Optically active isomers of the genus Pinus and their application in chemosystematic

Abstract

<jats:p>Aim. The aim of this work was the possibility of using the composition of essential oils enantiomers as chemomarkers for the genus Pinus. Methods. The plant materials were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Ginsburg type apparatus (0.2 kg each loading) for 1 h. The collected samples of essential oils were dried with anhydrous Na2SO4 and stored at 4.8℃ until analyzed. The enantioselective capillary GC analysis was conducted on a Cyclosil B capillary column (30 m x 0.32 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm, 30 % hepatkis (2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin in DB-1701). The relative amounts of individual components (in %) were calculated on the basis of GC peak areas without using correction factors. Results. The composition and enantiomeric terpene distribution of essential oils from the Pinus plants cultivated in the Central Botanical Gardens of Belarus is reported. Conclusions. The obtained experimental data indicate the presence of individual enantiomer composition features of essential oils of various representatives of the pine trees that can be used in chemosystematics of the genus Pinus. A common feature for the studied species of the genus Pinus is a significant predominance of (+)-Δ3-carene over (-)-form, the levorotatory isomer of β-pinene over (+)-form. As chemomarker for the section Cembra can be used enantiomeres excess (-)-limonene.&#x0D; Keywords: Pinus, essential oil, enantiomer, chemomarker.</jats:p>