Mangrove forests - The importance of conservation
as a bioresource for ecosystem diversity and utilization as a source
of chemical constituents with potential medicinal and agricultural
value*
D. Howard Miles1, Udom Kokpol2,
Vallapa Chittawong1, Santi Tip-Pyang2, Kwanjai
Tunsuwan3 and Chi Nguyen1
1. Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando
Florida 32816, USA;
2. Department of Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;
3. Department of Chemistry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The total mangrove area in the
world is approximately 1,549,000 ha distributed among many countries.
Approximately 32 known mangrove species grow in Ceylon, 37 in Papua
New Guinea, 27 in Thailand, and 41 in the Philipines. Mangroves
are the trees and bushes growing in the salt water of intertidal
zones of sheltered coastlines. The mangrove area is full of organic
substances as well as mineral elements used by plants and animals
living in this environment. The mangrove areas are important natural
resources. They provide a source of wood products and seafood as
well as preserving ecosystems. Moreover, the mangrove areas are
known to be coastline stabilizers by retaining and building the
land, and acting as buffers against waves and storms. They also
act as reservoirs in the tertiary assimilation of wastes. They are
a key component in the global cycle of carbon dioxide, nitrogen
and sulfur.
This presentation will review the utilization of
mangroves in South East Asia (especially Thailand and the Philipines),
the importance of the mangrove forests to maintaining the biodiversity
of intertidal zones of sheltered coastlines such as is found in
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand, the species diversity of the mangrove forests,
and the chemical constituents (salts, organic acids, carbohydrates,
hydrocarbons, benzoquinones, naphthofurans, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes,
alkaloids, flavonoids, polymers, sulfur derivatives and tannins)
that have been isolated from mangrove plants and their potential
application to medicine and agriculture. Past and ongoing collaborative
work on constituents of Thai and Philipine Mangrove plants including
Acanthus Illicifolius, Aegiceras corniculatum, Derris
trifoliata, Exoecaria agallocha, and Heritiera littoralis
will be highlighted.
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