Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the volatiles from the fruits of Ammodaucus leucotrichus subsp. leucotrichus and subsp. nanocarpus grown in North Africa and the Canary Islands, respectively.

The volatiles from the fruits of Ammodaucus leucotrichus subsp. leucotrichus and subsp. nanocarpus (two endemic species, the first from North Africa and the second from the Canary Islands, Spain) were studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major components of the volatiles of subsp. nanocarpus were found to be, beta-pinene (22.2-33.6%), bornyl angelate (20.6-21.8%) and camphor (8.3-11.7%) whereas in the fruits of subsp. leucotrichus, the main constituents were perillaldehyde (63.6%) and limonene (26.8%). We also suggest that subsp. nanocarpus should have the status of species and should be named Ammodaucus nanocarpus.

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Pimpinella anagodendron Bolle and Pimpinella rupicola Svent., two endemic species to the Canary Islands, Spain.

The essential oils from the aerial parts of Pimpinella anagodendron Bolle and Pimpinella rupicola Svent., two endemic species growing in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, were studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major components of the flowering tops (flowers+unripe fruits) of P. rupicola (PRFT) were found to be beta-bisabolene (34.8%), limonene (10.9%) and alpha-zingiberene (10.5%), whereas in the flowering tops of P. anagodendron (PAFT), the main constituents were alpha-zingiberene (32.9%), beta-bisabolene (17.9%), beta-pinene (15.8%) and ar-curcumene (11.5%). The major compounds found in the stems+leaves of P. rupicola (PRSL) were beta-bisabolene (31.6%), alpha-zingiberene (11.4%) and limonene (10.8%), whereas those of P. anagodendron (PASL) were alpha-zingiberene (32.3%), beta-bisabolene (14.0%) and ar-curcumene (12.6%). In all the oils were found the characteristic constituents of genus Pimpinella, the pseudoisoeugenol esters. In accordance with the morphological, chorological and chemical differences between both species, we suggest that P. rupicola Svent. is a good taxon and not a synonym of P. anagodendron.

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Pimpinella junoniae Ceb. & Ort., gathered in La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain.

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Pimpinella junoniae Ceb. & Ort., growing in La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain, was studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 43 constituents were identified. The major components were found to be alpha-zingiberene (20.6%), alpha-pinene (17.9%), (E)-beta-farnesene (9.3%), ar-curcumene (7.4%), beta-phellandrene (7.0%), beta-bisabolene (6.1%) and epoxypseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate (6.0%). The decomposition product of epoxypseudoisoeugenol derivatives, 5-methoxy-2-methylbenzofuran (5.7%), moderate amounts of other arylpropanoids with the pseudoisoeugenol skeleton (total percentage, 5.2%) and other compounds such as beta-sesquiphellandrene (3.0%), cis-beta-guaiene (1.5%), alpha-phellandrene (1.5%) and alpha-bisabolol (1.3%), were also found.

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Rutheopsis herbanica (Bolle) Hans. & Kunk., gathered in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands).

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Rutheopsis herbanica (Bolle) Hans. & Kunk., growing in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, was studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 42 constituents were identified. The major components were found to be alpha-pinene (29.4%), dillapiole (21.3%), limonene (14.1%), beta-pinene (13.2%) and myristicin (10.0%). As far as we know, this is the first report on the essential oil composition of this species.

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the volatile components of Ageratina adenophora Spreng., growing in the Canary Islands.

The essential oil of Ageratina adenophora Spreng., growing in the Canary Islands was analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 78 volatile compounds was identified and p-cymene (11.6%) was the major component in the oil. The sesquiterpene fraction (44.3%) was higher than the monoterpene one (32.1%).

Analysis of the volatile components of Argyranthemum adauctum (Link.) Humphries by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The volatile constituents of the essential oil of Argyranthemum adauctum (Link.) Humphries extracted by steam distillation have been studied by GC-MS. A total of 60 compounds have been identified representing the 89.8% of the oil. The major constituents were found to be beta-pinene (27.4%) and santolinatriene (22.6%). This is the first report on the chemical compounds of the oil of this species.

Seasonal variation in chemical constituents of Santolina rosmarinifolia L. ssp. rosmarinifolia.

The seasonal variation of the essential oil extracts from the aerial parts of a Santolina rosmarinifolia population has been studied. Oil yields increased in the months of March, April, May and June. Oil concentration showed significant correlations with both precipitation (positive) and temperature (negative). Essential oil main components were sabinene, beta-pinene, myrcene, beta-phellandrene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, artemisia ketone, terpinen-4-ol, capillene, ar-curcumene and beta-eudesmol. Monoterpenes like beta-phellandrene, limonene and 1,8-cineole showed a significant negative correlation with temperature, while capillene presented a strong positive correlation with precipitation. The rest of the essential oil components did not show any noticeable trend.

Ethnobotany, volatile oils and secretion tissues of werneria poposa from Argentina.

Folk medicines are gaining great importance as information sources on traditional medicinal plants. The aim of this paper is the study of a plant traditionally employed by the Puna inhabitants: Werneria poposa Phil. Morphology of its secretory tissue and other histological diagnostic features, as well as the chemical composition of its essential oil, is described. Puna inhabitants use W. poposa mainly as an infusion for mountain sickness ("soroche"), stomach and hepatic disorders and cold. It is also used externally as a hot bath or unguent for rheumatic pains or traumas. Secretory tissues are schizogenous ducts in leaves and stems. Thirty-one components were detected in the essential oil by means of GC/MS analysis. Oil was characterized by the presence of high content of ß-pinene (21.7%), a-pinene (5.5%), terpinen-4-ol (5.3%), a-terpinene (5.2%), ß-phellandrene + 1,8-cineole (4.8%), isopulegol (4.8%) and ß-citronellal (4.6%). At the present time, W. poposa is consumed as a medicinal plant, mainly in the northwest of Argentina, not being commercialized in the urban centers.

The volatiles of two bystropogon species from the canary islands (Spain).

The essential oils of two BYSTROPOGON species of the mint family endemic to the Canary Islands (Spain) have been analyzed by a combination of GLC/MS, retention indices, 1R, (13)C-NMR and (1)H-NMR spectra. The major components of the volatile oils were found to be pulegone, isomenthone, and methone in B. ORIGANIFOLIUS and 3-octyl acetate, limonene, and TRANS-beta-caryophyllene in B. CANARIENSIS.