Caesalpinia Echinata Research Articles

Germinação de sementes e formação de mudas de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Pau - Brasil): efeito de sombreamento

Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (pau-brasil) é a árvore nacional do Brasil, possui grande potencial ornamental, estando atualmente em perigo de extinção devido à exploração extrativista. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a germinação das sementes de C. echinata e o crescimento de mudas sob condições de sombreamento. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Seção de Ornamentais do IBt/SMA, São Paulo, SP. As sementes foram coletadas de frutos maduros, de árvores-matriz no arboreto experimental de C. echinata em Mogi-Guaçu, SP. Os testes de germinação foram realizados nos anos de 1999, 2000 e 2003, com quatro repetições de 25 sementes cada, sendo avaliadas a porcentagem de germinação e o índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), submetidas a cinco níveis de sombreamento (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80%). Mudas de C. echinata com nove meses de idade foram submetidas aos mesmos tratamentos de sombreamento das sementes, sendo as variáveis analisadas altura da planta, diâmetro do colo e número de folhas. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições e 24 plantas por parcela, totalizando 96 mudas por tratamento. Os resultados indicaram que a germinação e o IVE não sofreram influência dos níveis de sombreamento testados. O diâmetro do coleto das mudas a pleno sol, a 20 e 40% de sombreamento, não diferiram significativamente entre si, mas dos tratamentos de 60 e 80%.

Reestudo de Anthomyces brasiliensis em Caesalpinia echinata no Brasil

O fungo Anthomyces brasiliensis foi descrito em 1899 no Rio de Janeiro causando ferrugem em Caesalpinia sp. ou Piptadenia sp. sendo redescoberto no ano de 2001 em Porto Seguro, Bahia, causando a ferrugem do pau-brasil (Caesalpinia echinata). Na descrição original de A. brasiliensis estão descritos apenas télios e urédios, não tendo sido observada a existência de espermogônios e écios. Folhas com pequenas lesões necróticas nos folíolos foram coletadas de mudas e plantas adultas de pau-brasil na Estação Experimental Pau-Brasil (CEPLAC) no município de Porto Seguro, Bahia. Folíolos frescos e herborizados foram examinados ao microscópio estereoscópico, sendo efetuadas raspagens e cortes histológicos, os quais foram analisados em microscópios e composto, e eletrônico de varredura para caracterização, mensuração e fotomicrografias das estruturas observadas. Nos estudos conduzidos no material coletado na Bahia foram encontrados espermogônios do grupo VI, tipo 7, característicos da família Raveneliaceae à qual pertence o gênero Anthomyces. Os espermogônios de A. brasiliensis são subcuticulares, de contorno circular, aplanados e medem 70-100 x 30-56 µm, com espermacióforos hialinos, basais, cilíndricos, agrupados em forma de paliçada, medindo 12-14 x 2-3 µm. Os espermácios são hialinos, unicelulares, lisos, medindo 3-4 x 2-3 µm. Pústulas acompanhadas por espermogônios foram interpretadas como écios uredinóides, característicos da família Raveneliaceae. Estas estruturas têm aspecto de pústulas alargadas, sem perídio definido, mostrando-se maiores que os télios e os urédios, medindo 200-700 µm diâmetro e 100-110 µm de altura, com eciósporos idênticos aos urediniósporos, medindo de 22-24 x 18-22 µm. Desta forma, A. brasiliensis passa a ser definida como uma ferrugem macrocíclica, autóica, contendo os estádios de 0 a IV.

Photosynthetic Responses of Tropical Trees to Short-Term Exposure to Ozone

Saplings of the tropical trees Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn., Caesalpinia echinata Lam., and Psidium guajava L. cv. Paluma were exposed in open-top chambers with charcoal filtered air and measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were made before (t1) and after exposure to non-filtered air plus O3 (t2), simulating 6-h peaks of O3 similar to those observed in São Paulo city (SE Brazil, reaching an AOT40 of 641 nmol mol-1). After the fumigation, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and Fv/Fm were reduced (p<0.05) for the three species. C. echinata was the most sensitive species and P. guajava cv. Paluma the most resistant.

Vibrational property changes of spruce wood by impregnation with watersoluble extractives of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng.) II: structural analysis of extractive components

Heartwood of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng, synCaesalpinia echinata Lam.), which has been used as material for violin bows, was extracted by soaking in water, and the obtained extractives were analyzed. The main components of the extractives were identified to be protosappanin B and brazilin. In particular, protosappanin B occupied about 40% of the pernambuco extractives. The loss tangent (tanδ) of spruce wood impregnated with protosappanin B decreased markedly, the same as that of specimens impregnated with extractives before being purified. It is expected that protosappanin B can make a contribution to the decrease in tanδ due to impregnation with extractives.

Working mechanism of adsorbed water on the vibrational properties of wood impregnated with extractives of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng.)

To clarify the lowering mechanism of loss tangen (tanδ) of sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) wood impregnated with extractives of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. synCaesalpinia echinata Lam.), we examined the vibrational properties of the impregnated wood in relation to the adsorbed water. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of impregnated sitka spruce decreased to some extent compared with untreated wood. (2) Frequency dependencies of tanδ a about 400–8000Hz showed that impregnated wood has much lower tan δ than untreated wood at around 9% mois ture content (MC), except for the high-frequency region. At high relative humidity, impregnated wood has a minimum tanδ (at around 4000Hz); and at other frequency ranges the tanδ of impregnated wood did not differ considerably from that of untreated wood. (3) The apparent activation energy of the mechanical relaxation process (ΔE) concerned with adsorbed water molecules was higher for impregnated specimens than for untreated ones at moderately high relative humidity, whereas at high relative humidity the difference was not observed. Based on these results, it is thought that the tanδ of impregnated wood decreased at low rela tive humidity because of the formation of direct hydrogen bonds between impregnated extractives and wood components. However, when the specimen is at higher relative

Vibrational property changes of spruce wood by impregnation with water-soluble extractives of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng.)

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) was treated with water-soluble extractive components of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. syn Caesalpinia echinata Lam.) by two methods: impregnation under evacuation using an aspirator and repetitive surface application using a brush. The influence of these treatments on the vibrational properties were examined. The loss tangent (tan δ) of the impregnated specimen decreased, up to nearly a half of its original value, with increasing weight gain. It is suggested that the decrease in tan δ results from impregnation of the extractive components into the amorphous region of cell walls, forming secondary bonds between matrix substances. The surface application of the extractive components, on the other hand, hardly brought about the desirable change in vibrational properties.

A Tell-Tale Heartwood

Abstract In Medieval Europe, manuscripts and formulas on the preparation of colors and dyes used by chemists and artists contained many references to natural plant extracts, The yellow stigmas of aromatic saffron (Crocus sativus) were crushed and used both as a medicine and colorant as far back as the ninth century BCE. In 1437 CE, a manual was written by Cennini, II Libro del Arte, a collection of recipes on the preparation of tempera and block-printing inks from saffron and brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata), Finely divided brazil wood was prepared by scraping sticks with a knife.

Physical and mechanical properties required for violin bow materials II: Comparison of the processing properties and durability between pernambuco and substitutable wood species

Pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. syn Caesalpinia echinata Lam.), which has been used for a material of violin bows, was compared with substitutable wood species from the viewpoint of processing properties and durability. The properties required for bow material are discussed. The shearing strength of pernambuco was higher than that of the other wood species at the same specific gravity. High shearing strength seems to be effective for preventing damage to the head (top part) of the bow. The presence of extractives affects the thermal softening of wood material, but ease of handling and permanent retention of form are not particularly superior for pernambuco, although it does have a high extractives content. A peculiarly low loss tangent (tan S) of pernambuco can probably be attributed to the large amount of extractives, rather than the mean microfibril angle.

Morin hydrate: a better protector than purpurogallin of corneal endothelial cell damage induced by xanthine oxidase and SIN-1

PURPOSE. Free radicals are responsible for tissue injury in corneal preservation and transplantation. Morin hydrate, a flavonoid from Brazil wood, has been shown to be cytoprotective in several types of cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of morin hydrate on rabbit corneal endothelial cells against damage induced by oxyradicals and nitric oxide. METHODS. Corneal endothelial cell cultures were prepared from New Zealand white rabbits, using standard microcarrier technique. Two free-radical-generating systems were used – 17 IU/L xanthine oxidase/1 mM hypoxanthine and 5 mM 3-morpho-linosydnonimine- N-ethylcarbamide (SIN-1, a nitric oxide-donating agent). RESULTS. Over 95% of cultured corneal endothelial cells necrosed within 3.6 ± 1.5 min after exposure to xanthine oxidase/ hypoxanthine. Adding morin hydrate delayed cell necrosis to 5.8 ± 0.3 min (0.25 mM morin hydrate), 13.3 ± 5.0 min (0.5 mM), and 41.5 ± 8.6 min (1.0 mM). Exposed to nitric oxide generated by SIN-1, cells necrosed by 9.5 ± 2.5 min, versus 14.1 ± 1.3 min (0.25 mM morin hydrate), 27.2 ± 2.0 min (0.5 mM), and 43.3 ± 5.4 min (1.0 mM). Morin hydrate significantly prolonged survival of cells compared to equimolar concentrations of purpurogallin, Trolox, or ascorbate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION. This study demonstrates that morin hydrate behaves as a broad-spectrum antioxidant: it scavenges not only xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine-generated oxyradicals, but also nonenzymatic, nitrogen-derived radicals, better than those above mentioned antioxidants. This property of morin hydrate may help prevent free radical damage in corneal preservation solutions.

Physical and Mechanical Properties Required for Violin Bow Materials

Pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. syn Caesalpinia echinata Lam.), which has been used for the production of violin bows, was compared with alternative wood species from some physical and mechanical aspects and the reasons for why it is suitable for bows were discussed. A low value of loss tangent (tanδ) may be helpful for bow material, as the tanδ of pernambuco was much lower than that of the other wood species. On the other hand, the most suitable Young's modulus could not be clarified, but the lower limit of Young's modulus needed for the bow must exist. Low tan δ of pernambuco seems to be due to a high content of extractives. However, not only the quantity but also the chemical component and/or the location of extractives in the wood structure may have a different effect on the tanδ. From the result that the wood with a higher extractive content showed a lower softening temperature, it can be concluded that the extractive in pernambuco is probably influential in the thermal bending of the bow. Redness (a*) of pernambuco has a correlation with tan δ. Indentation hardness of pernambuco was somewhat higher at the same level of specific gravity than that of the other wood species, but hardness would not be an inevitable property for the bow.

The Potentials of 20 Indigenous Tree Species for Soil Rehabilitation in the Atlantic Forest Region of Bahia, Brazil

1. The goal of this research was to identify indigenous tree species with a positive influence on soil fertility, in order to design mixed-tree and tree/crop systems for the Atlantic forest region of Bahia, Brazil. The study focused on 20 native tree species growing in 14-15-year-old stands in an arboretum at Pau Brasil Ecological Station. Although the small size of the areas sampled and the lack of adequate replication limits the interpretation of the results, the pure tree stands offered a unique opportunity to evaluate the nutrient cycling characteristics of several species which could be useful for their future utilization in land rehabilitation systems. 2. Soils for chemical analysis and bulk density were sampled under a 25-year-old secondary forest, a mixed-species plantation, the native forest and under the 20 species in question. Forest-floor litter and live leaf samples were analysed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Al. 3. Soil fertility was higher in secondary than in primary forest. The mixed plantation had similar soil pH, C, N and Mg, slightly higher P, and lower K and Ca than the primary forest. Litter accumulation on the floor was larger in secondary than in primary forest. Litter nutrients were also higher in secondary than in primary forest. 4. Positive effects on soils were noted under 15 out of the 20 species studied, among those Inga affinis, Parapiptadenia pterosperma (N-fixing species) ; Arapatiella psilophylla, Caesalpinia echinata, (leguminous, non-N-fixing) ; Eschweilera ovata, Lecythis pisonis, Licania hypoleuca (of other families). 5. Among the 20 species in the arboretum, the highest dry weights of forest-floor litter were found under Arapatiella psilophylla, Bombax macrophyllum, Inga affinis, Licania hypoleuca and Pithecellobium pedicellare ; positive effects on soils were found under all these species, with P. pedicellare having the least influence. This suggests that forest-floor nutrients were incorporated in the soil via decomposition under these species. 6. Species that contribute to increased C and N, such as Caesalpinia echinata, Inga affinis, Parapiptadenia pterosperma and Plathymenia foliolosa, could be combined with those that increase soil pH, basic cations or both, such as Copaifera luscens, Eschweilera ovata, Lecythis pisonis and Licania hypoleuca. The inclusion of Arapatiella psilophylla, Bombax macrophyllum, Buchenavia grandis, Caesalpinia echinata, Cassia spp., Hymenaea aurea and Inga affinis could contribute to increased levels of extractable P in the surface soils. In addition to their potential effects on soil fertility, species choices must be guided by seed and seedling availability, as well as by farmers' preferences, local uses for the species and economic aspects (cost of establishment and market potential).

Molecular properties and myocardial salvage effects of morin hydrate

Morin hydrate is a bioactive pigment found in yellow Brazil wood. Recently, we reported that morin hydrate prolongs the survival of three types of cells from the human circulatory system against oxyradicals generated in vitro. The protection excels that given by equimolar concentrations of ascorbate, mannitol, and Trolox. Here, we demonstrate that, in vivo, morin hydrate at 5 μmol/kg actually reduced by > 50% the tissue necrosis in post-ischemic and reperfused rabbit hearts. Mechanistically, morin hydrate not only scavenges oxyradicals, but also moderately inhibits xanthine oxidase, a free-radical generating enzyme from the ischemic endothelium. Among other possibilities, morin hydrate appears to chelate some metal ions (e.g. Fe 2+) in oxyradical formation, although this needs to be examined further. Nuclear magnetic resonance (at 500 mHz) and electron-impact mass spectrometry also supported a molecular formula of C 15H 10O 7 for morin hydrate. Only by X-ray crystallography was it clearly revealed that there are two water molecules attached by intermolecular hydrogen bonds to a morin molecule. Also, the three rings of morin hydrate approach coplanarity. This conformation favours a delocalization of electrons after oxyradical reduction, making morin an effective antioxidant. Thus, we have documented some of the molecular properties and myocardial salvage effects of morin hydrate.

Morin hydrate protects cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells against oxyradical damage

Cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells were damaged when exposed to oxyradicals generated either from xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine, or by superoxide radicals formed from menadione. Morin hydrate is an antioxidant extracted from yellow Brazil wood. When morin hydrate was added to cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells which were attacked by oxyradicals generated by xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine, the survival time of the cells was doubled. However, this protective effect of morin hydrate was less marked when the cells were attacked by menadione. Note that the protective effects of Trolox which is a polar analogue of vitamin E were miniscule relative to those of morin hydrate with both oxidants.

Pestalotiopsis leaf spot of Brazil wood, Caesalpinia echinata

A necrotic leaf spot of Brazil wood trees is reported as caused by Pestalotiopsis maculans. This appears to be the first report of such a disease.

The Wood-Beach at Recife: A Contribution to the Economic History of Brazil

The cutting and shipment of wood is one of the oldest and most important aspects of Brazilian trade with Portugal. The rich red dye produced from the tree called pau brasil or Brazil wood was esteemed so highly that at first it outweighed in importance all other products of the colony. Most historians agree that the very name of Brazil is derived from this wood. Guarded as a royal monopoly throughout the colonial period, the wood trade ranked with the sugar, tobacco and gold of Brazil as one of the principal sources of revenue of the Portuguese crown. When woods for building were added to the exportation of pau brasil, the trade assumed a new importance, for these woods furnished the mother country with the sinews both of war and commerce, providing the hulls and masts of countless vessels that defended and brought together the distant domains of the Portuguese empire.

The Wood-Beach at Recife: A Contribution to the Economic History of Brazil

The cutting and shipment of wood is one of the oldest and most important aspects of Brazilian trade with Portugal. The rich red dye produced from the tree called pau brasil or Brazil wood was esteemed so highly that at first it outweighed in importance all other products of the colony. Most historians agree that the very name of Brazil is derived from this wood. Guarded as a royal monopoly throughout the colonial period, the wood trade ranked with the sugar, tobacco and gold of Brazil as one of the principal sources of revenue of the Portuguese crown. When woods for building were added to the exportation of pau brasil, the trade assumed a new importance, for these woods furnished the mother country with the sinews both of war and commerce, providing the hulls and masts of countless vessels that defended and brought together the distant domains of the Portuguese empire.

Report of an excursion to Mount Sorrel, Buddon Wood, Brazil Wood, and District

Report of an excursion to Mount Sorrel, Buddon Wood, Brazil Wood, and District

Brazil Wood

Brazil Wood

I.—On the Rocks of Brazil Wood, Charnwood Forest

An interesting discovery having just been made in consequence of the examination of a single thin slice of rock, the following communication is recommended to the attention of those geologists who, to say the least, still fail to recognize the value of the microscope in geological investigations.

The detection of the colouring matters of logwood, Brazil wood, and cochineal in wine

The first page of this article is displayed as the abstract.