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Crypsis is a common strategy used by animals to avoid detection. In many bird taxa, plumage colour patterns are assumed to play a role in crypsis, but few studies have directly measured plumage crypsis on ecologically relevant substrates from the perspective of relevant signal receivers. To address this gap, we tested whether the plumage colour patterns of three North American woodpeckers commonly found in New Jersey (U.S.A.) are more cryptic to avian predators on trees utilized for foraging than a random subset of trees from their habitat. We focused on the red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus , downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens , and hairy woodpecker, Leuconotopicus villosus. First, we took standardized photographs of the bark of trees on which we observed woodpeckers foraging, as well as photographs of the bark of trees from transects in the same area. Next, we superimposed standardized photographs of woodpecker specimens (dorsal view) onto the bark samples and adjusted the resulting images to estimate how they would appear to the visual system of an avian predator. We then estimated four types of achromatic crypsis from each bird/bark combination image: granularity matching, contrast matching, luminance matching and disruptive coloration. We also estimated how well woodpeckers matched the bark substrates in terms of colour by quantifying the degree of colour similarity in a colour space representing a typical avian predator. We found that woodpeckers were more cryptic against trees they utilized for foraging in terms of disruptive coloration, luminance matching and colour matching, suggesting that the need to be cryptic while foraging is likely to have shaped the evolution of woodpecker plumage patterning. • We tested degree of crypsis of woodpecker plumage on foraging and nonforaging trees. • All three woodpecker species tested were more cryptic on foraging trees. • Crypsis strategies included disruptive coloration, luminance matching and colour matching. • Woodpecker species showed some degree of crypsis specialization. • Avian predator visual acuity influences effectiveness of woodpecker crypsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cork, the outermost tissue of bark, plays an important role in protecting trees from the surrounding environment and is used for various purposes, including flooring and insulation materials for buildings. This study focused on the amount and distribution of hydrophobic substances such as suberin and lignin in cork, as well as moisture conditions, to understand the mechanical properties of Cerasus jamasakura cork. Strips of cork were subjected to tensile tests after exposure to various moisture conditions (water-saturated, air-dried and oven-dried), and also after the desuberinisation and delignification of specimens. Cork with a high moisture content showed significant strain to the tensile load, whereas oven-dried specimens showed little toughness. The increased toughness of cork at higher moisture contents was due to the continued elongation in the plastic region, especially in the inner cork. The fibre length of the highly deformed cork differed significantly before and after the tensile test. Tensile tests of cork after desuberinisation and delignification indicated that the removal of suberin caused an earlier reduction in tensile properties than the removal of lignin. The presence of suberin in cork, distributed mainly in the inner cork, is believed to affect the tensile properties of cork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composting of sewage sludge (SS) with structure-forming additives is a popular and inexpensive method for the management of biodegradable waste. During this process, a number of transformations of organic matter and nutrients occur. This study presents the rates and directions of quantitative changes in Cu, Zn, and Ni during the composting of various mixtures. The following substances were used for preparing compost mixtures: SS, sawdust, straw, and bark. These substances were mixed together in appropriate proportions as follows: C1: 45% SS + 50% sawdust + 5% straw; C2: 45% SS + 50% bark+ 5% straw; and C3: 45% SS + 35% bark + 15% sawdust + 5% straw. Single (DTPA solution) and sequential extraction methods (BCR protocol) were used for microelement mobility assessment. Compost valorization was performed in each individual composting phase. The chain relative increment analysis was used for such assessment. Additionally, the potential metal pollution in the composts was evaluated by applying the following indices: the pollutant accumulation index (PAI), heavy metal enrichment index (HMEI), and heavy metal pollution load index (HMPLI). During composting, generally, the amounts of Ni, Cu, and Zn increased in the various extracted combinations, which was independent of their susceptibility to decomposition. Despite of this, the tested composts should be considered as a source of slowly available microelements for plants. The most intense quantitative changes in metals occurred in the thermophilic phase, and the weakest changes occurred in the cooling phase. At the same time, the calculated indices indicated a lack of contamination of the composts with the analyzed metals, emphasizing their environmental safety and lack of negative impact. The bulking agents used for composting with SS did not significantly influence the intensity of the quantitative changes in the tested metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bark, the outermost tissue, plays an important role in protecting trees from damage induced by living organisms and the surrounding environment. Bark differs from the xylem primarily by the presence of suberin in cork cell walls. However, few studies have examined the role of suberin and its interactions with other chemical components in the cork. Consequently, this study aimed to understand the distribution of chemical components, including suberin and lignin, and their respective roles in cork cell walls, using Cerasus jamasakura (Siebold ex Koidz.) H. Ohba. Suberin and lignin were gradually and selectively removed from thin strip specimens. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggested that desuberinization removed both suberin and part of the other matrix substances within a few minutes of treatment, whereas delignification exclusively removed lignin. Further microscopic observation revealed that suberin present was mainly in the secondary wall of cork cells, whereas lignin was present in both the tertiary wall and compound middle lamella. In addition, the cell wall collapse of the cork was only found in desuberinized specimens, whereas delignified specimens only showed monotonic contraction. Taken together, these results suggest that the presence of suberin in the cork contributes to the shape stability of cork cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytism is an example of an obligate interspecific interaction between plants, where a plant species grows on another plant species for physical support. In epiphytic orchids that rely on suitable host tree species (phorophytes) and mycorrhizal fungi for germination and growth, a distinct preference has been observed for particular host tree species. However, the factors driving this host preference remain unclear.In this study, we investigated whether mycorrhizal fungi that promote seedling development determine the preference of phorophytes in the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium wangliangii. First, we identified the preferred host tree species for this orchid. Next, in vitro and in situ germination experiments were conducted to identify potential fungi that promote seed germination. Finally, high‐throughput sequencing was used to assess the distribution of these fungi on both colonized host trees and potential host trees, including individual trees of the host species not yet colonized by the orchid and trees of another species growing in the vicinity of a colonized tree.Dendrobium wangliangii exhibited a preference for trees within the Fagaceae family. Two Fusarium species from the bark of host trees were identified as the primary fungi that promote seed germination. Successful protocorm formation and seedling development were observed exclusively on preferred phorophytes. Fungal community analyses further indicated that both Fusarium spp. occurred on all potential host trees, suggesting that the host preference of this epiphytic orchid is not constrained by the distribution of suitable mycorrhizal fungi.Synthesis: Regarding the epiphytes that depend on mycorrhizal fungi for successful seedling recruitment, we conclude that strong epiphyte–phorophyte associations do not arise from the limited distribution of mycorrhizal fungi but are more likely the result of other factors inherent in the phorophyte environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonstructural carbohydrate reserves of stems and roots underpin overall tree fitness and productivity under short-rotation management practices such as coppicing for bioenergy. While sucrose and starch comprise the predominant stem carbohydrate reserves of Populus , utilization for fitness and agricultural productivity is understood primarily in terms of starch turnover. The tonoplast sucrose transport protein SUT4 modulates sucrose export from source leaves to distant sinks during photoautotrophic growth, but the possibility of its involvement in remobilizing carbohydrates from storage organs during heterotrophic growth has not been explored. Here, we used PtaSUT4- knockout mutants of Populus tremula × P. alba (INRA 717-1B4) in winter (cool) and summer (warm) glasshouse coppicing experiments to assess SUT4 involvement in reserve utilization. Conditions preceding and supporting summer sprouting were considered favorable for growth, while those preceding and supporting cool temperature sprouting were suboptimal akin to conditions associated with coppicing as generally practiced. Epicormic bud emergence was delayed in sut4 mutants following lower temperature 'winter' but not summer coppicing. Winter xylem hexose increases were observed in control but not in sut4 stumps after coppicing. The magnitude of starch and sucrose reserve depletion was similar in control and sut4 stumps during the winter and did not explain the sprouting and xylem hexose differences. However, winter maintenance costs appeared higher in sut4 based partly on Krebs cycle intermediate levels. In control plants, bark accrual of abundant defense metabolites, including salicinoids and condensed tannins, was higher in summer than in winter, but this increase of summer defense allocations was attenuated in sut4 mutants. Temperature-sensitive trade-offs between growth and other priorities may therefore depend on SUT4 in Populus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madhuca longifolia is an evergreen tree distributed in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This tree is commonly known as Mahua and is used in traditional medicine. It was demonstrated that ethanol extract from the bark of M. longifolia possessed potent cytotoxic activity towards two melanoma cell lines, in contrast to aqueous extract that exhibited no activity. Apart from being selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells (with no activity towards non-cancerous fibroblasts), the studied extract induced apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species generation in melanoma cells. Additionally, the use of the extract together with dacarbazine (both in non-toxic concentrations) resulted in the enhancement of their anticancer activity. Moreover, the pretreatment of melanoma cells with M. longifolia extract potentiated the activity of a low dose of dacarbazine to an even higher extent. It was concluded that ethanol extract of M. longifolia sensitized human melanoma cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. It can therefore be interesting as a promising source of compounds for prospective combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to explore the phytochemicals, estimate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer potentials of polyphenol enriched methanolic bark extract of Grewia asiatica (PEMGa), and perform molecular docking studies with identified phytocompounds. Here, we utilized response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box Behnken design (BBD) to enhance the phenolic content of the methanolic extract from G. asiatica bark by optimizing three crucial parameters like extraction time (h), temperature of extraction (◦C), and solvent ratio (% v/v of methanol: water). Phytochemical quantification of PEMGa illustrated that the bark part contains a good amount of therapeutically potent phytochemical groups like phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Additionally, through HPLC analysis, eight compounds belonging to the phenolic and flavonoid groups have been quantified from PEMGa. By GC-MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) analysis of PEMGa, eleven phytochemicals were identified. Moreover, employing in-vitro bioactivity studies, PEMGa has unveiled its remarkable potential as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer agent. During the insilico molecular docking study, out of eleven phytocompounds identified by the GC-MS study, three compounds, namely, γ-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, formed the most stable docked complex with antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant target proteins. The present study provides justification for the bark part of G. asiatica as a rich source of potent phytochemicals, and its potential against oxidative stresses, inflammations, cancer, and microbial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new seco-A tirucallane triterpenoid named excelxylin A (1), along with two known seco-A triterpenoids (2–3), were isolated from the n-hexane extract of Dysoxylum excelsum (Spreng.) Blume ex G.Don stem bark. The structure and stereochemistry configuration of compounds 1–3 was established by NMR, IR, and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data analyses and comparison of their NMR data with literatures. The compounds exhibited the carbon framework for seco-A ring tirucallane triterpenoid, first reported in the Dysoxylum genus. All compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against human cervical HeLa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases that contribute to high mortality and morbidity in patients. L-(-)-Quebrachitol (QCT), a natural product, was first isolated from quebracho bark. It can inhibit PAF receptor and decrease gastric damage induced by indomethacin, as a drug against platelet aggregation. Here, five QCT derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation. Among them, compound 3a showed anticoagulant effects comparable to aspirin, while compound 4b showed dose-independent inhibitory activities in rats that were stronger than aspirin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed anatomical features of bark are used and interpreted in plant taxonomy, phylogenetics, and other areas of plant science. However, the delicate nature of bark cells, combined with the difficulty of obtaining high-quality sections and reliable data, limits the potential for utilizing and processing bark. In this study, the anatomical structure of the bark of 10 Quercus species growing in Yunnan Province, China, was characterized in detail. The results indicate that the anatomical features of the barks of 10 Quercus spp. show a certain degree of consistency. Specifically, sieve tubes are distributed in solitary elements or in small groups, mostly as compound sieve plates containing 2–8 sieve areas, suggesting that Quercus spp. may occupy a conservative evolutionary position. Additionally, for the first time, this study reports the presence of simple sieve plates in the sieve tube elements of Quercus phloem. Each sieve tube element has a companion cell on one side. The companion cell strands contain 2–7 cells. Axial parenchyma is diffuse, with parenchyma strands typically consisting of 4–7 cells; druses are present within chambered crystalliferous cells. Phloem rays are of two distinct sizes and often exhibit dilatation and sclerification, and the ray composition consists of procumbent cells. Sclerenchyma is composed of fibers and sclereids, both of which contain prismatic crystals. Most of the fibers are gelatinous fibers, which are distributed in discontinuous tangential bands of about five cells in width. Sclereids appear in clusters. The presence of sclerenchyma provides mechanical support to the bark, reducing the collapse of the phloem. Periderm usually consists of around 10–30 layers of phellem, and Quercus acutissima and Q. variabilis can reach dozens or hundreds layers. The phelloderm typically consists of from two to five layers, with Q. variabilis having up to ten or more layers. The filling tissue of lenticels in all Quercus species is nonstratified (homogeneous) and largely nonsuberized. Overall, this study enriches our comprehension of Quercus bark anatomy, elucidating evolutionary patterns, functional adaptations, and ecological ramifications within this significant botanical genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa plants are among high-value trees and belong to the Moringaceae family, consisting of 13 species and highly distributed in Africa and southern Asia. It is multi-purpose tree with medicinal, nutritional, industrial and socio-economic values. Preliminary information indicates that the human dietary usage of the edible parts of these species is limited. Assessment of the nutritional quality of different moringa parts was not well documented in Oromia. Hence, the aim of this activity is to assess the nutritional qualities of different parts of moringa collected from different districts of Oromia. Sample collection was done from Bako from West Showa, Bishoftu from East Showa, Dalo Mena and Goro from Bale Zone, of Oromia representing mid and low land agro-ecologies of the region. Three to four sampling PAs were used from each district. Different parts of Moringa, namely, leaf, pod, bark, seed and flower were collected from the four districts at least in triplicate. The collected samples were made to dry at room temperature, milled with coffee miller, and passed through a 1 mm standard sieve. The prepared samples were analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions using standard methodologies. The result obtained indicated that leaf is rich in nutrients Ca, Na, Mn and Zn. Moringa flower is rich in nutrients like Zn and Mn, and second in K composition next to pod. The pod is also rich in K and Zn, while the fat and CP contents are high in the seed part of moringa. Generally, Higher % CP, K and P were found from the Bishoftu collection, while Mg, Ca and K were higher for the collection from DM. Bark is poor in protein content compared to other parts of the plant. However, Ca, Mg and Zn are double the optimum composition of plant material. Finally, it is possible to use different moringa parts for food fortification, where determination for antioxidant and nutritional composition analysis is mandatory, as well as future research directions.

This article presents the results of testing the effect of virus infection on the frost resistance of sour cherry varieties of Ukrainian breeding. ‘Ksenia’ and ‘Boguslavka’ varieties were used. Damage to the tissues of buds and shoots at temperatures of 4 °C, –25 °С, –30 °С was compared on plants infected with viruses (PNRSV in the variety ‘Ksenia’, PDV in the variety ‘Boguslavka’) and healthy plants. The degree of frost damage was classified on a scale from zero (no damage) to five (100% tissue damage). In each variant, 10–34 buds and 3–14 shoots were tested. It was found that the PDV and PNRSV viruses have a negative effect on the frost resistance of bud tissues. At –25°С, the average degree of bud tissue damage reached 3.2 points in the variety ‘Ksenia’ (PNRSV) and 4.1 points in the variety ‘Boguslavka’ (PDV). At –30 °C, the degree of damage to the buds of both varieties was 4.2 points. The same temperatures had a less impact on the tissues of the shoots. The highest damage was recorded in cambium tissues of the infected ‘Boguslavka’ variety at –30 °С, and the lowest was in bark samples of the infected ‘Ksenia’ variety (0.8 points at –25 °С).

Co-pyrolysis of chicken manure with tree bark was investigated to mitigate salinity and potentially toxic element (PTE) concentrations of chicken manure-derived biochar. The effect of tree bark addition (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 wt%) on the biochar composition, surface functional groups, PTEs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentration in the biochar was evaluated. Biochar-induced toxicity was assessed using an in-house plant growth assay with Arabidopsis thaliana. This study shows that PTE concentrations can be controlled through co-pyrolysis. More than 50 wt% of tree bark must be added to chicken manure to reduce the concentrations below the European Biochar Certificate-AGRO (EBC-AGRO) threshold. However, the amount of PAH does not show a trend with tree bark addition. Furthermore, co-pyrolysis biochar promotes plant growth at different application concentrations, whereas pure application of 100 wt% tree bark or chicken manure biochar results in decreased growth compared to the reference. In addition, increased plant stress was observed for 100 wt% chicken manure biochar. These data indicate that co-pyrolysis of chicken manure and tree bark produces EBC-AGRO-compliant biochar with the potential to stimulate plant growth. Further studies need to assess the effect of these biochars in long-term growth experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The rising incidence of cancer is a major threat to patients and healthcare services worldwide. It is therefore important to search for novel therapies and new drugs. Honokiol, found in the bark of the magnolia tree, has many properties, including anticancer activity. However, its potential use is limited due to its poor solubility in water. The present study aimed to review the available studies using modern delivery systems for honokiol and determine their anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the effectiveness of treatment is consistently not at a satisfactory level. This review thoroughly examines the present knowledge and perspectives of honokiol (HON) in cancer therapeutics. The paper synthesizes critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed anticancer effects, emphasizing both in vitro and in vivo studies. The effects of HON application, primarily in the common types of cancers, are presented. Because the therapeutic potential of HON may be limited by its physicochemical properties, appropriate delivery systems are sought to overcome this problem. This review discusses the effect of different nanotechnology-based delivery systems on the efficiency of HON. The data presented show that HON exhibits anticancer effects and can be successfully administered to the site of action. Honokiol exerts its anticancer activity through several mechanisms. Moreover, some authors used the combinations of classical anticancer drugs with HON. Such an approach is very interesting and worth further investigation. Understanding HON's multiple molecular mechanisms would provide valuable insights into how HON might be developed as an effective therapeutic. Therefore, further research is needed to explore its specific applications and optimize its efficacy in diverse cancer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bark extract from Endopleura uchi has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat gynecological-related disorders, diabetes, and dyslipidemias albeit without scientific proof. In addition, E. uchi bark extract safety, especially regarding mutagenic activities, is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, antitumor, and toxicological parameters attributed to an E. uchi bark aqueous extract. The phytochemical constitution was assessed by colorimetric and chromatographic analyzes. The antiproliferative effect was determined using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay using 4 cancer cell lines. Cytotoxic and genotoxic activities were assessed utilizing MTT and comet assays, respectively, while mutagenicity was determined through micronucleus and Salmonella/microsome assays. The chromatographic analysis detected predominantly the presence of gallic acid and isoquercitrin. The antiproliferative effect was more pronounced in human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. In the MTT assay, the extract presented an IC50 = 39.1 µg/ml and exhibited genotoxic (comet assay) and mutagenic (micronucleus test) activities at 20 and 40 µg/ml in mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) and mutagenicity in the TA102 and TA97a strains in the absence of S9 mix. Data demonstrated that E. uchi bark possesses bioactive compounds which exert cytotoxic and genotoxic effects that might be associated with its antitumor potential. Therefore, E. uchi bark aqueous extract consumption needs to be approached with caution in therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative age-related disease that primarily affects the elderly population leading to progressive memory impairments and neural deficits. It is counted as a major cause of geriatric dependency and disability. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease incidence is complex and involves various hypotheses, including the cholinergic hypothesis, deposition of β-amyloid plaques, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Conventional treatments such as donepezil aim to delay the symptoms but do not affect the progression of the disease and may cause serious side effects like hepatoxicity. The use of natural candidates for Alzheimer's disease treatment has drawn the attention of many researchers as it offers a multitargeted approach. Methods: This current study investigates the metabolic profiles of total defatted methanolic extract of Vitex pubescens bark and its polar fractions, viz. ethyl acetate and n-butanol, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS/MS) technique as well as evaluate the antioxidant using free radical scavenging assays, viz. DPPH and ABTS assays and in-vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities using Ellman's microplate assay. Results: Metabolic profiling revealed a total of 71, 43, and 55 metabolites tentatively identified in the defatted methanolic extract, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions, respectively. Phenolic acids were the most abundant class, viz. benzoic acids, and acyl quinic acid derivatives followed by flavonoids exemplified mainly by luteolin-C-glycosides and apigenin-C-glycosides. Quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the total defatted methanolic extract confirmed its enrichment with phenolics and flavonoids equivalent to 138.61 ± 9.39 µg gallic acid/mg extract and 119.63 ± 4.62 µg rutin/mg extract, respectively. Moreover, the total defatted methanolic extract exhibited promising antioxidant activity confirmed through DPPH and ABTS assays with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value equivalent to 52.79 ± 2.16 µg/mL and 10.02 ± µg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory activity of acetylcholine esterase (AchE) was assessed using in-vitro Ellman's colorimetric assay, the total defatted methanolic extract, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions exhibited IC50 values of 52.9, 15.1 and 108.8 µg/mL that they proved the significant inhibition of AchE activity. Conclusion: The results obtained herein unraveled the potential use of the total methanolic extract of Vitex pubescens bark and its polar fractions as natural candidates for controlling Alzheimer's disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for soilless media, sustainability issues with peatmoss, and increasing cost of peatmoss have prompted studies of more environmentally friendly and less expensive substitutes. Biochar, a lightweight black carbon material produced by the pyrolysis of biomass, has gained popularity as a soilless media supplement. The objective of this study was to evaluate Eastern red cedar (ERC) biochar as a supplement to soilless media for the production of chrysanthemum and ornamental kale. Treatments included ERC biochar produced at three different temperature ranges of 300 to 350 °C, 400 to 450 °C, and 500 to 550 °C that were applied at 25%, 50%, and 75% v/v plus a control (100% v/v of standard commercial mix). Additionally, ERC bark was applied at the same rate as biochar. The 300 to 350 °C and 400 to 450°C temperature ranges increased the bulk density of the media, whereas total porosity was greatest with just bark. Regarding the physical properties of the media, in general, the 75% v/v supplementation rate of ERC bark or biochar at any temperature increased air porosity but decreased the water holding capacity, except for the water holding capacity at 500 to 550 °C. As the biochar production temperature increased, so did the pH and electrical conductivity (EC), whereas volatile matter decreased. Plant height, width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, number of flowers (chrysanthemum only), flower diameter, and water use efficiency were greatest with the 100% v/v soilless media for both species. In general, chrysanthemum plants grown with 25% v/v biochar supplementation or bark had similar height, width, and shoot dry weight at any temperature compared with those grown with the 100% v/v soilless media. For ornamental kale, the 25% v/v 400 to 450 °C biochar supplementation showed plant height and water use efficiency similar to those of the 100% v/v soilless media. In general, 25% ERC bark performed similar to 25% v/v and 50% v/v biochar at any temperature for plant width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, water use efficiency, and root-to-shoot ratio. The media nutrient content and EC were greater with 100% v/v soilless media and a lower rate (25% v/v) of ERC bark and biochar than with higher rates. The higher levels of biochar were harmful and reduced the ornamental kale growth and quality. These results suggest that supplemented soilless media with lower rates (25% v/v) of ERC biochar could be recommended for chrysanthemum, but that less than 25% v/v may be necessary for ornamental kale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbents were selected, developed, and compared for their potential to remove antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from wastewater. The materials studied for the purpose are chitosan (CS), chitosan nanoparticles (CNP), bark, pyrolyzed bark (PB), CTAB-modified pyrolyzed bark (CTAB-PB), and diethyl aminoethyl cellulose (DEAE-C). Characterization techniques like FESEM-EDX, TEM, FTIR, and XRD were studied to exhibit the successful synthesis of the materials and to understand the mechanism of adsorption processes. The batch experiments were studied to assess the potential of the adsorbents to remove ARGs from wastewater. All the studied adsorbents exhibited reusability and significant removal efficiency under different experimental conditions. However, the adsorption process exhibited the following order of removal efficiency: DEAE-C > CNP > CS > CTAB-PB > PB. The order of process kinetics was observed to be pseudo-second-order for all the adsorbent materials. The presence of coexisting anions was observed to affect the adsorption process of all the adsorbents, and the temperature variations on the other hand did not seem to have much effect on the adsorption process. Approximately 99% removal efficiency was attained in 60 min. Using DEAE-C and more than 80% removal efficiency was achieved in the presence of coexisting anions. DEAE-C exhibited maximum cycles of reusability (7 cycles) and up to 90% adsorptive removal efficiency at the 7th cycle. Overall, the potential of DEAE-C was phenomenal in all the aspects of adsorptive removal efficiency, performance in the presence of coexisting anions and temperature, and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluated the 25-year-long trends (1994–2018) in mercury (Hg) concentrations and fluxes in spruce litterfall at a forest research plot Načetín (NAC) recovering from acidic deposition in the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic. The mean litterfall Hg deposition averaged 51 ± 18 µg m−2 year−1, which has been the highest litterfall Hg deposition reported up to date on the European continent. In contrast, the wet deposition (2017–2019) was an order of magnitude lower averaging at 2.5 ± 1.5 µg m−2 year−1. All the spruce litterfall components bark, twigs, needles, cones, and a mixture of unidentified fragments had elevated mean Hg concentrations relative to background sites averaging 256 ± 77, 234 ± 62, 119 ± 23, 95 ± 14, and 44 ± 15 µg kg−1, respectively. Elevated litterfall Hg deposition and concentrations were attributed to the nearby local Hg emission source—coal-fired power plants. Temporally, the decrease of Czech Hg emissions since the 1990s was reflected by the decreasing trend of Hg concentrations in litterfall bark, cones, and twigs, while in needles and other material, Hg increased but insignificantly. Total litterfall ratios of Hg/C, Hg/N, and Hg/S were lower than those in soil O horizons averaging at 0.23 ± 0.04, 9.5 ± 2.0, and 170 ± 37 μg g−1, respectively. Since the beginning of monitoring, total litterfall Hg/C exhibited no trend, Hg/N decreased, and Hg/S increased. The litterfall biomass deposition averaging at 469 ± 176 g m−2 year−1 increased through time resulting in an increased Hg litterfall deposition at NAC by 1.1 µg m−2 year−1 despite the decreases in Czech Hg emissions. Peaks of annual litterfall Hg deposition up to 96 µg m−2 year−1 at NAC during the 25 years of monitoring resulted from weather extremes such as rime-snow accumulation, wind gusts, droughts, and insect infestation, which all significantly affected the annual biomass deposition. Based on our observations, further increases in biomass and litterfall Hg deposition rates can be expected due to the onset of bark beetle infestation and the increasing number of droughts caused by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an important pole borer pest. It causes serious harm to various hosts, particularly Juglans regia L. (Juglandaceae). In this study, headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and electroantennogram (EAG) responses were combined to examine the mechanism by which B. horsfieldi adults locate their host, J. regia. The results showed that J. regia contained 65 volatile compounds in all, with 36 and 42 volatile substances in bark and leaves, respectively. Moreover, terpenes accounted for the largest relative content among the volatile compounds of bark and leaves, 43.4 and 78.9%, respectively. Ten of 19 selected volatile components elicited significant EAG responses in adult B. horsfieldi, which indicated that the pest may prefer certain volatile compounds when selecting a host. Sex and volatile concentration affected the responses of B. horsfieldi. Male adults had the strongest EAG responses to 1‐octen‐3‐ol, whereas female adults had the strongest EAG responses to linalool. Host selection in B. horsfieldi was somewhat positively associated with the concentrations of the effective volatile compounds in the host. Furthermore, B. horsfieldi showed varying preferences for isomers. This work provided data support for the development of insect attractants, and laid a theoretical foundation for the ecological protection of local forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of bark and xylem contribute to tree growth and survival under drought and other types of stress conditions. However, little is known about the functional coordination of the xylem and bark despite the influence of selection on both structures in response to drought. To this end, we examined relationships between proportions of bark components (i.e. thicknesses of tissues outside the vascular cambium) and xylem transport properties in juvenile branches of five Cupressaceae species, focusing on transport efficiency and safety from hydraulic failure via drought‐induced embolism. Both xylem efficiency and safety were correlated with multiple bark traits, suggesting that xylem transport and bark properties are coordinated. Specifically, xylem transport efficiency was greater in species with thicker secondary phloem, greater phloem‐to‐xylem thickness ratio and phloem‐to‐xylem cell number ratio. In contrast, species with thicker bark, living cortex and dead bark tissues were more resistant to embolism. Thicker phellem layers were associated with lower embolism resistance. Results of this study point to an important connection between xylem transport efficiency and phloem characteristics, which are shaped by the activity of vascular cambium. The link between bark and embolism resistance affirms the importance of both tissues to drought tolerance. Summary statement: The study highlights the functional coordination between xylem transport properties and bark structure of Cupressaceae. We found xylem transport efficiency strongly related to phloem characteristics, while xylem safety is associated with both dead and living cell content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present work is to establish a framework for firebrand morphology characterization. Central to this framework is the development of a simple firebrand shape classification model using multi-dimensional particle shape descriptors. This classification model is built upon a series of synthetically generated 3D particles whose shapes and sizes are chosen to be representative of actual firebrands typically encountered during vegetative and structural fuel burns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is applied to the synthetic dataset and used to structure the classification model. The model is then verified using 3D digital representations of real-world particles (firebrands collected during tree burns and unburned bark pieces from oak trees). The classification model, which will allow meaningful comparisons of firebrand morphological features by shape class, is expected to be gradually refined as more datasets are made available throughout the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) fire research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The task of tree species classification through deep learning has been challenging for the forestry community, and the lack of standardized datasets has hindered further progress. Our work presents a solution in the form of a large bark image dataset called CentralBark, which enhances the deep learning-based tree species classification. Additionally, we have laid out an efficient and repeatable data collection protocol to assist future works in an organized manner. The dataset contains images of 25 central hardwood and Appalachian region tree species, with over 19,000 images of varying diameters, light, and moisture conditions. We tested 25 species: elm, oak, American basswood, American beech, American elm, American sycamore, bitternut hickory, black cherry, black locust, black oak, black walnut, eastern cottonwood, hackberry, honey locust, northern red oak, Ohio buckeye, Osage-orange, pignut hickory, sassafras, shagbark hickory silver maple, slippery elm, sugar maple, sweetgum, white ash, white oak, and yellow poplar. Our experiment involved testing three different models to assess the feasibility of species classification using unaltered and uncropped images during the species-classification training process. We achieved an overall accuracy of 83.21% using the EfficientNet-b3 model, which was the best of the three models (EfficientNet-b3, ResNet-50, and MobileNet-V3-small), and an average accuracy of 80.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to identify the impact of oral supplementation of ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata in treating diabetes. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg was carried out for 21 d in rats that had been induced to diabetes by alloxan. To explore the effect of ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata on stress-induced pancreatic inflammation in alloxaninduced diabetic rats, the following parameters were assessed viz., blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, lipid content, liver biochemical parameters, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and inflammatory mediators. There was a marked improvement in blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels after 21 d of treatment as well as insulin and serum biochemical parameter restoration. This suggests that they may have the ability to boost endogenous insulin synthesis. Research on ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata's effects revealed that it possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. The fact is that it could regulate the contents of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content, tumour necrosis factor-a and interleukin-6 in pancreatic tissue, as well as raise levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, proved this. In addition, ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata considerably reduced the cellular damage caused by alloxan to the islet and acinar cells of the pancreas. One possible explanation is that ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata contains boswellic acid. The results of this study provide promising evidence that ethanolic extract of Boswellia ovalifoliolata can improve diabetic indices, which could pave the way for a new approach to diabetes care. Finding new, all-natural ways to manage diabetes is a major goal of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica led to the isolation of five new abietane diterpenoids, 5-epi-12-hydroxy-6-nor-5,6-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-7,5-olide (1), 12-hydroxy-6β-methoxy-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-7,6-olide (2), 6β,12-dihydroxy-7,8-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-7,8-olide (4), 5,12-dihydroxy-7,8-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-7,8-olide (5), and 5α,8-epoxy-12-hydroxy-7,8-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-al (6), together with one known abietane diterpenoid, obtuanhydride (3). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the spectral data of known analogs. At the concentration of 100 μg/mL, compounds 4, 5, and 6 inhibited antifungal activities against wood decay fungi activity by 18.7, 37.2, and 46.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biochar in soilless media is becoming more common in greenhouse production. This study was conducted to evaluate Eastern red cedar biochar as a soilless-media supplement for the growth of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) and petunia (Petunia sp. J.) as potted plants in greenhousese. Eastern red cedar biomass was produced at three different temperature ranges 300–350 °C, 400–450 °C, and 500–550 °C and applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media plus a control. Additionally, Eastern red cedar (ERC) bark was also applied at 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% v/v to a soilless media. The growth characteristics of the plants along with the physical and nutrient properties of the growth media were recorded. For physical properties, 100% soilless media had the greatest bulk density, 60% biochar at 400–450 °C showed the greatest total porosity, and 60% ERC bark showed the greatest air porosity. For geranium, 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest height, water use efficiency, and shoot dry weight, while 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers was at 45% biochar at 500–550 °C. For petunia, 15% biochar at 300–350 °C showed the greatest height, and 15% biochar at 500–550 °C showed the greatest width. The greatest number of flowers and flower diameter was achieved with 100% soilless media. The 15% biochar at 500–550 °C had the greatest shoot dry weight and water use efficiency, and 60% biochar at 400–450 °C had the greatest root dry weight. Biochar treatment outperforms the ERC bark treatment for both species. Within biochar treatment, 15% biochar outperforms dry biomass, while for flowering, 100% soilless media performs best for petunia, and biochar performs best at less than 45% for geranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue infection can trigger an immunological response that results in an inflammatory reaction, which acts as a defensive mechanism to protect the host. Dengue infection leads to an elevation in the release of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These three cytokines have been shown to correlate with the development of thrombocytopenia and plasma leakage, which is related to the severity of the disease. Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of faloak (Sterculia quadrifida R. Br) stem bark on TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in Wistar rats infected with dengue, specifically DENV-3. Methods: A group of 27 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) aged 2-3 months and weighting 200-300 g were divided into three distinct groups: healthy, dengue, and treatment (dengue infection and extract) groups. The rats in both the dengue and treatment groups were administered an injection of DENV-3 with a titer of 105 pfu at a dosage of 0.8 cc via the intraperitoneal route. The propagation of DENV-3 was initiated using C6/36 cells, and it underwent four passages. The extract was administered orally via a nasogastric tube at a dosage of 1,500 mg/kg body weight once daily for 7 days. The healthy group underwent blood sampling on the first day, whereas the dengue and therapy groups underwent blood sampling on the fifth and eighth, respectively. Results: Compared with the healthy group, TNF-α levels in the dengue and treatment groups showed significant differences on day 5 post-infection. The post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the dengue-treatment and dengue-healthy groups. The IL-1β levels in the dengue and healthy groups significantly differed on days 5 and 8 post-infection compared to the healthy group. The treatment group had less of a decrease in IL-6 levels on days 5 and 8 than the dengue group. However, no statistically significant differences were observed. Conclusion: The stem bark of S. quadrifida shows potential as an anti-inflammatory agent in dengue infections, particularly in its ability to decrease levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human industrial activity is accompanied by the formation of vast volumes of water contaminated with radionuclides, including radium-226, which create serious danger to people. Graphene nanostructures are among the most promising materials for purifying water from radionuclides. This work has been devoted to investigating the efficiency of few-layer graphene synthesized under conditions of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis from cellulose and wastes of the woodworking industry (technical lignin, tree bark) for purifying water from radium-226. The key advantage of the method chosen for synthesis of few-layer graphene is the possibility to synthesize large volumes of the material at an acceptable cost, which is extremely important for industrial applications. It has been found that the synthesized samples of few-layer graphene can efficiently purify water from radium-226 (the degree of sorption is higher than 99%). It has also been shown that the degree of desorption upon repeated washing with water does not exceed 0.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: One of the most prevalent cancers worldwide is lung cancer with the second top fatality rate. The purpose of this work is to disclose the anti-proliferative ability of hydroalcoholic Ficus benghalensis bark extract against lung cancer cell line (A549). Materials and Methods: Antioxidant property of Ficus benghalensis bark extract was studied using a, a-diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl and Hydrogen Peroxide assays. The investigation of anti-proliferative property of Ficus benghalensis hydroalcoholic bark extract was carried out through tetrazolium salt-based cytotoxicity assay, cell viability assessment using trypan blue dye and morphometric analysis. The cytotoxic potency was analysed by propidium iodide staining, oxidative stress markers determination and expression of apoptotic gene markers such as Bax, c-MYC and PARP. Results: The anti-oxidant assays revealed the great radical scavenging property of Ficus benghalensis bark extract. Ficus benghalensis hydroalcoholic bark extract showed 50.12% inhibition at 50 µg/mL which is also confirmed by viability assay. In morphometric analysis the distortion of cells were noted in treated groups. The nuclear staining and gene expression studies further confirms the anti-cancer activity of Ficus benghalensis hydroalcoholic bark extract. The estimation of release of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation was high in treated groups which also supports the previous results. Conclusion: The study emphasize the anti proliferative and anti oxidant property of Ficus benghalensis hydroalcoholic bark extract against A549 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a considerable threat to the human health in the 21st century. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is an endless process, which exerts high cost to the society, in the face of diminishing pharmaceutical pipeline. Plants synthesize various compounds and utilize them to prevent pathogenic and predator's attack, focusing on the use of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs), may be helpful in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With this background, the present study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial potential of Aesculus indica extracts against multidrug resistant pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 4030). Plant samples (leaf and bark) were collected from three distinct locations-Khirsu, Adwani, and Kanchula Kharak (Chopta), representing varied environmental conditions. The extracts were prepared by using distilled water, methanol and acetone in order of increasing polarity and tested against gram negative bacterial strain Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 4030), using the agar well diffusion method. The different concentration of plant extracts was assayed, Ampicillin and Amikacin antibiotic discs were used as positive control. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were assayed by using broth dilution and agar plating methods respectively. Additionally, antibiogram analysis was conducted using multiple antibiotic discs via the disc diffusion method. A. indica bark extracts exhibited the highest efficacy against the multidrug-resistant strain K. Pneumoniae (MTCC 4030). Among all extracts, the acetone extract of leaf and methanol extract of bark samples collected from Kanchula Kharak (S3) at an altitude of 2637m displayed the most potent activity, with inhibition zones of 26±2.65mm, and 25±2.65mm, respectively. Furthermore, current study will also aid in determining the preferred location for harvesting the high quantity of antibacterial compounds, in A. indica for formulation of drugs against multidrug resistant bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban trees play a pivotal role in mediating the hydrological and nutrient cycles within urban ecosystems, yet the mechanisms by which bark characteristics influence these processes remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the bark morphology—specifically texture, depth, and number of furrows—on the water absorption capacity and to determine the relationship between this capacity and ion concentration in stemflow across various urban tree species. Our findings reveal significant variations in water absorption and ion concentration related to the morphological traits of bark among tree species, highlighting the intricate relationship between bark physical and chemical characteristics and stemflow nutrient composition. Notably, species with furrowed textures, greater depth, and a higher number of furrows demonstrated pronounced differences in ion enrichment in their stemflow. However, a canonical redundancy analysis suggested a low association between bark absorption capacity and ion concentration, indicating the influence of other, possibly external, environmental factors on ion leaching. The results underscore the complexity of nutrient transport mechanisms in urban trees and show a new understanding of tree bark's ecohydrological roles. This study contributes valuable insights into ecohydrology science and emphasizes the need for further research to unravel the multifaceted influences on nutrient dynamics in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantation forestry on sandy, nutrient poor soils has been developed over the last few decades in seasonally dry tropical monsoon environments. Despite the known benefits of harvest residue conservation between rotations in temperate climes, there are very few studies around the world on Eucalyptus harvest residue management in tropical areas. In Northern Australia on Melville Island 30,000-hectares of Acacia mangium is planned to be converted to Eucalyptus pellita. E. pellita harvest residues comprise high loads of stringy bark, leaves and twigs, posing a fire risk throughout the annual 6-to-8-month dry season in Australia's monsoonal tropics. In this environment, quantifying and demonstrating the anticipated benefits of residue retention is important for determining appropriate responses to fire risk.A 4-hectare experimental trial of 12-year-old E. pellita was cut with trees moved intact to the coupe edge and processed for woodchips. The tree residues from the roadside chipper were pushed back over the site. A total of 35 Mg ha−1 of harvest residue was left on the site, mainly comprised of bark (24.5 Mg ha−1 or 60 % of the total residue mass). Although the leaf and branch residues contained higher concentrations of N, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, P, and Zn than bark, stem and woodchips, bark N (51.5 kg ha−1) was twice foliage N (26.9 kg ha−1), and contributed to more than 50 % of residue N.Harvest residue bark, leaves and twigs were sampled for a litterbag decomposition study of mass loss on the harvested site. After 10 months about 80 % of bark original weight remained on site (20 % mass loss), compared to about 55 % of the leaves/twigs remaining (45 % mass loss).The potential non-CO2 emissions from the burning of E. pellita harvest residues were estimated at 12.3 Mg CO2-eq ha−1 or 3.35 Mg C ha−1, with the majority of emission arising from the smoldering of bark residues. This study discusses the implications of either retaining or burning harvest residues – for plantation long-term sustainability on sandy tropical sites, and for greenhouse gas emissions.

To investigate and compare hardwood species based on their carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage capacity, a study of the C and N content of the bark and wood of nine common hardwood broadleaves in Novi Pazar, southwestern Serbia, was conducted. Compared with sycamore maple, Norway maple, common ash, common hornbeam, black locust, European beech, Turkey oak, and sessile oak, field maple has the highest C/N ratio in wood (37.05 ± 3.23), representing the best hardwood species for biomass production.

Abstract It has recently been suggested that processes related to water uptake from the tree-stem surface, such as water vapor exchange and rainwater permeation, have implications for forest hydrology. However, few studies have investigated stem surface water uptake itself, and the water permeation pathway has not been elucidated in detail. Based on previous findings that trees with outer bark composed mainly of rhytidome have a high frequency of exfoliation and greater water uptake ability, we hypothesized that exfoliation of the outer bark is the main pathway for water uptake from the outer bark surface to the innermost periderm in these species. We tested this hypothesis in teak, a tropical deciduous hardwood with a high frequency of outer-bark exfoliation. We conducted laboratory experiments using dried bark pieces with different outer-bark shapes to evaluate the rate, amount, and pathway of liquid-phase water permeation of outer-bark surfaces. The rate and amount of water absorption differed markedly among samples. The permeation rate was correlated with the degree of outer-bark exfoliation, and water permeation was observed to begin at exfoliated surfaces. These results support our hypothesis. In addition, the increased water content of bark pieces immediately after the start of the experiment was strongly correlated with the surface roughness of the outer bark, implying that roughness may indicate the water-retention capacity of a given tree species.

ABSTRACT Tannin Extraction from the bark of Pinus oocarpa var. oocarpa with sodium carbonate and sodium bisulfite. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tannin extraction potential taken from the bark of Pinus oocarpa var. oocarpa. Nine treatments were performed; the bark was submitted to extraction using water and water containing different concentrations of sodium carbonate and sodium bisulfite. The mixture was kept under reflux for two hours. The extracted contents, the polyphenol found in the extracts (Stiasny number), the tannin yield, the non-tannin yield and the tannin reactivity through UV method were all determined. The results have revealed that it is possible to obtain high tannin content (approximately 39%) from the bark of Pinus oocarpa var. oocarpa by using water extraction when coupled with the addition of salt. The treatment having (8%) of sodium carbonate provided a greater yield of condensed tannins, underlining the importance of utilizing this salt with this concentration during the extraction process. However, the extracts must be evaluated according to other important wood-gluing properties, such as viscosity and gel time.

Traditional cosmetics play a significant role in the cultural practices and personal hygiene of many ethnic groups worldwide. The Oromo, an indigenous community in Ethiopia, has a rich history of utilizing local plants for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of plants as traditional cosmetics has only been poorly investigated as more emphasis was given to traditional medicines. The study thus aimed to identify and document plant species, and parts used in traditional cosmetics and associated knowledge, and practices among Oromo women in the Madda Walabu district, Southeastern Ethiopia. A total of 150 Oromo women were interviewed to gather ethnobotanical information including the plant species used for cosmetics, their preparation methods, and their applications. Ethnobotanical indices were computed to determine the most important species used by the women. A total of 48 plant species belonging to 31 families used as sources of traditional cosmetics were recorded. Most of these plants were trees. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part in traditional cosmetics, and maceration and decoction were the most common preparation methods applied to prepare traditional cosmetics. Topical application of traditional cosmetics was the most common, while oral infusions were rarely reported type of administration. All categories had high informant consensus factor (ICF) values, ranging from 0.80 to 0.98. The highest ICF value was found for skin treatment, followed by the hair, and face mask. Overall, Commiphora habessinica, Gnidia stenophylla, Kalanchoe lanceolata, Mimusops kummel, Sesamothamnus rivae, Terminalia brownii, T. laxiflora, Acacia drepanolobium, A. mellifera, and Aloe citrina were the most frequently cited and culturally important plants by Oromo women for traditional cosmetics in the area. The study highlights the importance of local plant resources for maintaining cultural practices and personal hygiene. However, the cultural heritage associated with traditional cosmetics is facing threats from various factors. Therefore, a continuous effort to document and disseminate knowledge about traditional cosmetics practices to ensure their preservation and transmission and awakening younger generations about the importance of traditional cosmetics and their role in cultural heritage is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban trees' biomonitoring of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) yields pertinent and useful data for air pollution management. The aim of this study was to biomonitor PAHs in pine (Pinus eldarica Medw.) trees in the city of Isfahan and identify their sources. In total, 34 samples of outer bark of the trees were collected and their contents of 16 EPA PAHs were analyzed. With a median value of 136.3 ng/g, the total PAH contents in tree barks varied from 53.4 to 705.2 ng/g. The average values of the diagnostic ratios for Ant/(Ant + Phe), Flu/(Flu + Py), BaA/(BaA + Chr) and IP/(IP + BP) were 0.19, 0.49, 0.45 and 0.49, respectively, revealing the PAHs majority source of pyrogenic. Meanwhile, principal component analysis showed two major types of PAHs sources including pyrogenic (fossil fuel combustion and industrial activities) and petrogenic (uncombusted) sources. The average ratio An/(An + Phe) and Flu/(Flu + Py) in bark samples was close to their relevant ratios in ambient air which demonstrated the potential use of this approach for biomonitoring of PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic old age disorder characterised by low bone mass content (BMC) and mineral density (BMD) with micro-architectural deterioration of the extracellular matrix, further increasing bone fragility risk. Several traditional remedies, including plant extracts and herbal formulations, are used worldwide by local healers to improve the overall bone health and metabolism as an excellent osteoregenerative agent. Pteropsermum rubiginosum is an underexplored medicinal plant used by tribal peoples of Western Ghats, India, to treat bone fractures and associated inflammation. The proposed study evaluates the elemental profiling and phytochemical characterisation of P. rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME), along with detailed In vitro and In vivo biological investigation in MG-63 cells and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. AAS and ICP–MS analysis showed the presence of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium and exceptional levels of strontium, chromium, and zinc in PRME. The NMR characterisation revealed the presence of vanillic acid, Ergost-4-ene-3-one and catechin. The molecular docking studies revealed the target pockets of isolated compounds and various marker proteins in the bone remodelling cycle. In vitro studies showed a significant hike in ALP and calcium content, along with upregulated mRNA expression of the ALP and COL1, which confirmed the osteoinductive activity of PRME in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. The in vivo evaluation in ovariectomised (OVX) rats showed remarkable recovery in ALP, collagen and osteocalcin protein after 3 months of PRME treatment. DEXA scanning reports in OVX rats supported the above in vitro and in vivo results, significantly enhancing the BMD and BMC. The results suggest that PRME can induce osteogenic activity and enhance bone formation with an excellent osteoprotective effect against bone loss in OVX animals due to estrogen deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough‐bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive option made from easily available supplies was developed. These cost‐friendly MCs were compared with standard laboratory methods to demonstrate their efficacy. Methods and Results: Modified MCs were made using inexpensive, store‐bought supplies; compared to a standard laboratory setting, the modified MCs are shown to be less expensive with a faster setup time and larger size that facilitates a variety of tree and woody vine species. MC use resulted in the discovery of new species of fungi and myxomycetes with associated locality records. We provide detailed instructions for creating modified MCs, as well as a list of myxomycete species and their associated bark characteristics, pH values, and water‐holding capacity. Conclusions: This new, low‐cost MC technique makes the study of microbiota more inclusive and accessible for those in research laboratories, classrooms, and homes, including both amateurs and professionals. MCs are easy to prepare, versatile, and applicable for many areas of botany and the biological sciences, potentially allowing exploration into unexplored areas in urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BRI1 EMS suppressor 1(BES1) transcription factor is a crucial regulator in the signaling pathway of Brassinosteroid (BR) and plays an important role in plant growth and response to abiotic stress. Although the identification and functional validation of BES1 genes have been extensively explored in various plant species, the understanding of their role in woody plants—particularly the endangered species Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yang—remains limited. In this study, we identified nine members of the BES1 gene family in the genome of P. bournei; these nine members were unevenly distributed across four chromosomes. In our further evolutionary analysis of PbBES1, we discovered that PbBES1 can be divided into three subfamilies (Class I, Class II, and Class IV) based on the evolutionary tree constructed with Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Solanum lycopersicum. Each subfamily contains 2–5 PbBES1 genes. There were nine pairs of homologous BES1 genes in the synteny analysis of PbBES1 and AtBES1. Three segmental replication events and one pair of tandem duplication events were present among the PbBES1 family members. Additionally, we conducted promoter cis-acting element analysis and discovered that PbBES1 contains binding sites for plant growth and development, cell cycle regulation, and response to abiotic stress. PbBES1.2 is highly expressed in root bark, stem bark, root xylem, and stem xylem. PbBES1.3 was expressed in five tissues. Moreover, we examined the expression profiles of five representative PbBES1 genes under heat and drought stress. These experiments preliminarily verified their responsiveness and functional roles in mediating responses to abiotic stress. This study provides important clues to elucidate the functional characteristics of the BES1 gene family, and at the same time provides new insights and valuable information for the regulation of resistance in P. bournei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present study was to characterize the extracts obtained from the bark of three oak species in order to assess their use in potential cosmetic products. The extracts were obtained from the oak barks (periderm and rhytidome) using ultrasound-assisted extraction. The total polyphenolic content was assessed afterward, using the Folin–Ciocâlteu method, while the antioxidant capacity was determined using methods based on the neutralization of the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals. To assess the tyrosinase inhibitory effect, a protocol using L–DOPA as the substrate of the enzyme was employed. The extracts presented high levels of polyphenolic compounds, with Q. cerris having the highest content. Because of the high concentration of the extracts in polyphenolic compounds, they revealed a great reducing capacity against both DPPH and ABTS radicals, but unfortunately the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the tested extracts was very weak compared to the positive control. The extracts may have beneficial effects when used in cosmetic products because of the antioxidant effects, but more studies must be conducted for the determination of the main phytochemical compounds comprised in the extracts and their correlation to the biological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sesquiterpenoids belong to a group of terpenoid compounds with interesting structures that are abundant in natural products especially in higher plants. Sesquiterpenoids have a wide variety of bioactivities with great potential cytotoxic activity. The species Dysoxylum excelsum belongs to the Meliaceae family known as higher plant, but only a few sesquiterpenoids have been reported particularly for their cytotoxic activity. Therefore, this research aims to isolate and elucidate the sesquiterpenoids structure from D. excelsum stem bark and examines their cytotoxicity against HeLa cervical cancer cells. Through various column chromatography separations, four known sesquiterpenes namely β-caryophyllene oxide (1), caryophyllenol II (2), humulene dioxide A (3), and guai-6-en-10β-ol (4) were acquired from the n-hexane extract. Compounds 1-4 were isolated for the first time from D. excelsum species. The sesquiterpenoid structures were elucidated according to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared, and HR-TOF-MS analysis. The cytotoxicity compounds 1-4 was determined against HeLa cervical cancer cells by examination with the PrestoBlue method and compound 3 exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 160.74 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenolic stilbene glucosides are abundant in the fresh bark of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees. Stilbene-rich bark extracts could be industrially utilized as preservatives due to their antioxidative, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. The postharvesting conditions, especially industrial debarking, influence the chemical properties of bark. Inherent variation in high-value compounds of bark is assumed to be offset by modifications within the bark supply chain; however, essential quantitative information is still rare. This study elucidated the magnitude of variation in the stilbenoid content and composition of Norway spruce bark due to (1) the geographical origin of Norway spruce seeds, (2) the geographical location of the growing site, (3) within-tree variability, and (4) industrial handling and pilot-scale extraction and fractioning processes. The inherent variation in stilbenoid content was large: the total average stilbenoid content of the inner bark varied from 70 to 110 mg/g of dry weight (DW). Sampling position in the stem and growing site explained over 50% of the total variance in stilbenoid content. Trees with a northern origin of seeds had a higher isorhapontin/astringin ratio than the trees with a southern origin of seeds, regardless of their growing site. Industrial bark from sawmills showed a significantly higher total stilbenoid content in winter than in summer, 22 mg/g and 1–3 mg/g DW, respectively. The inherent variation in the stilbenoid content was offset by the variation caused by the debarking process and experimental pilot-scale processing. To optimize the yield of stilbenoids from spruce bark, sampling of northern forests and short handling times in the supply chain are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Hani people, who reside in Yuanyang County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, rely on rice terrace farming as their primary livelihood. They utilize plants in various traditional ritual practices. The Hani people have categorized the value of plants based on their natural attributes and have refined the ways of using different plants in specific rituals through practical observations and experiences derived from their agricultural culture. Although the plants used in these rituals hold significant cultural value, they have yet to be studied from the perspective of ethnobotany. This study aims to approach the ritual plants using ethnobotanical methods. Methods: Ethnobotanical fieldwork was conducted in 10 villages in Yuanyang County between 2021 and 2023. Data were collected from the local Hani people through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations and 41 informants were interviewed during the field investigations. The frequency of citation (FC) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were utilized to evaluate the relative importance of ritual plants among the local communities. Results: A total of 36 plant species, belonging to 18 families and 34 genera, were recorded as being used in 11 ritual practices by the Hani people. Rosaceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae were found to have the highest number of species. Most of the ritual plants used by the Hani people were collected from the wild. FC and RFC analysis showed that the preferred plants for Hani rituals were Rhus chinensis Mill, Oryza sativa L., Phyllostachys sulphurea (Carr.) A. et C. Riv. and Musa basjoo Siebold & Zucc. ex Iinuma. The 11 rituals are all centered around the performance of people, crops and livestock. The Hani people use plants in different rituals mainly based on their biological attributes. Conclusions: Many rituals of the Hani people are closely related to their production and livelihood, and the plants used in these rituals are deeply rooted in Hani's traditional ecological knowledge and beliefs. The Hani people's reverence for nature, respect for life, gratitude towards ancestors, and seeking blessings and disaster prevention for their families, crops, and livestock are all reflected in these rituals and their utilization of ritual plants. The Hani people showcase their agricultural culture in the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces through plant-based ritual performances. Studying ritual plants in the core area of the Hani Rice Terraces is of great significance for protecting the Hani Terrace farming culture. In the future, it is essential to pay more attention to the role of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]