibited better drought resistance due to their ability to improve soil moisture characteristics and enhance soil conductivity. The addition of biochar reduced soil resistance, increasing the bioelectric output of PMFCs and maintaining good performance even under low moisture conditions. This study highlights the critical role of biochar's surface area and functional groups in optimizing PMFC performance. It enhances our understanding of PMFC optimization and might offer a novel power generation method for the future, while also presenting a fresh strategy for soil monitoring.

Effects of spherical fillers reinforcement on the efficacy of thermal conductivity in epoxy and polyester matrices: Experimental validation and prediction using finite element method

AbstractThe creation of a theoretical heat conduction model for polymers embedded with spherical inclusions is described in this study. It also contains the experimental confirmation of the suggested correlation for utilizing the model to estimate the effective thermal conductivity (K) of such composites. According to ASTM‐E‐1530, composites are made with varying amounts of aluminium oxide and pine wood dust reinforced in polyester resin. The effective thermal conductivities (Keff) of the composites are then determined using the Unitherm TM model 2022. Ansys 19.R2 software is used to evaluate the effective thermal conductivity of these composites with a uniform filler distribution, while Digimat‐FE software is used determine the thermal conductivity values of such particle filled polymer composites with a random filler distribution. After comparison and validation with experimental data, these values are shown to be fairly good agreement with the theoretical values from the suggested correlation. The investigation is further expanded to determine the thermal conductivities for epoxy composites using wood apple shell dust and coir dust particle. Also epoxy and polyester composites reinforced with SiO2 and TiO2 have been investigated in the similar manner. The main thrust of this report to validate the numerical results of composites by varying numerous polymers. The thermal conductivity all the composites grow monotonically with increase in filler content. The thermal conductivity of silicon dioxide, titanium oxide, and aluminium oxide filled epoxy composites is measured as 1.5, 7, and 35 W/m‐K respectively.Highlights In this study spherical fillers are successfully used as a potential filler material in polyester composites The thermal conductivity predicted by proposed mathematical model of polyester is validated with measured value and found better agreement. The Ansys 19.R2 and digimat software are used to predict the thermal conductivity values of these composites. The mathematical model is further used to predict thermal conductivity of epoxy composites to check the accuracy of the model.

Effect of different packaging materials on shelf-life of wood apple spicy balls

Effect of different packaging materials on shelf-life of wood apple spicy balls

Assessment and Quantification of Changes in Functional Qualities of Fortified Wood Apple Jam During Storage

Assessment and Quantification of Changes in Functional Qualities of Fortified Wood Apple Jam During Storage

Integrated transcriptome and metabolism unravel critical roles of carbon metabolism and oxidoreductase in mushroom with Korshinsk peashrub substrates

Edible fungi cultivation serves as an efficient biological approach to transforming agroforestry byproducts, particularly Korshinsk peashrub (KP) branches into valuable mushroom (Lentinus edodes) products. Despite the widespread use of KP, the molecular mechanisms underlying its regulation of mushroom development remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolism of mushroom fruiting bodies cultivated on KP substrates compared to those on apple wood sawdust (AWS) substrate. Our aim was to identify key metabolic pathways and genes that respond to the effects of KP substrates on mushrooms. The results revealed that KP induced at least a 1.5-fold increase in protein and fat content relative to AWS, with 15% increase in polysaccharide and total sugar content in mushroom fruiting bodies. There are 1196 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between mushrooms treated with KP relative to AWS. Bioinformatic analysis show significant enrichments in amino acid metabolic process, oxidase activity, malic enzyme activity and carbon metabolism among the 698 up-regulated DEGs induced by KP against AWS. Additionally, pathways associated with organic acid transport and methane metabolism were significantly enriched among the 498 down-regulated DEGs. Metabolomic analysis identified 439 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) in mushrooms treated with KP compared to AWS. Consistent with the transcriptome data, KEGG analysis on metabolomic dataset suggested significant enrichments in carbon metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism among the up-regulated DAMs by KP. In particular, some DAMs were enhanced by 1.5-fold, including D-glutamine, L-glutamate, glucose and pyruvate in mushroom samples treated with KP relative to AWS. Targeted metabolomic analysis confirmed the contents of DAMs related to glutamate metabolism and energy metabolism. In conclusion, our findings suggest that reprogrammed carbon metabolism and oxidoreductase pathways act critical roles in the enhanced response of mushroom to KP substrates.

Mechanical and tribo-performance analysis of LD sludge filled wood apple dust-epoxy composites using response surface methodology

Mechanical and tribo-performance analysis of LD sludge filled wood apple dust-epoxy composites using response surface methodology

Enset ventricosum Fibre-Based Biocomposite Preparation with Wood Apple Shell Particles as a Filler: Effect of Alkali Treatment and Optimization of Composition for Physio-Mechanical Properties

Enset ventricosum Fibre-Based Biocomposite Preparation with Wood Apple Shell Particles as a Filler: Effect of Alkali Treatment and Optimization of Composition for Physio-Mechanical Properties

Physical characterization and mass modelling of Wood apple (Aegel marmelos L.)

Engineering properties of fruits and vegetables are useful in designing and development of agro processing machinery. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of Wood apple were determined. Furthermore, the investigation include mass modelling based on physical properties of Wood apple. Fruits are graded by mass rather than size are more useful for developing the automated sorting and grading machines. Four different mathematical models (Linear, Quadratic, S-curve, and Power model) were applied to predict mass, volume and projected area of Wood apple. The data was evaluated and compared for graded and ungraded fruits. The mass of ungraded Wood apple was best predicted via arithmetic mean diameter (Da) as mean diameter in the S-curve model (M = 0.001+ (2.848/Da); R2 = 0.995; SEE = 0.048). Whereas, the ellipsoid volume (Vellip) of fruit was also best predicted in the S-curve model based on volume (M= 0.002+ (0.951/Vellip); R2 = 0.995; SEE = 0.050) for ungraded fruits.

Hydrothermal enzyme pretreatment on structure and properties of apple branches

Abstract Pretreatment serves as an important step in maximizing the efficient utilization of woody biomass feedstock. This study focused on enhancing the component and structural properties of apple wood to optimize the utilization of apple wood resources effectively. This study presents the optimization of, the apple wood pretreatment system, combining bioenzyme and hydrothermal treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different bioenzyme pretreatment conditions on the components and structural properties of apple wood extract and to analyze the feasibility of enzyme solution reuse. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed an increase in cellulose content in the wood flour following enzyme treatment. Concurrently, changes in characteristic peaks indicated an increased hemicellulose content and a reduction in lignin content after the pretreatment, correlating with fraction analysis results. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that the dense structure of the fiber surface was disrupted after treatment. Notably, the results indicated that the recovered biocomposite enzymes exhibited excellent activity, suggesting their potential for reuse.

Development of Biomass Derived Adsorbents using Wood Apple Pulp for the Removal of Contaminants

This study involves the development of biomass derived adsorbents from wood apple pulp for water and wastewater treatment. This biomass was modified by the addition of commercially available activated charcoal and copper nanoparticles. Adsorbent characterization was performed for understanding the surface morphology and surface area. These new adsorbents were further evaluated for their potentiality in removing dyes and API pollutants (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient). All the adsorbents were highly effective in the removal of these contaminants, 96% of Malachite Green and 72% of Congo Red was removed with a high adsorption capacity of 45 mg/g. API pollutant (Ciprofloxacin) removal showed 52% removal, which is greater when compared to several modified adsorbents. Adsorption equilibrium models (Langmuir and Freundlich) and kinetic models (pseudo first order and pseudo second order) were evaluated for fit of the experimental data. In general, the isotherm studies indicated multilayer adsorption.

Ethnobotanical Significance, Phytopharmacology, and Toxicological Profile of Limonia acidissima L. (Rutaceae): A Review.

Medicinal plants play a crucial role in traditional medicine, where they are extensively employed by traditional physicians for treating a wide array of ailments. Limonia acidissima (Linn), commonly known as the Wood apple and belonging to the Rutaceae family, is widely cultivated in countries, such as Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. The various parts of Limonia acidissima, including its roots, leaves, fruits, stem, and even the whole plant, have been traditionally used in the treatment of numerous conditions, such as constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, asthma, astringent, diabetes, jaundice, and dyspepsia and act as diuretic agents, cardiotonic, cardiac stimulant, and hepato-protectant. Extensive research has revealed that Limonia acidissima possesses a rich chemical composition, including quinones, lignans, flavonoids, sterols, coumarins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, and volatile oils, present in its stem, leaves, fruits, stem bark, and roots. These chemical constituents contribute to its diverse therapeutic properties. In recent years, numerous studies have explored the ethanopharmacological properties of Limonia acidissima extracts, highlighting their anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial, antiulcer, wound healing, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, larvicidal, neuroprotective, antispermatogenic, antihistaminic, diuretic, and adsorbent activities. This comprehensive review focuses on the traditional uses, biological activities, and phytoconstituents isolated from different parts of Limonia acidissima Linn. The gathered information provides valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of this plant, serving as a foundation for further research and the development of novel pharmaceuticals. The integration of traditional knowledge with scientific evidence enhances the understanding of the medicinal properties of Limonia acidissima, fostering its utilization in modern medicine and healthcare systems.

Enhanced humification of full-scale apple wood and cow manure by promoting lignocellulose degradation via biomass pretreatments

Agroforestry waste and cow manure pollute the environment, of which, agroforestry waste is difficult to degrade. Compost is an effective way to dispose agroforestry waste; however, the low degradation efficiency of lignocellulose in agroforestry waste affects the process of composting humification. This study investigated lignocellulose degradation and composting humification in full-size apple wood and cow manure composting processes by applying different pretreatments (acidic, alkaline, and high-temperature) to apple wood. Simultaneously, physicochemical characterization and metagenome sequencing were combined to analyze the function of carbohydrate-active enzymes database (CAZy). Therefore, microbial communities and functions were linked during the composting process and the lignocellulose degradation mechanism was elaborated. The results showed that the addition of apple wood increased the compost humus (HS) yield, and pretreatment of apple wood enhanced the lignocellulose degradation during composting processes. In addition, pretreatment improved the physicochemical properties, such as temperature, pH, electric conductivity (EC), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−) in the compost, of which, acid treated apple wood compost (AcAWC) achieved the highest temperature of 58.4 °C, effectively promoting nitrification with NO3− ultimately reaching 0.127 g/kg. In all composts, microbial networks constructed a high proportion of positively correlated connections, and microorganisms promoted the composting process through cooperation. The proportions of glycosyltransferase (GT) and glycoside hydrolase (GH) promoted the separation and degradation of lignocellulose during composting to form HS. Notably, the adverse effects of the alkali-treated apple wood compost on bacteria were greater. AcAWC showed significant correlations between bacterial and fungal communities and both lignin and hemicellulose, and had more biomarkers associated with lignocellulose degradation and humification. The lignin degradation rate was 24.57 % and the HS yield increased by 27.49 %. Therefore, AcAWC has been confirmed to enhance lignocellulose degradation and promote compost humification by altering the properties of the apple wood and establishing a richer microbial community.

STITCH and Molecular Docking Analysis of Selected Wood Apple (Limonia acidissima) Constituents as Anti-Dandruff and Anti-Acne Agents

ABSTRACT Background: Wood apple (Limonia acidissima) has been reported to possess various pharmacological activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the 11 selected constituents of Wood apple (L. acidissima) as potent anti-dandruff and anti-acne agents using a molecular docking approach. Materials and Methods: The 11 selected constituents of Wood apple were studied on the molecular docking behavior of Malassezia globosa Lipase-1 and Cutibacterium acnes beta-keto acyl synthase-III enzymes by using the patchdock method. Furthermore, STITCH analysis was carried out to determine the ligand-protein interactions. STITCH analysis reveals that two ligands, namely, psoralen and umbelliferone, have exhibited interactions with both the M. globosa and P. acnes KPA 171202 proteins. Results: The docking studies revealed that isopimpinellin and saponarin exhibited the highest (ACE) atomic contact energy (−162.32 and − 318.63 kcal/mol) with that of M. globosa Lipase-1 and C. acnes beta-ketoacyl synthase-III, respectively. Conclusion: Thus, the present finding provides new knowledge for understanding the 11 selected ligands of Wood apple (L. acidissima) as potent anti-dandruff and anti-acne agents.

Development and Evaluation of Physico-chemical Properties of Moringa-Woodapple-Karonda Mixed Jam

The present investigation was conducted to develop mixed jam using moringa leaf powder, wood apple and karonda fruit pulp. This research focuses on the standardization and evaluation of a unique mixed fruit jam comprising wood apple, karonda, and fortified with moringa leaf powder. The study initially standardized the wood apple and karonda mixed jam by blending their pulps in different proportions. Organoleptic scores were used to determine the most favourable blend, with WK4 (40% wood apple + 60% karonda) emerging as the preferred combination based on appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability. Subsequently, WK4 was utilized as the control for the development of moringa-based mix jam. The organoleptic evaluation of the moringa-based jam revealed a decrease in appearance scores with an increase in moringa leaf powder. However, taste and mouthfeel exhibited favourable scores, with WKM3 (95% Woodapple karonda blend + 5% Moringa leaf power) achieving the highest overall acceptability that include appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, texture and body of jam. The study also explored the physio-chemical properties of the treatments, including total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, total phenol, and sugar content. The statistical analysis was used Complete Randomized Design with six treatments and three replications in each. Notably, WKM6 (12.5% Moringa) demonstrated the highest gel and rupture strength, indicating a robust texture. The findings contribute to the development of innovative fruit-based products with enhanced nutritional profiles, emphasizing the potential of moringa as a valuable ingredient in mixed fruit jams.

Character association studies in wood apple (Feronia limonia L.) for yield and yield associated traits

Character association studies in wood apple (Feronia limonia L.) for yield and yield associated traits

Influence of suspended cenospheres on the mechanical characteristics and wear loss of natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites: implications for biomedical applications and sustainable material management.

The need for non-conventional natural fibres for synthesis of hybrid composites has gained momentum in the recent past. Taking into consideration this need, in the current study, hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing wood apple shell powder and coconut shell powder, in the resin with varying amounts of cenospheres (up to 20 wt% in increments of 5 wt%) to evaluate their mechanical and tribological properties. The densities of these composites were directly correlated with the quantity of additives utilized. Enhanced tensile and flexural properties were noted in composites containing 10 wt% cenospheres, along with 15 wt% wood apple shell powder and coconut shell powder, compared to other formulations. Dry sliding wear tests were performed at room temperature using a pin-on-disc apparatus, considering loading factors, travel distance, and speed. A hybrid composite consisting of 10 wt% cenospheres, subjected to a normal load of 10 N (1.02 kgf), and tested at a sliding speed of 1.5 m s-1 (90 m min-1) over a distance of 500 m, exhibited superior wear resistance compared to all other composite variations.

Facile synthesis of limeonia acidissima shell derived carbon-vanadium pentoxide nanocomposite for sensitive detection of carbofuran

Generating carbonaceous materials from agricultural waste is a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of producing activated carbon. In the current work, carbon is extracted using a tubular furnace from the shell of the wood apple (Limonia acidissima) V2O5 (C/VO) and synthesized carbon were combined to form a nanocomposite. The formation of nanocomposite is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and other morphological characterizations. Modification of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was done using synthesized materials (C@GCE, VO@GCE, and C/VO@GCE). The enzyme-free detection of carbofuran (CBF) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer was carried out using fabricated electrodes. Among the various electrode systems, C/VO@GCE demonstrated enhanced electrochemical performance for CBF detection using both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. V/C@GCE demonstrated its capacity to identify CBF within a 0.05–750 μM range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 μM. Using DPV, the effect of several pesticides on CBF detection in the presence of C/V@GCE was assessed, and good anti-interfering properties were discovered. When the DPV approach was used to detect CBF in potatoes, the recovery rate ranged from 98.0 to 99.0 %. According to a stability study, C/V@GCE has an 80.8 % retention capacity and can detect CBF for up to 24 days. The promise of the constructed electrode towards sensor applications is indicated by the large linear range, low LOD, selectivity, and stability of C/V@GCE.

PROTOCOL FOR PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION OF WOOD APPLE PICKLE

PROTOCOL FOR PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION OF WOOD APPLE PICKLE