Phytoncides
Phytoncides are antimicrobial allelochemic volatile organic compounds derived from plants. The word, which means "exterminated by the plant", was coined in 1937 by Dr. Boris P. Tokin, a Russian biochemist from Leningrad University. He found that some plants give off very active substances which prevent them from rotting or being eaten by some insects and animals. Various spices, onion, garlic, oak and pine trees (and bark) and many other plants give off phytoncides. The major ingredient of Phytoncide is very volatile terpene with a number of other ingredients contained. Many scholars think that the emergence of SARS that caused the world trembled has deep relationship with the destruction of the forests in the Kuangdong area of China. The air in the place where there is no forest and tree is no longer living air. The destruction of forest means the lose of Phytoncide. Phytoncide controls or kills various germs and viruses in air, purifies the air and enhances the self-cleaning capability. Phytoncide has been keeping the health of mankind in invisible places. As the respiratory diseases and mutant virus have become worldwide issue, and various syndromes caused by the chemical substances become more serious problems in reality, the interests on Phytoncide will be magnified even more. "... Many of phytoncides possess the ability to destroy microorganisms, including ones that are pathogenic. Certain phytoncides kill microbic agents of disease in animals." Page 255, Medical Geology By Miomir M.Komatina
Phytoncides have a physiological effect on an organism. Many of them possess the ability to destroy microorganisms, including ones that are pathogenic. More details
Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. "In order to explore the effect of forest bathing on human immune function, we investigated natural killer (NK) activity; the number of NK cells, and perforin, granzymes and granulysin-expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) during a visit to forest fields. Twelve healthy male subjects, age 37-55 years, were selected with informed consent from three large companies in Tokyo, Japan. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip in three different forest fields. On the first day, subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; and on the second day, they walked for two hours in the morning and afternoon, respectively, in two different forest fields. Blood was sampled on the second and third days, and NK activity; proportions of NK, T cells, granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells in PBL were measured. Similar measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day as the control. Almost all of the subjects (11/12) showed higher NK activity after the trip (about 50 percent increased) compared with before. There are significant differences both before and after the trip and between days 1 and 2 in NK activity. The forest bathing trip also significantly increased the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a forest bathing trip can increase NK activity, and that this effect at least partially mediated by increasing the number of NK cells and by the induction of intracellular anti-cancer proteins." From: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology 20 (2 Suppl 2):3-8, 2007
A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects. "We previously reported that forest bathing trips enhanced human NK activity, number of NK cells, and intracellular anti-cancer proteins in lymphocytes, and that the increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip in male subjects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of forest bathing trip on human NK activity in female subjects. Thirteen healthy nurses, age 25-43 years, professional career 4-18 years, were selected with informed consent. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip to forest fields. On day 1, the subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; on day 2, they walked for two hours each in the morning and afternoon in two different forest fields; and on day 3, the subjects finished the trip and returned to Tokyo after drawing blood and completing a questionnaire. Blood and urine were sampled on the second and third days during the trip, and on days 7 and 30 after the trip. NK activity, numbers of NK and T cells, and granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing lymphocytes in the blood samples, the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine were measured. Similar control measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day. The concentrations of phytoncides in the forests were measured. The forest bathing trip significantly increased NK activity and the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells and significantly decreased the percentage of T cells, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine. The increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were detected in forest air. These findings indicate that a forest bathing trip also increased NK activity, number of NK cells, and levels of intracellular anti-cancer proteins in female subjects, and that this effect lasted at least 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides released from trees and decreased stress hormone levels may partially contribute to the increased NK activity." From: Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents 22(1):45-55, 2008
"In a nutshell, bees use pine trees to nest in a variety of ways. These pollinators are drawn to pine trees because of their unique scent, resin, and abundance of pollen. Furthermore, pine trees provide excellent shelter and protection for bee nests, as well as a strong structure with hidden cavities." Why Bees Choose Pine Trees: Exploring the Fascinating Relationship
