MSc

Gum and resins are natural bio-polymers having number of applications in
pharmaceutical and food industries. Most of them are regarded as bio-degradable
and safe because of their bio-compatibility, low cost, non-toxic, processing,
environmental friendly and local availability. It is viable income source for
thousands of forest dwellers. So the present study entitled “Physico-chemical
characterization of gum-oleoresin from Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst) Alston and
effect of ethephon on gum-oleoresin yield” was carried out at Arboretum, College
of Forestry, Vellanikkara during the year 2018-2019. The main objective of the
study was to assess the effect of different concentration of ethephon on gumoleoresin production in Ailanthus triphysa and also study the effect of diameter
classes on production. The physical properties such as Solubility, pH, Viscosity,
Moisture level, Color parameters, Ash content and chemical compounds were also
determined as part of the study.
A total of twenty-four trees were selected for conducting the study in
which two girth classes (70-110cm, 111-150cm), four chemical treatments, each
with three replications were taken. Data analysis was done on monthly intervals,
showed significant difference in girth class on resin production in the months of
June, July, August, November, December and April and in other months it found
non-significant. It was observed that girth class G2 (111cm-150 cm) showed more
yield compared to G1 (70-110).
It was statistically found significant difference in gum-oleoresin yield due
to different concentration of ethephon treatments. T4 (3.9%) ethephon treatment
gave more yield (817.99gm) compared to other treatments, where T1 (control)
gave very less yield (226.16gm). The exudation of gum-oleoresin was found to be
more in post monsoon (55.06gm) followed by monsoon (43.78gm) and least
during summer (27.01gm). Interaction between different ethephon treatment and
season was found to be non-significant.
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The physical and chemical properties of gum-oleoresin were studied and it
indicated the gum-oleoresin was found to be strongly acidic, highly soluble in
xylene and least in chloroform and in case of water, it absorbs water and swell.
Moisture content was 5.17%, pH observed was 5.5, Colour of the gum-oleoresin
observed was pale yellow to dark reddish brown and Viscosity observed was 2340
cps and 695 cps. Heavy metals like K ˃ Mg ˃ (Ca) ˃ (Ir) were detected.
Chemical compounds were identified by using GC-MS. Total 18 compounds were
identified from Acetone extract of gum-oleoresin in GC-MS, the major
constituents of the chemical compound were beta.-caryophyllen followed by
Tetradecane and 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(2-methylcyclopropyl)-1-cyclohexene and 1-
octadecene constitute least contribution, where as in methanol extracts, 16
compounds were identified, most abundant compound was Caryophyllene
followed by 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and bicyclo, the least abundant
constituent was found to be 3-hexadecene.
The correlation studies of bark thickness on production of gum-oleoresin
were found to be significant with correlation coefficient 0.42. The climatic
parameters like rainfall, relative humidity, temperature was found to be non-significant on production of gum-oleoresin.