Volatiles of Pleurospermum austriacum (L.) Hoffm. (Apiaceae)

Abstract

This work presents the first results of detailed GC and GC-MS analyses of the volatile constituents from the fresh leaves, fruits and stalks of an endangered plant species Pleurospermum austriacum (L.) Hoffm. (Apiaceae). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons made up ca. 4/5 of the oils obtained in low yield (0.003-0.086%, w/w). The major volatiles detected were germacrene D (66.5, 62.4 and 49.0 % in fruits, leaves and stalks, respectively), ?-caryophyllene (3.1-5.7 %), ?-cadinene (3.6-5.0 %) and (E)-?-farnesene (1.0-1.5 %).