Heartwood Extractives Research Articles

Role of extractives on the weathering of tropical and temperate wood species in two above-ground fields: coastal or terrestrial

The effect of heartwood extractives on natural weathering of 5 temperate (juniper, walnut, oak, pseudoacacia, and chestnut) and 9 tropical (wenge, teak, iroko, dahoma, moabi, okan, padauk, ipe, and tatajuba) wood species against abiotic degrading agents at two sites was investigated. Wood species were exposed to three-stage extraction, then extracted and un-extracted samples were exposed outdoors for 12 months in two above-ground test sites, coastal or terrestrial. Samples were evaluated regarding moisture content, color change, surface roughness, and surface chemistry (ATR-FTIR) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of exposure. Results indicate that roughness and color change increased as the exposure time increased. Among the temperate species, the least rough surfaces were found in juniper, while iroko, ipe, and wenge were for tropical species. The location did not statistically affect roughness. Temperate species generally showed rougher surfaces than tropical species. The remarkable color change occurred in the first 3 months in temperate wood species and between 3 and 6 months in extractive-rich tropical wood species. The highest color change was seen in samples extracted and exposed on the terrestrial test site, while the lowest was in un-extracted samples exposed on the coast. Padauk had the most color change, while moabi had the least. The surfaces of temperate species showed darkening while the surfaces of tropical species showed lightening during the weathering exposure. FTIR studies confirmed that the change in the surface chemistry of temperate species mostly occurs in the first month, while surface degradation of some tropical species can take up to 3 months.

Brazilin content and potential biological properties of Caesalpinia sappan L. heartwood extracts from different extraction methods

Caesalpinia sappan L. has generally been used in Asian folk medicines for disease treatment. C. sappan heartwood is commonly utilized as a dyeing agent in food items, beverages, cosmetics, and clothing. The effects of three extraction techniques (maceration, reflux, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction) of C. sappan heartwood extract (CSE) on the brazilin content and potential of biological activities were investigated. The brazilin content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quantifications of the antioxidant properties (DPPH and ABTS), the total phenolic contents, and the antimicrobial activity were also examined. Additionally, the effect of CSE on pro-inflammatory cytokine and mediator production was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The results showed that the CSE from the maceration and reflux methods produced high levels of brazilin and total phenolic contents, as well as having excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The macerated extract showed significant antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 2.88 ± 0.01 and 0.32 ± 0.01 mg/mL from DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Furthermore, the CSE from the maceration method which was rich in brazilin had an anti-inflammatory response by decreasing the levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. These results confirmed CSE as a potential source of biological components. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays proved maceration was the best extraction method.

HPLC-DAD method validation for quantification of dehydroabietic acid and abietic acid in oral spray containing Pinus merkusii heartwood extract and its antibacterial effects on clinically isolated Streptococcus mutans

AbstractPinus merkusii Jungh & De Vries. has become increasingly gathered more attention from researchers because the plant has a range of folk medicinal uses. Heartwood plant is the major source of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) and abietic acid (AA), which possesses several medicinal properties, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, antiobesity and anti-inflammatory. The research proposed herein a low-cost, fast, specific, uncomplicated, sensitive, precise reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). This method was conducted and validated for evaluating an amount of DHAA and AA in ethanol extract and oral spray containing P. merkusii heartwood extract. Additionally, stability and antimicrobial activities against clinically isolated Streptococcus mutans of the oral spray were determined. The separation was achieved on Pursuit 200Å PFP column, 150 × 4.6 mm, particles of 3 µm with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1. Methanol and water (70:30 v/v) were used as eluent with an isocratic mode and sample analysis volume was set at 10 µL, at a detection wavelength of 210 and 245 nm. The developed HPLC method for analysis of DHAA and AA showed good linearity with correlation coefficients equal to 1. Moreover, other validation parameters, comprised of accuracy, precision, specificity and detection and quantitation limits of this method displayed excellent reliability, validity and sensitivity. This method could be an interesting alternative for quantitative measurement of P. merkusii heartwood extract, oral spray formulation and other P. merkusii heartwood extract preparations. The result from antibacterial tests suggested that the oral spray containing P. merkusii heartwood extract is able to inhibit the oral pathogens causing dental caries. The oral spray decreased S. mutans population size by about 0.5–2 Log CFU mL−1 at 1–4 h and complete elimination of all bacteria strains within 24 h. This study provides validity for using P. merkusii heartwood extract as an alternative for preventing and treating oral infectious diseases.

Optimization of bioactivities of solvent extracts of bark and heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium and exploration of neuroprotective effect linking to the major Phytoconstituents

The study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective properties of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. The bioactive optimized hydroalcohol-extracted fractions of bark (PMBHA) and heartwood (PMHHA) at 300 and 400 mg/kg were examined in rats with scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity to study oxidative, neurochemical, and neuroinflammation biomarkers. Phenol and flavonoid-rich radical scavengers in contributing total antioxidant capacities of PMBHA and PMHHA quenched peroxyl radicals and protected the cellular membrane and lipoproteins from ROS in DPPH, ORAC, and CAP-e tests. In anticholinesterase activities, PMBHA inhibited AChE (IC50: 54.40 ± 0.98 µg/mL) and BChE (IC50: 50.95 ± 0.98 µg/mL) mixed-competitively, while PMHHA inhibited cholinesterase activities (AChE: 42.23 ± 0.54, and BChE: 47.19 ± 0.65 µg/mL) competitively. Dosage at 300 and 400 mg/kg of PMBHA and PMHHA improved serum and brain oxidative indicators (MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH), and restored proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, and IL-6) leading to enhanced brain cholinesterase and β-secretase levels in neurotoxic rats. GC-MS reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective compounds of PMBHA catechol, thiamet-G, d-Gala-l-ido-octonic amide, falcarinol, D-mannose, ribitol, 1,2,4-cyclopentanetrione, 3-(2-pentenyl)-, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, n-hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, and 3,5-Dimethoxybenzyl alcohol, α-epi-7-epi-5-Eudesmol, 1 R,4aR,7 R,8aR)-7-(2-Hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,4a-dimethyldecahydro naphthalen-1-ol, arctiol, 1,1,4,7-tetramethyldecahydro-1 H-cyclopropa[e]azulene-4,7-diol, 2-Propen-1-ol, 3-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl), 4-t-Butyl-2-[4-nitrophenyl]phenol in PMHHA were responsible in neuroprotection in neurotoxic rats. However, heartwood demonstrated better neuroprotective activities than the bark of P. marsupium due to some of the key compounds (1 R,4aR,7 R,8aR)-7-(2-Hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,4a-dimethyldecahydronaphthalen-1-ol, 2-Propen-1-ol, 3-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-, 4-t-Butyl-2-[4-nitrophenyl]phenol, 1,1,4,7-Tetramethyldecahydro-1 H-cyclopropa[e]azulene-4,7-diol.

Antioxidant, antiglycation, and antibacterial of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Caesalpinia Sappan extract.

Synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts is environmentally friendly and of increasing interest. However, not all plant extracts can meet successfully on the synthesis. Therefore, searching for the high potential extracts that can reduce the metal salt precursor in the synthesis reaction is essential. The present study explores the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using Caesalpinia sappan heartwood extract. Phytochemical analysis and determination of the total phenolic content of the extract were performed before use as a reducing agent. Under the suitable synthesized condition, a color change in the color of the solutions to brown confirmed the formation of CuONPs. The obtained CuONPs were confirmed using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray, and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The synthesized CuONPs investigated for antioxidant, antiglycation, and antibacterial activities. CuONPs possessed antioxidant activities by quenching free radicals with an IC50 value of 63.35 µg/mL and reducing activity with an EC range of 3.19-10.27 mM/mg. CuONPs also inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end products in the bovine serum albumin/ribose model with an IC50 value of 17.05 µg/mL. In addition, CuONPs showed inhibition of human pathogens, including Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, and prevention of biofilm formation and biofilm eradication, with maximum inhibition of approx. 75%. Our findings suggest that C. sappan extract can be used to obtain highly bioactive CuONPs for the development of certain medical devices and therapeutic agents.

Enhancing bacterial inhibition in beetroot beverages: The potent combination of sappan heartwood extracts via accelerated solvent extraction and pulsed electric field methods

This study aimed to investigate the potential of sappan heartwood extract as an inhibitor of foodborne pathogenic bacteria in beetroot juice. The extract was obtained using an accelerated solvent extraction process (using an ethanol/water solvent mixture (3:1 w/w) at 120 °C and 1500 psi for 5 min), yielding 10.04 g per 73.6 g of dried sappan heartwood powder, with a percentage yield of 13.64 and 2.69 % brazilin. The extract was combined with pulsed electric fields (PEF) at different strengths and tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). Results showed that the combination of sappan heartwood extract and PEF at 15 kV/cm and concentrations of 3.91, 5.86, and 11.73 mg/mL effectively reduced the total plate count and coliform bacteria count, and completely eliminated B. cereus and S. typhimurium during 7 days of storage at 4 °C. Furthermore, this combination was found to be more efficient in bacterial elimination compared to thermal pasteurization and potassium sorbate addition. These findings suggest that sappan heartwood extract can be used as a natural antimicrobial agent in food products, especially in beetroot juice, where regulatory standards restrict the addition of preservatives. Using sappan heartwood extract in combination with PEF is highly effective in killing foodborne pathogens, reducing the risk of consumer harm and ensuring food safety.

Cardio-protective and Antioxidant Potential of Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood extract on Isoproterenol induced heart failure in rats

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterised by a constellation of symptoms(dyspnea, orthopnea, lower limb swelling) and signs (elevated jugular venous pressure, pulmonary congestion) which have underlying cardiac abnormality resulting in reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intra-cardiac pressures. HF is a leading cause of mortality globally and despite major therapeutic advances, HF continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a need to develop new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for HF. Isoproterenol (ISO) is a synthetic non-selective beta adrenoceptor agonist and is widely used to model toxic cardiomyopathy and heart failure. It induces myocyte damage mimicking myocardial infarction. In the present study, we used ISO to induce heart failure in Wistar rats and study the effect of Pterocarpus marsupium (PM) heartwood extract on it. PM is a well-recognised herbal drug known for its beneficial effect in diabetes with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.Hypothesis: PM treatment will favourably modulate the cardiac hemodynamic, anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory parameters compared to standard drug and control rats in isoproterenol induced heart failure rats.Methods & Results. Animals were randomly divided into 10 groups.1: Normal control rats fed normal pellet diet, 2: Normal control rats treated with Fluvastatin (10 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days 3: Normal control rats treated with PM Extract (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days. 4: Normal control rats subcutaneously injected with ISO {Heart Failure (HF) group} 5: HF rats treated with Fluvastatin (10 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days. 6: HF rats treated with PM Extract (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15days 7: HF rats treated with PM Extract (200mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days. 8: Rats pretreated with Fluvastatin (10 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days and at the 15th day subcutaneously injected with ISO and continued Fluvastatin treatment for another 15 days 9: Rats pretreated with PM Extract (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days and at the 15th day subcutaneously injected with ISO and continued PM Extract treatment for another 15 days 10: Rats pretreated with PM Extract (200 mg/kg; oral gavage) for 15 days and at the 15th day subcutaneously injected with ISO and continued PM treatment for another 15 days. The groups were compared pre and post treatment for cardiac hemodynamic parameters, anti- oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde nitric oxide), cardiac injury markers, anti-inflammatory parameters (Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α).The results of the present study indicate that prophylactic and therapeutic treatment PM heartwood extract improved the altered hemodynamic and biochemical parameters in isoproterenol-induced HF rats suggesting its cardio-protective action. None declared. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Radial distribution of heartwood extractives in second-growth western redcedar

Western redcedar has high economic value and has been traditionally used for cultural purposes by Indigenous communities. Second-growth redcedar is potentially growing faster due to lower planting densities, fertilization, and tree breeding. Little quantitative information is available about the impact of management practices on wood quality, particularly heartwood extractives. This study evaluated the effects of growth rate and site on heartwood extractives at two locations aged 70–90 years in British Columbia, Canada. A three-parameter sigmoid model was fit to the data using nonlinear mixed effects to analyze the relationship between heartwood extractives relative to cambial age, growth rate, and sampling site. The southern site had significantly higher cumulative extractive concentrations, while all extractive concentrations increased faster. This study shows that smaller trees will reach their peak concentrations earlier than larger trees. Results show that faster growth through active management of western redcedar may lead to increased and more uniformly distributed content of heartwood extractives.

Letter to the editor on “in vitro & in silico study of hypoglycaemic potential of pterocarpus marsupium heartwood extract”

The Short Communication “In vitro & in silico study of hypoglycemic potential of Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood extract” published in Natural Product Research is praised for its depth of inquiry and exploration of hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. However, there are areas for refinement, such as clearer definitions of key terms related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, updated literature review, improved organization and contextualization of the Results and Discussion section, and a more balanced discussion of the study’s implications.

Critical Review on the Use of Extractives of Naturally Durable Woods as Natural Wood Protectants.

Naturally durable wood pre-dates preservative-treated wood and has been demonstrated to offer a suitable service life for certain applications where preservative-treated wood is not feasible. Heartwood extractives have been demonstrated to impart bio-deteriorative resistance to naturally durable wood species. These extractives are typically found in the heartwood of living trees and are produced either by the death of parenchyma cells or as the result of external stimuli. The mechanisms of natural durability are not well understood, as heartwood extractives can be extremely variable in their distribution, composition, and efficacy in both living and harvested trees. The underlying complexity of heartwood extractives has hindered their standardization in residential building codes for use as wood preservatives. The use of naturally durable lumber is not always feasible, as woods with exceptionally durable heartwood do not typically yield lumber with acceptable machining properties. A potential approach to overcome the inherent difficulty in establishing guidelines for the appropriate use of naturally durable wood is to focus solely on the extractives as a source of bioactive protectants based on the strategies used on living and dead wood to repel the agents of biodeterioration. This critical review summarizes the relevant literature on naturally durable woods, their extractives, and their potential use as bio-inspired wood protectants. An additional discussion will be aimed at underscoring the past difficulties in adopting this approach and how to overcome the future hurdles.

Suppression of adipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis by oxyresveratrol and heartwood extract from Artocarpus lacucha in adipocyte culture

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of various non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and certain cancers. The availability of safe therapeutic compounds for treating obesity is limited, emphasizing the importance of investigating natural remedies as alternatives. Oxyresveratrol, a bioactive compound, has shown promise for the anti-obesity effect. Thus, the present study investigated anti-adipogenesis and lipolysis-inducing activities of oxyresveratrol and oxyresveratrol-enriched extract from Artocarpus lacucha so-called Puag-Haad in culture adipocytes. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with these compounds for specific time periods covering differentiation (D0-3), lipogenesis (D3-10), or adipogenesis (D0-10). The intracellular lipid accumulation was determined by Oil Red O-staining and the glycerol release from mature adipocytes was measured and referred to as lipolysis. The result showed that oxyresveratrol and Puag-Haad dose-dependently inhibited lipid accumulation. Suppression during the differentiation period of adipocytes played a critical role in such inhibitory activity. These compounds also effectively induced lipolysis but by different pathways. Puag- Haad-mediated lipolysis depended on β-adrenergic receptors whereas these receptors did not influence the activity of oxyresveratrol. These findings suggest that oxyresveratrol and Puag-Haad hold promise as anti-obesity agents by preventing lipid accumulation in the adipocytes and inducing lipolysis thereby reducing fat mass in adipose tissue.

Antibacterial film-forming spray containing Caesalpinia sappan L. extract obtained through eco-friendly microwave-assisted extraction

The heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. contains brazilin, which exhibits excellent antibacterial activity. Its extract shows potential for incorporation into topical antibacterial products. This study aimed to optimize the conditions of an eco-friendly microwave-assisted extraction method to maximize brazilin content and antibacterial activity. It also optimized the film-forming antibacterial spray containing C. sappan heartwood extract using a Box–Behnken design. Ethanol concentration, microwave power, and microwave time were varied for microwave-assisted extraction. The optimized conditions of 28 % ethanol, 800 W microwave power, and 70-s microwave time maximized the extraction yield, brazilin content, and clear zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The optimized extract was then incorporated into a film-forming spray. The film-forming spray formula's hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, glycerin, and ethanol contents were varied. Based on the design space, the optimized formulation comprised 0.6 % hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 1.25 % glycerin, and 28 % ethanol. Approximately 97 % of the brazilin was released from the formulation during an 8-h release experiment. Moreover, approximately 25 % of the brazilin accumulated in the synthetic human skin-like membrane during an 8-h permeation experiment. In summary, this study successfully prepared, characterized, optimized, and verified a film-forming spray containing the optimized C. sappan heartwood extract obtained through microwave-assisted extraction.

Biological Activities in Sapwood and Heartwood Extractives from Paulownia tomentosa

Paulownia tomentosa is a representative deciduous tree in South Korea. After 10 years of growth, its wood can be used to make various products through chemical modifications, such as impregnation with a polymer, substitution with chemicals, and physical compression. However, research on the biological resistance of the sapwood and heartwood parts of P. tomentosa xylem is lacking. To ensure the complete utilisation of Paulownia wood, this study aimed to collect baseline data on the necessity of xylem extraction before chemical modification to enhance wood porosity. First, we assessed the decay and termite resistance of sapwood and heartwood blocks. Furthermore, we evaluated the anti-microbial effect of sapwood and heartwood extracts after solvent fractionation. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the active substances of the fractions with anti-microbial activity were also conducted. The hexane and chloroform solvent fractions of sapwood and heartwood extracts showed fungal resistance against Trametes versicolor and Fomiptosis palustis. Paulownin and sesamin were the main compounds showing anti-microbial activity, and their content in the extracts varied, depending on the wood part. These results provide valuable data for advancing research on porous wood materials and the utilisation of xylem-derived active compounds from Paulownia wood.

Exploring the Potential of Roselle Calyx and Sappan Heartwood Extracts as Natural Colorants in Poly(butylene Succinate) for Biodegradable Packaging Films.

Recently, there has been a growing concern among consumers regarding the safety of packaging products, particularly due to the presence of potentially harmful substances like synthetic pigments and inorganic dyes. These substances, which are often used to attract consumer attention, can migrate and contaminate products over extended shelf storage periods. To address this issue, the focus of this research was the development of a biodegradable packaging film using poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) incorporated with natural colorants extracted from roselle (RS) and sappan heartwood (SP). RS and SP serve as non-toxic and alternative pigments when compared to synthetic colorants. The biodegradable packaging films were prepared using blown film extrusion, encompassing different weight percentages of RS and SP (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%). The films exhibited distinct colors, with RS films appearing pink to purple and SP films exhibiting an orange hue. The water vapor transmission rate slightly decreased with an increasing content of RS and SP extracts, indicating improved barrier properties. Additionally, the films showed reduced light transmittance, as evidenced by the UV-Vis light barrier results. The degree of crystallinity in the films was enhanced, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. Regarding mechanical properties, the PBS/RS and PBS/SP films exhibited slight increases in tensile strength and elongation compared to neat PBS films. Moreover, the blended films demonstrated higher stability after undergoing an aging test, further highlighting their potential for use in biodegradable packaging applications. The key advantages of these films lie in their non-toxicity, biodegradability, and overall environmental friendliness.

Identification of Potent Antitubercular Secondary Metabolites from Kigelia africana: An In‐Silico Investigation

AbstractEthyl‐acetate extract of heartwood of Kigelia africana Lam. affords tecomaquinone‐I (1), lapachol (2), dehydro‐α‐lapachone (3), cluytyl ferulate (4), kigelinone (5), D‐sesamin (6), paulownin (7), wodeshiol (8) and cycloolivil (9). Isolation of cycloolivil from this plant is being reported for the first time. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by advanced spectroscopic methods (1H, 13C NMR, IR & Mass spectrometry). Structure of cycloolivil (9) was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. In order to study the anti‐tubercular activity and to develop new drugs from natural sources, molecular docking studies of isolated phytochemicals were performed for potential inhibitory action towards Type I polyketide synthase 13 (Pks13). For this purpose, isoniazid, and a co‐crystallized PDB ligand were used as reference drug. Tecomaquinone‐I exhibited best docking score (−12.4 kcal/mol) among all the tested compounds. Molecular simulation and QSAR study of tecomaquinone‐I favoured docking results. Hence, the present study suggests that tecomaquinone‐I exhibits potent anti‐tubercular activity.

Metabolite profile, antiproliferative, and antioxidant activity of Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia crassicarpa extracts

Acacia auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa can be used as non-timber forest products to produce therapeutic agents. To achieve this, it is essential to identify the metabolite profile and biological activity of these raw materials. In this study, a liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry platform was used to identify metabolites in the leaf, bark, and heartwood extracts that were positively related to antioxidant and antiproliferative activity using in vitro and in silico studies. A. crassicarpa heartwood extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to the other extracts. Moreover, the leaf and heartwood extracts from A. auriculiformis, as well as the heartwood extracts from A. crassicarpa, showed significantly high antiproliferative activity. Multivariate analysis using an orthogonal partial least squares model identified several metabolites as significant marker and differentiator compounds between the two Acacia species, with a positive correlation to biological activity. The molecular docking technique predicted various positions of hydroxyl substitution on the flavonoids from A. crassicarpa and A. auriculiformis that alter their binding energy to target receptors, which are related to oxidative stress and cancer treatment targets. Moreover, the methylated flavonoid molecules provide less binding energy. These flavonoids and their derivatives were predominantly found in the heartwood extracts, which demonstrates their potential for further exploration using this part of A. crassicarpa and A. auriculiformis.

Phytochemical Analysis of Pinus cembra Heartwood-UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn with Focus on Flavonoids, Stilbenes, Bibenzyls and Improved HPLC Separation.

The heartwood of the Swiss Stone Pine, Pinus cembra L., has been scarcely investigated for secondary metabolites for a long period of time. Considering age and relative simplicity of heartwood investigations dating back to the 1940s to 1960s, we conducted the first investigation of P. cembra heartwood by HPLC, using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn and HPLC-DAD techniques in combination with isolation and NMR spectroscopy, with focus on stilbenes, bibenzyls and flavonoids. Analytical problems in the HPLC analysis of Pinus stilbenes and flavonoids on reversed stationary phases were also challenged, by comparing HPLC on pentafluorophenyl (PFP) and C18 stationary phases. Seven flavonoids (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12), four stilbenes (4, 6, 10, 13), two bibenzyls (5, 9), three fatty acids (14, 16, 17) and one diterpenic acid (15) were detected in an ethanolic extract of Pinus cembra heartwood. HPLC comparison of reversed stationary phases in HPLC showed that the antifungal, antibacterial and chemosensitizing dihydropinosylvin monomethyl ether (9) and pinosylvin monomethyl ether (10) can be separated on PFP, but not on C18 material, when eluting with a screening gradient of 20-100% acetonitrile. Flavonoid separation showed additional benefits of combining analyses on different stationary phases, as flavonoids 7 and 8 could only be separated on one of two C18 stationary phases. Earlier phytochemical results for heartwood investigations were shown to be mostly correct, yet expandable. Substances 5 to 12 were found in alignment with these references, proving remarkable phytochemical analyses at the time. Evidence for the described presence of pinobanksin could not be found. Substances 1 to 4 and 13 have to our knowledge not yet been described for P. cembra.

Biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Caesalpinia sappan extract: In vitro evaluation of antifungal and antibiofilm activities against Candida albicans.

Synthesis of nanoparticles using natural organic substances has attracted more attention due to avoiding inorganic toxicity. This work aimed to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using Caesalpinia sappan heartwood extract as a reducing agent. The effects of pH of synthesis reaction were investigated. The obtained CuONPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Their particle size, size distribution, and zeta potential were determined using photon correlation spectrophotometry. Candida albicans is a major cause of chronic fungal infections due to its biofilms leading to severe drug resistance problems. In this study, in vitro antifungal and antibiofilm activities as well as killing kinetics of the synthesized CuONPs against C. albicans were investigated. Additionally, fungal biofilm was observed by using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results showed that the pH of the synthesis reaction played an important role in the physicochemical properties and antifungal activities of the obtained CuONPs. CuONPs synthesized at pH 10 and 12 showed the relatively small and narrow size distribution with high negative zeta potential and time-dependent killing kinetics. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirms obvious fungal biofilm reduction and increased fungal cell death after exposure to CuONPs. These findings suggest the optimal pH of CuONPs synthesis using C. sappan extract as a reducing agent. The results on antifungal and antibiofilm activities indicate that the obtained CuONPs can be a promising agent for treating fungal infection.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Antimalarial Compounds from the Bidara Laut (Strychnos ligustrina) Heartwood

The aqueous wood extract of bidara laut (Strychnos ligustrina) from maceration demonstrated the greatest antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7. However, this method has several limitations, including a lengthy extraction time, which allows for microorganism contamination. The aim of this study was to quantify the yield, evaluate the antimalarial effectiveness of the P. falciparum growth in-vitro, and analyze the aqueous bidara laut heartwood extracts phytochemical composition from the two different extraction methods, namely the method of maceration extraction for 24 hours and the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for 30 (UAE30), 45 (UAE45), and 60 (UAE60) minutes. The bidara laut heartwood extract from the UAE60 method had relatively similar yield and antimalarial activity with the bidara laut heartwood extract from the UAE45 method. However, these extracts had higher yield and antimalarial activity than the extracts from the maceration and the UAE30 methods. The results of LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the main compounds in the UAE45 and UAE60 extracts were strychnine, quinaprilat, and 3,4-bis-cyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione, which has potent antimalarial properties. Keywords: antimalarial activity, Plasmodium falciparum, quinaprilat, strychnine, Strychnos ligustrina

Gastroprotective effect of the flavonoid fustin isolated from Cotinus coggygria heartwood in a rat model of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration

Abstract Gastric ulcer is a common health issue. Cotinus coggygria heartwood extracts rich in the flavonoids fustin and sulfuretin have shown protective effects in a rat model of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. Fustin itself has been protective in a rat model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. In the present study we aimed to reveal the effect of the flavonoid fustin isolated from Cotinus coggygria heartwood in a rat model of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. Fustin was isolated from Cotinus coggygria heartwood and purified. The experiment was performed on 30 male Wistar rats allocated to three groups – Control, Indo and F10. F10 group was pretreated with fustin (10 mg/kg b.w. for 7 days). Rats were sacrificed and macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations of the stomachs were performed. Indomethacin caused severe mucosal damage, proven by the macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical gastric mucosa investigation. Fustin pretreatment slightly reduced the macroscopic indices for gastric damage (ulcer number, area, score and index), and significantly alleviated the severity of the microscopic indices (mucosal erosions, necrosis, hemorrhages and inflammation). In fustin-pretreated rats, the expression of NF-κB was reduced in comparison with indomethacin-treated animals. In conclusion, fustin exerted a gastroprotective action in an indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration model, probably due to its anti-inflammatory activity.