Cinnamomum Porrectum Research Articles

Assessing the phenolic content and antimicrobial properties of Cinnamomum porrectum, Dioscorea bulbifera, and Tristaniopsis whiteana extracts for anticaries agent

In this study, we have assessed the phenolic content and antimicrobial properties of three plants (Cinnamomum porrectum, Dioscorea bulbifera, and Tristaniopsis whiteana) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus, bacteria known to contribute to dental caries. The study focused on investigating the antimicrobial properties using the nutrient broth dilution method. Phytochemical screeing was performed using quantitative analysis, which revealed the total polyphenol and total tannin content in the studied plants. The results of the antimicrobial activity test prove that extracts from T. whiteana exhibibited strong inhibition activity against S. sobrinus and S. mutans. The inhibition rates were measured at 76.3% and 72.18%, repectively. These findings suggest that extracts from T. whiteana have the potential to be effective antimicrobial agent against these bacteria. Based on these results, the study concluded that the tested plant extracts have proven antimicrobial efficacy, supporting their potential use as natural antimicrobial. The study highlighted T. whiteana as the promising candidate among tree plants in this study, by demonstrating strong potential as an anticaries agent against microorganisms responsible for dental caries. Furthermore, research and exploration of these plant extracts may supply valuable insight into their mechanisms of action and their potential application in the field of medicine.

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli from goat farms and the potential treatment by Acalypha indica L. extract

Antibiotics have been used in both human and animal therapeutics. The present study aimed to investigate antibiotic resistance in E. coli isolated from goats. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in these isolates was performed using broth microdilution. From 86 E. coli isolates, 2, 1, and 6 isolates were resistant to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and colistin, respectively. Only one isolate could analyze the whole-genome of antibiotic-resistant E. coli. It was strain Y5.4.5 and by the MLST revealed that it belonged to ST345. This isolate harbored several antibiotic-resistant genes, including aadA1, aadA2, blaTEM-1B, cmlA1, dfrA12, floR, qnrS1, sul1, sul2, sul3, tet(A), conferring resistance to streptomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin I/R, sulfisoxazole, tetracycline. The Inc and Col-like plasmids were also identified in the isolate. There kinds of herbal, Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm, Caesalpinia bonduc and Acalypha indica L. were selected for extraction and analyzed the activity against antibiotic-resistant E. coli. The ethanol crude extract of A. indica L. could inhibit E. coli growth with the MIC of 25 mg/ml. The time-kill assay revealed that the crude extract started its inhibition activity at 4 h. It was less bactericidal but bacteriostatic was found. Our study presents the whole genome of antibiotic-resistant E. coli strain Y5.4.5 isolated from goats, and the A. indica L. extract might be combined with other antibiotics or herbal extracts as alternative medicine.

Chemical Profiles and Lethal Toxicities of Native Botanical Insecticides for the Control of Musca domestica Linnaeus and Stomoxys indicus Picard (Diptera: Muscidae) in Songkhla Province, Thailand.

Livestock farming is currently reducing the use of synthetic insecticides because of the development of resistance in insect pests. Plant-based bioinsecticides are considered alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Therefore, the present study investigated the chemical composition and discriminating concentrations (DCs) of essential oils from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. and L. M. Perry (SA), Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm (CP), and Litsea cubeba (Loureiro) Persoon (LC) against laboratory-reared Musca domestica (larvae and adults) and field-derived Stomoxys indicus (adults) using larval dip and adult contact bioassays. All essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The most common components in the SA, CP, and LC oils were eugenol, safrole, and terpenoids, respectively. The results of a larval test indicated that CP was most effective against M. domestica with a DC of 6.134% v/v. In adult bioassays, CP was also the most toxic oil against M. domestica (DC = 30.644% v/v), whereas SA displayed the greatest toxicity against S. indicus (DC = 1.434% v/v). Moreover, in the larval bioassay results of oils tested at 1, 5, and 10% v/v in M. domestica, 1% and 5% v/v CP had the shortest median lethal times values of 68.88 and 19.44 min, respectively, whereas, at 10% v/v, SA displayed the shortest median lethal time (0.03 min), followed by CP (1.74 min) and LC (19.02 min). However, additional data are needed to further evaluate the semi-field and field effects of CP and SA on M. domestica and S. indicus under realistic operational conditions.

Functional group Cinnamomum porrectum wood extractives by Fourier Transform Infrared

Extractive from Cinnamomum porrectum wood was obtained using Soxhlet extraction with five different types of solvent, which are distilled water, ethanol, acetone, chloroform, and benzene. From the result, ethanol extraction shows the highest extractives yield which are 2.692%, following by acetone (1.461%), chloroform (0.940%), benzene (0.109%) and distilled water (0.005%). Extractive make a major contribution to the characteristics of wood or non-wood species. These extractives are low-molecular weight compounds, and the different classes of extractives have different chemical behaviours. In this study, the FT-IR was used to analyse the extractive of the Cinnamomum porrectum wood with ethanol, distilled water, chloroform, benzene and acetone. From the result shows that, the analysis revealed 5 different types of functional group which are O-H stretching in presence of phenolic group, C-H stretching in presence of alkane group, C-F stretching in presence of alkyl halide group; C-O stretching in presence of aldehyde group and C=C stretching in presence of alkene group.

Incongruence of morphological determinations and DNA barcode sequences: a case study in Cinnamomum (Lauraceae)

In the course of molecular systematic studies of Lauraceae we received a sample of a plant cultivated under the name Cinnamomum porrectum in the Botanical Garden Munchen-Nymphenburg. Preliminary determinations, both morphologically based on the Flora of China (Li & al. 2008) and by chloroplast sequences (psbA-trnH spacer, trnK intron including matK gene, trnL intron, trnL-trnF spacer and trnQ-rps16 spacer) obtained by Sanger sequencing suggested that it was C. camphora, still the plant looked different from other individuals of C. camphora cultivated in the botanical gardens of Berlin, Hamburg, Mainz, Munich and Oldenburg. Attempts to sequence the more informative nuclear internal transcribed spacer repeatedly led to mixed signals. We therefore used Illumina sequencing on a set of pre-amplified molecular markers (ITS, trnK 3′ and 5′ intron, trnL intron, and the intergenic spacers psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, as well as parts of the trnQ-rps16 spacer), and downloaded available sequences of C. camphora and C. parthenoxylon from GenBank for comparison. Considerable differences were found among these sequences, but the haplotype groups do not coincide with the current species determinations. Particularly the internal transcribed spacer sequences are rather diverse, suggesting possible misidentifications, contaminations, and/or a common gene pool that is larger than anticipated. Concerning the plant in question, our results suggest that it may be a hybrid, with C. camphora as the maternal and another species, possibly C. parthenoxylon, as the paternal parent.Citation: Rohwer J. G., Trofimov D., Mayland-Quellhorst E. & Albach D. 2019: Incongruence of morphological determinations and DNA barcode sequences: a case study in Cinnamomum (Lauraceae). – Willdenowia 49: 383–400. doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.49.49309Version of record first published online on 4 December 2019 ahead of inclusion in December 2019 issue.

Chemical Composition of Leaf Essential Oil of Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm

Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm is an important plant which produces natural essential oil. In this study, essential oil was hydro-distilled from leaves of five different samples of C. porrectum which were randomly selected in a C. porrectum forest in Guangdong Province of China, and identified by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The results revealed that the average yield of essential oil was 1.12 % (v/w). A total of 65 compounds were identified from five samples, and 31 of which were reported for the first time in leaf essential oil of C. porrectum. High contents of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were found in the leaves of C. porrectum. The main components of essential oil were linalool (79.4 %), elemol (38.1 %), eucalyptol (35.6 %), β-caryophyllene (34.6 %), camphor (33.2 %), α-eudesmol (26.5 %), citral (23.5 %) and L-α- Terpineol (22.0 %). Different types of high-value compounds were found to be present in the five selected samples of C. porrectum oil, and the difference of essential oil components in individual leaves was remarkable. The various breeding techniques can be utilization based on different chemical types of leaf essential oil to exploit the plant to its full potential.

An ethnobotanical study of traditional steam-bathing by the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia

This study aimed to document (1) the Batak people’s knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for steam-bathing, (2) the preparation and operation of steam-bathing, and (3) the benefits of steam-bathing. To attain these objectives, data were collected by using ethnobotanical survey and interview methods. The survey was conducted in Kabanjahe and Berastagi traditional markets, in Kaban Tua village, and in Tanjung Julu village. The participants for the interview were nine medicinal plants traders, nine midwives, and 32 mothers. The basic principle of steam-bathing by the Batak people is based on thermotherapy and aromatherapy. A total of 59 species (belonging to 37 genera and to 25 families) have been documented as medicinal plants for their use as steam-bathing materials by the Batak people. The traders, midwives and mothers are all aware of the benefits of steam-bathing. Gaultheria leucocarpa Blume and Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.), the species that produce distinctive aromas and reduce pain, would be interesting to study for their phytochemical and pharmacological properties.

Reduction of safrole content of Cinnamomum porrectum leaves by blanching and the effect on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its herbal tea

Background: Cinnamomum porrectum (C. porrectum) is an aromatic medicinal plant from southern Thailand. While many Cinnamomum species demonstrate medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory effects, some species are known to contain safrole, a group 2B carcinogen. Although the leaves of C. porrectum are used to produce herbal tea, there is no scientific data to support its properties as a functional food or any guarantee of its safety.Objective: To determine the effect of blanching before drying of C. porrectum leaves on their safrole content, phenolic profile, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were compared to leaves dried with hot air.Methods: In the first part of the study, the leaves were dried in three conditions: freeze dried (F), hot air dried at 60 oC (C), and blanched for 60 seconds at 100 oC (B) before being dried at 60 oC until the moisture content reached 5-7% and then were ground and sieved to make powders. The F, C, and B were extracted by methanol and redefined as FM, CM, and BM, for the determination of their chemical constituents by GC-MS using C. porrectum wood oil (CWO) as the safrole standard. In the second part of the study, the C and B powders were analyzed for their proximate composition and were also used to make herbal tea infusions (CT and BT respectively) which were analyzed for their phenolic profile, TPC, TFC, antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells.Results: Significantly decreased safrole contents of 89% and 82% were found in the BM sample when compared with CM and FM respectively. The CT and BT had similar phenolic profiles but different contents. The TPC, TFC, ABTS, and FRAP activities, in addition to cell viability and the nitric oxide inhibition of BT were higher than that of CT.Conclusion: The results demonstrate how blanching C. porrectum leaves before drying can decrease the safrole content when compared to freeze dried and hot air-dried leaves, thereby leading to a decrease of cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, BT demonstrated a more intense phenolic profile, TPC, ABTS, and FRAP compared with the un-blanched control sample.Keywords: C. porrectum, freeze drying, hot air drying, blanching before drying, safrole, RAW 264.7 cells.

Control of aflatoxigenic strains by Cinnamomum porrectum essential oil.

Essential oil from the bark of Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type system for 3h and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds were safrole (93.9%), elemicine (4.3%) and methyl eugenol (1.7%). The effect of essential oil on mycelial growth, sporulation, and aflatoxin B1 production of Aspergillus parasiticus IMI 283883 and Aspergillus flavus IMI 242684 was evaluated using contact and vapor treatments. Aflatoxin B1 was determined using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that C. porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm essential oil at concentrations more than 200ppm exhibited inhibition effect on mycelial growth, sporulation, and aflatoxin B1 production of both Aspergillus strains as compared with control. The fumigation activities via vapor treatment showed higher inhibition than contact treatment. This study suggests that C. porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm essential oil represents a good alternative in eco-friendly control of aflatoxigenic strain on food and agricultural commodities.

Influence of hot water blanching process on phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of Cinnamomum porrectum herbal tea

Background: C. porrectum leaves, one kind of Cinnamomum family, has recently been used to produce a locally herbal tea. Although C. porrectum essential oil and aqueous extract have been reported to have some biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, there is no scientific data using the blanching process for the production of herbal tea. Therefore, this experiment aimed to study the effect of hot water blanching before drying process on microstructure, nutrition content of the tea powder, TPC, TFC, antioxidant activities of infusion, as well as the phenolic profile of the extract.Objective: To determine effect of hot water blanching process on nutritional value, microstructure, phenolic profile, and antioxidant activity of the C. porrectum herbal tea.Methods: The C. porrectum leaves were divided into 2 groups; control (un-treated) and blanched before dried for herbal tea processing. The fresh leaves and the powders of control and blanched leaves were checked for proximate composition and chlorophyll contents, in addition to color value. The powders were determined microstructure by SEM. The infusions were determined to have color value and total extractable phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activities. The hydrolyzed extracts of freeze dried infusion were subjected to identify phenolic profile by HPLC. Results: The blanched tea powder yielded a percentage of fat and protein contents higher than un-treated due to easier extraction because of the bigger pore size found in microstructure. Chlorophyll content of blanched was decreased compared with the control sample. However, it was found that blanching could greater maintain green color of both powder and infusion. Additionally, blanching helped increased TPC, TFC extractability, and antioxidant activities in all assays except metal chelating property. Based on retention time and peak profile determined by using HPLC, it was found that both control and treated extracts consisted of similar main phenolic and flavonoid compounds however, only kaempferol was found in un-treated. Moreover, hydrolyzed blanched extract showed a higher intensity of 2 unknown compounds than un-treated. Though un-treated provided a higher intensity of pyrogallol, gallic acid, and cinnamic acid, the blanched exhibited a higher intensity of caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rutin. Conclusion: Blanching before drying expanded pore size of dried leaves, increased yield extractability, maintained color value, chlorophylls and increased TPC and TFC which related to antioxidant activities. Blanched extract provided higher intensity of some phenolic compounds than un-treated.Keywords: Cinnamomum porrectum, blanching process, SEM, HPLC

The quantitative content of the main groups of biologically active substances in the bay laurel raw materiaL

The study of the chemical composition of the bay laurel raw material has shown that the plant raw material contains such groups of biologically active substances (BAS) as carbohydrates, fatty and amino acids, phenolic compounds revealing a wide spectrum of the biological activity. The data concerning the chemical composition of the bay laurel raw material is not enough described in the literature sources. The content of the main BAS in different samples of bay laurel shoots and leaves has been determined. The content of the total amount of organic acids, the total amount of oxidizable phenols, the total amount of hydroxycinnamic acids and the total amount of flavonoids in the bay laurel leaves samples are slightly higher. The content of the total amount of organic acids in shoots is not less than 1.7%, in leaves – not less than 1.9%. The content of the total amount of oxidizable phenols in both types of the raw material is not less than 4.5%, the total amount of hydroxycinnamic acids – not less than 1.3%, the total amount of flavonoids – not less than 0.8%. The standardization parameters for the bay laurel raw material have been determined on the basis of the research conducted. The results obtained will be used for developing the project of quality control methods “Lauri Cormus”. The profound research of the medicinal plant raw material previously studied for the potential expansion of the aspects of its application is a topical task of modern pharmacy. Our attention was attracted to plants of the Lauraceae family, Laurus L. genus combining 3 species – Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco, Laurus nobilis L., Laurus porrecta Roxb. (the latter species is related to Cinnamomum genus, Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm. species) [3]). The most wide-spread species is bay laurel – an evergreen tree or a shrub up to 10 m high. Bay laurel fruits were included into 6 pre-revolutionary editions of the Russian Pharmacopoeia, and the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR, the 1 st ed. Its leaves are used in the treatment of throat cancer, psoriasis, arthritis, pain in joints, cramps, diabetes. The bay laurel oil obtained with flax or sunflower oil is used in the cases of paralysis, rheumatism, etc. The essential oil from leaves contains 1,8-cineol, terpinen-4-ol, α-pinene, β-pinene, linalool acetate [15], as well as β-cymene, β-longipirene, cadinene, α-terpinyl acetate, α-balnesene [12]. BAS of bay laurel are considered to reveal wound-healing [14], anti-inflammatory [10], antinociceptive [10], immune stimulating [5], neuroprotective [11, 14], anticholinergic [14], anti-oxidant [6, 8, 9, 13], anti-ulcer, anti-convulsant, antimutagenic [14], insecticidal [4], antibacterial [7, 14], antiviral, antifungal [14], larvicidal [15] activities. At the same time bay laurel is contraindicated in the cases of glomerulonephritis, pregnancy, tendency to bleedings, amyloidosis. Moreover, medicines produced from this plant are absent nowadays. Thus, the profound studies of the bay laurel raw material and creation of new substances on its basis are up to date.

Anticandidal activity of medicinal plants and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of clinical specimens.

This study was designed to investigate the in vitro anticandidal activity of some medicinal plants and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains against Candida species. The antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of five medicinal plants, namely, Cinnamomum porrectum, Lippia nudiflora, Cestrum nocturnum, Trachyspermum ammi, and Sida carpinifolia were studied. The medicinal characteristics of these plants were compared with commercially used antibiotics. The antimicrobial assay was done by agar well diffusion and the broth dilution method. Among the plants used, T. ammi and C. nocturnum were found to be more potent than the others. Twenty P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from various clinical specimens. The total inhibitions obtained were found to be 47%, 38%, and 36% in blood agar, whereas in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) the inhibitions were 57%, 48%, and 37%, respectively.

In vitro antibacterial effects of Cinnamomum extracts on common bacteria found in wound infections with emphasis on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCinnamomum species have been widely used in many traditional systems of medicine around the world. In the Malaysian traditional system of medicine, the leaves, stem bark and stem wood of Cinnamomum iners, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum altissimum and Cinnamomum impressicostatum have been used to treat wound infections. To study the antibacterial effects of Cinnamomum iners, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum altissimum and Cinnamomum impressicostatum against common bacteria found in wound infections with primary focus on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Materials and methodsThe crude extracts from the leaves, stem-bark and stem-wood of Cinnamomum iners, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum altissimum and Cinnamomum impressicostatum were obtained using sequential extraction with hexane, ethylacetate, methanol and water. The volatile oils were obtained by hydro-distillation. The antibacterial activities of extracts were investigated using disk diffusion assays and broth microdilution assays. ResultsThe volatile oils obtained from the stem-bark of Cinnamomum altissimum, Cinnamomum porrectum and Cinnamomum impressicostatum have shown significant antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria including MRSA. A few test extracts have shown better activity against MRSA as compared to methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Amongst all the test extracts, Cinnamomum impressicostatum stem-bark water extract produced the largest inhibition zone of 21.0mm against MRSA while its inhibition zone against MSSA was only 8.5mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of this extract against MRSA was 19.5μgmL−1 and the corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 39.0μgmL−1. ConclusionsThis study has scientifically validated the traditional use of Cinnamomum species in treating wound infections. Of high scientific interest was the observation that the antibacterial effect of Cinnamomum impressicostatum stem-bark crude water extract against MRSA was significantly higher than its effect against MSSA, suggesting that the extract contains a compound(s) with higher specific neutralising activity against the drug resistance markers of MRSA.

Anti-<i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> Activity of Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts Used in Thai Traditional Medicine

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-Streptococcus pyogenes activity of selected medicinal plants used in Thai traditional medicine. Methods: Sixty-nine extracts of 51 selected Thai medicinal plant species were tested for anti-S. pyogenes activity by paper disc agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Results: Ten plants including Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schltr., Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet, Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb) Kosterm, Eleutherine americana Merr., Gymnopetalum cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kurz, Piper betle L., Quercus infectoria G. Olivier, Quisqualis indica L, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk., and Walsura robusta Roxb. demonstrated good antibacterial activity against S. pyogenes NPRC 101. These plants were selected and further evaluated for their anti-S. pyogenes activity against 11 isolates of S. pyogenes from patients with upper respiratory tract infections. Three plants including Boesenbergia pandurata, Eleutherine americana, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa exhibited good antibacterial activity against all S. pyogenes isolates and produced similar activities against different tested isolates. Boesenbergia pandurata and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa demonstrated antibacterial activity with the same minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) range of 3.91 - 31.25 µg/ml whereas Eleutherine americana displayed MIC and MBC values of 250 and 250-500 µg/ml against all S. pyogenes isolates. Conclusion: Boesenbergia pandurata, Eleutherine americana, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa have great antibacterial potentials against S. pyogenes.

Characterisation of leaf essential oils of three Cinnamomum species from Malaysia by gas chromatography and multivariate data analysis

Identification of chemical composition of essential oils as raw materials is very important for ensuring the quality of finished herbal products. The objectives of the study were to determine the chemical composition of essential oils of the leaves of three Cinnamomum species (i.e. Cinnamomum mollissimum Hook.f., Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm. and Cinnamomum verum J.S. Presl.) and to characterise the essential oils constituents by using GC and multivariate data analysis. Hydro-distilled essential oils were evaluated using GC–FID and GC–MS techniques. The GC–FID chromatograms were further analysed by multivariate data analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) methods. The major compound identified in the oil of C. mollissimum was benzyl benzoate (77.69%), whereas that for C. porrectum was safrole (93.19%) and C. verum was eugenol (93.08%). PCA score and HCA plots revealed that the leaf oils were classified into three separated clusters of C. verum (Cluster I), C. mollissimum (Cluster II) and C. porrectum (Cluster III) based on their characteristic chemical compositions. The combination of GC and multivariate data analysis may be used for identification and characterisation of essential oils from different Cinnamomum species that are to be used as raw materials of traditional herbal products.

Medicinal Plant Diversity and Vegetation Analysis of Logged over Hill Forest of Tekai Tembeling Forest Reserve, Jerantut, Pahang

The study was carried out to analyze the species diversity and study of quantitative analysis of medicinal plantsin logged over forest in Tekai Tembeling Forest Reserve (TTFR). Four plots of 1-hectare size each wereestablished within the forest area. A total of 6788 individual medicinal trees and non trees representing 231species, 179 genera and 87 families were recorded. The species area curve did not approach an asymptotecondition. The regression equation to estimate species richness waswith r2=0.95%. The most diverse species for trees was Cinnamomum porrectum and Lygodium circinnatum fornon trees. The most diverse plot was plot 2 with 7335 individuals and 188 species. Since the forest area was diversein medicinal species, it is necessary to begin conservation assessment that will improve medicinal plantsbiodiversity.

Antioxidant and antifungal activities of extracts from 15 selected hardwood species of Malaysian timber

The antioxidant activities, total phenols and antifungal activities of 35 extracts samples from 15 species of Malaysian timber were investigated. The methanol extracts from Mangifera indica heartwood were found to have superior antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 4.71±0.89 μg/ml. Antioxidant activities correlated with total phenols contents. The methanol extracts from Neobalanocarpus heimii bark and Cinnamomum porrectum heartwood showed moderate antifungal activity against a brown-rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum. The methanol extracts from Neobalanocarpus heimii bark and Endospermum malaccense inner wood showed the highest antifungal activity against a white-rot fungus, Pycnoporus sanguineus, at a minimum effective amount of 100 μg. The activities of these extracts were equal to the activity of the positive control, glycyrrhizic acid dipotassium salt, suggesting that they have great potential as a source of fungistats.

Tinjauan Hasil-hasil Penelitian Faktor-faktor Alam yang Mempengaruhi Sifat Fisik dan Mekanik Kayu Indonesia Review of Researches on Natural Factors Affecting the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Indonesian Wood

This review deals with several topics concerning natural factors affecting physical and mechanical properties of wood, i.e. (1) wood species; (2) age and location of growing; (3) position of wood sample in the stem; (4) diameter; (5) humidity, moisture content, and temperature ; (5) weathering and fungi ; (6) forest fired; that have been done by researchers who are members of Indonesian Wood Research Society. The purposes of this review are (1) to evaluate the research results that have been done, (2) to promote the applicable and feasible utilization of research results to the users, (3) to provide information concerning previous researches that might be useful for further researches. More than 60 wood species have been reported in this review. Besides the major and minor commercial wood species; lesser known species, i.e. Balsa ( Ochroma spp .), Randu ( Ceiba pentandra Gaertn.), Merkubung ( Macaranga sp .), Cengkeh ( Eugenia aromatica L.), Afrika ( Maesopsis eminii ), Kisereh ( Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb) Kosterm), Kibawang ( Melia excelsa Jack.), Pulai Konggo ( Alstonia kongoensis Engl.), Sengon Buto ( Enterolobium cyclocarpum Griserb.), Salamander ( Grevillea robusta A.Cunn.), Kilemo ( Litsea cubeba Pers.), Tahongai ( Kleinhovia hospita Linn.), Sukun ( Arthocarpus altilis ), Arang ( Diospyros borneensis ), Berumbung ( Adina minutifolia ), Tisuk/Waru ( Hibiscus macrophyllus ), Urograndis ( Eucalyptus urograndis ), Kelapa ( Cocos nucifera L.), Kelapa Sawit ( Eleais guineensiis Jacq.), Laban ( Vitex Pubescens Vahl.), Rambai ( Baccaurea motleyana Muell.), Ki Sampang ( Evodia latifolia DC.), Nangka ( Artocarpus integra Merr.), Kalapi ( Kalappia celebica ), Gofasa ( Vitex coffasus ), Ketileng ( Vitex glabrata ), Cemara ( Gymnostoma sp .), and Lamtoro ( Leucaena glauca (Willd) Benth). have also been observed. The researches were generally done in relation to the utilization prospect of lesser known species, crops estate species, fast growing species, timber estate species, rural forest species, commercial species, for contruction/structural materials, handy-craft, musical instruments, or out-door exposures. Wood properties were interaction between specific gravity or density, moisture content, shrinkage and mechanical properties of wood. However, the values of those physical and mechanical properties in the papers could not directly compared to each other, because there were various testing standard and strength classification used. And unfortunately, researches on acoustic, thermal, electrical, creep, relaxation, and fatigue behaviour of Indonesian wood species were very rare or almost none.

Simultaneous existence of cinnamomin (a type II RIP) and small amount of its free A- and B-chain in mature seeds of camphor tree

Cinnamomin, a type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), was isolated from the mature seeds of camphor tree ( Cinnamomum camphora). In this paper, small amount of free A- and B-chain of cinnamomin were found to be present in the mature seed cell of C. camphora besides the intact cinnamomin. Our results demonstrated that camphorin, a type I RIP previously reported to coexist with cinnamomin in the seeds of C. camphora, actually was the A-chain of cinnamomin. The percentage of free A- and B-chain in the total cinnamomin was 2.6–2.8% in the seed extract. Of these free A- and B-chain approximate 80% already existed in the seed cell, only about 20% were produced during the purification operation. As the enzymatic activity to reduce disulfide bond of cinnamomin in the seed extract of C. camphora was detected, we proposed that the free A- and B-chain were derived from the enzymatic reduction of the interchain disulfide bond of cinnamomin. It was demonstrated that the endogenous type II RIPs of several plant species, such as Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum bodinieri and Ricinus communis, could be enzymatically reduced into the free A- and B-chain in their respective seed cells. The function of the free A-chain in the seed cell and the possibility that metabolic enzymes might be involved in the reduction of the interchain disulfide bond of type II RIPs in vivo are discussed.

Purification of a new ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Cinnamomum porrectum and characterization of the RNA N-glycosidase activity of the toxic protein.

Porrectin, a new type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), was purified from the seeds of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum porrectum) by affinity chromatography on acid-treated Sepharose 4B. Porrectin is a glycoprotein (M(r)64,500, sugar content 2.5%) consisting of an A-chain (M(r)30,500) and a B-chain (M(r)33,500) linked by the disulfide bond. The terminal sugar of glycan in porrectin B-chain is determined to be mannose. By non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, porrectin displayed three isoforms that have different pl values with the same molecular weight. Porrectin is a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The molecular mechanism of action of porrectin on rat liver ribosomes is demonstrated to be specific for RNA N-glycosidase. The cleavage site is the adenosine at position 4324 (rat liver 28S rRNA) embedded in the highly conserved ricin/alpha-sarcin ('R/S') domain.