The high intraspecific variability of the genus Juniperus, also strongly influenced by the climatic conditions, and above all, the complexity of the group of plants that may be related to the species Juniperus communis L. make the taxonomic classification of the species difficult. The morphological and geographical analysis are not able to reveal any substantial distinction. An investigation of the achiral and chiral terpenes composition of Juniperus communis L. has been started. We hope to be able to distinguish between random and systematic variations of the volatile constituents of juniper species. Samples from Norway were collected at different altitude. HS-SPME-GC/MS coupled to statistical elaboration was applied to the analysis of the volatile fraction of needles and berries of Juniper . The choice of the analytical method was made to facilitate future analysis of a larger number of samples and to minimize human errors in sample handling. 72 compounds were tentatively identified by comparing their mass spectra and retention indices with those reported in mass spectra libraries and literature, respectively. The results point out that the needles and berries show different volatile profiles and even the sampling at the same altitude does not always show a correspondence between berries and needles of the same tree bush. Needle samples collected at the see level are distinct from the others by the percent contents of a-pinene and from higher ER(-)/(+) of b-pinene, sabinene, limonene and terpinen-4-ol. These results are very interesting in order to provide a more clear pattern recognition of juniper species and to determine the distribution in the Norway area. The results may also lead to possible correlations between the biochemical pathways and the analysis of the volatiles fraction due to automatic and faster analytical methods. To achieve this goal further multidisciplinary investigation is needed .
Pattern recognition of volatiles from Juniper communis L. (mountain juniper). An investigation into the variability of the composition and the interpretation of analytical data
LIBERTO, Erica;CORDERO, Chiara Emilia Irma;SGORBINI, Barbara;BICCHI, Carlo;RUBIOLO, Patrizia;
2009-01-01
Abstract
The high intraspecific variability of the genus Juniperus, also strongly influenced by the climatic conditions, and above all, the complexity of the group of plants that may be related to the species Juniperus communis L. make the taxonomic classification of the species difficult. The morphological and geographical analysis are not able to reveal any substantial distinction. An investigation of the achiral and chiral terpenes composition of Juniperus communis L. has been started. We hope to be able to distinguish between random and systematic variations of the volatile constituents of juniper species. Samples from Norway were collected at different altitude. HS-SPME-GC/MS coupled to statistical elaboration was applied to the analysis of the volatile fraction of needles and berries of Juniper . The choice of the analytical method was made to facilitate future analysis of a larger number of samples and to minimize human errors in sample handling. 72 compounds were tentatively identified by comparing their mass spectra and retention indices with those reported in mass spectra libraries and literature, respectively. The results point out that the needles and berries show different volatile profiles and even the sampling at the same altitude does not always show a correspondence between berries and needles of the same tree bush. Needle samples collected at the see level are distinct from the others by the percent contents of a-pinene and from higher ER(-)/(+) of b-pinene, sabinene, limonene and terpinen-4-ol. These results are very interesting in order to provide a more clear pattern recognition of juniper species and to determine the distribution in the Norway area. The results may also lead to possible correlations between the biochemical pathways and the analysis of the volatiles fraction due to automatic and faster analytical methods. To achieve this goal further multidisciplinary investigation is needed .
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