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The volatiles of different pomegranate plant parts were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID). All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis evidencing many differences amongst the selected plant parts. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in the aroma of leaves and in all the flower organs where the main constituents were β-caryophyllene, ( E , E )-α-farnesene and trans -α-bergamotene. Stem aroma showed similar content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and non-terpenes with α-humulene as main compound. The aroma of all aril parts showed high amount of non-terpenes with the prevalence of aldehydes and esters. [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]