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Rhus aromatica inhabits humid oak and oakpine forests in the State of Michoacán (Mexico). The fruit of R. aromatica is edible and is traditionally used in the preparation of soft drinks, ice pops, ice creams and ‘atole’. The objective of the present investigation was to carry out a physical and chemical characterization and analysis of the antioxidant capacity of fruit. For the physical characterization, the equatorial and longitudinal diameter, weight and percentage of pulp were determined. In the chemical characterization, a proximal analysis was carried out, quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids was performed, and the antioxidant capacity was determined. The results showed that the fruit had a longitudinal diameter of 6.58 ± 1.02 mm, an equatorial diameter of 7.17 ± 0.66, a weight of 55.22 ± 5.47 mg, and a 40 % pulp proportion. The chemical characterization analysis indicated 8.7 % moisture, 30.6 % lipids, 8.7 % proteins, 29.4 % total sugars, 3.8 % ashes and 18.7 % crude fibre, 3.1 °Brix, pH 3.1, 1.92 % acidity total and a caloric intake of 4.27 kcal/g. The polyphenol content was higher in 60 % ethanol extracts with 88.6 ± 50.89 mg EAG/g; for flavonoids from extracts with 100 % acetone, it was 26.52 ± 0.65 mg EQ/g, and the total carotenoid content was 46.37 mg/100 g. The total antioxidant activity was higher in extracts with 80 % acetone, with 87.17 % inhibition of the DPPH radical and 90 % inhibition of ABTS without showing a significant difference with the different solvents used. The lowest IC50 values were presented in 100 % ethanol and 60 % methanol extracts for the DPPH radical and for the ABTS radical were the 80 % ethanol and 60 % methanol extracts. The lipid, protein, carotenoid, and polyphenol contents and antioxidant capacity of the fruit of R. aromatica were as high as those of other fruits consumed in the human diet.

Degraded, highly compacted soils along roadsides present an inhospitable environment for trees and shrubs and lead to the failure of urban landscapes. Developing and testing practices to ameliorate urban soils, thereby improving plant growth and survival, is essential. This research compared the effects of waste-derived soil amendments on woody landscape plants and soil properties on a compacted highway roadside in Tacoma, Washington, U.S., and compared surface application versus incorporation of amendments. Treatments included yard debris compost (surface-applied and incorporated), biosolids blend (surfaceapplied and incorporated), and worm castings (surface-applied only), plus a control with no amendments. Amendments were applied 8 cm deep, and incorporated to a 10-15 cm depth on the tilled plots. An 8-cm layer of bark mulch was blown onto all plots, including the control. Rhus aromatica, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Mahonia aquifolium were transplanted from 3.8 L containers in March 2007. One year later, soil under the mulch/amendments was analyzed for bulk density, total carbon, and nitrogen. Plant growth and survival was evaluated for three years. Incorporating soil amendments reduced bulk density by >50% and increased soil C and N tenfold in the incorporated zone. Soil properties within the surface and control treatments or within the incorporated treatments were not different. All amendments significantly improved plant growth in comparison to the bark mulch control, in the order worm castings ≥ biosolids blend ≥ yard debris compost. Neither plant growth nor plant survival was affected by surface application versus incorporation, and plant roots remained confined to the amended zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]