SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF Eurycoma longifolia JACK TREE GROWN IN THE ARBORETUM
NGUYEN HOANG LOC *
Institute of Bioactive Compounds, College of Sciences, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
PHAM THI NGOC LAN
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
VAN THI YEN
Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
HOANG TRONG DAT
Institute of Bioactive Compounds, College of Sciences, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Eurycoma longifolia (family: Simaroubaceae) is a valuable medicinal tree species, and the extract from its root is widely used in both traditional and western medicine. E. longifolia trees are widely distributed in the sandy soil and the mountain areas in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam but currently being exploited indiscriminately. This present study aims to evaluate some physiological and biochemical characteristics of 2- and 3-year old E. longifolia trees originated from seeds grown in the arboretum as a basic study for large scale cultivation on the arid soil areas in future. The results showed the maximum photosynthetic rate ranged from 3.23-3.87 mg CO2/dm2/h, chlorophyll a and b from 12.28-12.76 mg/L and 3.8-3.92 mg/L, relative water content from 85.1-87.69%, proline from 8.25-9.44 mg/g FW, reducing sugar from 22.53-27.65 mg/g FW, and α-amylase activity from 3.02-4.12 U/g FW.
Keywords: Eurycoma longifolia, physiological characteristics, biochemical characteristics