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The chemical composition of volatiles emitted in vivo from different plant parts of P. cerasifera and P. cerasifera ‘Pissardii’ were collected during the entire biological cycle of the plant growth and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase micro-extraction (SPME). All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis evidencing many differences amongst the selected plant parts and growth stages. A total of 136 compounds were identified corresponding to 90.1–99.6% of the whole aroma profile of cherry plum samples. Non-terpenes were the most abundant class of constituents present in the volatile emission of all analyzed samples. In particular, the aroma of both fruit stages was mainly characterized by alcohols and esters in different amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils obtained from six species of Helichrysum ( H. archimedeum C. Brullo & Brullo, H. errerae Tineo, H. hyblaeum Brullo, H. orientale (L.) Vaill., H. panormitanum Tineo ex Guss. subsp. panormitanum, H. serotinum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Galbany, L. Sáez & Benedí) grown in Italy were analyzed by GC-MS. One hundred seventeen components were identified representing 90.1–98.5% of the total chemical composition, mainly characterized by sesquiterpenes and monoterpene compounds. All the analyzed oils showed a monoterpene content ranging from 7.8% ( H. serotinum subsp. picardii ) to 50.9% ( H. errerae ), while sesquiterpene compounds ranging from 28.5% ( H. errerae ) to 77.9% ( H. archimedeum ). α-pinene (39.6% H. hyblaeum and 32.0% H. errerae , respectively), β-caryophyllene (23.8%, H. panormitanum subsp. panormitanum ), β-selinene (20.8%, H. archimedeum ) and β-eudesmol (19.1%, H. orientalis and 17.2% H. orientale , respectively) were the main constituents. This is the first report on the essential oil composition of H. archimedeum , H. errerae, H. hyblaeum , H. panormitanum subsp. panormitanum , H. serotinum subsp. picardii . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aroma fingerprints of seven endemic Sardinian populations of Genista species ( Genista bocchierii , Genista arbusensis , Genista cadasonensis , Genista corsica , Genista morisii , Genista pichisermolliana , Genista sulcitana ) were defined for the first time in order to investigate the relationship between their chemotaxonomic classification and discriminating volatiles. It is the first time that the inter-species compositional variations of non-terpenoidic constituents and target volatiles such as linalool, limonene, 2,6-nonadienal, 2-pentylfuran, ( E )-2-(2-pentenyl)-furan, ß -caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide were related by Principal Components Analysis to the actual chemotaxonomic classification of the selected Sardinian Genista species. Although they are not considered marketable aromatic plants, these original results have shown the potential role of volatiles not only as new further important chemotaxonomic markers of Genista species, but also as potential ecological factors in the chemodiversity of some endemic Mediterranean Genista or, more in general, in vegetation changes and reforestation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myrtle-leaved orange, or chinotto, is a Chinese lesser-known citrus, nowadays cultivated in all the Mediterranean area of Italy. Its fruits are traditionally used in the confectionary and beverage industries: the former mainly uses the unripe fruits, while the juice of the ripe ones is the core ingredient of the well-known Italian soft drink "Chinotto". In the present work, the compositions of several accessions of chinotto fruit peel essential oils (EOs) have been analysed by GC-MS: in particular, i) fresh specimens from Savona (Liguria, Italy) at different ripening stages, as well as a dried ripe one; ii) two accessions from Pisa (Tuscany, Italy), of which one native and one transplanted from Savona. A comparison of the analysed samples with literature reported EO compositions has been performed by means of multivariate statistical analysis. The aim was to assess the influence of both the ripening stage and the geographical area of collection on the EO, assessing which factor influenced it the most. The ripening stage influence on the EO composition was found to be less significant compared to the geographical area of growth of the specimens. The statistical analyses, indeed, evidenced a proximity in the compositions obtained from the different ripening stages, whereas greater differences were evidenced for samples at the same ripening phase, but coming from different regions. Image 1 • The influence of provenience and ripening on Chinotto EO composition was evaluated. • The results were compared to published studies to broaden the sampling population. • Analytical methods and chemometrics were coupled to evidence existing patterns. • The most influencing parameter was the geographical area of origin of the specimen. • The ripening stage was less impacting on the EO compositions from the same area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatile components emitted from different organs of Viburnum tinus L., collected during various developmental stages, were analysed by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and identified by GC-MS. More than 90% of the identified fraction was represented by non-terpenes in both young and adult leaves (94.2% and 94.3%, respectively), as well as in fruits of different ages: unripe and ripe (red and black) (93.1%, 90.6% and 90.9%, respectively). This latter class was also the predominant one in Viburnum crushed fruits (pericarp and seeds), even though with low amount (67.0%). (Z)-3-hexanol acetate was the main compound in all the leaf samples and red fruits, while apiol (40.9%) was the most abundant in unripe fruits and (E)-2-hexen-1-ol (52.8%) in black ripe fruits. On the contrary, the crushed fruits were characterized by decanal (12.0%) and n -hexanol (8.2%). Bud and flower emissions highlighted a good percentage of oxygenated monoterpenes (80.0% and 75.0%, respectively) mainly represented by (E)-β-ocimene (76.5% and 72.1%, respectively). The stem composition was characterized by non-terpenes (34.6%) followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (29.0%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (17.6%). Image 1 • Aroma profile from shoot system of laurustinus. • Monoterpene compounds characterized the volatile composition of flowers. • Increase of alcohol percentage with ripening in each leaf and fruit samples. • Total ester percentages decreased with ripening both in leaves and fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptogenic (or doubtfully native) species could have relevant implications in biogeography and in nature conservation. Bupleurum fruticosum is native in Sicily, Sardinia, and Liguria, whereas the single Tuscan population is considered cryptogenic. Given its pharmacological activity, several studies investigated the essential oil composition of this species, but an analysis of geographic pattern of the chemical composition was never performed. In the present study, the essential oil composition of the Tuscan population was investigated for the first time, and a comparison with other populations from literature was performed in order to provide useful data to disentangle its cryptogenic status. Our results highlight a major similarity of plants from Tuscany with geographically distant populations from Portugal and France, whereas other Italian populations show a very different chemical composition. These results do not support a native status of Tuscan population, suggesting an ancient human introduction. Our analysis also revealed a high percentage of (Z)-β-ocimene in stems of plants from Tuscany. • α-pinene and β-pinene are the two most abundant compounds in the Tuscan population of Bupleurum fruticosum. • Essential oils profile of Tuscan population of Bupleurum fruticosum is very different from those of geographically closer populations. • Results do not support a native origin of Bupleurum fruticosum in Tuscany. • The importance to specify sampling season and the sampled organs in comparative phytochemical studies (chemosystematics) is stressed. • The importance to specify season and the sampled organs in comparative phytochemical studies (chemosystematics) is stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]