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DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596432
Living fossil volatile compounds analysis using SPME GC-MS: Examples of Sequoia, Sequoiadendron and Metasequoia
Publication History
Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)
Living fossils are plants that evolved several million years ago and are still found in the present day. Some plant species were known from the fossil record even before their living species were discovered. Fossil records of genera Sequoia [1], Sequoiadendron [2] and Metasequoia [3] are extensive and have been found worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyse volatile compounds in several Gymnosperm living fossils of the Cupressaceae, and the Araucariaceae. In this presentation we show results of Sequoia sempervirens Endl., Sequoiadendron gigantes (Lindl.) Decne [syn. Sequoia giganteum (Lindl.) Buchh.], and Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng (Cupressaceae) analyses using the novel SPME GC-MS method. The plant material originated from the Comenius University Botanical Garden, Bratislava. The harvests were carried out in June 2014. We identified 10 compounds in Sequoia sempervirens leaves, i.e. 92.2% of the volatile compounds. The components identified in highest percentage were: α-pinene (37.6%), limonene (16.9%), and camphene (6.9%). The analysis of Sequoiadendron gigantes leaves showed 7 compounds, i.e. 99.8% of the volatiles; highest percentage quantified: α-pinene (55.1%), camphene (17.1%), and elemicin (11.9%). Similarly, Metasequoia glyptostroboides leaves showed 6 compounds, i.e. 97.1% of the volatiles; highest percentage: α-pinene (44.4%), camphene (43.4%), and Δ3-carene (5.1%). Chemotaxonomic aspects of this and previous analyses will be discussed in the presentation.
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA Project № 1/0646/14 and 2/0044/15.
Keywords: Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron gigantes, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, volatile compounds, SPME GC-MS.
References:
[1] Hilal SH, Zedan HH, Haggag MY, Soliman FM. Volatile oil of Sequoia sempervirens Endl. Egypt J Pharm Sci 1979; 18: 85 – 91
[2] Jerkovic I, Mastelic J, Milos M. Chemical composition of the essential oil of Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchh cultivated in Croatia. JEOR 2003; 15: 36 – 38
[3] Fujita Y, Fujita S, Iwamura J, Nishida S. Essential oils of plants from various territories. XXXVIII. Components of the essential oils of Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Yakugaku Zasshi 1975; 95: 349 – 351
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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).