The story of aspirin is exciting and complicated. We tried to decipher the role of the main characters, as well as a wide field of pharmacological roles of acetylsalicylic acid, a super-drug, which would not be approved by responsible institutions today but which is still one of the most used medicines on the Earth, as well as in the space (it was used by the astronauts in the Apollo project). Original literature sources were used as much as possible to clean up some misinformation around the topic. The authors are aware that Aspirin is a trademarked name but it has become "popular" in common human speech.
- MeSH
- Analgesics chemistry MeSH
- Antipyretics chemistry MeSH
- Aspirin * pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Phytotherapy * methods MeSH
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors chemistry MeSH
- Pharmaceutical Preparations * chemistry history MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Salicylates chemistry pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Salix chemistry physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
Povídka o aspirinu je napínavá a komplikovaná. Pokusili jsme se rozklíčovat úlohu hlavních hrdinů, ale i široké pole biologických účinků kyseliny acetylsalicylové, superléku, jehož použití by dnes odpovědné instituce neschválily, a který i přesto patří k nejužívanějším lékům na Zemi i mimo ni (používali jej kosmonauté projektu Apollo na bolesti zubů). Snažili jsme se co nejvíce používat původní zdroje literatury s cílem narovnat některé dezinformace vyskytující se kolem tohoto tématu. Autoři jsou si vědomi, že Aspirin je chráněný název, který však v běžné lidské mluvě „zlidověl“.
The story of aspirin is exciting and complicated. We tried to decipher the role of the main characters, as well as a wide field of pharmacological roles of acetylsalicylic acid, a super-drug, which would not be approved by responsible institutions today but which is still one of the most used medicines on the Earth, as well as in the space (it was used by the astronauts in the Apollo project). Original literature sources were used as much as possible to clean up some misinformation around the topic. The authors are aware that Aspirin is a trademarked name but it has become "popular" in common human speech.
- MeSH
- Aspirin history therapeutic use MeSH
- Phytotherapy history MeSH
- Plant Bark MeSH
- Pharmaceutical Preparations * history MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Drug Discovery history MeSH
- Salix MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Historical Article MeSH
A three-year experiment was conducted to investigate willows of Salix × smithiana Willd. (S. smithiana) phytoremediation of soil contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived by fly ash from biomass combustion. The total removal of ash PAHs in phytoremediation treatment was 50.9% after three consecutive years while the ash PAHs were decreased in natural attenuated soil by 9.9% in the end of the experiment. The ash and spiked PAHs with low and medium molecular weight were susceptible to be removed in higher rates than high molecular weight PAHs. Lower bioconcentration factors of individual PAHs were observed in willow shoots than in roots. The estimated relative direct removal of PAHs by S. smithiana in phytoremediation was significantly lower than 1% suggesting that the contribution of S. smithiana to take up PAHs from soil was negligible and the degradation of PAHs occurred mainly in soil. Phytoremediation using S. smithiana could be seen as a feasible and environmentally friendly approach of arable soils impacted by a PAH contaminated biomass fly ash.
The clones of fast-growing trees (FGTs) were investigated for phytoextraction of soil contaminated with risk elements (REs), especially Cd, Pb, and Zn. As a main experimental factor, the potential effect of biomass harvesting time was assessed. The field experiment with two Salix clones (S1 - (Salix schwerinii × Salix viminalis) × S. viminalis, S2 - S. × smithiana) and two Populus clones (P1 - Populus maximowiczii × Populus nigra, P2 - P. nigra) was established in April 2009. Shoots of all clones were first harvested in February 2012. After two further growing seasons, the first half of the trees was harvested in September 2013 before leaf fall (summer harvest) and the second half in February 2014 (winter harvest). Remediation factors (RFs) for all clones and all REs (except Pb for clone S1) were higher in the summer harvest. The highest annual RFs for Cd and for Zn (1.34 and 0.67%, respectively) were found for clone S2 and were significantly higher than other clones. Although no increased mortality of trees harvested in the summer was detected in the following season, the effect of summer harvesting on the phytoextraction potential of FGTs clones should be investigated in long-term studies.
- MeSH
- Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
- Soil Pollutants analysis MeSH
- Populus * MeSH
- Soil MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Salix * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Small twigs represent a substantial input of organic carbon into forest soils, but potential influencing factors on their decomposition have rarely been investigated. Here, we studied potential effects of twig size on decomposition and associated composition and activity of microbial communities during decomposition. Because the surface area for microbial colonization and the volume of accessible substrate increases with decreasing twig size, we hypothesized that twig size affects both microbial community and decomposition rate. Litterbags with twigs (Salix caprea) of two different diameters were placed within the litter layer and consecutively collected over a seven-year period. We determined the mass loss and microbial measures after each sampling event. The observed microbial parameters suggested a faster microbial colonization of thin twigs, where the proportion of bacteria was higher than in thick twigs. The development of the microbial community in thick twigs was more gradual and the proportion of fungi was higher. Despite this differential and successional development of microbial communities (and against our hypothesis), the mass loss among different twig diameters did not differ after our seven-year experiment, indicating that surface-to-volume ratios, though a primary control on microbial succession, may have limited predictive power for twig decomposition rates.
Phytomanagement of trace element-contaminated soils can reduce soil toxicity and restore soil ecological functions, including the soil gas exchange with the atmosphere. We studied the emission rate of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) CO2, CH4, and N2O; the potential CH4 oxidation; denitrification enzyme activity (DEA), and glucose mineralization of a Cu-contaminated soil amended with dolomitic limestone and compost, alone or in combination, after a 2-year phytomanagement with a mixed stand of Populus nigra, Salix viminalis, S. caprea, and Amorpha fruticosa. Soil microbial biomass and microbial community composition after analysis of the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) profile were determined. Phytomanagement significantly reduced Cu availability and soil toxicity, increased soil microbial biomass and glucose mineralization capacity, changed the composition of soil microbial communities, and increased the CO2 and N2O emission rates and DEA. Despite such increases, microbial communities were evolving toward less GHG emission per unit of microbial biomass than in untreated soils. Overall, the aided phytostabilization option would allow methanotrophic populations to establish in the remediated soils due to decreased soil toxicity and increased nutrient availability.
The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) grass Calamagrostis epigejos and predominantly ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree Salix caprea co-occur at post-mining sites spontaneously colonized by vegetation. During succession, AM herbaceous vegetation is replaced by predominantly EcM woody species. To better understand the interaction of AM and EcM plants during vegetation transition, we studied the reciprocal effects of these species' coexistence on their root-associated fungi (RAF). We collected root and soil samples from three different microenvironments: stand of C. epigejos, under S. caprea canopy, and contact zone where roots of the two species interacted. RAF communities and mycorrhizal colonization were determined in sampled roots, and the soil was tested for EcM and AM inoculation potentials. Although the microenvironment significantly affected composition of the RAF communities in both plant species, the effect was greater in the case of C. epigejos RAF communities than in that of S. caprea RAF communities. The presence of S. caprea also significantly decreased AM fungal abundance in soil as well as AM colonization and richness of AM fungi in C. epigejos roots. Changes observed in the abundance and community composition of AM fungi might constitute an important factor in transition from AM-dominated to EcM-dominated vegetation during succession.
- MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Poaceae microbiology MeSH
- Mycorrhizae physiology MeSH
- Soil Microbiology * MeSH
- Salix microbiology MeSH
- Trees microbiology MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
Willows (Salix spp.) are considered to be effective for the phytoremediation of trace elements from contaminated soils, but their efficiency is limited in heavily polluted soils because of poor growth. Liming can be a desirable measure to decrease the plant availability of elements, resulting in improved plant development. Notably, large root area and maximum soil penetration are basic parameters that improve the efficiency of phytoremediation. The impact of soil chemical properties on willow root anatomy and the distribution of trace elements below-ground have rarely been studied. The effect of liming on root parameters, biomass allocation and trace element distribution in non-harvestable (coarse roots, fine roots, stumps) and harvestable plant parts (twigs and leaves) of Salix × smithiana was assessed at the end of a 4-year pot experiment with two trace element-polluted soils that differed in terms of soil pH. Stump biomass predominated in weakly acidic soil. In neutral soil, the majority of biomass was located in fine roots and stumps; the difference from other plant parts was minor. Trace elements were the most concentrated in fine roots. Translocation to above-ground biomass increased as follows: Pb < As < Zn~Cd. In contrast to Cd and Zn, great differences in As and Pb mobility in plants were recorded after measurements of individual below-ground biomass (stumps < coarse roots < fine roots). Lime application decreased the concentrations of mobile Cd and Zn and related levels in plants, improved biomass production and root parameters and increased the removal of all trace elements in weakly acidic soil. None or minimum differences in the monitored parameters were recorded for dolomite treatments in both soils. The dose and source of liming had crucial effects on root anatomy. Growing willows in limed trace element-polluted soils is a suitable measure for combination of two remediation strategies, i.e. phytoextraction of Cd and Zn and assisted phytostabilization of As and Pb.
- MeSH
- Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
- Biomass MeSH
- Plant Roots anatomy & histology drug effects MeSH
- Soil Pollutants analysis metabolism MeSH
- Oxides chemistry MeSH
- Soil chemistry MeSH
- Salix drug effects growth & development metabolism MeSH
- Calcium Compounds chemistry MeSH
- Trace Elements analysis metabolism MeSH
- Metals, Heavy analysis metabolism MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
