Root Bark (root + bark)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cosmeceutical properties of polysaccharides from the root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007
Sang Yong Eom
In Korea and China, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica has been used as a traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of difficulty in urination, skin inflammation, etc. In order to investigate the potential of a polysaccharide extract from Ulmus davidiana var. japonica as a cosmetic ingredient, we measured its moisturizing effect, photo-induced cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory effect. After hydrolysis, HPLC experiments showed that the composition of the polysaccharide extract was mainly rhamnose, galactose, and glucose. The molecular weight of the obtained Ulmus davidiana root extract was 20 000. The intrinsic viscosity was 90 dL/g. In a moisturizing test conducted through the measurement of water loss in a desiccator and of moisture content with a Corneometer CM820, Ulmus davidiana root extract showed almost the same moisturizing effect as hyaluronic acid. In an assay for inhibition of the H2O2-activated release of PGE2, IL-6, and IL-8 in normal human fibroblast cell lines, Ulmus davidiana root extract showed an inhibitory activity of PGE2 release in a dose-dependent manner (up to 85.9% at a concentration of 0.1%). The percent inhibition of the release of IL-6 was in the range of 45.6,64.5% (H2O2 was used as the positive control). Moreover, the release of IL-8 was completely inhibited in the entire concentration range (>0.0025%). In a test of recovery from photo-induced damage after UVA irradiation (3 J/cm2), the cell recovery of human fibroblasts increased to levels two times higher than that of the positive control, which was UVA-damaged cells in the absence of Ulmus davidiana root extract (up to 60.2% at 3.0% of Ulmus davidiana root extract). In a photo-induced cytotoxicity assay in the presence of promethazine as a photosensitizer, Ulmus davidiana root extract showed approximately 48% of the increased cell viability of the control. Therefore, Ulmus davidiana root extract may be useful for the development of a cosmetic ingredient. [source]


Feeding on roots in the humus layer by adult pine weevil, Hylobius abietis

AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Kristina Wallertz
Abstract 1,The consumption by adult pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, of the bark of roots present in the humus layer was assessed in a field study conducted in southern Sweden during two years (1998 and 2002). The study sites were divided into two areas: (i) a shelterwood where 80,100 mature Scots pine trees per hectare remained after cutting and (ii) a clearcut where no trees were left. 2,On average, 3741 m2 per hectare of root bark was present in the humus layer, of which 135 m2 was not coniferous but comprised species such as bilberry and broadleaved trees. 3,The mean area debarked by pine weevils was 2.9 m2 per hectare; 2.6 m2 of conifer roots and 0.3 m2 of bilberry roots. Roots of broadleaved trees were almost never consumed. No clear preferences for roots of a specific level of vitality were observed. 4,No consistent difference between the shelterwood and clearcut was found, either in the amount of root bark area available or in the extent of root feeding by pine weevil. 5,A weak negative correlation between debarked areas on roots and seedlings was found, indicating that root feeding may have reduced damage to seedlings. 6,It is concluded that conifer roots in the humus layer constitute a major food source for the pine weevil and can be utilized for a considerable period in both clearcuts and shelterwoods. [source]


Identification of methyl salicylate as the principal volatile component in the methanol extract of root bark of Securidaca longepedunculata Fers

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 6 2002
T. K. Jayasekara
Abstract Securidaca longepedunculata Fers (Polygalaceae) is commonly used as a medicine in many parts of Africa and shows promise for protecting stored grain against insect pests. Analysis of a methanol extract of the root bark by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed a major component accounting for over 90% of the volatile material. This was identified as methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (methyl salicylate) by comparison of the GC retention times and mass spectrum with those of synthetic standards. This conflicts with an earlier report that the major component is methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate. Two minor components had mass spectra characteristic of 2-hydroxybenzoate esters and were identified as methyl 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate and its benzyl analogue, again conflicting with an earlier report. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Simple method for determination of five terpenoids from different parts of Tripterygium wilfordii and its preparations by HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection

JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 9 2007
Xiao-Ling Luo
Abstract By optimizing the extraction, separation, and analytical conditions, a reliable and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was developed for simultaneous determination of five terpenoids, i. e., triptolide, tripchlorolide, demethylzelastral, wilforlide B, and wilforlide A, in root, stem, leaves, root bark, twig, and root without bark of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f and six of its herbal preparations. This approach would thus provide a more accurate and general method for evaluating the quality of the herb and its preparations. Separation of these five terpenoids was achieved on a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C8 column with gradient elution using water and acetonitrile as solvents, both containing 0.05% formic acid, at a temperature of 30°C and a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The drift tube temperature of ELSD was set at 100°C, and the nitrogen flow rate at 1.5 L/min. Good linear relationships were obtained with correlation coefficients for the analytes exceeding 0.992, and the LOD and LOQ were less than 0.149 ,g and 0.297 ,g on column, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision of the analytes were less than 1.25% and 5.97%, respectively, and the average recovery rates obtained were in the range of 95.9 ± 3.7% to 100.4 ± 5.0% for all terpenoids with RSDs below 4.99%. Quantitative analysis of the five terpenoids in different parts of Tripterygium wilfordii and its six preparations showed that the contents of the terpenoids varied significantly. The tender root contained higher concentrations of triptolide, tripchlorolide, demethylzelastral, and wilforlide B than any other part of the herb. Correspondingly, the root bark contained the greatest concentration of wilforlide A, and the stem and twig came in second and third. This suggested that we could infer whether the medicinal materials were absolute roots without bark or not from the comparative contents of these terpenoids in the tablets in view of the fact that only the roots without bark are the valid officinal part of the plant. This method and the quantitation results obtained can provide a scientific and general as well as simple and convenient approach for the product manufacturers to set up quality control standards and for informing the public about the quality and safety of the preparations. [source]


Chemical composition and antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities of Periploca laevigata root bark extracts

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2009
Hajji Mohamed
Abstract BACKGROUND: The root powder of Periploca laevigata is used for preparing soft drinks and as an aromatic in Tunisia. The infusion or decoction of its root bark has widespread use in folk medicine. The plant is used to treat digestive disorders and hypertensive effects as well as other health problems. RESULTS: The antioxidant activities of extracts of P. laevigata root bark obtained with solvents of different polarity were investigated using assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, ferric-reducing capacity, ,-carotene-bleaching ability, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition. The methanol extract, with the highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids, showed the highest antioxidant activities in all assays, followed by the water extract. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to determine the composition of the water and methanol extracts. Thirty-four compounds were identified in the methanol extract, with proflavine (516.2 g kg,1 dry matter (DM)) and 4-methoxysalicylaldehyde (198.3 g kg,1 DM) being the most abundant. Sixteen compounds were identified in the water extract, of which 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethylene glycol (351.2 g kg,1 DM) was the main component. CONCLUSION: As far as is known, this is the first report on the chemical composition and biological activities of phenolic extracts from P. laevigata. The results of the study indicate that the root bark of this plant might be a good candidate for further investigation in developing new antioxidants. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Chemical characterization of Azadirachta indica grafted on Melia azedarach and analyses of azadirachtin by HPLC-MS-MS (SRM) and meliatoxins by MALDI-MS

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2010
Moacir Rossi Forim
Abstract Introduction , Melia azedarach adapted to cool climates was selected as rootstocks for vegetative propagation of Azadirachta indica. Cleft grafting of A. indica on M. azedarach rootstock showed excellent survival. Little is known about the chemistry of grafting. Objective , The roots, stems, leaves and seeds of this graft were examined in order to verify if grafted A. indica would produce limonoids different from those found in non-grafted plants. Intact matured fruits were also studied to verify if they were free of meliatoxins. Methodology , After successive chromatographic separations the extracts afforded several limonoids. HPLC-MS/MS and MALDI-MS were used to develop sensitive methods for detecting azadirachtin on all aerial parts of this graft and meliatoxins in fruits, respectively. Results , The stem afforded the limonoid salannin, which was previously found in the oil seeds of A. indica. Salannin is also found in the root bark of M. azedarach. Thus, the finding of salannin in this study suggests that it could have been translocated from the M. azedarach rootstock to the A. indica graft. HPLC-MS/MS analyses showed that azadirachtin was present in all parts of the fruits, stem, flowers and root, but absent in the leaves. The results of MALDI-MS analyses confirmed the absence of meliatoxins in graft fruits. Conclusion , This study showed that A. indica grafted onto M. azedarach rootstock produces azadirachtin, and also that its fruits are free of meliatoxins from rootstocks, confirming that this graft forms an excellent basis for breeding vigorous Neem trees in cooler regions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]