Résumé
The potential of muirapiranga (Brosimun sp.) as a substitute material for violin bows was estimated in terms of vibrational properties, and the infl uence of extractives on the vibrational properties was examined. The loss tangent of muirapiranga was somewhat higher and the specifi c dynamic Young's modulus was rather lower than the respective values for pernambuco, which is regarded as the best material for violin bows. Therefore, muirapiranga is a poorer bow material in terms of vibrational properties. Impregnation of crude extractives from muirapiranga decreased the loss tangent of other wood specimens. The main compounds of the extractives were identifi ed as xanthyletin and luvangetin. Impregnations of isolated xanthyletin and commercially available methoxsalen, which was tested as an analogue of luvangetin, markedly decreased the loss tangent of other wood specimens. Methoxsalen and xanthyletin differ from conventional loss tangent-decreasing substances, namely protosappanin B and hematoxylin, in terms of water insolubility and the absence of hydroxyl groups. From the similarity in molecular characteristics of loss tangent-decreasing substances found so far, restriction of molecular motion due to an impregnated substance in the wood matrix is suggested as one loss tangent-decreasing mechanism.