Bioactive phenolic compounds, metabolism and properties: a review on valuable chemical compounds in Scots pine and Norway spruce

Abstract

Phenolics and extracted phenolic compounds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) show antibacterial activity against several bacteria. The majority of phenolic compounds are stilbenes, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids, and lignans that are biosynthesized in the wood through the phenylpropanoid pathway. In Scots pine (P. sylvestris), the most abundant phenolic and antibacterial compounds are pinosylvin-type stilbenes and flavonol-and dihydroflavonol-type flavonoids, such as kaempferol, quercetin, and taxifolin and their derivatives. In Norway spruce (P. abies) on the other hand, the main stilbene is resveratrol and the major flavonoids are quercetin and myricetin. In general, when the results from the literature regarding the activities of flavonoid glycosides and their aglycones against a total of twenty-one microorganisms are summarized, it was found that phenolic glycosides are less active than the corresponding aglycones, although a number of exceptions are also known. The aglycones in plants respond to various kinds of biotic stress. Synergistic effects between aglycones and their glycosides have been observed. Minimum inhibition concentrations of below 10 mg L-1 against bacteria have been reported for gallic acid, apigenin, and several methylated and acylated flavonols present in these industrially important trees. In general, the phenolic compounds are more active against Gram-positive bacteria, but apigenin is reported to exhibit strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The present review lists some of the biosynthesis pathways for the antibacterial phenolic metabolites found in Scots pine (P. sylvestris) and Norway spruce (P. abies). The antimicrobial activity of the compounds is collected and compared to gather information about the most effective secondary metabolites.

Polyphenols composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Pinus sylvestris L. shoots extracts depending on different drying methods

“…On the other hand, the content of 19 flavonoids and phenolic acids determined via HPLC exhibited highest concentration for the PSL and lowest for the PSN sample. In line with observations of numerous authors, pine needles were characterized by high quercetin content, whereas narginenin and ferrulic acid were predominant among phenolic acids (Metsämuuronen and Sirén, 2019). All samples were characterized by high antioxidative activity in the free radical DPPH assay and in ferric reducing antioxidant power assay.…”

Radical Scavenging and Antimicrobial Properties of Polyphenol Rich Waste Wood Extracts

“…In addition, galangin exhibited selective anti-cytochrome and antifungal activity [25], and showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus [25,32], and methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Enterococcus spp., and P. aeruginosa [33]. Flavone apigenin showed strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria [34], while quercetin and apigenin derivatives showed strong antibacterial properties against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria [35]. Some phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic and ferulic acids) showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) with a greater efficiency than conventional antibiotics such as gentamicin and streptomycin [36].…”

Sprouts and Needles of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) as Nordic Specialty—Consumer Acceptance, Stability of Nutrients, and Bioactivities during Storage

“…The sprouts also have high contents of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids (e.g., kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and myricetin), condensed tannins, stilbenes, and terpenoids [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Due to the richness of vitamin C and phenolics, sprouts and needles have shown antioxidative activity [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Dietary intake of the compounds of sprouts may thus have multiple health benefits [ 2 , 12 ].…”