Biological, Anatomical, and Chemical Characteristics of Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and has become one of the most important nontimber forest products in the world. In this chapter, the biological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics of bamboo are discussed. Progress in bamboo molecular biology including the development and application of molecular markers, the identification of gene function, and the omics of bamboo are investigated. Attention has been given to the anatomical characteristics of bamboo associated with macrostructure on the cross-section, variation in microstructure of bamboo culm, and the multilayer structure of the bamboo cell. Chemical constituents and the structure of bamboo are also reviewed. The surface chemical behavior of bamboo is investigated, such as the chemical elements and functional groups. The chemical compounds in bamboo leaves include flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, and essential oils. The antioxidant and anticancer activity of bamboo extracts were confirmed. The results from this chapter will be helpful in designing the manufacturing process of bamboo products.