Red Mangrove By Amberle Vasey General Information 16

Red Mangrove By: Amberle Vasey

General Information § 16 families and 20 genera with a total of 54 species of different mangroves § the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle § Phylum : Tracheophyta Kingdom: Plantae Class: angiosperm Order: Myrtales Family: Rhizophoraceae Genus: Rhizophora

How can you tell it’s a red Mangrove? § identified by their prominent prop root structure § leaves are often shiner and larger than other mangrove leaves. § propagules which are their embryonic root structure. http: //216. 156. 75. 137/Mangroveproproots. jpg

http: //www. sms. si. edu/IRLSpec/images/Rhizop_mangl 2. jpg http: //216. 156. 75. 137/Mangroveproproots. jpg

Where are they found… § Tend to be located along coastlines and in estuarine areas the tropics and subtropics. § In the United States the red mangrove can be found along t Atlantic and Gulf coasts in the warmer areas § Not found where there is a frost

What are they good for… snook Spiny lobster § habitat for other organisms § nursery for juvenile fish conche http: //www. sfrc. ufl. edu/4 H/Other_Resources/Contest/Highlighted_Ecosystem/man grovecrab. jpg

They are also good for… § a buffer zone for wave action for the inland it borders § The root structures slow down water by just being in the way

The most Interesting thing about Red Mangroves is § It has healing properties § In the past, different cultures have used the bark of the red mangrove to treat sore throats and against hemoptysis (coughing up blood) in pulmonary tuberculosis. § Other medical uses with the aqueous bark extracts are for wound healing and gastric antiulcer effects

What about today § one study Marrero et al. studied the different properties that the aqueous bark extract contained § The study showed that the red mangrove contained an anti-flammatory mechanism involving eicosonoids cascade and showed the healing properties of the red mangrove on in vitro tests.

Another Study a little more in depth… § Studied the effect of the aqueous bark on rats § tested its ability to inhibit gastric excretion and to see if it protected gastroduodenal mucus. § Induced ulcers and other conditions to see how the control and variable groups of rats were affected. § Red mangrove significantly decreased the damage done by the induced gastric mucosal. § Another possibility: tannins

Other studies were done § Proved antiseptic properties in rabbit’s wounds and sutured injuries and in calves open wounds.

One step further. . § They used humans…volunteers of course! § Control group with mercurochrome § Subjects with the red mangrove. § The results showed that there was a greater reduction in injury size when the patient was treated with the red mangrove. § Also time of recovery was quicker.

THE END Questions?