Biological potential assessment of aqueous wood-waste extracts using ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy and test objects

The study aimed to examine the effect of conditions for aqueous extraction from sawdust on the biological activity of extractive substances for test objects from different taxonomic and ecological groups: Pleurotus ostreatus 0482 basidiomycete, Bacillus bacteria, and radish Raphanus sativus (L.). The obtained solutions were found to inhibit the growth and development of most test objects in proportion to the extraction temperature (up to 40% for some indicators). In solid-state fermentation, the biological efficiency of Pleurotus ostreatus 0482 increased by 25–40% after removing water-soluble extractives. The extracts were fractionated with successive use of hexane and chloroform. For all organic and aqueous phases, absorption ultraviolet/visible spectra were obtained. A comparison of spectral characteristics revealed absorption maxima within the range of 200–300 nm. With rising extraction temperature, the number of peaks was observed to increase; a total of eight maxima was identified, including batho- and hypsochromic shifts of the same compound. A mathematical processing of the spectra revealed patterns linking spectral characteristics to the biological action of extracts. The conducted absorption maximum analysis indicates the presence of lignans as potential phytotoxins, as well as flavonoids and stilbenes as possible inducers of enzymatic activity. The study analyzed the assumed chemical nature of bioactive compounds, as well as examining possible mechanisms of their action and practical applications of the obtained results.

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