Search Results (5)

The genus Chamaecyparis comprises seven species (C. formosensis, C. hodginsii, C. lawsoniana, C. nootkatensis (Callitropsis nootkatensis), C. obtusa, C. pisifera, and C. thyoides). Accurate species identification is necessary for proper use and economic value of wood. Species identification of woods is generally based on anatomical analysis; however, C. obtusa and C. pisifera wood have similar microscopic morphology, which makes species identification impossible. Therefore, the molecular identification of species in wood of the genus Chamaecyparis is required. In this study, six candidate DNA barcode genes (trnP-GGG, ycf1b, clpP, accD, ycf2, and rps16) in the chloroplast of Chamaecyparis were identified with nucleotide diversity values higher than the arbitrary value of 0.02. Each gene was evaluated for species identification using phylogenetic analysis by genes registered at NCBI (42 sequences each for trnP-GGG, ycf1b, clpP, accD, and ycf2, and 50 sequences for rps16). The genes trnP-GGG, clpP, and rps16 could not be distinguished between C. pisifera and C. formosensis. However, ycf1b, accD, and ycf2 could be distinguished between all Chamaecyparis species. These results suggest the use of the chloroplast genes ycf1b, accD, and ycf2 as DNA barcodes for species identification in Chamaecyparis, including C. obtusa and C. pisifera, based on the reported genetic information to date. Full article

Phellinus noxius is a highly destructive fungus that causes brown root disease in trees, leading to decay and death. In Taiwan, five prized woods—Taiwania cryptomerioides, Calocedrus macrolepis var. formosana, Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii, Chamaecyparis formosensis, and Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana—are known for their fragrance and durability. This study aims to explore the anti-brown-root-rot-fungus activity of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii (CL) essential oil (CLOL) and its primary components, while also delving into their mechanisms of action and inhibition pathways. The essential oil (CLOL) from CL wood demonstrated significant efficacy against P. noxius, with an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 37.5 µg/mL. Cedrol, the major component (78.48%) in CLOL, emerged as a potent antifungal agent, surpassing the reference drug triflumizole. Further assays with cedrol revealed a stronger anti-brown-root-disease activity (IC₅₀ = 15.7 µg/mL) than triflumizole (IC₅₀ = 32.1 µg/mL). Scanning electron microscopy showed deformation and rupture of fungal hyphae treated with CLOL and cedrol, indicating damage to the fungal cell membrane. Cedrol-induced oxidative stress in P. noxius was evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, leading to DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, and fungal apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Gel electrophoresis confirmed cedrol-induced DNA fragmentation, whereas TUNEL staining demonstrated increased apoptosis with rising cedrol concentrations. Moreover, protein expression analysis revealed cedrol-triggered release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-9, and subsequent caspase-3 activation, initiating a caspase cascade reaction. This groundbreaking study establishes cedrol as the first compound to induce apoptosis in P. noxius while inhibiting its growth through oxidative stress, an increase in mitochondrial membrane permeability, and activation of the mitochondrial pathway. The findings offer compelling evidence for cedrol’s potential as an effective antifungal agent against the destructive brown root disease caused by P. noxius. Full article

Both Chamaecyparis formosensis and C. obtusa var. formosana are representative cypresses of high economic value in Taiwan, the southernmost subtropical region where cypresses are found. Both species show differences of their habitats. To find out the effects of environmental factors on the CO₂ assimilation rate and the biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emission of both species, saplings from both species were grown under different light intensity and temperature regimes. The results indicated that the net CO₂ assimilation rates and total BVOC emission rates of both species increased with increasing light intensity. C. formosensis showed a higher magnitude of change, but C. obtusa var. formosana had considerably increased sesquiterpenoid and diterpenoid emission in BVOC under high light intensity. Both species grown under higher temperatures had significantly lower BVOC emission rates. Proteomic analyses revealed that compared to C. formosensis saplings, C. obtusa var. formosana saplings had less differentially expressed proteins in terms of protein species and fold changes in response to the growth conditions. These proteins participated mainly in photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, amino acid and protein processing, signal transduction, and stress mechanisms. These proteins might be the major regulatory factors affecting BVOC emission of these two species under different environments. Full article

The productivity of forests is often considered to be limited by the availability of phosphorus (P). Knowledge of the role of organic and inorganic P in humid subtropical forest soils is lacking. In this study, we used chemical fractionation and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to characterize the form of P and its distribution in undisturbed perhumid Taiwan false cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum.) forest soils. The toposequence of transects was investigated for the humic layer from summit to footslope and lakeshore. The clay layer combined with a placic-like horizon in the subsoil may affect the distribution of soil P because both total P and organic P (P_o) contents in all studied soils decreased with soil depth. In addition, P_o content was negatively correlated with soil crystalline Fe oxide content, whereas inorganic P (P_i) content was positively correlated with soil crystalline Fe oxide content and slightly increased with soil depth. Thus, P_i may be mostly adsorbed by soil crystalline Fe oxides in the soils. Among all extractable P fractions, the NaOH-P_o fraction appeared to be the major component, followed by NaHCO₃-P_o; the resin-P and HCl-P_i fractions were lowest. In addition, we found no typical trend for P_i and P_o contents in soils with topographical change among the three sites. From the ³¹P-NMR spectra, the dominant P_o form in soils from all study sites was monoesters with similar spectra. The ³¹P-NMR findings were basically consistent with those from chemical extraction. Soil formation processes may be the critical factor affecting the distribution of soil P. High precipitation and year-round high humidity may be important in the differentiation of the P species in this landscape. Full article

Chamaecyparis formosensis is Taiwan’s most representative tree, and has high economic value. To date, only a few active chemical constituents have been reported for C. formosensis. In this study, 37 secondary metabolites, including three new compounds (1–3), were extracted from the leaves of C. formosensis. The compounds isolated from the ethyl acetate layer were used at different concentrations to treat HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and to evaluate their effects on matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) expression. Based on extensive analysis of data from high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, the new compounds were identified as 11,12-dihydroxyisodaucenoic acid (1), 12-hydroxyisodaucenoic acid (2), and 1-oxo-2α,3β-dihydroxytotarol (3). Known compounds 4–37 were identified by comparing their spectroscopic data with data reported in the literature. Biological activity tests by gelatin zymographic analysis revealed that seven compounds, including new compound 2, have no cytotoxic effect on HT-1080 cells and were found to increase MMP-2 or MMP-9 expression by 1.25- to 1.59-fold at lower concentrations of 10–50 µM. These naturally derived regulatory compounds could potentially serve as a novel pharmaceutical basis for medical purposes. Full article