Research into forests and human health - Current status and trends in Europe (original) (raw)
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Health Benefits Derived from Forest: A Review
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In this paper the scientific literature on the association between forests, stress relief and relaxation is reviewed with the purpose to understand common patterns of research, the main techniques used for analysis, findings relevant to forest-therapy-oriented management, and knowledge gaps. The database of studies was collected with a keyword search on the Web, which returned a set of 32 studies that were included in the analysis. The main findings and patterns were identified with a text mining analysis of the abstract to search for keyword patterns across studies. The analysis indicates that most studies compared rest and relaxation performances across urban and forest environments and used a combination of self-reported measure of stress or rest collected with validate scales, e.g., the Profile of Mood of States (POMS) and the Restoration Outcome Scale (ROS), and a minority-only set of these two groups of indicators. Results of this review indicate that primary studies identifie...
Bioactive Polyphenols from Healthy Diets and Forest Biomass
In addition to their nutritive value, foods provide health benefits or have a role in disease prevention since they contain a wide range of phytochemicals which represent functional or bioactive components. These bioactive molecules present in foods are based on a variety of chemical structures, from carotenoids, through sterols and fatty acids, to different types of polyphenols. In this review, the polyphenols which are common constituents of vascular plants are explored. They are also common constituents of fruits and vegetables, teas and cocoas. The extractable polyphenols, obtainable by solvent extraction of the forest biomass, are of special interest as they are readily available form different types of forest and wood transformation residues. Flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives and proanthocyanidins, which share a part of their biosynthetic pathway with lignins, and therefore are associated with "woody" character of the plants, are reviewed along with some non-flavonoids important as food constituents such as stilbenes and hydrolysable tannins. The foods rich in these polyphenols are reviewed along with the forest sources of the same classes of molecules. The emphasis is put on residues of wood transformation such as bark and knotwood as these materials represent particularly rich resources for bioactive polyphenol classes. One of the most notorious bioactive properties of polyphenols is their antioxidant activity. The most important results on antioxidant capacity of forest trees extracts are presented and compared to those obtained for the extracts from healthy foods rich in polyphenols. These results are discussed also in relation to total phenol content of the studied extracts. Finally, the results on the application of selected types of polyphenols or extracts from forest biomass in prevention and/or treatment of diseases which are related to oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer and cancer, are presented. It is clear from all discussed results, that the forest biomass in general and the residues of wood transformation in particular, represent the important natural resources of bioactive polyphenols. These residues have a real potential to be used as raw materials for the development of food supplements and/or functional foods which can enhance the animal and human health by disease prevention. They are also applicable for cosmetics and pharmaceutical products development, but their application in disease prevention remains more straightforward.
The Relationship Between Trees and Human Health
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2013
Background: Several recent studies have identifıed a relationship between the natural environment and improved health outcomes. However, for practical reasons, most have been observational, cross-sectional studies. Purpose: A natural experiment, which provides stronger evidence of causality, was used to test whether a major change to the natural environment-the loss of 100 million trees to the emerald ash borer, an invasive forest pest-has influenced mortality related to cardiovascular and lowerrespiratory diseases. Methods: Two fıxed-effects regression models were used to estimate the relationship between emerald ash borer presence and county-level mortality from 1990 to 2007 in 15 U.S. states, while controlling for a wide range of demographic covariates. Data were collected from 1990 to 2007, and the analyses were conducted in 2011 and 2012. Results: There was an increase in mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness in counties infested with the emerald ash borer. The magnitude of this effect was greater as infestation progressed and in counties with above-average median household income. Across the 15 states in the study area, the borer was associated with an additional 6113 deaths related to illness of the lower respiratory system, and 15,080 cardiovascular-related deaths. Conclusions: Results suggest that loss of trees to the emerald ash borer increased mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness. This fınding adds to the growing evidence that the natural environment provides major public health benefıts.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Numerous medical studies have shown the positive effects of forests on different aspects of human health. This study deals with the content of major terpenes in dominant coniferous species in Tara National Park, Serbia, in order to explore the potential for the development of a novel health tourism programme based on forest therapy. Main terpenes were analysed using a headspace-sampling technique coupled with gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (Head-space-GC/MS). Needles of fir and spruce growing in the vicinity of hiking trails were investigated for possibilities to perform such therapy. Major detected terpenes were α-cadinol and spathulenol previously described as antiviral, antitumor, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents. The results of the study were favourable and worked well with the existing walking infrastructure in the observed area of the Tara Mountain, as they act as invaluable resources for designing the structured forest bathing walks. The study not only adds to ...
Human health and forests: An overview
Human health and forests: a global overview of …, 2008
Although the causal pathways are complex and indirect, human health has in general benefited from the clearance and modification of forests for agriculture and cities. For example, the vast forests of Europe have largely been cleared, and the population supported by that land today is mostly prosperous and healthy. It is also much larger. Although the health of at least some hunter-gatherer populations appears to have surpassed that of many early and even some recent agriculturalists , the larger populations facilitated by forest clearance have stimulated and permitted many of the specializations and technologies that make modern civilization possible. Some people (including some readers) may aspire to the allegedly simpler and perhaps richer life of our long-dead forest-dwelling ancestors, but forest clearance has generally been associated with improvements in human wellbeing. In China, where forests have been largely cleared, the health and prosperity of its truly vast population are improving, and a future that provides abundant ecosystem services, high technology, a long life expectancy and wellbeing for the average citizen remains possible. Nevertheless, the clearance and manipulation of forests have often harmed people, and this phenomenon continues today. The proportion of the global population directly harmed by forest clearance and modification remains small, but as an absolute number it is substantial.
Baltic Forestry, 2018
Many studies have assessed the impact of broad-leaved trees in the vegetative season on humans restoration. But it still remains unknown if this positive effect will also be observable in broad-leaved forest during winter, when trees maintain no leaves. To test the hypothesis that broad-leaved trees also produce psychological restoration during winter (in comparison to spring), we designed an experiment, in which the same participants viewed the forest environment during these two seasons, while urban setting was used as a control environment. The participants filled in four psychological questionnaires, which measured different psychological conditions. The results confirmed the hypothesis that broad-leaved trees had the restorative effect in winter, and it was even greater than in spring time. These results suggest that the living woody plants in their natural environment produce a positive, psychological effect on humans, hence visiting broad-leaved forest also during winter can be recommended as a method for stress reduction.
Bioactive Substances in Trees and Shrubs of Central Europe
Plants produce specific structures constituting a barrier hindering penetration of pathogens, while they also produce substances inhibiting pathogen growth. These compounds are secondary metabolites, such as phenolics, terpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, resins, tannins and alkaloids. Bioactive compounds are secendary metabolities from trees and shrubs are used in medicine, herbal medicine and cosmetology. To date fruits and flowers of exotic trees and shrubs have been primarily used as sources of bioactive compounds. In turn, search for new sources of bioactive compounds is currently focused on native plant species due to its availability. Application of such raw material needs to be based on knowledge of their chemical composition, particularly health-promoting or therapeutic compounds. Research conducted to date on European trees and shrubs has been scarce. This paper presents results of literature studies conducted to systematise knowledge on bioactive compounds found in trees and shrubs native to central Europe. The aim of this review providing available information on the subject is to indicate gaps in the present knowledge. Keywords: bioactive compounds from European trees and shrubs, gallic and cinnamic acids, quercetin, pinosylvin, β-sitosterol, alfa-and β-pinene Biosynthesis of active substances Tree stands are exposed to the action of stress factors, both abiotic and biotic. The former include weather anomalies, UV radiation, intensive lighting, water deficit, substrate salinity, high temperature amplitudes and the presence of heavy metals. In turn, biotic factors include pest insects, pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses. Trees counter stressors by initiating defence mechanisms to minimise or eliminate disturbances in growth and development. They are related with the consumption of energy and assimilates, limited production of biomass, its disadvantageous allocation as well as reduced reproduction. The action of biotic stressors is mainly connected with trees and woody plants entering into symbiosis with antagonists of pathogens, insects, etc. Plants produce specific structures constituting a barrier hindering penetration of pathogens, e.g. resin canals, the presence of waxes and resins on their surface, while they also produce substances inhibiting pathogen growth and reducing attractiveness of needles, etc. These compounds are secondary metabolites, such as phenolics, terpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, resins,