Comparative characterization of extractives in Alaskan Yellow, Eastern Red, and Western Red Cedars

Abstract

Softwoods, more specifically Cedars, are a set of tree species known to have extractive components with many different biological activities. Research has shown that certain compounds in Cedars are able to resist various forms of attack (microbial, fungal, insect, etc.). Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar, Cupressus/Chamacyparis nootkatensis (Alaskan Yellow Cedar, & Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) are commonly studied. Eastern Red is ranked highest above Western Red and Alaskan Yellow in durability, which is a measure of the wood’s resistance to attack. Cedars in particular often have high concentrations of cyclic compounds which exhibit insecticidal properties. Liquid-liquid fractionation is the analytical technique used to separate the chemicals with similar polarities. The fractionations were characterized by GC/MS. Through the analyses, all three species, revealed a number of mono- and bi-cyclic terpenes that may contribute to the durability of the tree.

Citation

Moore, Roderquita K.; Mann, Doreen; Epstein, Gabriel; Wagner, Phoebe; Hinkforth, Brett; Hyunji, Jun. 2017. Comparative characterization of extractives in Alaskan Yellow, Eastern Red, and Western Red Cedars. In: Proceedings, 19th international symposium on wood, fibre and pulping chemistry. Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil: August 28-September 1. 5 pp.