Pistacia Research Articles

OCCURRENCE OF ALTERNARIA SPECIES INVOLVED IN FRUIT BLIGHT OF PISTACHIO IN TUNISIA

During summer 2007-2010, a new disease was observed on pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cv. Mateur in several orchards of Tunisia. Symptoms on the nuts consisted of black lesions with red halos, resulting in yield losses often exceeding 20%. A fungus recovered on potato dextrose agar (PDA) from surface-disinfected symptomatic nuts, produced cottony colonies characterized by an abundant branched, brownish, septate mycelium which, with time, turned olive-green to dark olive-green due to abundant sporulation. Conidiophores were simple or branched, septate, straight or flexuous, pale olivaceous-brown, and bore several conidial scars. Conidia were 100-200 mm in size, obclavate to ellipsoid, multiseptate and formed in single or, more often, branched chains. Based on these morphological characters, the fungus was identified as Alternaria sp. (Fr.) Keissler (Ellis, 1971). Pathogenicity tests were carried out on detached fresh pistachio nuts inoculating the hull with 5 μl conidial suspensions prepared from actively growing colonies (105 conidia/ml sterile distilled water). All isolates induced symptoms similar to those observed in the field after 15 days. An Alternaria sp. was reisolated from symptomatic fruits. To identify the fungus at the species level, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was amplified with primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al., 1990) and the amplicons were directly sequenced. A BLAST search of GenBank database revealed 99% homology with both A. alternata (accession No. HQ873733.1) and A. tenuissima (HQ916330.1). To our knowledge this is the first report of an Alternaria species of the alternata species-group, as the causal agent of pistachio fruit blight in Tunisia.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity ofPistacia khinjukin Different Experimental Models: Isolation and Characterization of Its Flavonoids and Galloylated Sugars

The present study aimed at isolating and elucidating the structure of the main components of Pistacia khinjuk L. and exploring its potential anti-inflammatory effect in different experimental models. The extract was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by measuring paw volume in three experimental models. Then, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) level, ear edema, tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, histopathology, nitric oxide (NO) level, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level were assessed. Seven phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids and galloylated compounds, were isolated from the aqueous methanol extract: gallic acid (1), methyl gallate (2), quercetin-3-O-β-D-⁴C₁-galactopyranoside (hyperin) (3), myricetin-3-O-α-L-¹C₄-rhamnopyranoside (myricitrin) (4), 1,6-digalloyl-β-D-glucose (5), 1,4-digalloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), and 2,3-di-O-galloyl-(α/β)-⁴C₁-glucopyranose (nilocitin) (7). The anti-inflammatory activity was evidenced by decreased carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and PGE₂ elevation. In the croton oil-induced ear edema model, MPO activity was significantly inhibited, and inflammatory histopathological changes were ameliorated. In the rat air pouch model, NO generation and TNF-α release were significantly inhibited. The isolation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data of compound 6 from the genus Pistacia are revealed for the first time. Also, P. khinjuk L. aqueous methanol extract possesses anti-inflammatory activity in several experimental models.

Patch size of gall‐forming aphids: deme formation revisited

AbstractPlants of the genus Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) serve as obligate hosts for a group of specialized gall‐forming aphids (Homoptera: Fordinae). The aphids regularly migrate between the Pistacia (primary) host plants and the roots of non‐specific grasses and cereals (secondary hosts). Gall density varies considerably between trees and sites. The intimate relationships between the aphids and their primary host, the natural variation of host susceptibility, and the heterogeneous geographical environment may promote local adaptation and deme formation in the aphid populations. Indeed, previous analyses of the genetic structure of the aphid Baizongia pistaciae, which forms large galls on the deciduous P. palaestina trees, suggested deme formation (Martinez et al. 2005). In this study, we analyzed the genetic structure of the B. pistaciae population at eight sites and 78 trees throughout Israel and a single population in Turkey, using two molecular markers (AFLP fingerprints and COI sequencing). The genetic distance between the Israeli populations was found to be low (D = 0.01–0.02), and there was no genetic differentiation found between any population pairs. In five of the Israeli populations, we also compared the genetic identity between aphids forming galls on the same tree and between galls on neighboring trees. The analysis indicated that the genetic identity of different galls within a tree resembles the correspondence between trees within a population. Our results showed no indication of deme formation or any hierarchical genetic substructuring within B. pistaciae populations in Israel. The extensive gene flow between aphid colonies may be explained by their dispersal abilities and the potential bridging role of the secondary hosts.

Aspects of ancient Greek trade re-evaluated with amphora DNA evidence

Ancient DNA trapped in the matrices of ceramic transport jars from Mediterranean shipwrecks can reveal the goods traded in the earliest markets. Scholars generally assume that the amphora cargoes of 5th–3rd century B.C. Greek shipwrecks contained wine, or to a much lesser extent olive oil. Remnant DNA inside empty amphoras allows us to test that assumption. We show that short ∼100 nucleotides of ancient DNA can be isolated and analyzed from inside the empty jars from either small amounts of physical scrapings or material captured with non-destructive swabs. Our study material is previously inaccessible Classical/Hellenistic Greek shipwreck amphoras archived at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in Athens, Greece. Collected DNA samples reveal various combinations of olive, grape, Lamiaceae herbs (mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage), juniper, and terebinth/mastic (genus Pistacia). General DNA targeting analyses also reveal the presence of pine ( Pinus), and DNA from Fabaceae (Legume family); Zingiberaceae (Ginger family); and Juglandaceae (Walnut family). Our results demonstrate that amphoras were much more than wine containers. DNA shows that these transport jars contained a wide range of goods, bringing into question long-standing assumptions about amphora use in ancient Greece. Ancient DNA investigations open new research avenues, and will allow accurate reconstruction of ancient diet, medicinal compounds, value-added products, goods brought to market, and food preservation methods.

Evaluation of antibacterial activity and wound healing of Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia khinjuk

Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia khinjuk are two major Pistacia species that grow in the Zagrossian region and classified into the Anacardiaceae family. In this work we investigated the drug properties of these plants. Experiments were carried out by extract of plants in vitro and in vivo (what kind of extract? both of them). In the in vitro experiments, antibacterial activity of four kinds of extract of P. atlantica and P. khinjuk were evaluated using the disk diffusion method on three strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis). All the tests were compared with the inhibitory effect of proper antibiotics commonly used against these bacteria (Gentamicin, Tobramycin and Kanamycin). The in vivo experiment was undertaken to assess the potential of methanolic extract of P. khinjuk in wound healing in wistar rats by using excision wound model. The results showed that extract of two plants had a beneficial drug property. These results suggested that P. khinjuk and P. atlantica possess compounds with wound healing and antibacterial activity properties. Key words: Antibacterial activity, wound healing, Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia khinjuk.

Antibacterial activity of moroccan plants extracts against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp . michiganensis, the causal agent of tomatoes' bacterial canker

In search for alternative ways of tomatoes’ bacterial canker control, we screened here forty medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) sampled from 15 families, currently used in southern Moroccan traditional medicine, for their activity against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp . michiganensis the causal agent of this disease. The antibacterial efficacy of powders of these plants was determined in vitro using the agar plate’s methods. Results obtained show that all the forty plants tested inhibited the bacterial growth of this pathogen with inhibition zone diameter ranging from 5 to 50 mm. Determination of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the most effective plants indicates that there plants gender Rubus, Anvillea and Pistacia have the lower MIC which is equal to 3,125 mg ml -1 . The other plants ( Lavandula coronopifolia, Lavandula stoechas, Rosa canina, Cistus monspliensis and Cistus crispus ) had a MIC equal to 6.25 mg ml -1 . The MBC for different plants tested are between 6.25 mg ml -1 , case of Rubus ulmifolius and 25 mg ml -1 . The germination percentage of seeds treated with the most efficient three plants extracts was significantly higher than the untreated. Seeds treated with the extract of L. coronopifolia gave the higher germination rate (98%). The rate germination is 84 to 88% respectively for Cistus monspeliensis and Rubus ulmifolius . In other hand population size of the bacterium in the seeds’ surface was significantly reduced compared to the controls for the three treatments, when tomato seeds were artificially inoculated with the pathogen before being treated with the plants extracts (aqueous extracts).

Host range of Phytophthora parsiana : a new high temperature pathogen of woody plants

Normal 0 14 false false false IT ZH-TW X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Among several Phytophthora spp. reported previously from Pistacia vera in Iran, a high temperature species recently identified as P. parsiana (formerly known as high temperature P. cryptogea ) is becoming important in woody plants, including P. vera . The host range of this newly recognised species, including both annual and perennial plants, is reported here. The pathogen infected 4–5 month-old glasshouse grown seedlings of P. vera , Ficus carica , Malus pumila and Prunus dulcis , and detached stems of 23 woody plants collected during dormant and growing seasons. Nineteen field and vegetable crops and 17 weed species were not infected by P. parsiana in these pathogenicity assays.

Evaluation of genetic relationships among Iranian pistachios using microsatellite markers developed from Pistacia khinjuk Stocks

To evaluate the genetic relationships among wild and cultivated Pistacia species grown in Iran and the analysis of genetic variation among Iranian pistachio genotypes, two DNA libraries enriched for dinucleotide (AG) n and trinucleotide (ATG) n microsatellite motifs were developed from Pistacia khinjuk genome. Following screening of clones by colony PCR technique, 44 clones were sequenced and 27 pairs of primers designed from flanking regions of the repeats. The examination of primer pairs, designed from P. khinjuk sequences, showed successful cross-species amplification within the genus Pistacia. A dendrogram constructed on the basis of the Minimum Evolution clustering algorithm revealed that Pistacia vera has closer relationships with P. khinjuk, than with Pistacia integerrima, Pistacia palaestina, Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia mutica. The dendrogram further distinguished the wild Sarakhs pistachio from the rest of P. vera genotypes suggesting that the domesticated genotypes of P. vera are evolved from P. vera var. Sarakhs and then this wild genotype likely develops to other local pistachios. Hence, it seems that the wild Sarakhs pistachio plays an important role in evolutionary trend of the edible pistachios in Iran. The results indicated that microsatellites developed in P. khinjuk are distributed in the genome of indigenous pistachio species including P. vera genotypes and therefore they will be useful in characterization of Iranian pistachio genotypes.

Effect of acute administration of dietary Pistacia lentiscus L. essential oil on the ischemia-reperfusion-induced changes in rat frontal cortex and plasma

In this study Pistacia lentiscus L. essential oil (E.O.), a mixture of terpenes and sesquiterpenes, was tested for its protective effects in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury in Wistar rat frontal cortex and plasma. Cerebral ischemia was produced by a 20 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by 30 min reperfusion. Pistacia lentiscus L. essential oil (E.O.) (200 mg/0, 45 ml of sunflower oil as vehicle) was administered via gavage 6 hours prior to ischemia. Rats were randomly assigned to four groups, ischemic/reperfused (I/R) and sham-operated rats treated with the vehicle or with E.O.. Different brain areas were analysed for fatty acid changes and expression of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Ischemia/reperfusion triggered in frontal cortex a decrease of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the membrane highly polyunsaturated fatty acid (HPUFA) most susceptible to oxidation. Pre-treatment with E.O. prevented this change and led further to decreased levels of COX-2, as assessed by Western Blot. In plasma of ischemic/reperfused rats, E.O. administration increased both the DHA-to-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio and levels of the endocannabinoid congeners palmytoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). The results obtained suggest that ischemia/reperfusion triggers a cerebral insult sufficient to cause a a region specific lipid peroxidation as evidenced by the detectable, significant decrease in the tissue level of DHA, the most abundant essential fatty acid of neuronal membrane phospholipids. Acute dietary pre-treatment with E.O. triggers modifications both in the frontal cortex, where COX-2 expression decreases and the decrease of DHA is apparently prevented, and in plasma, where PEA and OEA levels increase. We suggest that the activity of PEA and OEA, as endogenous ligands of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha, by inducing the peroxisomal beta oxidation, may explain the observed increase in the DHA/EPA ratio. The latter, in fact, might account for an increased metabolism of n-3 aimed at restoring DHA within damaged brain tissue. The possibility that changes in fatty acid metabolism and plasmatic availability of PEA and OEA are correlated events represents an issue worth future investigations.

Effects of different organic materials and chemical fertilizers on nutrition of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) in organic arboriculture.

This study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to investigate the effects of applied nutrients such as six organic materials (gyttja, alsil, humic acid, sea moss, straw and peat) and two chemical fertilizers (15-15-15 and 20-20-0) with different dosages on nutrient uptaking ability of one-year old and 7 cm long pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) trees by analyzing nutrient (mineral) contents of pistachio (P. vera L.) leaves. The experiment was designed as randomized block design with four replicates. Even though organic and inorganic materials had different effects on element contents of pistachio (P. vera L.) leaves, these materials had statistically significant effects on P, Mg, Na, Mn and Cu contents of pistachio leaves. The effect of organic and inorganic materials on K, Ca, Zn, and Fe contents of pistachio (P. vera L.) leaves was statistically not significant. Besides, inorganic fertilizers increased P content of pistachio (P. vera L.) leaves, but this increase caused the decrease of Cu content. High level of P content may be the reason of low uptake of some micro elements such as Cu. Although application of organic and inorganic materials generally increases P uptake, organic materials especially peat, gyttja and sea moss increased nutrient contents of pistachio (P. vera L.) leaves. The results of this study can be utilized by pistachio growers in especially areas having low nutrients. Key words: Organic material, chemical fertilizer, Pistacia vera L., soil conditioner, arboriculture.

Antimicrobial activity evaluation of the oleoresin oil of Pistacia vera L.

The hydrodistilled essential oils from the exudates of Pistacia vera L. stems have been tested against three bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus andProteus using three methods: agar disc diffusion method, determination of MIC (minimal inhibitory concentrations) and in the liquid phase, by Maruzella method.The results obtained showed that E. coli was the greatest inhibitor of all the strains tested, and that Gram negative bacteria (E. coli and Proteus spp.) showed more inhibition than that observed on Gram positive bacteria (S. aureus) by the essential oil tested. Key words: Essential oils, oleoresin of Pistacia vera L., strains tested, antimicrobial activity determination.

Fatty acid composition of oils from fruits of three Pistacia species growing in Iran

The Pistacia genus belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and consists of 11 species. Three Pistacia species occur naturally in Iran, including Pistacia vera, Pistacia atlantica, and Pistacia khinjuk [1]. P. khinjuk and P. atlantica grow wildly and largely in the southwest and west of Iran. P. atlantica var mutica is the most popular species of P. atlantica. P. vera is a single domestic species of Pistacia genus, too. The major pistachio producers in the world are Iran, USA, Turkey, and Syria [2]. Iran, with its 350,000 ha of P. vera growing area, is indeed the greatest pistachio producer in the world. The most popular cultivar of P. vera in Iran is Ohadi (more than 60%) [3]. The oil of pistachio contains linoleic and linolenic acids that are essential in human diet. Moreover, these fatty acids have been shown to reduce the level of cholesterol in blood. They prevent cardivascular diseases better than any other oil [4, 5]. Furthermore, pistachio nut oil is also used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries [6]. In this investigation, the fatty acid composition of P. vera cv ohadi (PVO), P. atlantica var. mutica (PAM), and P. khinjuk (PKH) was studied. The fruit samples of PAM and PKH were collected from fields in Marvdasht and Kazeroon in Fars Province, respectively, and those of PVO were collected in Feizabad in Khorasan Razavi Province. All samples were stored at –18C until analysis. PVO and PAM grow in mild and cool climates and PKH grows in warm regions. The fatty acid compositions of the oils were analyzed by GC, and the results are given in Table 1. The major fatty acid components characterized in the oil were as follow: oleic acid (51.46–52.12%), linoleic acid (17.44–35.85%), palmitic acid (8.5–17.82%), palmitoleic acid (1.23–5.73%), stearic acid (1.48–2.61%), and linolenic acid (0.95–1.5%), but margaric acid (0.4%), margaroleic acid (0.43%), gadoleic acid (0.76%), and erucic acid (0.88%) were only identified in the fatty acid composition of PKH oil. Fatty acid components representing about 99.51–99.73% of total oil were characterized. The amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the kernel oils were found to be 10.04–20.83% and 71.6–84.9%, respectively. The main fatty acid component found in PKH, PVO, and PAM oils was oleic acid, and no significant difference was observe for the three pistachio varieties studied. Linoleic acid was a secondary fatty acid for PVO and PAM oils, but in PKH oil, there was no significant difference between linoleic acid and palmitic acid contents. The amount of palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid was greatest for PKH oil, followed by PAM and PVO oils, respectively. The amount of stearic acid in PKH and PAM oils was statistically the same, which was greater than that in PVO oil. The linoleic acid content of PKH oil was much lower than that of PVO and PAM. The percentage of linolenic acid in the three pistachio varieties studied was approximately the same. The PKH oil was characterized by its higher palmitic and palmitoleic acids in comparison with PVO and PAM oils. Margaric, margaroleic, gadoleic, and erucic acids were also identified in the fatty acid composition of PKH oil. From the viewpoint of nutritional value, PVO is the best Pistacia species (having the highest unsaturated fatty acids especially essential fatty acids, and the lowest saturated fatty acid), followed by PAM and PKH, respectively.

Application of RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) marker for sex determination of Pistacia vera L.

Sex determination in Pistacia as a dioecious plant is economically desirable. Identification of the male and female plants has a great value for Pistacia yield production. In the present study, leaf samples from four female plants from cultivars of Pistacia including Akbary, Akbar Aghaei, Fandoghi, and Kalleh Ghochi as well as male plants were used for RAPD PCR amplification. Among 32 primers with 10 mer two primers (FPKI106 and FPK105) were able to discriminate between female and male plants. Few bands were detected in the DNA pattern of male while they were absent in the female individuals. The PCR conditions were reproducible and can be recommended for sex determination of Pistacia vera cultivars.

Total tannin content in distinct Quercus robur L. galls

The total tannin contents of three different Quercus robur L. galls collected from Estonia, three reference galls, and two plants were estimated. The dry common oak gall-apples tannin content was 47.2%; in brown shiny galls - 4.2%, and in grape galls - 3.4%; in Chinese galls - 89.1%, in Turkey galls - 81.4%, and in pistacia galls - 52.4%; in oak bark - 9.1%, and in common tormentil roots - 21.1%. The present study shows that the Quercus robur common oak gall-apples but not brown shiny galls or grape galls may be used as raw material for production of tannin containing traditional remedies. Key words: Cynipid galls, Quercus robur, common oak, tannins.

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTS OF PISTACIA ATLANTICA DESF. LEAVES

ABSTRACT Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Anacardiaceae), a tree that is widely distributed in the Marmara, Mediterranean and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey, has been utilized traditionally for culinary and medicinal purposes. In the present study, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared from young leaves of P. atlantica Desf., which were collected during the spring, and their antioxidant, scavenging, chelating and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities were evaluated. Both of the extracts showed strong antioxidant activity compared to synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene and α-tocopherol whereas they exhibited relatively lower level of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of the ethylacetate extract was higher than the inhibitory effect of the methanolic extract. Therefore, the extracts of the young leaves of P. atlantica Desf. might be a potential antioxidant supplement for food and pharmaceutical products. It might also be used to stabilize the foods against oxidative deterioration. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Anacardiaceae) is a tree located in the Marmara, Mediterranean and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. The genus Pistacia includes at least 11 species. The mastic obtained from Pistacia species has been used as urinary and respiratory antiseptic in Turkish folk medicine. During the spring, the young leaves of P. atlantica Desf. are used as a vegetable and commonly consumed as cooked food in the Mediterranean and East Anatolian parts of Turkey. Pistacia species have been reported to posses anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-insect, anti-atherogenic, hypoglycemic, anticancer and hepatoprotective activities. The aerial parts and/or resin of the plant has been also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of eczema, paralysis, diarrhea, throat infections, renal stones, jaundice, asthma and stomach ache, and also as an astringent and a pectoral stimulant. According to our results, the high antioxidant properties of the leaves of P. atlantica Desf. might be beneficial to the antioxidant protection system of the human body against oxidative damage.

Essential oil yield and composition of Pistacia vera ‘Kerman’ fruits, peduncles and leaves grown in California

Pistacia vera 'Kerman' is the predominant pistachio nut cultivar in the United States (California), the world's second largest producer. Despite several reports on the essential oil (EO) content in the genus Pistacia, data on 'Kerman' are limited. The EO content and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of tree nut orchards are of current interest to researchers investigating insect pests and the potential role of EO and VOCs as semiochemicals. To establish a basis for the VOC output of pistachios, the EO content of fruits, peduncles, and leaves was analyzed. Evaluated plant parts contained limonene as the primary EO component, followed by alpha-terpinolene. Peduncles were unique in containing relatively high levels of alpha-thujene. The results were reproducible between two different geographical locations. In situ solid phase microextraction (SPME) studies demonstrated the volatile emission was representative of the EO composition. This is the first report detailing the content and distribution of EO and the unique limonene-dominant profile for this Pistacia vera cultivar which may influence pistachio insect pest semiochemical research.

Inflammatory bowel disease induced by intracolon instillation of acetic acid: screening study of the effects of different natural drugs

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is an autoimmune disease associated with altered immunological response, genetic susceptibility and intestinal microflora disorders. The main clinical manifestations are abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucous bloody and purulent stools, recurrent attacks, and relapse. The mainstream treatment of patients with IBD has been the use of anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory drugs and antibiotics to relieve the symptoms. However currently available drugs are not universally effective and cause considerable adverse effects particularly for long-term therapy. Therefore, there is a pressing need for research that leads to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IBD. In this context, as a phytotherapic approach, the effects of different plant extracts with anti-inflammatory properties were here investigated in a model of experimental colitis in rat. One hour after induction of colitis by intracolonal instillation of 4% (v/v) acetic acid, extracts of Coriandrum sativum L., Helichrysum italicum Dom., Aloe vera L., Cynara scolymus L., Zingiber officinalis Rosc., Boswellia carteri, Pistacia lentiscus L. (1000 mg/Kg) or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), the last used as a reference drug, were orally administered. Body weight changes, fecal boli, occurrence of diarrhoea and well-being of the animals were examined 24 hour after induction of colitis. The severity of colitis was assessed by evaluating the macroscopic and microscopic changes of damaged colon and by the measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The analyses showed that the treatment with Coriandrum sativum L., Helichrysum italicum Dom., Aloe vera L., Cynara scolymus L., Zingiber officinalis Rosc. reduced ulceration and inflammation of colon and countered mieloperoxidase activity elevation. Moreover these extracts reduced microscopic damage as indicated by the decrease of neutrophil infiltration. The present results point out a protective effect of these extracts in experimental rat colitis induced by intracolon instillation of acetic acid, a reliable model for screening agents to potential benefits in IBD. Further studies are needed to better characterize the effect and the possible mechanism(s) of action of these extracts.

Bridging the gap between ethnobotany and biotechnology of Pistacia

The genus Pistacia consists of 11 species and one hybrid of deciduous trees and evergreen shrubs. The evolution of the genus Pistacia and the relationships among its species is presented from paleobotanical, archaeological, historical, and ethnobotanical perspectives. Pistacia trees and their products have accompanied human culture since ancient times. The accumulating data hint at untapped potential of the genus in the environmental, agricultural, and biotechnological fields. Recent modern research has revealed medicinally useful compounds in Pistacia gum, resin, and in solvent extracts. Also, many of Pistacia nutritional qualities are awaiting further research.

Antigenotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Fruit Extracts from (Tunisian) Pistacia Lentiscus

Genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities against direct acting mutagen nifuroxazide, and indirect acting genotoxin aflatoxine B1 (AFB1) of extracts prepared from fruits of Pistacia lentiscus, were studied using the SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ 37 as a tester organism. It was found that different extracts showed no genotoxicity when tested with E. coli PQ 37 strain either with or without microsomal extract. On the other hand, our results showed that ethyl acetate fraction and total oligomers flavonoids (TOF) extract obtained from P. lentiscus significantly decreased the genotoxicicity induced by AFB1 (10 μg/assay) and nifuroxazide (20 μg/assay). In addition to antigenotoxic activity, these extracts showed an important free radical scavenging activity towards the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and an important antioxidant activity using xanthine/xanthine oxidase system.

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT FUNCTIONAL TYPES BASED ON DOMINANT TREE SPECIES IN THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM AT FUNIU MOUNTAIN NATIONAL RESERVE, EAST CHINA

Aims Dominant tree species control the structure and function of forest ecosystems. De-limiting plant functional types (PFTs) based on dominant tree species, therefore, can assist in under-standing the functional, structural framework and species distributions of an ecosystem. Straddling the subtropical and warm-temperate zones of the Funiu Mountain National Natural Reserve, East China, is representative of north-south climatic transition zones. The tree layer is composed mainly of a few dominant species whose abundances vary along altitudinal gradients. Methods Using community ecology techniques, we sampled the north and south slopes of Funiu Mountain. We calculated species importance values for 37 tree species and identified dominant species. χ2 tests, together with association coefficient and percentage co-occurrence, were used to measure inter-specific associations of the dominant tree species. PFTs were defined according to interspecific associa-tions and altitudinal distributions of the dominant species. Important findings Four dominant tree species (Quercus variabilis, Q. glandulifera, Q. acutidentata, Pinus armandi) formed the basis of four PFTs: Ⅰ. Q. variabilis, Q. aliena, Aldizzia kalkora, Castaneaseguinii (under 1 000 m); Ⅱ. Q. glandulifera, Platycarya strobilacea, Pistacia chinensis (1 100-1 400 m); Ⅲ. Q. acutidentata, Carpinus cordata, Toxicodendron vernicifluum (1 400-1 800 m) and Ⅳ. Pinus armandi, P. tabulaeformis, Abelia biflora, Betula platyphylla, B. albo-sinensis (above 1 800 m). These PFTs differ in many morphological traits such as leaf size and phellem (cork) thickness, Further eco-physiological studies are required to better understand these differences.