Identifier

etd-0709103-163751

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (Eucommiaceae) contains many secondary metabolites, including the lignan pinoresinol di-O-β] glucoside (PG) and the iridoid glycoside aucubin (AU), which have been shown to have anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective biological properties. The main objective of this research was to create a new agricultural crop in Louisiana for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. This was done by: 1) determining the seasonal changes in the concentrations of PG and AU in four-year-old E. ulmoides trees in cultivation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana using Thin Layer Chromatography and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and 2) determining production of secondary metabolites of E. ulmoides leaf tissue within callus culture using HPLC. While AU was produced within the cortex and leaves of cultivated trees, PG was not detected. AU was produced year round in both cortex and leaves, except for December and February when leaf abscission occurs. AU was measured in all of the monthly cortex samples, with the April 2001 sample yielding the highest concentration (1.42 μg/g). AU concentrations in June, August, and April 2002 leaf samples were not statistically different (p<0.05). Four levels of NAA (0, 3, 6, 9 mg/l) and BA (0, 1, 2, 4 mg/l) were used to induce callus cells from E. ulmoides leaves. AU was not detected by HPLC, but PG was found to be present in 13 of the 16 treatments. A ratio of 3 mg/l NAA to 4 mg/l BA produced the highest PG concentration. The information gained from this data can be used to determine an efficient harvesting scheme for the extraction of secondary metabolites produced by Eucommia ulmoides.

Date

2003

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Zhijun Liu

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4002

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