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Thuja plicata
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=== Chemistry === The [[heartwood]] of western redcedar contains numerous chemical substances, such as [[plicatic acid]], [[thujaplicatin methyl ether]], [[hinokitiol]] and other [[thujaplicin]]s, {{nowrap|Ξ²-[[thujaplicinol]]}}, [[thujic acid]], [[methyl thujate]], [[1,4-cineole]], and {{nowrap|[[Ξ³-eudesmol]]}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Daniels |first1=C. R. |last2=Russell |first2=J. H. |date=1 May 2007 |title=Analysis of Western Redcedar (''Thuja plicata'' Donn) Heartwood Components by HPLC as a Possible Screening Tool for Trees with Enhanced Natural Durability |journal=[[Journal of Chromatographic Science]]|volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=281β285 |doi=10.1093/chromsci/45.5.281 |pmid=17555638 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Plicatic acid is believed to be the main irritant and [[contact allergen]] responsible for provoking [[allergic reaction]]s and [[asthma]] exacerbation. This leads to [[occupational asthma]] in [[woodworker]]s that are exposed to western redcedar [[wood dust]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chan-Yeung |first1=Moira |date=January 1994 |title=Mechanism of occupational asthma due to western redcedar (''Thuja plicata'') |journal=[[American Journal of Industrial Medicine]]|volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=13β18 |doi=10.1002/ajim.4700250106 |pmid=8116639}}</ref> Thujaplicins serve as natural [[fungicide]]s{{sfn|Gardner|1963|p=21}}{{sfn|Chedgy|Lim|Breuil|2009}} which prevent the wood from [[Wood-decay fungus|rotting]]. This effect lasts around a century even after the tree is felled. However, thujaplicins are only found in older trees. Saplings do not produce the chemical, causing them to often develop rot at an early stage, causing some trees to grow with a somewhat hollow trunk, as the tree moves to heal itself as it grows.{{sfn|Stewart|1984|p=22}} Due to their fungicidal and anti-[[Food browning|browning]] properties, thujaplicins are used in agriculture for fungal diseases and to prevent [[Post-harvest losses (vegetables)|post-harvest decay]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morita |first1=Yasuhiro |last2=Matsumura |first2=Eiko |last3=Okabe |first3=Toshihiro |last4=Fukui |first4=Toru |last5=Shibata |first5=Mitsunobu |last6=Sugiura |first6=Masaaki |last7=Ohe |first7=Tatsuhiko |last8=Tsujibo |first8=Hiroshi |last9=Ishida |first9=Nakao |last10=Inamori |first10=Yoshihiko |date=2004 |title=Biological Activity of Ξ±-Thujaplicin, the Isomer of Hinokitiol |journal=[[Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin]]|volume=27 |issue=6 |pages=899β902 |doi=10.1248/bpb.27.899 |pmid=15187442 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vanitha |first1=Thiraviam |last2=Thammawong |first2=Manasikan |last3=Umehara |first3=Hitomi |last4=Nakamura |first4=Nobutaka |last5=Shiina |first5=Takeo |date=December 2019 |title=Effect of hinokitiol impregnated sheets on shelf life and quality of "KEK-1" tomatoes during storage |journal=[[Packaging Technology and Science]]|volume=32 |issue=12 |pages=641β648 |doi=10.1002/pts.2479 |s2cid=202995336}}</ref> Thujaplicins, like other tropolones, are potent chelating agents and bind divalent metal ions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pietra |first1=Francesco |date=August 1973 |title=Seven-membered conjugated carbo- and heterocyclic compounds and their homoconjugated analogs and metal complexes. Synthesis, biosynthesis, structure, and reactivity |journal=[[Chemical Reviews]]|volume=73 |issue=4 |pages=293β364 |doi=10.1021/cr60284a002}}</ref> [[Basic research|Basic]] and [[animal studies]] have shown that thujaplicins may have other biological properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant activities,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saniewski |first1=Marian |last2=Horbowicz |first2=Marcin |last3=Kanlayanarat |first3=Sirichai |date=10 September 2014 |title=The Biological Activities of Troponoids and Their Use in Agriculture A Review |journal=[[Journal of Horticultural Research]]|volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=5β19 |doi=10.2478/johr-2014-0001 |doi-access=free |s2cid=33834249}}</ref> however reliable evidence on their effectiveness is still lacking.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}
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