Search Results (109)

Water used in cleaning processes within the agri-food industry can be a vector for post-harvest contaminants, thus contributing to cross-contamination. The contamination risk is increased when water is not replaced between batches or when disinfection protocols are insufficient. Given the increasing focus in recent years on the potential of natural, non-invasive plant extracts to combat a variety of pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, environmental strains, and clinical isolates, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of selected water-ethanol plant extracts against six opportunistic pathogens isolated from wash water in the agri-food industry, along with chromatographic analyses of the selected extracts. Plant extracts were obtained from the fruits, leaves, shoots, roots, and bark of 13 species. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the well diffusion method. The results indicated that antimicrobial activity was exhibited by six extracts: Tilia cordata Mill., Camellia sinensis, Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Roth, Rubus idaeus L., and Salix alba L. The extracts showed strain-dependent antimicrobial activity, with C. sinensis and R. idaeus up to 4.0 mm and 8.0 mm inhibition zones, respectively. P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis were the most susceptible strains, demonstrating the largest inhibition zones. In contrast, P. vulgaris and K. oxytoca were more resistant. The efficacy of the most active extracts can be linked to the presence of phytochemicals identified via GC-MS, including epicatechin, shikimic acid, quinic acid, gallic acid, and caffeine. These metabolites are known to interfere with bacterial cell structures and metabolic pathways. These studies may serve as a preliminary step toward the development of non-invasive water treatment methods for wash water. Full article

The use of non-wood forest products plays a significant role in sustainable development, especially in the context of regional development. One of the most important and promising raw materials is birch sap, which in European conditions is obtained mainly from silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). Research on the utility value of birch sap and the influence of a number of factors on its efficiency and quality has been carried out in many research centers, but so far, there are not many studies on the variability of such parameters as a function of time, taking into account the entire period of sap leakage. This research was carried out in birch stands of approximately 80 years in three forest site types: mixed coniferous forest, mixed broadleaved forest, and broadleaved forest. In each site, nine sample trees were selected using Hartig’s method. The daily and all-season sap yield obtained from individual trees was statistically characterized. The relationship between birch sap yield and select quantitative (tree height, absolute and relative crown length, and slenderness) and qualitative (forest site type, tree thickness class, and sap harvesting period) variables was examined. For the first time in the literature on the subject, there is a proposal to distinguish the phases of obtaining birch sap, which may bring new knowledge, both in relation to daily productivity and the quality of the sap. As a result, the smallest amount of sap was found in the initial leak phase, a slightly higher amount was found in the final phase, and the largest amount was found in the main phase. Regarding the forest site type and the interaction between the collection phase and forest site type, no statistically significant relationship with the average amount of obtained sap was found. Full article

Plants of the genus Betula pendula (Betulaceae) have been used as antiseptics in the treatment of skin diseases. While the bark of this plant has so far been used as a medicinal raw material, our research has revealed that the leaves are an extremely valuable source of health-promoting bioactive compounds, especially polyphenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity of a novel lotion from the Betula pendula leaf and its phenolic content was determined using the DPPH and FRAP assays and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and a qualitative analysis was conducted using the GC-MS method. The antiseptic preparation was also subjected to HPLC analysis for an assessment of the phenolic acids content (gallic, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acids). The shake flask method was used to determine the partition coefficient of the lotion to assess its lipophilicity. A new ethanol-reduced antiseptic lotion containing antimicrobial ingredients was evaluated using standard killing methods (EN 13697:2019 and EN 13697:2015) at 60 ± 10 s and 300 ± 10 s against six microorganisms. The aim of these tests was to determine whether the formulation exhibited performance like a traditional ethanol. In addition, hand disinfection tests were also carried out using the preparation obtained from B. pendula leaves in accordance with EN 1500:2013, using Escherichia coli strain K12 NCTC 10538. According to the results, high polyphenol contents (52 ± 2 mg GAE/g dry raw material) and other antioxidant and biologically active substances identified by GC-MS (phytol, alpha-tocospiro B, sitosterol, or dilauryl thiodipropionate) can be thought of as the parameters responsible for the effective activity of the preparation derived from birch leaves. Gallic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid had the greatest concentrations among the phenolic acids examined. The mean 60 s kill time was >99.9 for the new antiseptic against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (at a concentration of 30 g/100 mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 (at a concentration of 40 g/100 mL), while ethanol showed the same reduction for these microorganisms at a concentration of 80 g/100 mL. Full article

Riparian forests in the valley area of the Irtysh River Basin are capable of providing a variety of ecosystem services such as water conservation and biodiversity maintenance. Their health condition is an important reflection of their ability to maintain the stability of ecosystem structure and perform ecosystem functions. In this study, a comprehensive survey was conducted to observe the typical distribution areas of riparian forests in the valley of six tributaries and one main stream of the Irtysh River Basin. Twelve indicators were chosen from the three categories of vigor (i.e., productivity), organization (i.e., species diversity and structure complexity), and resistance (i.e., harmful factors and disturbances) to form an evaluation system. Expert-based and statistical weighting were applied to calculate the health scores of riparian forests in the valley and prioritized the health grades of seven rivers. Several criteria were used to further classify the unhealthy level of each river individually. The results of this study can be used as a foundation for future conservation and orderly development of riparian forests in the valley area. The results show that (1) the Kuyertes River was classified as healthy, while the Haba and Berezek Rivers were classified as unhealthy. (2) Among the three evaluation categories, the organization consistently achieved higher scores compared to vigor and resistance. (3) Unhealthy conditions were consistently observed in the midstream sections of each river. (4) Forest types such as Salix alba L. forests, Populus euphratica Oliv. forests, and Betula pendula Roth forests were particularly prone to poor health outcomes. The health of the riparian forests was relatively unsatisfactory due to the conflicting water resource allocation. The protection and restoration of riparian forests in the valley area of the Haba and Berezek Rivers should be prioritized in the future, as well as the middle reaches of each tributary. Additionally, it is necessary to pay attention to three key indicators: stand volume per unit area, stand density, and diameter at breast high (dbh) class structure to improve the health condition of riparian forests. Full article

Microbial inoculation plays a crucial role in shaping plant physiological and biochemical responses, influencing growth, secondary metabolism, and stress-related markers. This study investigates the effects of PAH-degrading microorganisms (Pseudomonas putida, Sphingobium yanoikuyae, and Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa) on the growth, secondary metabolism, photosynthetic pigment, and stress-related biochemical markers of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings from two half-sib families grown hydroponically. Results demonstrate family-dependent variations in the response to microbial treatments. In family 73, the growth of both shoots and roots was inhibited by certain microbial treatments, along with a decrease in key biochemical markers such as phenolic content and carotenoids. Conversely, family 86 showed no growth inhibition and exhibited improvements in some biochemical markers, including flavonoids and chlorophyll. Stress indicators, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble sugars, displayed contrasting patterns between families, with increased MDA observed in family 73 under certain microbial treatments. In contrast, family 86 did not exhibit an increase in MDA, suggesting differences in stress mitigation. Soluble sugars were generally reduced in family 73. Antioxidant enzyme activity further highlighted these family-specific responses, with variations in enzymes like ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (POX) across treatments. Notably, significant interactions between family and microbial treatments were observed for several oxidative stress enzymes, underscoring the role of genotype in shaping the response to microbial stress. These findings highlight the genotype-dependent interactions between microbial inoculation and plant secondary metabolism, providing insights into the role of specifically selected microbial inoculation in stress mitigation and growth regulation. Full article

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is an essential component in forest ecosystems, playing a significant role in enhancing biodiversity, soil formation, and nutrient cycling through decomposition processes. CWD also contributes to greenhouse gas fluxes, particularly through CO₂ emissions. This study investigated the physical and chemical properties of CWD and the CO₂ effluxes from CWD of different decay classes. For this study, a range of CWD—from recently dead to highly decomposed wood—of native tree species such as silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) in hemiboreal forests were investigated. The findings showed that CWD properties significantly differed among tree species and CWD decay classes. Significant variations in wood density and total nitrogen (N) were observed in the early stages of CWD decay, with the highest values found for the deciduous tree species. The concentration of organic carbon (C) increased throughout the decomposition. The lowest CO₂ efflux from CWD was found for spruce CWD from all decay classes and it was the highest for black alder and silver birch, especially for the 3rd and 4th decay classes. CO₂ efflux was mainly influenced by the degree of decomposition, which was represented by the CWD decay class, followed by wood density and C content. Full article

Biomonitoring based on foliage chemistry was used to study the effects of environmental sulfur (S) pollution on forest stands. The foliage samples were collected in two forest ecosystems exposed to industrial emissions: a zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) smelter plant in Silesia (HCM) and a reclaimed forest on the site of the former borehole S mine Jeziórko (FJSM), in the Tarnobrzeg S deposit region (southern Poland). Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) foliage chemistry was analyzed: S (using a TruMac CNS analyzer, Leco Corporation, Saint Joseph, MI, USA), N, P, K Ca, and Mg, and trace elements (Zn, Cd, Pb, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu) using an ICP OES ICAP 6000 spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA),. At the HCM site, 20 monitoring points were located in the forest at different directions and at varying distances from the smelter plant. At the FJSM site, 16 sampling points were distributed depending on vegetation type and tree species abudance. The S content in foliage was generally high at both sites. However, at the HCM site, the highest S content was found in areas close to the smelter plant (1664 mg kg⁻¹) and decreased linearly according to the direction of the dominant wind to the east (1098 mg kg⁻¹). S was correlated with Zn, Cd, and Pb (the main elements produced in the smelter plant). At the FJSM site, high S concentrations were observed in degraded soil areas (4816 mg kg⁻¹ in birch, 1563 mg kg⁻¹ in pine). These areas were hot spots that had the highest amount of S in the soil. These results indicate high biosorption of the pollutant by trees. The S concentration was also higher in birch (B) than in pine (P) foliage (regular forest: 1954 mg kg⁻¹ in B, 1272 mg kg⁻¹ in P; degraded area: 4816 mg kg⁻¹ in B, 1563 mg kg⁻¹ in P), and the differences were significant in the degraded areas. At the FJSM site, S was also correlated with Zn and, to a lesser extent, with Cd and Pb. S also influenced nutrient element supply status, in particular Mg. We confirmed that tree foliage chemistry reflects the state of the environment in highly polluted areas, so biomonitoring should be used to assessment of environmental pollution. Full article

Trees growing in urban areas face increasing stress from atmospheric pollutants, with limited attention given to the early responses of young seedlings. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap regarding the effects of simulated pollutant exposure, specifically particulate matter (PM), elevated ozone (O₃), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations, on young seedlings of five tree species: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.); Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.); silver birch (Betula pendula Roth); small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.); and Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.). The main objectives of this paper were to evaluate the seedling stem growth response and the biochemical response of seedling foliage to pollutant exposure. Four treatments were performed on two- to three-year-old seedlings of the selected tree species: with PM (0.4 g per seedling) under combined O₃ = 180 ppb + CO₂ = 650 ppm; without PM under combined O₃ = 180 ppb + CO₂ = 650 ppm; with PM (0.4 g per seedling) under combined O₃ < 40–45 ppb + CO₂ < 400 ppm; and without PM under combined O₃ < 40–45 ppb + CO₂ < 400 ppm. Scots pine and Norway maple showed no changes in growth (stem height and diameter) and biochemical parameters (photosynthetic pigments, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and total soluble sugars (TSS)), indicating a neutral response to the combined PM, O₃, and CO₂ treatment. The chlorophyll response to PM alone and in combination with elevated O₃ and CO₂ exposure varied, with silver birch increasing, Norway maple—neutral to increasing, Scots pine—neutral to decreasing, and Norway spruce and small-leaved lime—decreasing. The TPC indicated stress responses in Scots pine, small-leaved lime, and Norway maple under increased combined O₃ and CO₂ and in Norway spruce under single PM treatment. Hence, Scots pine and Norway maple seedlings showed greater resistance to increased PM under combined O₃ and CO₂ with minimal change in growth, while silver birch seedlings showed adaptation potential with increasing chlorophyll under simulated pollutant stress. Full article

This paper deals with the bonding characteristics of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels made of Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), European aspen (Populus tremula L.), and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) wood. Three-layered single-species CLT panels were manufactured using birch, aspen, and spruce lamellae bonded with a one-component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive. Spruce CLT panels were used as reference. The bonding characteristics of CLT were assessed based on bond shear strength, total and maximum delamination, and wood failure percentage. The reference spruce CLT met both criteria (Delam_tot ≤ 10%, Delam_max ≤ 40%) for passing the delamination test, where up to 80% of the test samples passed. The aspen and birch CLTs met the criterion for maximum delamination (26.5% and 33.2%, respectively), but exceeded the maximum allowed value for total delamination (12.7% and 13.2%, respectively). However, the minimum requirement of 70% wood failure percentage (WFP) was met for all CLT types, with aspen CLTs achieving 83.7% and birch CLTs 76.9%. The spruce CLTs achieved an average bond shear strength of 1.9 N/mm², while both hardwood CLTs had significantly higher values, with the aspen CLT at 3.3 N/mm² and the birch CLT at up to 3.9 N/mm². Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that cross-laminated timber (CLT) made from hardwoods like aspen and birch is suitable for environments with low humidity fluctuations. Full article

Despite unquestionable advances in therapy, melanoma is still characterized by a high mortality rate. For years, high expectations have been raised by compounds of natural origin as a component of pharmacotherapy, particularly by triterpenes found in the bark of birch trees. In this study, 3,4-seco-dammara-4(29),20(21),24(25)-trien-3-oic acid (SDT) was isolated from buds of silver birch and its mechanisms of cell death induction, including apoptosis and autophagy, were determined. Cytotoxicity of SDT was evaluated by the cell viability test and clonogenic assay, whereas induction of apoptosis and autophagy was determined by annexin V staining and Western blot. The results revealed dose- and time-dependent reductions in viability of melanoma cells. Treatment of cells for 48 h led to an increase in the percentage of annexin V-positive cells, activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP, confirming apoptosis. Simultaneously, it was found that SDT increased the level of autophagy marker LC3-II and initiator of autophagy beclin-1. Pretreatment of cells with caspase-3 inhibitor or autophagy inhibitor significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of SDT and revealed that both apoptosis and autophagy contribute to a decrease in cell viability. These findings suggest that 3,4-seco-dammaranes may become a promising group of natural compounds for searching for anti-melanoma agents. Full article

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a pathogenic fungus that grows mostly on birch species (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) and has traditionally been used as an anticancer medicine. This study aimed to compare the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of chagas growing on both Betula spp. on various cancer cell lines. The freeze-dried extracts contained triterpenes inotodiol, lanosterol betulin, and betulinic acid typical to conks growing on Betula species. The cytotoxic activity of chaga growing on Betula pendula and B. pubescens 80% ethanolic extracts against 31 human cancer cell lines was evaluated by a sulforhodamine B assay. Chaga extract showed moderate activity against all cancer cell lines examined; it did not result in high cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ ≤ 20 µg/mL). The strongest inhibitions were observed with chaga (growing on B. pendula) extract on the HepG2 and CAL-62 cell line and with chaga (from B. pubescens) extract on the HepG2 cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 37.71, 43.30, and 49.99 μg/mL, respectively. The chaga extracts from B. pendula exert somewhat stronger effects on most cancer cell lines studied than B. pubescens extracts, which can be attributed to a higher content of inotodiol in B. pendula extracts. This study highlights the potential of chaga as a source of bioactive compounds with selective anticancer properties. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first investigation of the chemical composition of I. obliquus parasitizing on B. pubescens. Full article

Betula pendula Roth. (silver birch) is a pioneer species in the Northern Hemisphere forests. It plays a significant role in various ecosystems, human industries, and biodiversity. Taking all this into account, understanding the genetic diversity within B. pendula populations is crucial for fully exploiting their potential, particularly regarding their production of phenolic compounds and antioxidants. We tested the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant activity in seven silver birch half-sib family leaves. Spectrophotometric data from leaf extracts showed that there was a significant variation between families in terms of total phenol content (TPC) and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase (POX), catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase) levels. The data were gathered during two consecutive seasons, resulting in a variance in antioxidant production, which generally increased in the tested families during the second year (except for POX) as opposed to the first vegetative season. For example, SOD levels increased in the second year by 15% to 243% and TPC increased by 46%–189%, depending on the half-sib family. A more thorough study of this variation should prove beneficial in various research fields, ranging from climate change to cosmetics. Full article

The aim of this work was to determine the sorption capacity of the cationic dyes Basic Red 46 (BR46) and Basic Violet 10 (BV10) on the prepared sorbents: beech bark (BBe) and birch bark (BBi). Two fractions of bark were used in the research: fine (2–3 mm) and coarse (4–5 mm). The carried out tests made it possible to determine the influence of the pH value on the sorption efficiency, the sorption equilibrium time and the maximum sorption capacity of the two tested sorbents. The Langmuir model and the Freundlich model were used to describe the obtained experimental data. Beech and birch barks are effective sorbents for cationic dyes; however, the efficiency of dye sorption on both bark sorbents depends on the type of cationic dye. According to the obtained data, beech and birch bark sorbents showed higher sorption efficiency for Basic Red 46 than for Basic Violet 10. The pH correction was a necessary condition for sorption, and the sorption pH value for the cationic dyes Basic Red 46 and Basic Violet 10 was be determined individually for each dye. The most favourable pH value for the sorption of the BR46 dye on the beach and birch bark sorbents was pH = 6, while for the dye BV10, it was pH = 3. The sorption equilibrium time for Basic Red 46 was 300 min and for Basic Violet 10–240 min. The fine fraction of beech bark had the highest sorption capacity for both BR46 (128.45 mg/g dry matter) and BV10 (18.07 mg/g dry matter). Full article

Wildfires significantly influence the environmental distribution of various elements through their fire-induced input and mobilization, yet little is known about their effects on the forest floor in Siberian forests. The present study evaluated the effects of spring wildfires of various severities on the levels of major and minor (Ca, Al, Fe, S, Mg, K, Na, Mn, P, Ti, Ba, and Sr) trace and ultra-trace (B, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Se, V, Zn, Pb, As, La, Sn, Sc, Sb, Be, Bi, Hg, Li, Mo, and Cd) elements in the forest floors of Siberian forests. The forest floor (Oi layer) samples were collected immediately following wildfires in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.), and birch (Betula pendula Roth) forests. Total concentrations of elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. All fires resulted in a decrease in organic matter content and an increase in mineral material content and pH values in the forest floor. The concentrations of most elements studied in a burned layer of forest floor were statistically significantly higher than in unburned precursors. Sb and Sn showed no statistically significant changes. The forest floor in the birch forest showed a higher increase in mineral material content after the fire and higher levels of most elements studied than the burned coniferous forest floors. Ca was a predominant element in both unburned and burned samples in all forests studied. Our study highlighted the role of wildfires in Siberia in enhancing the levels of geochemical elements in forest floor and the effect of forest type and fire severity on ash characteristics. The increased concentrations of elements represent a potential source of surface water contamination with toxic and eutrophying elements if wildfire ash is transported with overland flow. Full article

Silver birch, a widely distributed deciduous tree native to Europe, is valued for its wood applications in construction, furniture making, and paper production. In Lithuania, silver birch ranks as the third most common forest-tree species, comprising 22% of the forested areas, and is an important species for tree breeding due to its potential and adaptability. This study was focused on assessing the mechanical properties of wood (sample and log hardness, wood density, dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn), static modulus of elasticity (MOE) and bending strength (MOR)) in silver birch (Betula pendula L. Roth.) trees from different half-sibling families. Two experimental plantations of the progenies of Lithuanian populations (half-sib families) of silver birch from different regions were analysed. From these plantations, four genetic families were selected for mechanical properties evaluation. The study findings revealed significant variability in various wood properties among different genetic families, although the static modulus of elasticity did not exhibit significant differences between the chosen genetic families. All measured wood properties decreased from the bottom to the top of the model trees. Wood hardness displayed a moderately negative correlation for wood density and weak correlations for MOE and MOR. Given the weak correlations between wood hardness and other wood mechanical properties, it is suggested that MOEdyn would be a more suitable trait for genetic studies. Full article