The resins bled from stems and in seed cones and leaves of Cryptomeria japonica, Glyptostrobus pensilis, Taxodium distichum, and T. mucronatum were characterized to provide an overview of their major natural product compositions. The total solvent extract solutions were analyzed as the free and derivatized products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the compounds, which comprised minor mono- and sesquiterpenoids, and dominant di- and triterpenoids, plus aliphatic lipids (e.g., n-nonacosan-10-ol). Ferruginol, 7α-p-cymenylferruginol, and chamaecydin were the major characteristic markers for the Taxodioideae conifer subfamily. The mass spectrometric data can aid polar compound elucidation in environmental, geological, archeological, forensic and pharmaceutical studies.

In this study, antitermitic and antifungal activities of enantiopure linalool and linalool oxide (furanoid) in L. umbellata var. membranacea were evaluated with their racemates. Results of chiral analysis showed that linalool oxide in leaves dominated by (R)-linalool and in twigs dominated by (S)-linalool were (2R,5R)-trans- and (2R,5S)-cis-linalool oxide and (2S,5S)-trans- and (2S,5R)-cis-linalool oxide, respectively. All rac-, (R)-, and (S)-linalool at highest concentration showed termiticidal and antifeedant activities against Reticulitermes speratus. Antitermitic activities of linalool oxides differed depending on their stereostructures, and (2R,5R)-trans-linalool oxide showed the strongest termiticidal activity. (S)-linalool showed significantly stronger antifungal activity than that of rac- and (R)-linalool against Penicillium citrinum and Chaetomium globosum. Racemate of trans- and cis-linalool oxide showed potent activity against P. citrinum, Rhizopus oryzae, and C. globosum; however, the activity decreased in isolated pure enantiomers. These results suggest that linalool and linalool oxide exhibit different antitermitic and antifungal properties.

This work explores the utilization of wood for high-value production of novel alcoholic brews and liquors with natural flavors. The process capitalizes on our original wet-type bead milling (WBM) technology that enables direct enzymatic saccharification and alcohol fermentation of wood without chemical and heat treatment, resulting in the absence of toxic compounds. When alcohol-based products from various wood species, including Cryptomeria japonica (cedar), Cerasus × yedoensis (cherry), and Betula platyphylla (birch), were analyzed by SPME-GC-MS, different natural flavor components were found in each. Correlation analysis using Heracles NEO and ASTREE V5 showed that the alcohols from wood have different flavor and taste characteristics when compared with those of existing commercial liquors. From pilot-scale experiments, the yield of alcoholic brew per biomass amount was determined. Pilot-scale runs established the importance of optimum wood particle size during WBM for efficient alcohol production. Although the alcohol produced from wood must first be established as safe for human consumption, this is the first description of drinking alcohols produced from wood. This work may open up important avenues for the exploitation of wood resources toward food production to further advance the current state of forestry.

Component analysis of a novel white‐colored truffle native to Japan, Tuber japonicum, was performed to determine its characteristic features. The analysis of odor‐active volatile compound showed a high contribution of 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐methyl‐2,4‐dithiapentane to the odor of T. japonicum. Although 2,4‐dithiapentane is a key odorant of well‐known white truffle T. magnatum, 3‐methyl‐2,4‐dithiapentane was detected from the ripe T. japonicum. The chemical components of T. japonicum showed no clear difference with those of edible truffles T. magnatum and T. melanosporum. It was rich in crude protein, crude fiber, and minerals (especially potassium), and low in crude fat. Glutamine and glutamic acid were detected in T. japonicum as free amino acids, while T. magnatum contained a large amount of alanine. Acute oral toxicity tests showed no abnormality, with an LD₅₀ value of over 2000 mg/kg under the test conditions. The present study may support future market distribution of T. japonicum as a high‐class foodstuff.