ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Composition of the essential oil of Geocaryum cynapioides (Guss.) L. Engstrand

Niko S. Radulović, Nevenka D. Đordević, Bojan K. Zlatković, and Radosav M. Palić

Department of Chemistry, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia

E-mail: vangelis0703@yahoo.com

Received: 4 March 2008  Revised: 4 April 2008  Accepted: 5 June 2008

Abstract: Volatile constituents from two fresh samples of the subendemic Geocaryum cynapioides (Guss.) L. Engstrand (Apiaceae) obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty four and one hundred-twenty three constituents identified in the oils accounted for 98.7 % and 98.4 % of the total oils, respectively. The major component of both oils was (E)-β-farnesene (73.3 % and 57.7 %) while the other major contributors were: (E,E)-α-farnesene (4.8 % and 14.6 %) and trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (12.2 % and 3.0 %). The constituents endo-fenchyl acetate, and three sesquiterpene lactones belonging to the selinane (callitrisin) and guaiane (grilactone and jalcaguaianolide) series, with a rather restricted natural occurrence, were present in only one of the samples (4.7 %, trace amount, 0.1 %, 0.5 %, respectively) and completely absent from the other distinguishing so the two samples. A chemotaxonomic discussion of the results is presented.

Keywords: Geocaryum cynapioides (Guss.) L. Engstrand - Apiaceae - essential oil composition - (E)-β-farnesene -  trans-sesquisabinene hydrate -  endo-fenchyl

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-008-0069-0

Chemical Papers 62 (6) 603–607 (2008)