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The leaf essential oils of Machilus obovatifolia were isolated and analyzed using either the hydrodistillation or headspace-GC methods to determine their compositions and yields. Antimicrobial activities of the leaf oils obtained were also evaluated. Ninety-three compounds were identified in the hydrodistilled leaf oil, and 74 compounds were identified by the headspace-GC and GC/MS method, respectively. The main components of the oils were β-caryophyllene (10.5%), β-phellandrene (7.8%), τ-muurolol (5.3%), α-phellandrene (5.1%) and δ-cadinene (5.0%). The leaf oils exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sericite is an indigenously produced mineral from eastern Taiwan. As a mineral of the mica family, it is a naturally swelling, layered material. It possesses a high degree of negative charge and high aspect ratio, making it suitable for use as a functional filler to strengthen the retention of fines and chemicals in the wet-end process. This study investigated the use and development of swelling sericite as a functional papermaking filler in both acidic and neutral sizing systems. The study included laboratory tests and on-machine tests on paper machines of different speeds (below 300 m/min, 500 m/min, and more than 1000 m/min). We studied the effects of adding sericite on wet-end performance and paper properties. In the neutral sizing system, when 3% of calcium carbonate was replaced with sericite, the sizing degree improved by 46%, ash content by 18%, bulk by 4%, and opacity by 1.5%; but brightness was lowered by 1.5% ISO. In the acidic sizing system, when 3% of clay was replaced with sericite, the sizing degree improved by 85%, ash content by 13%, bulk by 4%, and opacity by 1.2%. Brightness was lowered by 1.5%. Regardless of machine speeds, sericite addition in the on-machine tests not only enhanced first pass retention, but also lowered flow rates of retention aid, sizing agent, and filler. In the high-speed machine test, sericite helped to improve the thickness, formation, air permeation, and roughness of the products. Application: This study could offer paper mills the choice of a new functional filler to stabilize the wet-end system and enhance retention of fines, fillers, and chemicals. Paper formation, thickness, air permeation, and smoothness could also be raised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf essential oils of Prunus phacosticta var. phaeosticta were isolated and analyzed using hydrodistillation and headspace-GC methods to determine their composition and yield. Seventy-six compounds were identified in the hydrodistilled leaf oil, and 58 compounds were identified by the headspace, respectively, using GC and GC/MS. The main components of the oils were benzaldehyde (73.3%), 1,8-cineole (5.4%), and α-terpinyl acetate (4.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the chemical composition, in vitro cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil isolated from the flower of Diospyros discolor from Taiwan. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Twenty-eight compounds were identified, representing 100% of the oil. The main components identified were (2Z,6E)-farnesol (35.0%), α-cadinol (10.9%), (E)-nerolidol (6.9%), α-humulene (6.0%), τ-cadinol (5.6%), β-caryophyllene (5.3%), and τ-muurolol (5.3%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against human colon, liver, and lung cancer cells. The active compounds were β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, τ-cadinol, τ-muurolol, α-cadinol, and (2Z,6E)-farnesol. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested by the disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution methods against ten microbial species. The oil exhibited moderate to strong growth suppression against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Candida albicans, with inhibition zones of 40 to 52 mm and MIC values of 31.25-62.5 μg/mL, respectively. For the antimicrobial activities of the oil, the active compounds were determined to be α-cadinol, τ-cadinol, τ-muurolol and (2Z,6E)-farnesol.

In this study, anti-mildew and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the leaf and fruits essential oil and its constituents from Juniperus formosana were evaluated in vitro against seven mildew fungi and four wood decay fungi, respectively. The main compounds responsible for the anti-mildew and anti-wood-decay fungal activities were also identified. The essential oil from the fresh leaves and fruits of J. formosana were isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS, respectively. The leaf oil mainly consisted of alpha-pinene (41.0%), limonene (11.5%), alpha-cadinol (11.0%), elemol (6.3%), and beta-myrcene (5.8%); the fruit oil was mostly alpha-pinene (40.9%), beta-myrcene (32.4%), alpha-thujene (5.9%) and limonene (5.9%). Comparing the anti-mildew and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the oils suggested that the leaf oil was the most effective. For the anti-mildew and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the leaf oil, the active source compounds were determined to be alpha-cadinol and elemol.

This study investigated the chemical composition and in vitro anticancer activities of the essential oil isolated from the leaf of Neolitsea variabillima. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Sixty-seven compounds were identified, representing 100% of the oil. The main components identified were trans-beta-ocimene (13.4%), alpha-cadinol (10.5%), terpinen-4-ol (9.3%), tau-cadinol (9.2%), beta-caryophyllene (8.8%), and sabinene (6.7%). The anticancer activities of oil were evaluated. The results showed that the oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against human oral, liver, lung, colon, melanoma, and leukemic cancer cells. The presence of beta-caryophyllene, tau-cadinol, and alpha-cadinol significantly contributed to the anticancer activities of N. variabillima leaf oil.

This study investigated the chemical composition, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities in vitro of the essential oil isolated from the heartwood of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii from Taiwan. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirty-seven compounds were identified, representing 100% of the oil. The main components identified were cedrol (58.3%), alpha-cedrene (11.8%), alpha-terpineol (4.2%) and beta-cedrene (3.5%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against human lung, liver and oral cancer cells. The active source compound was cedrol. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested by the disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution methods against ten microbial species. The oil exhibited strong growth suppression against Gram-positive bacteria and yeast with inhibition zones of 42-50 mm to MIC values of 31.25-62.5 microg/mL, respectively. For the antimicrobial activities of the oil, the active compound was determined to be cedrol.

In this study, antipathogenic activities of the twig essential oil and its constituents from Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum were evaluated in vitro against six plant pathogenic fungi. The essential oil from the fresh twigs was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Twenty-five compounds were identified, representing 98.9% of the oil. The main components were beta-eudesmol (25.1%), tau-muurolol (21.6%), elemol (15.0%), totarol (14.9%), and alpha-cadinol (12.4%). The twig oil (500 mcirog/mL) showed growth inhibitory activity against the phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Pestalotiopsis funereal, and Ganoderma austral, with antifungal indices of 92.7%, 71.1%, and 87.7%, respectively. In addition, the oil suppressed totally the growth of Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Fusarium solani. In order to ascertain the source compounds of these antipathogenic activities, the main components were individually evaluated. Tau-Muurolol and alpha-cadinol exhibited excellent activity against F. oxysporum, R. solani, C. gloeosporioides, and F. solani, with IC50 < 50 microg/mL. These compounds also efficiently inhibited the mycelial growths of P. funereal and G. austral. Thus, alpha-cadinol and tau-muurolol could be considered as potential natural fungicides for controlling fungal pathogens and worth.

The chemical composition, and antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the essential oils isolated from the leaves and twigs of Litsea acutivena of Taiwan were investigated. The essential oils from the fresh leaves and twigs were isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Ninety-five and fifty-two compounds were identified in the leaf and twig oils, respectively. The main components of the leaf oil were gamma-patchoulene (11.0%), delta-cadinene (6.3%), trans-muurola-3,5-diene (5.9%), and beta-selinene (5.3%), whereas the main components of the twig oil were tau-cadinol (13.1%), beta-selinene (9.6%), trans-beta-ocimene (6.2%) and alpha-cadinol (7.7%). Bioactivity studies demonstrated that twig oil had excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities, superior to those of the leaf oil. For the antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the twig oil, the active compounds were determined to be tau-cadinol and alpha-cadinol.

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Neolitsea parvigemma was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Sixty-two compounds were identified, the main components being beta-caryophyllene (14.2%), beta-eudesmol (12.9%), alpha-cadinol (10.2%) and tau-cadinol (8.8%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (48.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (48.8%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The antifungal indexes of the leaf oil against the 7 fungi, Aspergillus clavatus, A. niger, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Myrothecium verrucaria, Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride, were 100.0, 72.3, 100.0, 100.0, 100.0, 75.8 and 88.6% at a 1 mg/mL concentration, respectively. The oil also exhibited anti-wood-decay-fungi activity against Trametes versicolor, Phaneochaete chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweintizii, and Lenzites sulphureu with MIC values of 50, 50, 25 and 25 microg/mL, respectively. For the antifungal and anti-wood-decay fungal activities of the oil, the active source compounds were determined to be alpha-cadinol, beta-eudesmol and tau-cadinol.

This study analyzed the hydrodistilled essential oils in the leaves and twigs of Litsea akoensis to determine composition and yield. Seventy-one and 40 compounds were identified in the leaf and twig oils, respectively. The main components of leaf oil were limonene (18.5%), thymol (10.1%), p-cymene (9.6%), beta-caryophyllene (8.9%), and carvacrol (8.2%). The main components of twig oil were beta-phellandrene (43.7%) and trans-beta-ocimene (10.4%). The results demonstrated that leaf oil had excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, superior to those of twig oil.

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Machilus kusanoi was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Twenty-three compounds were identified, the main components being beta-caryophyllene (23.3%), beta-eudesmol (17.1%), alpha-terpineol (16.0%), n-dodecanal (14.2%), and n-decanal (10.4%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (28.1%) and non-terpenoids (25.0%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.

The hydrodistillated seed essential oil of Calocedrus formosana was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Twenty-seven compounds were identified, the main ones being alpha-pinene (63.8%), totarol (9.9%) and ferruginol (8.9%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons (73.5%) and oxygenated diterpenes (18.8%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The seed essential oil exhibited excellent antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.

The hydrodistilled essential oils of the leaves and twigs of Litsea mushaensis and L. linii were analyzed. Sixty-nine and ninety compounds were identified in the leaf and twig oils, respectively, of L. mushaensis. The main components of the leaf oil were beta-eudesmol (24.2%), tau-cadinol (10.2%), alpha-humulene (10.1%), alpha-pinene (9.7%), and trans-beta-ocimene (6.5%), whereas the main components of the twig oil were trans-beta-ocimene (19.5%), alpha-pinene (12.8%) and cis-beta-ocimene (7.7%). With L. linii, 72 and 78 compounds were respectively identified in the leaf and twig oils. The main components of the leaf oil were beta-selinene (15.7%), alpha-selinene (15.5%), beta-caryophyllene (12.2%), alpha-humulene (7.2%), and delta-cadinene (5.6%), and of the twig oil trans-beta-ocimene (20.8%), beta-selinene (11.4%), alpha-cadinol (6.0%), delta-cadinene (5.8%), tau-cadinol (5.4%) and beta-eudesmol (5.2%). L. mushaensis leaf oil was shown to have excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activity, superior to the other oils.

The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil of Litsea coreana was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Fifty-two compounds were identified, the main components being n-decanal (27.5%), 2E,6E-farnesol (25.8%), beta-eudesmol (10.3%), ethyl n-dodecanoate (8.0%) and tau-cadinol (6.6%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (56.8%) and non-terpenoids (37.0%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antifungal and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Machilus pseudolongifolia was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Seventy compounds were identified, the main components being beta-eudesmol (26.8%), alpha-cadinol (20.8%), viridiflorene (8.9%), alpha-caryophyllene (5.3%), globulol (4.6%) and beta-caryophyllene (4.2%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (60.1%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (31.4%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.

The leaf and fruit essential oils of Litsea cubeba, extracted by hydrodistillation, were assessed for anticancer activities. A total of 53 and 50 compounds were identified, respectively from the leaf and fruit oils, and their yields were 13.9 +/- 0.09% and 4.0 +/- 0.03%, v/w, of the oven-dried materials, respectively. The main compound in the leaf oil was 1,8-cineol, and in the fruit oil, citral. The fruit oil, but not that of the leaf, exhibited cytotoxic activity against human lung, liver and oral cancer cells.

The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil of Machilus philippinensis was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Seventy compounds were identified, the main ones being beta-caryophyllene (13.6%), alpha-pinene (12.0%), alpha-cadinol (7.4%), cis-ocimene (7.0%), spathulenol (5.6%), (E)-nerolidol (5.3%), tau-cadinol (4.8%) and beta-pinene (4.5%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons (36.1%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (33.0%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent anti-wood-decay fungal activities.

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Litsea kostermansii was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Seventy-three compounds were identified, the main components being beta-eudesmol (22.5%), gamma-eudesmol (18.6%), delta-selinene (8.5%), alpha-eudesmol (6.0%), and gamma-muurolene (4.7%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (66.2%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (32.8%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities.

The leaf essential oil of Litsea nakaii was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Fifty-five compounds were identified, the main components being alpha-humulene (15.5%), delta-cadinene (9.2%), (E)-beta-ocimene (8.1%), and delta-selinene (7.1%). The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities.