Natural durability of timber species exposed to xylophagous fungi in southern Durango, Mexico.

Introduction: Wood is a natural resource used for construction and the manufacture of many products. This material is exposed to damage due to biotic and abiotic factors. An important biotic factor is wood-degrading fungi that generate large economic losses. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of xylophagous fungi (Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor) on the natural durability of six timber species in southern Durango, Mexico, and to establish differences between fungal effects on each tree species. Materials and Methods: Samples of Pinus durangensis, P. cooperi, P. strobiformis, Juniperus deppeana, Quercus sideroxyla, and Alnus acuminata were exposed to fungi for 4 months under laboratory conditions according to European Standard EN350-1. Samples of Fagus sylvatica were used as control. Durability was determined as the percentage of wood mass loss for each species. Welch ANOVA tests were performed to establish differences among tree species. Welch t-tests were used to prove loss mass differences between fungi for each tree species. Results: The most resistant species to C. puteana were P. durangensis, J. deppeana, P. cooperi and P. strobiformis, showing mean mass losses lower than 8.08%. The most resistant species to T. versicolor were J. deppeana, P. strobiformis and P. durangensis (mean mass losses lower than 7.39%). Pinus strobiformis and Q. sideroxyla were more susceptible to C. puteana effect; in contrast, P. durangensis and P. cooperi showed more damage due to T. versicolor degradation. Conclusions: Woods of P. durangensis, P. cooperi, P. strobiformis and Juniperus deppeana are well adapted to infection by these xylophagous fungi and are therefore highly recommended for commercial use in southern Durango, Mexico.

Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oil of Fruits from Juniperus oxycedrus L. Obtained from Morocco

Abstract The present study was aimed at conducting phytochemical analysis and evaluating the in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activities of the essential oil obtained from the fruits of J. oxycedrus L. Hydro-distillation was used to extract the essential oil from the fruits of Juniper oxycedrus. The essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was determined in vitro using varying concentrations of the essential oil and vitamin C as a standard antioxidant compound. A disc diffusion test was employed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the essential oil against two test fungal strains, Penicillium citrinum, and Aspergillus niger. The results revealed that 49 constituents were identified in fruit oil, representing 91.56% of the total oil and the yield was 1.58%. Juniper fruit oil was characterized by having high contents of ß-pinene (42.04%), followed by limonene (15.45%), sabinene (9.52%), α-pinene (5.21%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.77%), ρ-cymene (1.56%), caryophyllene oxide (2.02%), and myrcene (1.02%). The radical scavenging activity (% inhibition) of the essential oil was highest (81.87± 2.83%) at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. The essential oil of J. oxycedrus exhibited antifungal activity against A. niger and P. citrinum with minimum inhibitory concentration values (MIC) ranging from 2.89 to 85.01 µl/mL. The findings of the study reveal that the antioxidant and antifungal properties of J. oxycedrus essential oil and their chemical composition are significantly correlated

Incipient speciation, high genetic diversity, and ecological divergence in the alligator bark juniper suggest complex demographic changes during the Pleistocene.

The most recent glacial cycles of the Pleistocene affected the distribution, population sizes, and levels of genetic structure of temperate-forest species in the main Mexican mountain systems. Our objective was to investigate the effects these cycles had on the genetic structure and distribution of a dominant species of the "mexical" vegetation across North and Central America. We studied the genetic diversity of Juniperus deppeana, a conifer distributed from the Southwestern United States to the highlands of Central America. We combined information of one plastid marker and two nuclear markers to infer phylogeographic structure, genetic diversity and demographic changes. We also characterized the climatic niche for each variety to infer the plausible area of suitability during past climatic conditions and to evaluate climatic niche discontinuities along with the species distribution. We found a marked phylogeographic structure separating the populations North and South of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with populations to the South of this barrier forming a distinct genetic cluster corresponding to Juniperus deppeana var. gamboana. We also found signals of population expansion in the Northern genetic cluster. Ecological niche modeling results confirmed climatic niche differences and discontinuities among J. deppeana varieties and heterogeneous responses to climatic oscillations. Overall, J. deppeana's genetic diversity has been marked by distribution shifts, population growth and secondary contact the North, and in situ permanence in the South since the last interglacial to the present. High genetic variation suggests a wide and climatically diverse distribution during climatic oscillations. We detected the existence of two main genetic clusters, supporting previous proposals that Juniperus deppeana and Juniperus gamboana may be considered two separate species.

Analysis of the annual pollen integral in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shows a negative trend with temperatures for Juniper, Cottonwood, Elm, and Mulberry.

The goal of this study is to determine if the annual pollen integral (APIn) for the top tree allergens in the City of Albuquerque is correlated with meteorological variables. This analysis would be the first of its kind for this area. We used 17 consecutive years from 2004 to 2020 and data collected by the city of Albuquerque using a Spore Trap (Burkard) volumetric air sampler in a location designed to represent a typical desert environment. The pollen studied include Juniper, Elm, Ash, Cottonwood, and Mulberry. We found a negative linear correlation with early summer temperatures of the previous year and APIn for Elm, Cottonwood, and Mulberry, and early fall temperatures for Juniper. Linear regression models developed for Elm, Cottonwood, and Mulberry used the monthly mean maximum temperature for the month of June of the prior year as the independent variable to yield a R squared statistic (R 2) of 0.88, 0.91 and 0.78, respectively. For Juniper, the average monthly mean minimum temperature for the previous September and October served as the independent variable and yielded the R 2 value of 0.80. We also observed a positive trend for the annual maximum temperature over time and a negative trend for the total APIn. Summers in New Mexico are hot and dry, and they may be getting hotter and drier because of climate change. Our analysis predicts that climate change in this area may lead to reduced allergies if temperatures continue to increase and if precipitation patterns remain the same.

Juniperus communis extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Juniperus communis (JCo) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been used to treat wounds, fever, swelling, and rheumatism. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of JCo extract on colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been elucidated. This study investigated the anticancer effects of JCo extract in vitro and in vivo as well as the precise molecular mechanisms. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was examined by flow cytometry analysis, and cell apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Protein expression was analyzed using western blotting. The in vivo activity of the JCo extract was evaluated using a xenograft BALB/c mouse model. The tumors and organs were examined through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that JCo extract exhibited higher cytotoxicity against CRC cells than against normal cells and showed synergistic effects when combined with 5-fluorouracil. JCo extract induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase via regulation of p53/p21 and CDK4/cyclin D1 and induced cell apoptosis via the extrinsic (FasL/Fas/caspase-8) and intrinsic (Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-9) apoptotic pathways. In vivo studies revealed that JCo extract suppressed tumor growth through the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. In addition, there was no obvious change in body weight or histological morphology of normal organs after treatment. JCo extract suppressed CRC progression by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the potential application of JCo extract in the treatment of CRC.

Remineralizing Effect of Xilitol, Juniperus Communis and Camellia Sinensis Added to a Toothpaste: An In Vitro Study / Efecto remineralizante del Xilitol, Juniperus Communis y Camellia Sinensis adicionados en pastas dentales: Estudio in vitro

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the remineralizing effect of toothpastes based on Xilitol, Camellia Sinensis and Juniperus Communis. An in vitro experimental study was carried out in an 18 human premolars sample, which were treated with one of the 3 evaluated toothpastes and a control fluoride one. The atomic percentages of Ca and P were evaluated by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, the enamel surface of treated teeth was visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The evaluations were carried out in three stages: pre-treatment, after an artificial demineralization process and after the treatment with the toothpastes. In the statistical analysis, the one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were used. Xilitol and Juniperus Communis showed the greatest gain of P ions compared to the control group (p<0.01). As for Ca, the group treated with xylitol-based toothpaste showed more ion gain compared with the control group (p<0.01). In the Pearson correlation test between Ca and P, statistically significant correlations were observed in all groups (p<0.01), ranging between r=0.7413 (Xylitol Group) and r=0.9510 (Control Group). We concluded that Xylitol paste showed the highest remineralizing property, both in the EDS analysis and in the SEM images.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este studio fue explorer el efecto remineralizante de las cremas dentales compuestas de Xilitol, Camelia Sinensis y Juniperus Communis. Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental in vitro en una muestra de 18 premolares humanos, los cuales fueron tratados con una de las tres pastas dentales evaluadas y una fluorada. Los porcentajes atomicos de Ca y P fueron evaluados por Espectroscopia de rayos X de energía dispersive (EDS). Además, la superficie del esmalte de los dientes tratados fue examinada por Microscopia Electronica de Barrido (SEM). Las evaluaciones fueron llevadas a cabo en tres etapas: pre-tratamiento, despues de un proceso artificial de desmineralizacion y después del tratamiento con las pastas dentales. Se usaron ANOVA de una via y correlacion de Pearson para el analisis estadistico. Xilitol y Juniperus Communis mostraron la mayor ganancia de iones P comparados con el grupo control (p<0.01), con rangos entre r=0.7413 (Grupo con Xylitol) and r=0.9510 (Group Control). Se concluyó que la pasta con Xilitol mostró las mayores propiedades remineralizantes, tanto en el analisis EDS y las imágenes SEM.

Populations and assemblages living on the edge: dung beetles responses to forests-pasture ecotones.

Edge effects alter insect biodiversity in several ways. However, we still have a limited understanding on simultaneous responses of ecological populations and assemblages to ecotones, especially in human modified landscapes. We analyze edge effects on dung beetle populations and assemblages between livestock pastures and native temperate forests (Juniperus and pine-oak forests (POFs)) to describe how species abundances and assemblage parameters respond to edge effects through gradients in forest-pasture ecotones. In Juniperus forest 13 species avoided the ecotones: six species showed greater abundance in forest interior and seven in pasturelands, while the other two species had a neutral response to the edge. In a different way, in POF we found five species avoiding the edge (four with greater abundance in pastures and only one in forest), two species had a neutral response, and two showed a unimodal pattern of abundance near to the edge. At the assemblage level edge effects are masked, as species richness, diversity, functional richness, functional evenness, and compositional incidence dissimilarity did not vary along forest-pasture ecotones. However, total abundance and functional divergence showed higher values in pastures in one of the two sampling localities. Also, assemblage similarity based on species' abundance showed a peak near to the edge in POF. We propose that conservation efforts in human-managed landscapes should focus on mitigating current and delayed edge effects. Ecotone management will be crucial in livestock dominated landscapes to conserve regional biodiversity and the environmental services carried out by dung beetles.

Long-term in situ persistence of biodiversity in tropical sky islands revealed by landscape genomics.

Tropical mountains are areas of high species richness and endemism. Two historical phenomena may have contributed to this: (i) fragmentation and isolation of habitats may have promoted the genetic differentiation of populations and increased the possibility of allopatric divergence and speciation and (ii) the mountain areas may have allowed long-term population persistence during global climate fluctuations. These two phenomena have been studied using either species occurrence data or estimating species divergence times. However, only few studies have used intraspecific genetic data to analyse the mechanisms by which endemism may emerge at the microevolutionary scale. Here, we use landscape analysis of genomic SNP data sampled from two high-elevation plant species from an archipelago of tropical sky islands (the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt) to test for population genetic differentiation, synchronous demographic changes and habitat persistence. We show that genetic differentiation can be explained by the degree of glacial habitat connectivity among mountains and that mountains have facilitated the persistence of populations throughout glacial/interglacial cycles. Our results support the ongoing role of tropical mountains as cradles for biodiversity by uncovering cryptic differentiation and limits to gene flow.

The Review of Certain In Vivo Antioxidant Effects on Essential Oils of Origanum Minutiflorum O Schwarz-Ph Davis, Juniperus Excelsa Bieb.subsp. Excelsa and Histopathologic Changes

Essential oil of plants called Juniperus excelsa Bieb. (JE), Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz and P.H. Davis (OM) were used in this study. In order to determine experimental doses, LD50 values of essential oils were determined on mice. Taking into consideration the LD30 range, the experimental toxic doses were calculated for each rat (rat/kg). The toxic dosages thus determined were adapted to rats for active substances (rat/kg). Using commercially available pure virgin olive oil (VOO) as the solvent and diluting agent, OM oil (n=10), JE fruitoil (n=10), carvacrol (CRV) (n=10), VOO (n=10) and normal saline SF (n=8) were administered on the basis of 12 days into intraperitoneal (IP). Enzyme activities of Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), Adenosine-deaminase (ADA) and Catalase were studied in isolates of kidney, brain and liver tissues. The data was statistically analyzed through Kruskal Wallis variance analysis. Elevated levels of GST and catalase have been found statistically important, as have both essential oil activities of OM and JE in the kidney tissue (p 0.005). All of the enzymes except the levels of ADA and SOD led to a statistically significant change in the brain and liver. There was sinusoidal hyperemia and capsular adhesion in the liver as histopathological were found to be statistically significant (p 0.005). It did not observe any important changes in the other organs. Findings were scored and analyzed by using x2(chi-square) test and Fishers definite variance analysis.(AU)

The Review of Certain In Vivo Antioxidant Effects on Essential Oils of Origanum Minutiflorum O Schwarz-Ph Davis, Juniperus Excelsa Bieb.subsp. Excelsa and Histopathologic Changes

Essential oil of plants called Juniperus excelsa Bieb. (JE), Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz and P.H. Davis (OM) were used in this study. In order to determine experimental doses, LD50 values of essential oils were determined on mice. Taking into consideration the LD30 range, the experimental toxic doses were calculated for each rat (rat/kg). The toxic dosages thus determined were adapted to rats for active substances (rat/kg). Using commercially available pure virgin olive oil (VOO) as the solvent and diluting agent, OM oil (n=10), JE fruitoil (n=10), carvacrol (CRV) (n=10), VOO (n=10) and normal saline SF (n=8) were administered on the basis of 12 days into intraperitoneal (IP). Enzyme activities of Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), Adenosine-deaminase (ADA) and Catalase were studied in isolates of kidney, brain and liver tissues. The data was statistically analyzed through Kruskal Wallis variance analysis. Elevated levels of GST and catalase have been found statistically important, as have both essential oil activities of OM and JE in the kidney tissue (p 0.005). All of the enzymes except the levels of ADA and SOD led to a statistically significant change in the brain and liver. There was sinusoidal hyperemia and capsular adhesion in the liver as histopathological were found to be statistically significant (p 0.005). It did not observe any important changes in the other organs. Findings were scored and analyzed by using x2(chi-square) test and Fishers definite variance analysis.

Novo registro de Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) na região Neotropical / A new report of Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Neotropical region

O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar nova ocorrência de Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera; Aphididae) na região Neotropical, associado à Juniperus chinensis L. (Cupressaceae). Os pulgões foram encontrados em setembro de 2010, na cidade de Londrina, Estado do Paraná. Este é apenas o segundo registro de S. juniperi na região Neotropical, e o primeiro associado à J. chinensis, indicando que além do inseto estar em processo de dispersão, está colonizando novos hospedeiros.

This study aimed to record new observations of Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Neotropical region associated with Juniperus chinensis L. (Cupressaceae). The aphids were found in September 2010 in Londrina city (23 20 23 S, 51 12 32 W, 532m), Parana state (PR), Brazil. This represents only the second report of S.juniperi in the Neotropical region, and the first report was associated with J. chinensis, thereby indicating that in addition to dispersion, the aphid is colonizing new hosts.

Novo registro de Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) na região Neotropical / A new report of Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Neotropical region

O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar nova ocorrência de Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera; Aphididae) na região Neotropical, associado à Juniperus chinensis L. (Cupressaceae). Os pulgões foram encontrados em setembro de 2010, na cidade de Londrina, Estado do Paraná. Este é apenas o segundo registro de S. juniperi na região Neotropical, e o primeiro associado à J. chinensis, indicando que além do inseto estar em processo de dispersão, está colonizando novos hospedeiros.

This study aimed to record new observations of Sanbornia juniperi Pergarde ex. Barker, 1920 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Neotropical region associated with Juniperus chinensis L. (Cupressaceae). The aphids were found in September 2010 in Londrina city (23 20 23 S, 51 12 32 W, 532m), Parana state (PR), Brazil. This represents only the second report of S.juniperi in the Neotropical region, and the first report was associated with J. chinensis, thereby indicating that in addition to dispersion, the aphid is colonizing new hosts.

Investigation of antioxidant and anti-glycation properties of essential oils from fruits and branchlets of Juniperus oblonga

Plants represent the best and most extensively studied source of natural antioxidants. The present study investigated the antioxidant and anti-glycation properties of different concentrations of essential oils obtained from fruits and branchlets of Juniperus oblonga M. Bieb., Cupressaceae, using different assays. The essential oils were obtained by steam distillation of the branchlets of male tree (BMT), branchlets of female tree (BFT) and fruits of J. oblonga. Compositional analysis of oils was performed using a gas chromatography-mass method. Antioxidant activity was assessed using linoleic acid peroxidation, peroxyl radical mediated hemolysis of red blood cells (RBC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation assays. Anti-glycation properties of oils were evaluated using hemoglobin and insulin glycation assays. Seventeen, eighteen and fifteen compounds were identified in the BMT, BFT and fruit oil, which represented 82.51, 55.69 and 96.89% of the total oils, respectively. α-Pinene was the major component of all three oils. All three oils possessed antioxidant effects against LDL oxidation, linoleic acid peroxidation and peroxyl radical mediated RBC hemolysis. Anti-glycation activities against hemoglobin and insulin glycation were also observed from all tested oils. Overall, there was no unique pattern of dose-dependence for the antioxidant properties of oils in different employed systems. The findings of this study suggest that essential oils from fruits and branchlets of J. oblonga possess antioxidant and anti-glycation properties. Therefore, these oils might be of therapeutic efficacy against diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Antioxidant activities of Juniperus foetidissima essential oils against several oxidative systems

The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of essential oils obtained from branchlets of male and female trees as well as fruits of Juniperus foetidissima Willd., Cupressaceae, from Iran. For this purpose, essential oils of J. foetidissima were phytochemically analyzed and different concentrations of them were tested in five oxidative systems: 1) low-density lipoprotein oxidation; 2) linoleic acid peroxidation; 3) red blood cell hemolysis; 4) hemoglobin glycation; and 5) insulin glycation assays. In all employed systems, antioxidant effects were observed from the three tested oils though in varying degrees. The most promising activities of the oils were observed against hemoglobin and insulin glycation. Antioxidant activities of the oils did not appear to be dose-dependent. In addition, no consistent superiority in antioxidant effects was observed from a single oil in different assays. In view of the current results, J. foetidissima branchlet and fruit oils could be regarded as effective natural products with anti-glycation activity.

Actividad antifúngica del aceite esencial de cinco especies de Juniperus de Argentina / Antifungal activities of the essential oil of five species of Juniperus from Argentina

The chemical composition of the leaf oils of five Juniperus species (Juniperus sabina L., Juniperus communis Lam., Juniperus scopulorum Sarg., Juniperus virginiana L., Juniperus chinensis L., Cupressaceae) was determined by co-chromatography with authentic samples, GC-MS and Kováts retention indices. Sabinene was the most abundant component in the oils of Juniperus from western Patagonia Argentina. However, limonene and germacrene B constituted 25.1 percent and 11.5 percent of the oil of J. sabina. J. virginiana showed high concentration of alpha-humulene and limonene (31.4 and 15.9 percent respectively), while isobornyl acetate and germacrene B were also the main compounds of J. chinensis. Essential oils extracted of Juniperus were evaluated in vitro for their efficacy against Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Candida albicans and Rhodotorula infection. Candida albicans was not inhibited for the essential oils of Juniperus. However, F. verticillioides, A. flavus, A. parasiticus and Rhodotorula were inhibited for these oils.

La composición de los aceites esenciales de la hoja de cinco especies de Juniperus (Juniperus sabina L., Juniperus communis Lam., Juniperus scopulorum Sarg., Juniperus virginiana L., Juniperus chinensis L., Cupressaceae), se determinó mediante una co-cromatografía con muestras auténticas de dos columnas de diferente polaridad, CG-EM y los índices de retención de Kovats. El sabineno fue el componente más abundante en los aceites de Juniperus del oeste de la Patagonia Argentina. Sin embargo, el limoneno y el germacreno B son otros componentes importantes del aceite esencial de J. sabina con el 25,1 por ciento y 11,5 por ciento respectivamente. En J. virginiana el alfa-humuleno y el limoneno (con el 31,4 por ciento y 15.9 por ciento respectivamente) mostraron ser también importantes, mientras que el acetato de isobornilo y el germacreno B fueron también los principales componentes de la J. chinensis. Los aceites esenciales extraídos de Juniperus se evaluaron in vitro para determinar su eficacia contra Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Candida albicans y Rhodotorula. Candida albicans no se inhibió por la acción de los aceites esenciales de Juniperus. Sin embargo, F. verticillioides, A. flavus, A. parasiticus y Rhodotorula fueron inhibidos.