Spectral methods for the search of azulene-containing allelopathic and medicinal species.

The microspectrophotometer/microspectrofluorimeter was used to find the azulenes on the intact surface of 30 allelopathic and medicinal plant species growing in moderate or drought climatic conditions. Here in the maxima range of 580-620 nm, peculiar to blue pigments (azulenes), were clearly observed. The pigments were found in blue or silver leaves (needles) or plant parts (petioles, flowers and pollen). The peaks 590-610 nm, characteristic to azulenes were also observed in the absorbance spectra of ethanolic 10 min -extracts from the leaf surface, and 24 h - extracts from whole leaves. Among plants studied, the pigments were first observed in 14 terrestrial species (Anthriscus sylvestris, Lolium perenne, Petasites spurius, Phlomis tuberosa, Crambe maritima, Seseli gummiferum, Filipendula ulmaria, Echinocystis lobata, Colutea cilica, Rhus coriaria, Quercus pubescens, Pinus brutia and 2 algae (Chara vulgaris and Spirogyra sp.) use of spectral methods is recommended to search new azulene-containing species for pharmacy, agriculture and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]