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multi-elemental composition and antioxidant properties of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey from the coastal region of croatia: risk-benefit analysis.the concentration of 23 major and trace elements, total phenolic content (tpc) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (dpph) radical scavenging activity were determined in nine samples of strawberry tree honey and compared to other types of unifloral honeys. the most abundant elements in strawberry tree honey were potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium, ranging between 1276 and 2367, 95.2-154, 14.4-74.4 and 13.4-64.3mg/kg, respectively. strawberry tree honey had generally higher tpc (range: 0.314-0 ...201829173488
inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase by various food plant-derived phytotherapeutic agents.background: phosphodiesterases (pdes) play a major role in the regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp)- and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cgmp)-mediated pathways. their inhibitors exhibit anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and antithrombotic effects. therefore, consumption of foods with pde-inhibiting potential may possess beneficial influence on the risk of cardiovascular diseases. methods: four plant extracts (arbutus unedo, camellia sinensis, cynara scolymus, zingiber officinale) w ...201729113064
phyto-toponyms of arbutus unedo l. and their distribution in sardinia (italy).the study shows the results of an inventory of place names connected to arbutus unedo l., a mediterranean species, widespread throughout sardinia. the main aim was to compare the past distribution of place names, referring to the strawberry tree, to the current distribution of the species on the island. in addition, we investigated the meaning and the diversity of these local place names in the various communities. the result was a collection of 432 phyto-toponyms. 248 of them were used for an a ...201728704491
development and validation of a gc-ms method for the analysis of homogentisic acid in strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey.to confirm the botanical origin of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey, a liquid-liquid extraction followed by gc-ms method was developed for the quantitative determination of homogentisic acid (hga), the main phenolic compound in this honey. different parameters affecting extraction, such as the type and volume of extraction solvents, ph of the solution, and amount of salt, were optimized. the method showed good linearity (r2 = 0.9990) over the tested concentration range (50-500 mg/kg) and ...201728560954
the effects of strawberry tree water leaf extract, arbutin and hydroquinone on haematological parameters and levels of primary dna damage in white blood cells of rats.strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l., ericaceae) leaves represent a potent source of biologically active compounds and have been used for a long to relieve symptoms of various health impairments and diseases. two major compounds related to their beneficial activities in animals and humans are arbutin and hydroquinone.201729288828
functional teas from the leaves of arbutus unedo: phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and detection of efficient radical scavengers.the phenolic content/composition and antioxidant activity of hot/cold infusion and decoction from the leaves of arbutus unedo were studied for the first time. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (dpph(●)), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation (abts(●+)), crocin-bleaching, copper-reducing, and liposome accelerated oxidation assays were used for the evaluation of the activity in vitro. in vivo, the extracts were examined for their ability to protect s. cerevisiae cells ...201728421300
the effect of silver nanoparticles size, produced using plant extract from arbutus unedo, on their antibacterial efficacy.silver nanoparticles (agnps) have been demonstrated to restrain bacterial growth, while maintaining minimal risk in development of bacterial resistance and human cell toxicity that conventional silver compounds exhibit. several physical and chemical methods have been reported to synthesize agnps. however, these methods are expensive and involve heavy chemical reduction agents. an alternative approach to produce agnps in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way employs a biological pathw ...201728698511
secondary metabolites from the endophytic fungus talaromyces pinophilus.endophytic fungi have a great influence on plant health and growth, and are an important source of bioactive natural compounds. organic extracts obtained from the culture filtrate of an endophytic strain of talaromyces pinophilus isolated from strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) were studied. metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of three bioactive metabolites, the siderophore ferrirubin, the platelet-aggregation inhibitor herquline b and the antibiotic 3-o-methylfunicone. the latter was the ma ...201728278635
genetic diversity and divergence at the arbutus unedo l. (ericaceae) westernmost distribution limit.mediterranean forests are fragile ecosystems vulnerable to recent global warming and reduction of precipitation, and a long-term negative effect is expected on vegetation with increasing drought and in areas burnt by fires. we investigated the spatial distribution of genetic variation of arbutus unedo in the western iberia peninsula, using plastid markers with conservation and provenance regions design purposes. this species is currently undergoing an intense domestication process in the region, ...201728384294
diversity of fungal assemblages in roots of ericaceae in two mediterranean contrasting ecosystems.the plants belonging to the ericaceae family are morphologically diverse and widely distributed groups of plants. they are typically found in soil with naturally poor nutrient status. the objective of the current study was to identify cultivable mycobionts from roots of nine species of ericaceae (calluna vulgaris, erica arborea, erica australis, erica umbellate, erica scoparia, erica multiflora, arbutus unedo, vaccinium myrtillus, and vaccinium corymbosum). the sequencing approach was used to am ...201728302364
strawberry-tree honey induces growth inhibition of human colon cancer cells and increases ros generation: a comparison with manuka honey.honey is a natural product known to modulate several biological activities including cancer. the aim of the present study was to examine the phytochemical content and the antioxidant activity of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) honey (sth) and its cytotoxic properties against human colon adenocarcinoma (hct-116) and metastatic (lovo) cell lines in comparison with manuka (leptospermum scoparium) honey (mh). several unifloral sth and mh were analyzed for their phenolic, flavonoid, amino acid and pr ...201728287469
understanding of human metabolic pathways of different sub-classes of phenols from arbutus unedo fruit after an acute intake.arbutus unedo is a small mediterranean fruit, commonly named strawberry tree, which is a rich source of different sub-classes of phenolic compounds, the more representative being the gallic acid derivatives, including its mono and oligomeric forms esterified with quinic and shikimic acids. in addition, galloyl derivatives, particularly gallotannins, described in a. unedo, are part of a very selective phenolic group, present in a reduced number of plant-products. the aim of the present study is t ...201626960019
stability and metabolism of arbutus unedo bioactive compounds (phenolics and antioxidants) under in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation.the natural antioxidants of arbutus unedo highlight the importance of this fruit as natural source of bioactive compounds. in the present study, to evaluate the stability of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and fat-soluble antioxidants (α-tocopherol, β-carotene and lutein), in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was applied to a. unedo fruit. after that, the non-absorbable fraction was anaerobically incubated with human faeces and the metabolic pathway for gallotannins, ellagitannins, flavan-3-ols ...201626868556
pectic polysaccharides are attacked by hydroxyl radicals in ripening fruit: evidence from a fluorescent fingerprinting method.many fruits soften during ripening, which is important commercially and in rendering the fruit attractive to seed-dispersing animals. cell-wall polysaccharide hydrolases may contribute to softening, but sometimes appear to be absent. an alternative hypothesis is that hydroxyl radicals ((•)oh) non-enzymically cleave wall polysaccharides. we evaluated this hypothesis by using a new fluorescent labelling procedure to 'fingerprint' (•)oh-attacked polysaccharides.201626865506
effects of methanol extracts from roots, leaves, and fruits of the lebanese strawberry tree (arbutus andrachne) on cardiac function together with their antioxidant activity.several plant-derived natural products have been used in clinical phase for applications in neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. arbutus andrachne l. (ericacea) is an evergreen shrub native to the mediterranean region. traditionally, the fruits and leaves of arbutus tree are well known and used as antiseptics, diuretics, blood tonic, and laxatives.201626511200
timing of false ring formation in pinus halepensis and arbutus unedo in southern italy: outlook from an analysis of xylogenesis and tree-ring chronologies.mediterranean tree rings are characterized by intra-annual density fluctuations (iadfs) due to partly climate-driven cambial activity. iadfs are used as structural signals to gain information on relations between environmental conditions and eco-physiological processes during xylogenesis, with intra-annual resolution. to reach an unbiased synchronization of the iadf position within tree rings and seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions, it is necessary to know the timing of cambial act ...201627252721
phylogeography of a widespread species: pre-glacial vicariance, refugia, occasional blocking straits and long-distance migrations.phylogeographic studies give us the opportunity to reconstruct the historical migrations of species and link them with climatic and geographic variation. they are, therefore, a key tool to understanding the relationships among biology, geology and history. one of the most interesting biogeographical areas of the world is the mediterranean region. however, in this area, the description of concordant phylogeographic patterns is quite scarce, which limits the understanding of evolutionary patterns ...201626768603
somatic embryogenesis induction and plant regeneration in strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.).somatic embryogenesis is a powerful tool both for cloning and studies of genetic transformation and embryo development. most protocols for somatic embryogenesis induction start from zygotic embryos or embryonic-derived tissues which do not allow the propagation of elite trees. in the present study, a reliable protocol for somatic embryogenesis induction from adult trees of strawberry tree is described. leaves from in vitro proliferating shoots were used to induce somatic embryo formation on a me ...201626619869
carotenoid composition of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) fruits.the carotenoid composition of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) fruits has been characterised in detail and quantified for the first time. according to the total carotenoid content (over 340 μg/g dw), mature strawberry tree berries can be classified as fruits with very high carotenoid content (>20 μg/g dw). (all-e)-violaxanthin and 9z-violaxanthin were found to be the major carotenoid pigments, accounting for more than 60%, responsible for the bright colour of the flesh of ripe fruits. in addition ...201626775958
mycorrhizal synthesis between lactarius deliciosus and arbutus unedo l.arbutoid mycorrhizae were synthesized in vitro between arbutus unedo l. and two isolates of lactarius deliciosus. the fungal isolates were obtained from sporocarps collected under pinus sylvestris and in a mixed forest stand of quercus suber and pinus pinea. synthesis tubes filled with a mixture of sterilized peat, vermiculite, and perlite imbibed with nutrient solution were used. two inoculation methods using solid and liquid media were tested. shoots from an adult selected clone of a. unedo we ...201626215114
contrasting impacts of continuous moderate drought and episodic severe droughts on the aboveground-biomass increment and litterfall of three coexisting mediterranean woody species.climate change is predicted to increase the aridity in the mediterranean basin and severely affect forest productivity and composition. the responses of forests to different timescales of drought, however, are still poorly understood because extreme and persistent moderate droughts can produce nonlinear responses in plants. we conducted a rainfall-manipulation experiment in a mediterranean forest dominated by quercus ilex, phillyrea latifolia, and arbutus unedo in the prades mountains in souther ...201526149833
bioactive phytochemicals from wild arbutus unedo l. berries from different locations in portugal: quantification of lipophilic components.the lipophilic composition of wild arbutus unedo l. berries, collected from six locations in penacova (center of portugal), as well as some general chemical parameters, namely total soluble solids, ph, titratable acidity, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was studied in detail to better understand its potential as a source of bioactive compounds. the chemical composition of the lipophilic extracts, focused on the fatty acids, triterpenoids, sterols, long chain aliphatic alcohols an ...201526110390
seasonal variability of foliar photosynthetic and morphological traits and drought impacts in a mediterranean mixed forest.the mediterranean region is a hot spot of climate change vulnerable to increased droughts and heat waves. scaling carbon fluxes from leaf to landscape levels is particularly challenging under drought conditions. we aimed to improve the mechanistic understanding of the seasonal acclimation of photosynthesis and morphology in sunlit and shaded leaves of four mediterranean trees (quercus ilex l., pinus halepensis mill., arbutus unedo l. and quercus pubescens willd.) under natural conditions. vc,max ...201525836361
plant performance on mediterranean green roofs: interaction of species-specific hydraulic strategies and substrate water relations.recent studies have highlighted the ecological, economic and social benefits assured by green roof technology to urban areas. however, green roofs are very hostile environments for plant growth because of shallow substrate depths, high temperatures and irradiance and wind exposure. this study provides experimental evidence for the importance of accurate selection of plant species and substrates for implementing green roofs in hot and arid regions, like the mediterranean area. experiments were pe ...201525603968
interactive effects of uv radiation and reduced precipitation on the seasonal leaf phenolic content/composition and the antioxidant activity of naturally growing arbutus unedo plants.the effects of uv radiation and rainfall reduction on the seasonal leaf phenolic content/composition and antioxidant activity of the mediterranean shrub arbutus unedo were studied. naturally growing plants of a. unedo were submitted to 97% uv-b reduction (uva), 95% uv-a+uv-b reduction (uv0) or near-ambient uv levels (uvba) under two precipitation regimes (natural rainfall or 10-30% rainfall reduction). total phenol, flavonol and flavanol contents, levels of eight phenols and antioxidant activity ...201526562808
quantitative analysis of arbutin and hydroquinone in strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l., ericaceae) leaves by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.the phenolic glycoside arbutin and its metabolite with uroantiseptic activity hydroquinone occur naturally in the leaves of various medicinal plants and spices. in this study, an extraction procedure coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms) was developed to determine arbutin and hydroquinone content in strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l., ericaceae) leaves. the method showed good linearity (r2>0.9987) in the tested concentration range (0.5-200 μg ml(-1)), as well as good precision ...201526444340
whose truffle is this? distribution patterns of ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity in tuber melanosporum brûlés developed in multi-host mediterranean plant communities.in the mediterranean region, patches of vegetation recovering from disturbance and transiently dominated by shrubs produce one of the world's most prized fungi, the black truffle (tuber melanosporum). in these successional plant communities, we have fragmentary knowledge of the distribution of t. melanosporum in space among ectomycorrhizal (ecm) host species and in time. molecular identification of hosts (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and fungi (internal transcribed spacer sequencing ...201525522815
low among-provenance differences in structural and functional plasticity in response to nutrients in saplings of the circum-mediterranean tree arbutus unedo l.the mediterranean region is an area of special interest for conservation where the incidence of multiple drivers of global change is expected to increase. one of the factors predicted to change is soil-nutrient availability, an essential factor for plant growth. thus, study of the effects of variation in this parameter is especially relevant in species with a circum-mediterranean distribution, such as arbutus unedo l., in which the different provenances grow in different habitats, which must dif ...201526377872
population structure of a widespread species under balancing selection: the case of arbutus unedo l.arbutus unedo l. is an evergreen shrub with a circum-mediterranean distribution that also reaches the eurosiberian region in northern iberia, atlantic france, and a disjunct population in southern ireland. due to the variety of climatic conditions across its distribution range, the populations of a. unedo were expected to display local adaptation. conversely, common garden experiments revealed that diverse genotypes from a range of provenances produce similar phenotypes through adaptive plastici ...201526793231
the combined effects of a long-term experimental drought and an extreme drought on the use of plant-water sources in a mediterranean forest.vegetation in water-limited ecosystems relies strongly on access to deep water reserves to withstand dry periods. most of these ecosystems have shallow soils over deep groundwater reserves. understanding the functioning and functional plasticity of species-specific root systems and the patterns of or differences in the use of water sources under more frequent or intense droughts is therefore necessary to properly predict the responses of seasonally dry ecosystems to future climate. we used stabl ...201525359123
phenolic sulfates as new and highly abundant metabolites in human plasma after ingestion of a mixed berry fruit purée.bioavailability studies are vital to assess the potential impact of bioactive compounds on human health. although conjugated phenolic metabolites derived from colonic metabolism have been identified in the urine, the quantification and appearance of these compounds in plasma is less well studied. in this regard, it is important to further assess their potential biological activity in vivo. to address this gap, a cross-over intervention study with a mixed fruit purée (blueberry, blackberry, raspb ...201525571923
color evaluation of seventeen european unifloral honey types by means of spectrophotometrically determined cie l*cab*h(ab)° chromaticity coordinates.cie (commission internationale de l'eclairage) l(*)cab(*)h(ab)° color coordinates for 305 samples of 17 unifloral honeys types (asphodel, buckwheat, black locust, sweet chestnut, citrus, eucalyptus, garland thorn, honeydew, heather, lime, mint, rapeseed, sage, strawberry tree, sulla flower, savory and thistle) from different geographic locations in europe were spectrophotometrically assessed and statistically evaluated. preliminary separation of unifloral honeys was obtained by means of l(*)-c(a ...201424128479
bioactivity of different enriched phenolic extracts of wild fruits from northeastern portugal: a comparative study.arbutus unedo, prunus spinosa, rosa micrantha and rosa canina are good sources of phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins. these compounds have potent antioxidant properties, which have been related to anticancer activity. herein, the in vitro antioxidant and antitumor properties of enriched phenolic extracts (non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds enriched extract- pe and anthocyanins enriched extract- ae) of the mentioned wild fruits were evaluated and compared. pe gave higher bioactive propert ...201424243401
arbutus unedo l.: chemical and biological properties.arbutus unedo l. (strawberry tree) has a circum-mediterranean distribution, being found in western, central and southern europe, north-eastern africa (excluding egypt and libya) and the canary islands and western asia. fruits of the strawberry tree are generally used for preparing alcoholic drinks (wines, liqueurs and brandies), jams, jellies and marmalades, and less frequently eaten as fresh fruit, despite their pleasing appearance. an overview of the chemical composition of different parts of ...201425271425
characterization of tuber borchii and arbutus unedo mycorrhizas.for the first time, arbutoid mycorrhizas established between tuber borchii and arbutus unedo were described. analyzed mycorrhizas were from one t. borchii natural truffle ground, dominated by pinus pinea, as well as synthesized in greenhouse conditions. a. unedo mycorrhizas presented some typical characteristics of ectomycorrhizas of t. borchii. however, as in arbutoid mycorrhizas, ramification was cruciform and intracellular colonization in epidermal cells was present. the ability of t. borchii ...201424535602
melissopalynological and volatile analysis of honeys from corsican arbutus unedo habitat.thirty corsican "autumn maquis" honeys were characterized by the typical combination of autumnal taxa: arbutus unedo, hedera helix, smilax aspera, rosmarinus officinalis, and two asteraceae pollen forms. corsican origin was characterized by the diversity of the taxa's biogeographical origins and significant presence of castanea sativa and quercus sp. volatile fractions of "autumn maquis" honeys were dominated by isophorone and 3,4,5-trimethylphenol. the latter is reported in a. unedo honey for t ...201425522552
characterisation of phenolic compounds in wild fruits from northeastern portugal.this study aimed to analyse the phenolic composition of wild fruits of arbutus unedo (strawberry-tree), prunus spinosa (blackthorn), rosa canina and rosa micrantha (wild roses). analyses were performed by hplc-dad-esi/ms. p spinosa fruits presented the highest concentration in phenolic acids (29.78 mg/100 g dry weight), being 3-o-caffeoylquinic acid the most abundant one, and flavone/ols (57.48 mg/100 g), among which quercetin3-o-rutinoside (15.63 mg/100 g) was the majority compound. (+)-catechi ...201323993541
dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in three mediterranean woody species following long-term experimental drought.stored non-structural carbohydrates (nsc) have been proposed as a key determinant of drought resistance in plants. however, the evidence for this role is controversial, as it comes mostly from observational, short-term studies. here, we take advantage of a long-term experimental throughfall reduction to elucidate the response of nsc to increased drought 14 years after the beginning of the treatment in three mediterranean resprouter trees (quercus ilex l., arbutus unedo l. and phillyrea latifolia ...201324130568
quantitative determination of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid in the leaves of arbutus unedo l. using thin layer chromatography.the plant species arbutus unedo shows numerous beneficial pharmacological effects (antiseptic, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, astringent, depurative, antioxidant, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory). for the medicinal use, standardization of extracts is a necessity, as different compounds are responsible for different biological activities. in this paper, we analyze monthly changes in the content of quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, and chlorogenic acid. methanolic extrac ...201323984189
dampening effects of long-term experimental drought on growth and mortality rates of a holm oak forest.forests respond to increasing intensities and frequencies of drought by reducing growth and with higher tree mortality rates. little is known, however, about the long-term consequences of generally drier conditions and more frequent extreme droughts. a holm oak forest was exposed to experimental rainfall manipulation for 13 years to study the effect of increasing drought on growth and mortality of the dominant species quercus ilex, phillyrea latifolia, and arbutus unedo. the drought treatment re ...201323712619
balanced gene losses, duplications and intensive rearrangements led to an unusual regularly sized genome in arbutus unedo chloroplasts.completely sequenced plastomes provide a valuable source of information about the duplication, loss, and transfer events of chloroplast genes and phylogenetic data for resolving relationships among major groups of plants. moreover, they can also be useful for exploiting chloroplast genetic engineering technology. ericales account for approximately six per cent of eudicot diversity with 11,545 species from which only three complete plastome sequences are currently available. with the aim of incre ...201324260278
physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of commercial portuguese honeys.the present study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of 13 commercial honeys from diverse floral origin, produced in portugal. the values of electrical conductivity of cardoon and pennyroyal honeys were superior to the maximum limits defined by european legislation. citrus, strawberry tree, and 1 sample of lavender honeys had values of diastase activity below those determined by european legislation. strawberry tree, pennyroyal, and cardoon honeys had the high ...201323957401
analysis of phenolic compounds in portuguese wild and commercial berries after multienzyme hydrolysis.berry fruits are a good source of phenolic compounds and thus, potentially beneficial to health. phenolic compounds are mainly present as a variety of conjugated forms, either with sugars via o-glycosidic bonds or with other polyols as esters. this chemodiversity makes characterization and identification highly demanding. selected varieties of commercial blueberries, raspberries and blackberries and the two wild berries portuguese crowberry and strawberry tree fruits were characterized for indiv ...201323530973
multiple lectin detection by cell membrane affinity binding.assuming that lectins evolved to recognise relatively complex and branched oligosaccharides or parts of them, rather than simple sugars, a procedure based on lectin affinity binding to isolated erythrocyte (or any other cell type) membranes is proposed. this methodology was validated using six pure commercial lectins, as well as lectins from total protein extracts of arbutus unedo leaves. all commercial lectins, as well as five polypeptides from a. unedo leaves bound to the glycosylated membrane ...201222381939
exploring biodiversity in the bacterial community of the mediterranean phyllosphere and its relationship with airborne bacteria.we studied the structure and diversity of the phyllosphere bacterial community of a mediterranean ecosystem, in summer, the most stressful season in this environment. to this aim, we selected nine dominant perennial species, namely arbutus unedo, cistus incanus, lavandula stoechas, myrtus communis, phillyrea latifolia, pistacia lentiscus, quercus coccifera (woody), calamintha nepeta, and melissa officinalis (herbaceous). we also examined the extent to which airborne bacteria resemble the epiphyt ...201222544345
effects of hot air and freeze drying methods on antioxidant activity, colour and some nutritional characteristics of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l) fruit.antioxidant activity, colour and some nutritional properties of hot air and freeze-dried strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) fruits were investigated. additionally, the effects of two pre-treatments, namely ethyl oleate and water blanching, were compared in terms of drying characteristics. for determination of antioxidant activities in ethanol extracts, two different analytical methods were used: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching activity. as a result, the ...201222522307
antioxidant capacity and vasodilatory properties of mediterranean food: the case of cannonau wine, myrtle berries liqueur and strawberry-tree honey.the aim of this work was to use different assays to evaluate the antioxidant and vasodilatory properties of three typical food products from the mediterranean area and to correlate these activities with their phenolic content. for this purpose, red wines cannonau, liqueurs obtained by cold maceration of myrtle (myrtus communis l.) berries and bitter honeys obtained from strawberry-tree flowers (arbutus unedo l.) were analysed. the total phenolic (tp) content was measured spectrophotometrically w ...201223692754
riboflavin and lumichrome in dalmatian sage honey and other unifloral honeys determined by lc-dad technique.riboflavin (vitamin b(2)) and its metabolite lumichrome were quantified in 117 samples from 11 unifloral honeys types (arbutus unedo l., asphodelus microcarpus salzm. et viv., citrus spp., eucalyptus spp., hedysarum coronarium l., castanea sativa l. honeydew, mentha spp., paliurus spina-christi., salix spp., salvia officinalis l., satureja spp.). the quantification of these two compounds was performed by lc-dad method which does not require sample purification. the proposed method in our study h ...201222953948
effects of nursery preconditioning through mycorrhizal inoculation and drought in arbutus unedo l. plants.the influence of a water deficit treatment and mycorrhizal inoculation with pisolithus tinctorius (pers.) coker and couch on the water relations, gas exchange, and plant growth in arbutus unedo l. plants was studied in order to evaluate the hardening process during the nursery period. the ability to withstand the adverse conditions after transplantation was also studied. mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings of a. unedo were pot-grown for 4 months in a greenhouse (nursery period), during whi ...201120405149
comparative antihemolytic and radical scavenging activities of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) leaf and fruit.the present study reports the antioxidant properties of arbutus unedo l. leaf and fruit extracts using different in vitro assays including (i) reducing power, (ii) scavenging effect on dpph free radicals, and (iii) inhibitory effect on aaph-induced hemolysis and lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes. all assays demonstrated antioxidant efficiency for a. unedo l. aqueous extracts, being consistently higher in the leaf. ec(50) values for reducing power and dpph radical scavenging activities wer ...201121703325
screening of antimicrobial activity of cistus ladanifer and arbutus unedo extracts.in this work, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of different crude extracts obtained from cistus ladanifer l. and arbutus unedo l. was investigated. the ethanol, methanol and acetone/water extracts of cistus ladanifer and arbutus unedo were prepared using different extraction methods and their antimicrobial activities against reference strains, including three gram-positive, five gram-negative and three yeasts, and against clinical isolates of helicobacter pylori and methicillin-resistant stap ...201122077559
antioxidant profile of strawberry tree honey and its marker homogentisic acid in several models of oxidative stress.the antioxidant activity of several honeys was evaluated considering the different contribution of entire samples. the strawberry tree honey emerged as the richest in total phenols and the most active honey in the dpph and frap tests, and could protect cholesterol against oxidative degradation (140°c). homogentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, hga), the main phenolic compound from strawberry tree honey, showed interesting antioxidant and antiradical activities, and protective effect aga ...201125212335
optimization of dna extraction for rapd and issr analysis of arbutus unedo l. leaves.genetic analysis of plants relies on high yields of pure dna. for the strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) this represents a great challenge since leaves can accumulate large amounts of polysaccharides, polyphenols and secondary metabolites, which co-purify with dna. for this specie, standard protocols do not produce efficient yields of high-quality amplifiable dna. here, we present for the first time an improved leaf-tissue protocol, based on the standard cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide protocol, w ...201121747730
comparative study of spasmolytic properties, antioxidant activity and phenolic content of arbutus unedo from montenegro and greece.arbutus unedo leaf is used traditionally for gastrointestinal complaints. ethanol extracts from arbutus unedo collected in both montenegro (aum) and greece (aug) were found to decrease the ileal basal tonus, with aug producing a significantly higher (p < 0.05) reduction in contractile response to acetylcholine. aum and aug relaxed 80 mm k(+) induced contractions and shifted the ca(++) concentration-response curves to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil, suggesting that the spasmolytic ...201121438047
effects of process parameters on supercritical co2 extraction of total phenols from strawberry (arbutus unedo l.) fruits: an optimization study.the aim of this work was to optimize total phenolic yield of arbutus unedo fruits using supercritical fluid extraction. a box-behnken statistical design was used to evaluate the effect of various values of pressure (50-300 bar), temperature (30-80°c) and concentration of ethanol as co-solvent (0-20%) by co2 flow rate of 15 g/min for 60 min. the most effective variable was co-solvent ratio (p<0.005). evaluative criteria for both dependent variables (total phenols and radical scavenging activity) ...201121695688
differences in foliage affect performance of the lappet moth, streblote panda: implications for species fitness.implications for adults' fitness through the foliage effects of five different host plants on larval survival and performance of the lappet moth, streblote panda hübner (lepidoptera: lasiocampidae), as well as their effect on species fitness were assayed. larvae were reared under controlled laboratory conditions on excised foliage. long-term developmental experiments were done using first instar larvae to adult emergence, and performance experiments were done using fifth instar larvae. survival, ...201021062148
variations of vessel diameter and δ13c in false rings of arbutus unedo l. reflect different environmental conditions.woody species in mediterranean ecosystems form intra-annual density fluctuations (iadfs) in tree rings in response to changes in environmental conditions, especially water availability. dendrochronology, quantitative wood anatomy and high-resolution isotopic analysis (using a laser ablation technique) were used to characterize iadfs in arbutus unedo shrubs grown on two sites with different water availability on the island of elba (italy). our findings show that iadf characterization can provide ...201020840507
effect of plant growth regulators and genotype on the micropropagation of adult trees of arbutus unedo l. (strawberry tree).arbutus unedo grows spontaneously around the mediterranean basin. the species is tolerant to drought and has a strong regeneration capacity following fires making it interesting for mediterranean forestation programs. considering the sparse information about the potential of this fruit tree to be propagated in vitro, a project to clone selected trees based on their fruit production was initiated a few years ago. the role of several factors on a. unedo propagation was evaluated. the results showe ...201020219713
antioxidant properties and neuroprotective capacity of strawberry tree fruit (arbutus unedo).berries contain significant amounts of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, which are reported to reduce cancer risk, coronary heart disease and other degenerative diseases. these effects are mainly attributed to the antioxidant capacity of polyphenols found in berries. strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) berries are used in folk medicine but seldom eaten as fresh fruits. their phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity reveal a high potential, but they are not well characterized as a "health promo ...201022254017
floral markers of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey.strawberry tree honey, due to its characteristic bitter taste, is one of the most typical mediterranean honeys, with sardinia being one of the largest producers. according to specific chemical studies, homogentisic acid was identified as a possible marker of this honey. this work, based on hplc-dad-ms/ms analysis of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honeys, previously selected by sensory evaluation and melissopalynological analysis, showed that, in addition to the above-mentioned acid, there we ...201019919097
determination and comparison of chemical characteristics of arbutus unedo l. and arbutus andrachnae l. (family ericaceae) fruits.the fruits and leaves of arbutus species are well known in folk medicine as antiseptics, diuretics, and laxatives in many parts of turkey. some chemical properties including ph, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, protein, moisture, ash, ascorbic acid, fructose, glucose, sucrose, total phenols, total antioxidant activity, and minerals were determined in fully matured arbutus unedo l. and arbutus andrachnae l. fruits collected from different sites of canakkale, turkey in 2006 and 2007. tot ...201020553155
phytosociological and ecological structure of mediterranean enclaves along the stream valleys in inner parts of black sea region.in this study phytosociological structure of mediterranean enclaves which occured along the stream valleys in inner parts of black sea region was investigated. pinus brutia var. brutia and quercus coccifera are the most widespread communities in the study area. pinus pinea, arbutus andrachne, arbutus unedo, fontanesia philliraeoides subsp. philliraeoides and olea europaea l. var sylvestris have a restricted distribution in inner parts of black sea region as compared to p. brutia and q. coccifera ...201020648812
characterization of selected wild mediterranean fruits and comparative efficacy as inhibitors of oxidative reactions in emulsified raw pork burger patties.in the present study, water, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts from seven selected wild fruits originally from the mediterranean area, namely, strawberry tree ( arbutus unedo l., au), azarole ( crataegus azarolus l., ca), common hawthorn ( crataegus monogyna l., cm), blackthorn ( prunus spinosa l., ps), dog rose ( rosa canina l., rc), elm-leaf blackberry ( rubus ulmifolius schott, ru), and rowan ( sorbus aucuparia l., sa), were analyzed for the total amount and profile of phenolic compounds and ...201020681673
new remarkable records of microfungi from sardinia (italy).in june 2009 we organized a botanical student excursion to the eastern part of sardinia, italy. on this occasion we were able to collect and identify over 80 species of microfungi growing on higher plants. the collecting sites were spread over a large area, among them were la caletta, capo comino, monte albo, cala gonone, monte maccione, san teodoro, capo testa. the collected microfungi were parasitic or saprophytic; basidiomycotina (uredinales), ascomycotina and deuteromycotina (hyphomycetes, c ...201021534478
antidiabetic effect of some medicinal plants of oriental morocco in neonatal non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats.the goal of the present study is to test the effect of water extract (we) of four medicinal plants used as antidiabetics in eastern morocco (arbutus unedo: au, ammoïdes pusilla: ap, thymelaea hirsuta: th, and urtica dioïca: ud). these plants are used in cooking to bring out the flavor in a dish or to complement it. the first experiment was realized in order to determine the antidiabetic effect of the we of these plants during 5 weeks' treatment. seven groups of wistar rats were used: healthy con ...201020154101
tryptophan depletion and formation of alpha-aminoadipic and gamma-glutamic semialdehydes in porcine burger patties with added phenolic-rich fruit extracts.the effect of added fruit extracts on the oxidation of muscle proteins in porcine burger patties subjected to cooking and chill storage was studied. extracts from arbutus berries (arbutus unedo l., au), common hawthorns (crataegus monogyna l., cm), dog roses (rosa canina l., rc), and elm-leaf blackberries (rubus ulmifolius schott, ru) were prepared, characterized, added to burger patties (3% of total weight), and evaluated as inhibitors of protein oxidation. negative (no added extract, c) and po ...201020170109
chemical composition of fatty acid and unsaponifiable fractions of leaves, stems and roots of arbutus unedo and in vitro antimicrobial activity of unsaponifiable extracts.the chemical composition of the fatty acid and unsaponifiable fractions of the leaves, stems and roots of arbutus unedo l. were determined using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. the fatty acid fractions of the leaves, stems and roots contained 38.5%, 31.3% and 14.1% palmitic acid, respectively, along with other long-chain fatty acids (up to c22). the chemical composition of the unsaponifiable fractions differed: the leaf and stem fractions contained high levels of ali ...201020734946
in vitro activity of arbutus unedo leaf extracts against trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites.trichomonas vaginalis (t. vaginalis) is a flagellated protozoan commonly causing sexually transmitted disease. t. vaginalis infections are treated with a 5-nitroimidazole derivate. however, drug resistance has been known to occur for a long time and new alternatives are under investigation. arbutus unedo is a wild plant mainly growing in maquis and rocky places of the seaboard in southern europe. in our study, ethanolic, water, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of arbutus unedo leaves were teste ...200920101573
in vitro activity of arbutus unedo against leishmania tropica promastigotes.pentavalent antimonials are the first choice for the treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl) in health centers in turkey, however in rural areas, traditional plants may be preferred for the treatment of lesions. in recent years a number of papers are published related to the natural products especially plant derivates. our aim is to investigate the antileishmanial effect of arbutus unedo which is a wild plant mainly grown in maquis and rocky places of the seabord in south europe ...200919598085
methyl syringate: a chemical marker of asphodel (asphodelus microcarpus salzm. et viv.) monofloral honey.during the liquid chromatographic study of the phenolic fraction of monofloral honeys was detected in the asphodel honey ( asphodelus microcarpus salzm. et viv.) chromatogram a distinctive peak not detected in other monofloral honeys such as arbutus unedo l., hedysarum coronarium , eucalyptus spp., and galactites tomentosa . after thin layer chromatography (tlc) purification and characterization by nmr and lc-ms/ms, the compound was identified as methyl syringate (msyr) and confirmed against an ...200919309074
facilitated establishment of quercus ilex in shrub-dominated communities within a mediterranean ecosystem: do mycorrhizal partners matter?positive plant-plant interaction is a widespread phenomenon, especially in harsh environments, which can contribute to secondary successions. here, we investigated whether arbutus unedo positively influences quercus ilex establishment in shrub communities by abiotic and/or biotic interactions in a mediterranean forest ecosystem, where we previously showed that a. unedo and q. ilex share numerous species of mycorrhizal fungi. in a first field experiment, patterns of q. ilex survivorship were docu ...200919175678
arbutin content and antioxidant activity of some ericaceae species.quantitative analyses and investigation of antioxidant activity of herb and dry ethanolic extracts of five species from ericaceae family (arbutus unedo l., bruckentalia spiculifolia rchb., calluna vulgaris salisb., erica arborea l. and erica carnea l.) were performed. total polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids were determined spectrophotometrically and arbutin content was measured both spectrophotometrically and by hplc coupled with dad detection. antioxidative properites of the ethanolic extract ...200919947168
reversed-phase liquid chromatographic profile of free amino acids in strawberry-tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey.the typical profile of the free amino acids contained in strawberry-tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey is reported for the first time. an optimized reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (rp-lc) method with phenyl isothiocyanate precolumn derivatization was used. fourteen free amino acids were identified and quantified in 16 analytical samples. proline (65.63%) was found to be the most abundant free amino acid, followed by glutamic acid (6.49%), arginine (5.21%), alanine (5.17%), and phenylalanine (4. ...200919714983
scavenging capacity of strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) leaves on free radicals.despite strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) leaves had a long use in traditional medicine due to its antiseptic, diuretic, astringent and depurative properties, the potential of their antioxidant activity are still lacking. our study goals to assess the antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential of water, ethanol, methanol and diethyl ether extracts of a. unedo leaves. total phenols content was achieved spectrophotometrically using folin-ciocalteau reagent with gallic acid as standard. ant ...200919351553
comparison of arsenic resistance in mediterranean woody shrubs used in restoration activities.myrtus communis, arbutus unedo and retama sphaerocarpa are mediterranean shrubs widely used in revegetation of semiarid degraded soils. the aim of this work is to study the resistance of these plants to arsenic under controlled conditions, in order to evaluate their potential use in revegetation and/or phytoremediation of as-polluted soils. r. sphaerocarpa showed higher resistance to as than m. communis or a. unedo according to its higher ec50, p status and p/as molar ratio in both, roots and sh ...200818037471
aqueous extract of arbutus unedo inhibits stat1 activation in human breast cancer cell line mda-mb-231 and human fibroblasts through shp2 activation.arbutus unedo l. has been for a long time employed in traditional and popular medicine as an astringent, diuretic, urinary anti-septic, and more recently, in the therapy of hypertension and diabetes. signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (stat1) is a fascinating and complex protein with multiple yet contrasting transcriptional functions. although activation of this nuclear factor is finely regulated in order to control the entire inflammatory process, its hyper-activation or time-sp ...200818473914
protective effect of arbutus unedo aqueous extract in carrageenan-induced lung inflammation in mice.in the present study, we show that an aqueous extract of arbutus unedo l. (aue), a mediterranean endemic plant widely employed as an astringent, diuretic and urinary anti-septic, in vitro down-regulates the expression of some inflammatory genes, such as those encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos) and intracellular adhesion molecule-(icam)-1, exerting a inhibitory action on both ifn-gamma-elicited stat1 activation and il-6-elicited stat3 activation. to evaluate further the effect of aue ...200818249557
arbutus unedo prevents cardiovascular and morphological alterations in l-name-induced hypertensive rats part i: cardiovascular and renal hemodynamic effects of arbutus unedo in l-name-induced hypertensive rats.hypertension induced by nitric oxide synthase inhibition is associated with functional abnormalities of the heart and kidney. the aim of the present study was to investigate whether chronic treatment with arbutus unedo leaf (aul) or root (aur) aqueous extracts can prevent these alterations. six groups of rats were used: control group received tap water; n(g)-nitro-l-arginine methyl-ester (l-name) group treated with l-name at 40 mg/kg/day; aul and aur groups received simultaneously l-name (40 mg/ ...200818191352
antihyperglycemic activity of arbutus unedo, ammoides pusilla and thymelaea hirsuta.the effect of the water extract (we) of three medicinal plants used as antidiabetic medication in eastern morocco (arbutus unedo: au, ammoides pusilla: ap and thymelaea hirsuta: th) was tested in rats with the oral glucose tolerance test (ogtt) and intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivgtt). in the ogtt the rats received water, glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) or we (500 mg/kg for au and 250 mg/kg for th and ap) 30 min before glucose loading (glucose: 1 g/kg). the we of au, ap and th produced a significa ...200717867561
antiaggregant effects of arbutus unedo extracts in human platelets.platelet hyperaggregability plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. thrombin evokes aggregation through ca(2+) mobilization, tyrosine phosphorylation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ros). we have investigated the antiaggregant properties of arbutus unedo extracts in human platelets. changes in cytosolic ca(2+) concentration and intracellular oxidants production were registered by espectrofluorimetry using fura-2 and dichlorodihydrofluorescein, respectively ...200717681442
vegetable and animal food sorts found in the gastric content of sardinian wild boar (sus scrofa meridionalis).authors report results emerging from gastric content analysis from n. 96 wild boars hunted in sardinia isle, during the hunting tide (2001-2005), from november to january. mean ph of the gastric content was 3.77 +/- 0.69. mean total capacity (tc) of each stomach was 1702 +/- 680 g. mean stuff ratio (cw/tc) between the content weight (cw) and stomachs tc was 0.45. food categories found in animal stomachs were: 19 categories of vegetal species (allium spp., arbutus unedo, arisarum vulgare, avena f ...200717516948
results of a screening programme to identify plants or plant extracts that inhibit ruminal protein degradation.one aim of the ec framework v project, 'rumen-up' (qlk5-ct-2001-00 992), was to find plants or plant extracts that would inhibit the nutritionally wasteful degradation of protein in the rumen. a total of 500 samples were screened in vitro using 14c-labelled casein in a 30-min incubation with ruminal digesta. eight were selected for further investigation using a batch fermentation system and soya protein and bovine serum albumin as proteolysis substrates; proteolysis was monitored over 12 h by th ...200717445338
drought changes the dynamics of trace element accumulation in a mediterranean quercus ilex forest.we conducted a field drought manipulation experiment in an evergreen oak mediterranean forest from 1999 to 2005 to investigate the effects of the increased drought predicted for the next decades on the accumulation of trace elements that can be toxic for animals, in stand biomass, litter and soil. drought increased concentrations of as, cd, ni, pb and cr in roots of the dominant tree species, quercus ilex, and leaf cd concentrations in arbutus unedo and of phillyrea latifolia codominant shrubs. ...200717137692
role of species diversity and secondary compound complementarity on diet selection of mediterranean shrubs by goats.goats foraging on mediterranean shrubs containing secondary compounds (toxins) may consume a variety of shrubs that contain different phytotoxins, thereby increasing shrub intake and avoiding toxicosis. we conducted eight experiments to examine whether goats offered different mixtures of shrubs containing different phytotoxins (tannins and saponins) would consume more shrub biomass than goats offered one shrub a single phytotoxin (tannin or saponin). in the first three experiments, goats fed a m ...200616770718
effects of extracts and tannins from arbutus unedo leaves on rat platelet aggregation.many cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension are associated with an increase in blood platelet activity. arbutus unedo (ericaceae) is a medicinal plant reputed to treat arterial hypertension, so the present study was undertaken in order to determine the antiaggregant effect. the crude aqueous extract showed an inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (ic50 = 1.8 +/- 0.09 g/l, n = 10). the subsequent extraction of arbutus unedo leaves by successive solvents showed that th ...200616444667
an rp-hplc determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in honey the case of strawberry tree honey.the use of the rp-hplc official method of the international honey commission (ihc) for the determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (hmf) in strawberry tree honey (arbutus unedo, a typical sardinian honey) has brought to light a specific and heavy chromatographic interference that prevents accurate quantification. the interference has been identified as homogentisic acid (ha), i.e. the marker of the botanical origin of the honey. for this reason, an alternative rp-hplc method is proposed. the bi ...200618970477
phenolics of arbutus unedo l. (ericaceae) fruits: identification of anthocyanins and gallic acid derivatives.arbutus unedo l., the strawberry tree (ericaceae family), is an evergreen shrub or small tree, typical of the mediterranean fringe and climate. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the profile of the phenolic constituents of a. unedo fruits. seven compounds were purified by sephadex lh-20 column chromatography of the meoh extract followed by hplc and were characterized as arbutin, beta-d-glucogalline, gallic acid 4-o-beta-d-glucopyranoside, 3-o-galloylquinic acid, 5-o-galloylquinic acid, ...200617177565
potential cancer chemopreventive agents from arbutus unedo.a phytochemical study of the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of the entire plant of arbutus unedo led to the isolation of a new sterol, 7beta-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (1), and nine known compounds of the flavan, steroid, and terpenoid types. the structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation in combination with molecular modeling calculations. the absolute stereochemistry of c-7 was assigned as s for compound 1 based on the obtained cd spectral data. activity in ...200616644527
qualitative and quantitative analysis of flavonoids of the strawberry tree - arbutus unedo l. (ericaceae).the leaves and fruits of strawberry tree - arbutus unedo l., collected from two separate geographic locations in croatia were investigated to determine their flavonoid composition and content. quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and rutin were identified in all leaf samples by means of thin-layer chromatography; the fruits contained only isoquercitrin. chlorogenic acid was present in some leaf samples. the content of flavonoids depended on the plant organ investigated, date of collection and t ...200616613729
direct chromatographic methods for the rapid determination of homogentisic acid in strawberry tree (arbutus unedo l.) honey.two rapid and direct chromatographic methods based on reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (rp-hplc) and ion chromatography (ic) were developed for the determination of homogentisic acid (ha) in honey. this is the marker of the botanic origin of strawberry tree honey. the methods were validated and tested using 22 samples from sardinia, italy. the ic method is faster than the rp-hplc one (6 min versus 13 min of total run), but it is slightly less sensitive (the limit of detection ...200516196135
ozone slows stomatal response to light and leaf wounding in a mediterranean evergreen broadleaf, arbutus unedo.the effect of a 90-d ozone exposure (charcoal-filtered air or 110 nmol mol(-1) o3) on stomatal conductance (gs) was investigated in the mediterranean evergreen broadleaf arbutus unedo l. ozone did not significantly reduce midday steady-state gs compared to controls. however, it slowed stomatal response to abrupt reduction of light intensity and to increasing water stress, applied by severing the leaf midrib. ozone slowed stomatal closure, rather than aperture. nevertheless, vein-cutting did not ...200515620589
analysis of pollen and nectar of arbutus unedo as a food source for bombus terrestris (hymenoptera: apidae).the mineral, total amino acid, and sterol compositions of pollen collected by apis mellifera l. were compared with the pollen of a plant consumed by bombus terrestris (l.): arbutus unedo l. this plant provides the predominant food resource for the main autumn generation of b. terrestris in southern france. honey bees also forage on this plant, although only for nectar. the mineral composition of 30 pollen samples collected by honey bees is close to the presently known requirements of a. mellifer ...200516022289
diversity and specificity of ectomycorrhizal fungi retrieved from an old-growth mediterranean forest dominated by quercus ilex.we analysed the ectomycorrhizal (ecm) fungal diversity in a mediterranean old-growth quercus ilex forest stand from corsica (france), where arbutus unedo was the only other ecm host. on a 6400 m2 stand, we investigated whether oak age and host species shaped below-ground ecm diversity. ectomycorrhizas were collected under q. ilex individuals of various ages (1 yr seedlings; 3-10 yr saplings; old trees) and a. unedo. they were typed by its-rflp analysis and identified by match to rflp patterns of ...200515869659
bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere of mediterranean perennial species as influenced by leaf structural and chemical features.in this study, we assessed various leaf structural and chemical features as possible predictors of the size of the phyllosphere bacterial population in the mediterranean environment. we examined eight perennial species, naturally occurring and coexisting in the same area, in halkidiki (northern greece). they are arbutus unedo, quercus coccifera, pistacia lentiscus, and myrtus communis (evergreen sclerophyllous species), lavandula stoechas and cistus incanus (drought semi-deciduous species), and ...200516215646
tannins and catechin gallate mediate the vasorelaxant effect of arbutus unedo on the rat isolated aorta.this study examined the vascular effect of arbutus leaves (aqueous extract) and described the isolation of several fractions responsible for their vasorelaxant activity. the aqueous extract (ae) of leaves was tested on rat aortic rings precontracted with 0.1 microm noradrenaline. at 10(-2) g/l, ae produced an endothelium dependent relaxation of 66% +/- 5%, (n = 8). the leaves of arbutus were then extracted successively with different solvents and the methanol extract was the most active. when ta ...200415597331
platelet anti-aggregant property of some moroccan medicinal plants.it is known that blood platelets may present some dysfunction linked to cardiovascular pathologies such as arterial hypertension. the aim of this work is to examine the in vitro anti-aggregant effect of five medicinal plants among which three were reported as antihypertensive in oriental morocco: arbutus unedo (ericaceae), urtica dioïca (urticaceae), and petroselinum crispum (apiaceae). the two other plants were cistus ladaniferus (cistaceae) and equisetum arvense (equisetaceae). the results obt ...200415325737
water sources and water-use efficiency in mediterranean coastal dune vegetation.in coastal environments plants have to cope with various water sources: rainwater, water table, seawater, and mixtures. these are usually characterized by different isotopic signatures ( (18)o/ (16)o and d/h ratios). xylem water reflects the isotopic compositions of the water sources. additionally, water-use efficiency (wue) can be assessed with carbon isotope discrimination (delta) analyses. gas exchange, delta of leaf dry matter, and isotopic composition (delta (18)o) of xylem water were measu ...200415143444
partitioning of water and nitrogen in co-occurring mediterranean woody shrub species of different evolutionary history.we studied the interspecific and intraspecific variation in the development of water stress and in the use of different water and nitrogen sources during the spring (wet season) and summer (dry season) in a shrub community in ne spain. we measured shoot water potentials, stable deuterium isotopic composition (delta d) of xylem sap, leaf mass per area, leaf n and c concentrations, gas exchange, leaf delta(13)c, and leaf delta(15)n of the dominant species (quercus coccifera, arbutus unedo, pistaci ...200312856202
sap flow of three co-occurring mediterranean woody species under varying atmospheric and soil water conditions.we studied the seasonal patterns of water use in three woody species co-occurring in a holm oak forest in northeastern spain. the three species studied, quercus ilex l., phillyrea latifolia l. and arbutus unedo l., constitute more than 99% of the total basal area of the forest. the study period included the dry seasons of 1999 and 2000. water use was estimated with granier-type sap flux sensors. standard meteorological variables, soil water content and leaf water potentials were also monitored. ...200312839728
identification, measurement and interpretation of tree rings in woody species from mediterranean climates.we review the literature dealing with mediterranean climate, vegetation, phenology and ecophysiology relevant to the understanding of tree-ring formation in mediterranean regions. tree rings have been used extensively in temperate regions to reconstruct responses of forests to past environmental changes. in mediterranean regions, studies of tree rings are scarce, despite their potential for understanding and predicting the effects of global change on important ecological processes such as desert ...200312620063
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