Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cornales
Family: Cornaceae
Common name: Happy tree
Distribution: China, Tibet
Habitat: Humid streams and river banks
Description: This is an endangered species growing to a maximum height of
25 m. The leaves are reddish green and leathery. The whitish lowers of this
species blossom annually.
Compounds and activities: A total of 26 endophytic fungi were isolated from
the stem, leaves, and fruits of this species. Fermentation broths from most
of the isolates showed antifungal activity and 50% exhibited antibacterial
activity. The strongest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by strains XSY
10 and XSY 15 against
Rhizoctonia solani
and
Fusarium oxysporum
with 75
and 67% inhibition, respectively (Ding et al.,
2010). A pentacyclic quinoline
alkaloid compound, camptothecin, which inhibits the growth of cells relat-
ing to tumor and leukemia, has been isolated from this species. The synthe-
sized forms of camptothecin are topotectan and irrinotectan. The extracts
of this species also have other bioactive compounds to treat psoriasis, cold,
and liver and stomach ailments.
POLYGONUM HYDROPIPER
(LINNAEUS)
(=
PERSICONA HYDROPIPER
)
Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Polygonales Family: Polygonaceae
Common name: Marsh pepper, knotweed, water pepper
Distribution: Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, North America
Habitat: Damp places, shallow water
Description: The species is erect ascending or decumbent. The stem, which
is glabrous or slightly pubescent, is green in the beginning and red when
aged. Leaves (5 × 2 cm) are glabrous and lanceolate. Inlorescences are lax
