L. Albert

Radial variation of total phenol content in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood with and without red heartwood

A comparative study of the radial distribution of the total phenol contents has been carried out on two Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) discs, one with red heartwood and the other without red heartwood. The wood disc samples were investigated immediately after felling and at the different stages of room-drying. In the disc without red heartwood the concentrations increased from the bark towards the pith. In the disc with red heartwood the total phenol concentration rose steeply in front of the colour boundary, but this could only be measured in the fresh tissues. This suggests, that in these tissues either the formation of phenols (accumulation) is more intense or that special phenols are also formed. Beyond the boundary the concentration decreased dramatically. After drying of the wood samples the concentration decreased in all wood parts of the discs, but the amount of this is the highest in the white tissues next to the red heartwood. The results prove that the transformation of the phenols in the white tissues next to the colour boundary takes place faster.ZusammenfassungEine vergleichende Studie über die radiale Verteilung des Gesamtphenols wurde an zwei Buchenscheiben (Fagus sylvatica L.) durchgeführt, eine mit, die andere ohne rotem Kernholz. Die Proben der Holzscheiben wurden unmittelbar nach dem Fällen sowie in verschiedenen Stufen der Lufttrocknung untersucht. Bei der rotkernlosen Scheibe stieg die Konzentration von der Borke bis zum Mark an. In der Scheibe mit rotem Kernholz stieg die Phenolkonzentration vor der Farbgrenze steil an, was jedoch nur in frischen Geweben gemessen werden konnte. Dies läßt vermuten, dass in diesen Geweben die Phenol-Ablagerung intensiver ist, oder dass es hier spezielle Phenole synthetisiert werden. Jenseits der Grenze ist der Konzentrationsanstieg dramatisch. Nach dem Trocknen der Holzproben sank die Konzentration in allen Holzteilen der Scheiben, aber dieser Betrag ist der höchste in weißem Gewebe, in der Nähe des Rotkerns. Die Ergebnisse beweisen, dass die Transformation von Phenolen in weißem Gewebe nahe der Farbgrenze schneller stattfindet.

HPLC-OPLC-MS investigation of change of formaldehyde and its generators in human teeth of different physiological stage

Taking into consideration the unquestionable intracellular occurrence of formaldehyde (HCHO) and its generators in cells of plant, animal and human organisms as well as in body fluids it was resolved to determine their levels in hard tissues of physiologically and pathologically changed teeth. The aim of the work was to determine the relationship between the level of HCHO and the levels of its generators in pathologically changed teeth, mainly carietic teeth as tooth caries is still a serious and commonly occurring problem. The occurrence of HCHO (captured as its dimedone adduct) and some of its potential generators was demonstrated in the hard tissues of healthy and pathological human teeth by means of OPLC, HPLC and MS analyses. It was established that the measurable level of HCHO was increased in the carietic teeth in comparison with healthy ones. In the case of paradontic tooth sample, a dramatic increase of HCHO was observed and at the same time the level of betaines was decreased considerably. The obtained results give a new insight into the pathology of hard tissues of teeth in strong correlation with the phases of stress syndrome.

Measurement of endogenous formaldehyde in the early developmental stages of European Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.)

Formaldehyde (as its dimedone adduct, formaldemethone) has been identified in the extracts of parts of European Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) by high performance liquid chromatography and from matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric data. It has been established that the level of measurable formaldehyde is increased in the acorns by soaking. In the early developmental stages of European Turkey oak, the level of formaldehyde is particularly high throughout in the endosperm tissue and is increased gradually in the root tissues.