Heartwood Extractives of <i>Maclura Pomifera</i> and Their Role in Decay Resistance

Authors

  • Shih-Chi Wang
  • John H. Hart

Keywords:

Heartwood, decay resistance, extractives, <i>Maclura pomifera</i>

Abstract

A sample of ground heartwood of Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid, was extracted sequentially with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. The dry methanol extract was partitioned between water and ether. The ether fraction was separated by liquid-liquid extraction with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate solutions to differentiate the phenolics from organic acids and neutral materials. The phenolic components were separated by paper chromatography using benzene-acetic acid-water (125/72/3) as the developing solvent. The separated subfractions were examined quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The fungal toxicities of various extracts, fractions, and subfractions were determined by incorporating each material into nondurable ground wood or wood-base material and then inoculating the sample with one of several wood decay fungi. Fungal growth in wood was measured by respirometry or visual observation. The subfraction with the greatest inhibitory effect on wood decay fungi, as characterized by spectroscopic methods, appears to be a mixture of tetra and pentahydroxystilbenes.

References

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Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Number 4 / October 1983

Section

Research Contributions

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