Calycophyllum Spruceanum Research Articles

Overview of Community Forest Management For Logging in The State of Amazonas

Objective: Present an overview of the licensing of community timber forest management activities in the State of Amazonas between the years 2000 and 2021. Theoretical Framework: This study is addresses the topic of community-based timber forest management. It presents its history and evolution in the Amazon, addressing the main implementation difficulties, supporting legislation and the quantification of initiatives in the region. Method: The present study is characterized by a qualitative and quantitative approach, using bibliographic and documentary research. A survey was carried out on community timber forest management activities in the State of Amazonas, using the information base provided by the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that between 2000 and 2021, 100 environmental exploration licenses were issued for community logging forest management, with projects located in 11 municipalities in the State of Amazonas, with emphasis on Maraã, Santo Antônio do Iça and Uarini. The total volume of licensed wood for the period was 68,122.43 m3 and 10,242 trees were harvested, with emphasis on the species assacu (Hura crepitans L.), macacarecuia [Eschweilera albiflora (DC.) Miers] and mulateiro [Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) K.Schum.]. Research Implications: Based on the understanding from bibliographical and documentary analyzes of community forest management activities, it is expected to contribute to the strengthening of a planning policy on the activity, both at the local and regional level. Originality/Value: There is no unifying source of data on community forest management in the State of Amazonas that can generate consistent and updated statistics in a timely manner. In this way, the research aims to contribute to strengthening the activity at both local and regional levels, making community timber forestry management not just a simple supplier of raw materials, but linked to a wood production chain, generating high-value-added products, with raw materials of legal origin.

The first large-scale indoor tropical garden with Brazilian native tree species: Challenges and lessons

This commentary reports the challenges faced and lessons learned during the formation of the first large-scale tropical garden inside a building with native tree species in Brazil. This garden, set entirely over cement slab, is inside the Albert Einstein Education and Research Center (AEERC) – Campus Cecília and Abram Szajman in São Paulo city, and comprises 11 tree species, ten of which are native to the Atlantic Forest. The indoor environment, in the shape of an atrium, is controlled and isolated from the external environment, which imposes a unique and new habitat for those tree species, especially considering that this garden is shared with people during their daily activities. Over one year, we followed the growth and development of 95 trees and noticed that the acclimation potential varied among species as well as the susceptibility to pest and disease outbreaks and low temperature (due to an imbalance in the air conditioning system), which were identified as the main limiting factors. Among the species monitored, Lafoensia glyptocarpa was the most sensitive to mites, aphids and mealybugs, and effective and rapid phytosanitary management was crucial for maintaining a healthy garden. Aspidosperma polyneuron, Eriotheca candolleana, Holocalyx balansae, Poecilanthe parviflora and Euterpe edulis were the species with the most acclimation potential to the new environment, which was based on leaf area development. On the other hand, poor acclimation was observed for Calycophyllum spruceanum, which was replaced two years after the initial planting. As an important lesson, continuous monitoring of both plants and the environment is needed to enhance our knowledge and management of indoor tropical gardens.

Study of the physical and mechanical properties of capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum [Bentham] Hooker f. ex Schumann) wood as a potential for solid wood flooring production

The present study aimed to determine the physical and mechanical properties of a 20-year-old plantation of the species Calycophyllum spruceanum, known in Peru as “capirona,” for its potential for wood flooring production. For this purpose, samples were collected from six trees in a plantation located in the district of Curimaná, department of Ucayali, Peru. Physical and mechanical property tests were conducted following the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D143-94(2000) standard. The results showed that capirona has a basic density of 0,68 g/cm3, which is considered a heavy wood, and exhibits moderate dimensional stability. The mechanical properties demonstrated that the wood has a high resistance to bending and compression parallel to the grain, and a very high resistance to compression perpendicular to the grain, hardness, shear, and toughness. Based on the Peruvian Technical Standard (NTP) 251.135:2013, the characteristics of capirona wood for flooring were evaluated, yielding positive results and indicating its potential for solid wood flooring production.

Plasma‐induced formation of coatings on vegetable ivory microparticles immersed in silicone oil: Enhancing surface coverage using natural products

AbstractAiming to enhance the potential applications of bioproducts, we developed an innovative approach for their hydrophobization using plasma activation of liquids. In this study, microparticles of vegetable ivory, a porous hygroscopic material, were treated by an air plasma jet while immersed in silicone oil. The in‐liquid plasma treatment formed coatings that reduced particle water vapor sorption. Pore surface coverage and sorption reduction were enhanced by mixing silicone oil with copaiba oil‐resin (Copaifera spp.). Mulateiro extract (Calycophyllum spruceanum) was not as effective, owing to a lower affinity with silicone oil. For the first time, we demonstrate the plasma‐induced coating formation on particles immersed in liquid mixtures, a process in which liquid–liquid interfacial properties play a fundamental role.

Zebra fish behavioral assessment by using Calycophyllum Spruceanum bark methanolic extract

In neurobehavioral research, animal model has played a crucial role in yielding experimental data as well as, in the development of new insights. Researchers are always trying to develop novel animal models to understand fundamental features of physiological, behavioral and psychological disorders. Zebra fish (Danio rerio) is now considered globally as a new and useful model in biomedical research. The objective of the present study was to assess behavioral changes in adult zebra fish after acute exposure to different pharmacological and herbal compound. Adult zebra fish of 4-5-months-old were exposed to different concentrations of unknown test drug with the standard for 5 min. The test was conducted separately for each drug concentration as well as control. Behavioral activity parameters viz. novel tank test and light and dark transition test were recorded for each animal during the exposure period. Results: Zebra fish exposed to Test drug (Calycophyllum Spruceanum) showed change in behavioral activity with significant to the standard drug caffeine. In view of the above findings, these results suggested that exposure of adult zebra fish with drug produce the expected changes in the behavior like stress and anxiety; therefore, adult zebra fish can be used an alternative approach for the assessment of new chemical entities for their effect on behavioral activity.Dark Transition Test.

Zebra fish behavioral assessment by using calycophyllum spruceanum bark methanolic extract

In neurobehavioral research, animal model has played a crucial role in yielding experimental data as well as, in the development of new insights. Researchers are always trying to develop novel animal models to understand fundamental features of physiological, behavioral and psychological disorders. Zebra fish () is now considered globally as a new and useful model in biomedical research. The objective of the present study was to assess behavioral changes in adult zebra fish after acute exposure to different pharmacological and herbal compound. Adult zebra fish of 4-5-months-old were exposed to different concentrations of unknown test drug with the standard for 5 min. The test was conducted separately for each drug concentration as well as control. Behavioral activity parameters viz. novel tank test and light and dark transition test were recorded for each animal during the exposure period. Results: Zebra fish exposed to Test drug () showed change in behavioral activity with significant to the standard drug caffeine. In view of the above findings, these results suggested that exposure of adult zebra fish with drug produce the expected changes in the behavior like stress and anxiety; therefore, adult zebra fish can be used an alternative approach for the assessment of new chemical entities for their effect on behavioral activity.

Prediction of dry matter, carbon and ash contents and identification of Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth) organs by Near-Infrared spectrophotometry

Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth) is a tree of the Amazon region popularly known as ‘mulateiro’, whose wood has multiple uses, from energy to folk medicine. Thus, it is extremely important to evaluate desirable characteristics, through quick methods that meet the principles of green chemistry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of the near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technique for the prediction of dry matter, carbon and ash contents and identification of parts of C. spruceanum trees. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression model applied within the spectral range of 400–2498 nm proved to be adequate to estimate the dry matter, carbon and ash contents in C. spruceanum sapwood and bark samples, with R2 above 0.90 in both calibration and validation. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis techniques when applied to the spectra were able to efficiently separate bark from sapwood. The results show that the NIR technique developed can be used in the determination of dry matter, carbon and ash contents in C. spruceanum, in addition to its discriminatory power in the separation of parts of the plant.

Unlocking the Complete Chloroplast Genome of a Native Tree Species from the Amazon Basin, Capirona (Calycophyllum Spruceanum, Rubiaceae), and Its Comparative Analysis with Other Ixoroideae Species.

Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.) belongs to subfamily Ixoroideae, one of the major lineages in the Rubiaceae family, and is an important timber tree. It originated in the Amazon Basin and has widespread distribution in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. In this study, we obtained the first complete chloroplast (cp) genome of capirona from the department of Madre de Dios located in the Peruvian Amazon. High-quality genomic DNA was used to construct libraries. Pair-end clean reads were obtained by PE 150 library and the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The complete cp genome of C. spruceanum has a 154,480 bp in length with typical quadripartite structure, containing a large single copy (LSC) region (84,813 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,101 bp), separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (25,783 bp). The annotation of C. spruceanum cp genome predicted 87 protein-coding genes (CDS), 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one pseudogene. A total of 41 simple sequence repeats (SSR) of this cp genome were divided into mononucleotides (29), dinucleotides (5), trinucleotides (3), and tetranucleotides (4). Most of these repeats were distributed in the noncoding regions. Whole chloroplast genome comparison with the other six Ixoroideae species revealed that the small single copy and large single copy regions showed more divergence than inverted regions. Finally, phylogenetic analyses resolved that C. spruceanum is a sister species to Emmenopterys henryi and confirms its position within the subfamily Ixoroideae. This study reports for the first time the genome organization, gene content, and structural features of the chloroplast genome of C. spruceanum, providing valuable information for genetic and evolutionary studies in the genus Calycophyllum and beyond.

Zebra fish behavioral assessment by using Calycophyllum spruceanum Bark Methanolic extract

In neurobehavioral research, animal model has played a crucial role in yielding experimental data as well as, in the development of new insights. Researchers are always trying to develop novel animal models to understand fundamental features of physiological, behavioral and psychological disorders. Zebra fish (Danio rerio) is now considered globally as a new and useful model in biomedical research. The objective of the present study was to assess behavioral changes in adult zebra fish after acute exposure to different pharmacological and herbal compound. Adult zebra fish of 4-5-months-old were exposed to different concentrations of unknown test drug with the standard for 5 min. The test was conducted separately for each drug concentration as well as control. Behavioral activity parameters viz. novel tank test and light and dark transition test were recorded for each animal during the exposure period. Results: Zebra fish exposed to Test drug (Calycophyllum spruceanum) showed change in behavioral activity with significant to the standard drug caffeine. In view of the above findings, these results suggested that exposure of adult zebra fish with drug produce the expected changes in the behavior like stress and anxiety; therefore, adult zebra fish can be used an alternative approach for the assessment of new chemical entities for their effect on behavioral activity.

Evaluation of anti-gastric cancer of ethanol extract of calycophyllum spruceanum against methyl niroso ureas-NaCl induced gastric cancer in experimental rats

Evaluation of anti-gastric cancer of ethanol extract of calycophyllum spruceanum against methyl niroso ureas-NaCl induced gastric cancer in experimental rats

Determination of hemicellulose, cellulose, holocellulose and lignin content using FTIR in Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) K. Schum. and Guazuma crinita Lam.

Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) K. Schum.) and Bolaina (Guazuma crinita Lam.) are fast-growing Amazonian trees with increasing demand in timber industry. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the content of cellulose, hemicellulose, holocellulose and lignin in juvenile trees to accelerate forest breeding programs. The aim of this study was to identify chemical differences between apical and basal stem of Capirona and Bolaina to develop models for estimating the chemical composition using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. FTIR-ATR spectra were obtained from 150 samples for each species that were 1.8 year-old. The results showed significant differences between the apical and basal stem for each species in terms of cellulose, hemicellulose, holocellulose and lignin content. This variability was useful to build partial least squares (PLS) models from the FTIR spectra and they were evaluated by root mean squared error of predictions (RMSEP) and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD). Lignin content was efficiently predicted in Capirona (RMSEP = 0.48, RPD > 2) and Bolaina (RMSEP = 0.81, RPD > 2). In Capirona, the predictive power of cellulose, hemicellulose and holocellulose models (0.68 < RMSEP < 2.06, 1.60 < RPD < 1.96) were high enough to predict wood chemical composition. In Bolaina, model for cellulose attained an excellent predictive power (RMSEP = 1.82, RPD = 6.14) while models for hemicellulose and holocellulose attained a good predictive power (RPD > 2.0). This study showed that FTIR-ATR together with PLS is a reliable method to determine the wood chemical composition in juvenile trees of Capirona and Bolaina.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.) from the Peruvian Amazon Revealed by RAPD Markers

Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.) is a tree species of commercial importance widely distributed in South American forests that is traditionally used for its medicinal properties and wood quality. Studies on this tree species have been focused mainly on wood properties, propagation, and growth. However, genetic studies on capirona have been very limited to date. Currently, it is possible to explore genetic diversity and population structure in a fast and reliable manner by using molecular markers. We here used 10 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 59 samples of capirona that were sampled from four provinces located in the eastern region of the Peruvian amazon. A total of 186 bands were manually scored, generating a 59 × 186 presence/absence matrix. A dendrogram was generated using the UPGMA clustering algorithm, and, similar to the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), it showed four groups that correspond to the geographic origin of the capirona samples (LBS, Irazola, Masisea, Iñapari). Similarly, a discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and STRUCTURE analysis confirmed that capirona is grouped into four clusters. However, we also noticed that a few samples were intermingled. Genetic diversity estimation was conducted considering the four groups (populations) identified by STRUCTURE software. AMOVA revealed the greatest variation within populations (71.56%) and indicated that variability among populations is 28.44%. Population divergence (Fst) between clusters 1 and 4 revealed the highest genetic difference (0.269), and the lowest Fst was observed between clusters 3 and 4 (0.123). RAPD markers were successful and effective. However, more studies are needed, employing other molecular tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation employing molecular markers in capirona in Peru considering its natural distribution, and as such it is hoped that this helps to pave the way towards its genetic improvement and the urgent sustainable management of forests in Peru.

SURFACE QUALITY OF PERUVIAN AMAZON WOODS SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING AND SANDING

The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of the machined surface of wood of Peruvian Amazonian species under industrial processing conditions. For this, planks of capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum), cachimbo (Cariniana domestica) and copaíba (Copaifera paupera) were obtained from which four specimens of each species were removed and selected. The specimens were previously conditioned and subsequently submitted to planing and sanding operations, considering three cutting orientations (tangential, radial and intermediate). Then, the quality of the flattened and sanded surfaces of the studied species was evaluated by measuring the surface roughness (Ra) by means of a digital needle detection roughness meter. The results indicated significant differences in wood surface quality among the species in the three evaluated cutting planes, and the capirona radial plane had better planing and sanding quality. Concomitantly, due to the operations performed, the capirona wood allowed a greater possibility for better finishing, followed by cachimbo and copaíba wood, thus being grouped in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd surface quality classes, respectively.

Primary and Secondary Igapó Forests in the Peruvian Amazon: Floristics, Physical Structure and the Predictive Value of Soil Bulk Density

Igap&amp;oacute; forests are a key part of the Amazon.&amp;nbsp; And so, it is important to know their floristics and physical structure, and how they may be influenced by their soil.&amp;nbsp; The floristics and physical structure of 16 primary [1o] and secondary [2o] igap&amp;oacute; forest plots in Loreto Province, Peru was described and linear regressions were computed to explore whether soil bulk density could predict structural parameters. In the 1o forest, Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Rubiaceae were the most common families and Calycophyllum spruceanum, Ceiba samauma, Inga spp., Cedrela odorata, Copaifera reticulata, Phytelephas macrocarpa, Guazuma rosea, and Piptadenia pteroclada were the most common species. And as flooding increased, bulk density, stem density, stem size, species richness, Fishers &amp;alpha;, basal area and above-ground biomass all decreased. In the 2o forest, Urticaceae, Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae were the most common families and Cecropia membranacea, Sapium glandulosum, Pourouma guianensis and Byrsonima arthropoda were the most common species. The number of stems was greatest in the island 2o forest and lowest in the 1o forest under water for more than four months, and mean stem size, species richness, Fishers &amp;alpha;, basal area and above-ground biomass was lowest in the sandy beach 2o forest and highest in the 1o forest under water one to two months. Soil bulk density predicted mean stem size, species richness and Fishers &amp;alpha; well, where all three decreased as soils became more sandy. I conclude that as soil becomes less sandy with more clay content there is an increase in forest structural complexity, unpredictable flooding in 2o forests reduces structure more than the predictable flood pulse 1o forests receive, and soil bulk density may have a causal role for diversity in igap&amp;oacute; forests.

Efficiency of early selection in Calycophyllum spruceanum and Guazuma crinita, two fast-growing timber species of the Peruvian Amazon

Bolaina (Guazuma crinita Mart., Malvaceae) and capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Schum., Rubiaceae) are fast-growing Amazonian timber trees. In Peru, they are increasingly being used in agroforestry systems and plantations, and interest in developing improved germplasm is growing. However, tree improvement incurs both direct costs and interest costs on investments; because of this, early selection is of interest. We examine the efficiency of early selection 13 or 17 months after field trial establishment. These are compared with selection after 49 or 53 months using two efficiency metrics: one based on discounted response to selection per unit of present value of cost, and the second on net discounted revenues, using discount rates of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Our metrics differed from those used in previous studies by taking into account direct costs, as well as costs of capital. We found that in most scenarios, early selection was attractive, partly due to direct cost savings. We conclu...

ESTRUCTURA Y COMPOSICIÓN FLORÍSTICA DEL BOSQUE DE LA LLANURA ALUVIAL EN LA AMAZONÍA PERUANA: I . EL BOSQUE ALTO

En la llanura aluvial del Perú, adyacentes al río Ucayali, fueron muestreados tres tipos de bosques, usando 9 parcelas permanentes de 1 ha, identificándose y midiéndose los árboles con tallos mayores a 10 cm DAP. Estas parcelas han sido medidas 4 veces, entre 1993-1997, y proporcionan las bases para los resultados reportados aquí. Tres parcelas fueron establecidas en cada uno de los tres tipos de bosque: restinga alta, restinga baja y tahuampa, caracterizada en parte por una inundación anual de 1, 2 y 4 meses por año, respectivamente. La densidad de los tallos varía desde 446 a 601 por ha y los rangos de área basal entre 20-29 m2 /ha. Un total de 321 especies fueron registradas en las 9 ha de muestra, con 88-141 especies en cada una de las parcelas. La composición de las especies indica similaridad relativamente baja entre los tipos de bosque. Las parcelas con inundaciones más prolongadas son las que contienen más especies, expresadas ambas tanto por unidad de área como por 1 000 tallos. Los bosques de llanura aluvial contienen menor cantidad de especies arbóreas que los bosques de tierra firme no inundables. Valores de importancia de las familias son calculados para cada bosque. En los tres tipos de bosques las Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Anonaceae y Lauraceae son importantes. La familia Moraceae es conspícua en restinga alta y baja. Las Arecaceae y Meliaceae son notables en restinga alta como lo es la Rubiaceae en restinga baja. Lecythidaceae, Sapotaceae y Chrysobalanaceae, exhiben relativamente altos valores en los bosques de tahuampa. Valores de las especies de mayor importancia son obtenidos para Maquira coriacea, Guarea macrophylla, Terminalia oblonga, Spondias mombin, Ceiba pentandra, Hura crepitans, Eschweilera spp., Campsiandra angustifolia, Pouteria spp., Licania micrantha, Parinari excelsa y Calycophyllum spruceanum. Entre las especies de más pequeña estatura alcanzan altos valores: Drypetes amazonica, Leonia glycicarpa, Theobroma cacao y Protium nodulosum.

Antioxidant activity and peroxidase inhibition of Amazonian plants extracts traditionally used as anti-inflammatory.

BackgroundThe Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and is home to a rich biodiversity of medicinal plants. Several of these plants are used by the local population for the treatment of diseases, many of those with probable anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and anti-peroxidases potential of the ethanol extracts of five plants from the Brazilian Amazon (Byrsonima japurensis, Calycophyllum spruceanum, Maytenus guyanensis, Passiflora nitida and Ptychopetalum olacoides).MethodsDPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion radical, singlet oxygen and the β-carotene bleaching methods were employed for characterization of free radical scavenging activity. Also, total polyphenols were determined. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cell. Inhibition of HRP and MPO were evaluated using amplex red® as susbtract.ResultsThe stem bark extracts of C. spruceanum and M. guyanensis provided the highest free radical scavenging activities. C. spruceanum exhibited IC50 = 7.5 ± 0.9, 5.0 ± 0.1, 18.2 ± 3.0 and 92.4 ± 24.8 μg/mL for DPPH•, ABTS+•, O2-• and 1O2 assays, respectively. P. olacoides and C. spruceanum extracts also inhibited free radicals formation in the cell-based assay. At a concentration of 100 μg/mL, the extracts of C. spruceanum, B. japurensis inhibited horseradish peroxidase by 62 and 50 %, respectively. C. spruceanum, M. guyanensis, B. japurensis also inhibited myeloperoxidase in 72, 67 and 56 %, respectively.ConclusionsThis work supports the folk use these species that inhibited peroxidases and exhibited significant free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities what can be related to treatment of inflammation.

Sobre a botânica, a etnofarmacologia e a química de Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Schum

RESUMO O fato de possuir espécies com potencial econômico ilimitado, faz com que o ambiente amazônico se torne alvo constante da biopirataria e da extração predatória dos recursos. Muitas espécies deste ambiente sequer possuem catalogação e, mesmo assim, encontram risco eminente de desaparecimento. Neste âmbito, trabalhos que reúnam dados sobre estas espécies possuem grande valor científico, cultural e econômico, sendo este o estímulo que desencadeou a produção desta revisão. Aqui a espécie Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Schum., uma Rubiaceae amazônica, é contemplada por meio de características botânicas, indicações etnofarmacológicas e propriedades químicas. Popularmente conhecida como mulateiro, a espécie é frequentemente receitada na etnomedicina como cicatrizante e rejuvenescedor, além de ser usada no controle de manchas de pele. Como peculiaridade botânica, mulateiro apresenta tronco retilíneo com epiderme fina esverdeada que evolui para uma periderme castanho-escuro, que é anualmente renovada. Em termos químicos, há destaque para a presença de alcalóides, taninos e, sobretudo, secoiridóides (7-metoxididerrosideo, 6´-acetil-β-D-glucopiranosildiderrosideo e 8-0-tigloildiderrosideo são peculiares à espécie). Mesmo com propriedades fotoprotetoras comprovadas, C. spruceanum ainda carece de pesquisas, sobretudo àquelas voltadas para a produção ex situ da planta e àquelas que demonstrem a relação entre a ecologia da planta e a produção de metabólitos funcionais para a indústria.

AMAZON RAINFOREST COSMETICS: CHEMICAL APPROACH FOR QUALITY CONTROL

The market for natural cosmetics featuring ingredients derived from Amazon natural resources is growing worldwide. However, there is neither enough scientific basis nor quality control of these ingredients. This paper is an account of the chemical constituents and their biological activities of fourteen Amazonian species used in cosmetic industry, including acai (Euterpe oleracea), andiroba (Carapa guianensis), bacuri (Platonia insignis), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), buriti (Mauritia vinifera or M. flexuosa), cumaru (Dipteryx odorata), cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum), guarana (Paullinia cupana), mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum), murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru), patawa (Oenocarpus bataua or Jessenia bataua), pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba), rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), and ucuuba (Virola sebifera). Based on the reviewed articles, we selected chemical markers for the quality control purpose and evaluated analytical methods. Even though chromatographic and spectroscopic methods are major analytical techniques in the studies of these species, molecular approaches will also be important as used in food and medicine traceability. Only a little phytochemical study is available about most of the Amazonian species and some species such as acai and andiroba have many reports on chemical constituents, but studies on biological activities of isolated compounds and sampling with geographical variation are limited.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF WOOD-BURNING COOKSTOVES IN RURAL AREAS NEAR PUCALLPA, PERU

Rural areas near Pucallpa City in the Peruvian Amazon have no access to electricity. Fuelwood is the main source of energy and is used for open-fire cooking, which is generally considered as less efficient cooking method. The performance of two improved cookstoves (Ceramic Stove - CS and Rocket Stove RS) has been compared with the traditional open-fire three-stone cooking method locally recognized as Traditional Cocina (TC). The CS and RS were constructed by the indigenous tribe of Shipibo-Conibo near Pucallpa based on their traditional ceramic knowledge. In a local survey, three different tree species, including: Guaba (Inga spp.), Capirona (Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.) and Citrus (Citrus spp.) were found to be the most commonly used fuelwoods. In this study, the lab-based water boiling test (WBT version 3.0) and controlled cooking tests (CCT version 2.0) were used to assess the stove performance. On average, the thermal efficiencies of CS and RS were approximately 8% higher during all WBT phases, as compared to TC. Conversely, specific fuel consumption and firepower during all WBT phases was about 98 g.kg-1 and, in the case of TC, 1.9 kW higher, as compared to CS and RS. The results of CCT showed significant energy savings in the cases of CS (37%) and RS (39%), as compared to the traditional method (TC). Improved cookstoves have the potential to save a significant amount of energy as compared to traditional cooking methods in the rural areas near Pucallpa, Peru.