Analysis of surface and volatile compounds of flower heads of introduced plants of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. growing wild in Chile

Abstract

Surface compounds were obtained by a methylene chloride extract of fresh flower heads of wild plants of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. in Chile. Three fractions were obtained by column chromatography and analyzed by GC-MS leading to the identification of several monoterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones. A hydrocarbon fraction of n-alkanes from C23 to C31 and C33 was also identified. Headspace analysis of the fresh flower heads was carried out. Different proportions of the same mono- and sesquiterpenes were identified in the volatile fraction but not the sesquiterpene lactones. The chemical data was compared with that reported in studies of plants growing in the species' original area of distribution. The proportion of oxygenated terpenoids identified in this report, in relation to those reported in previous communications, is a most relevant characteristic and represents an important difference between the chemistry of individuals of C. coronarium present in Chile and those present in Murcia, Spain and Livorno, Italy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.